As 2023 draws to a close, PelhamToday sat down with Pelham Mayor Marvin Junkin and Chief Administrative Officer David Cribbs, to get their perspective on the last 12 months in Pelham, and what’s in store for the year ahead.
Pelham Town Council approved its 2024 capital and operating budgets at its December 20 meeting, with the final tax levy increase set at 3.77 percent, which constitutes an increase of $83 per year for the average residential property with an assessed value of $377,000.
“Our tax increase in Pelham is roughly half what the Region just passed, which shows there's some good financial stewardship here. We're have relatively modest staffing and yet deliver the programs and services that residents want,” said Cribbs. “The 2024 Pelham budget includes less debt, larger reserves, and continued infrastructure renewal and investment.”
The positive change for Pelham is that the municipality no longer have any short or medium-term bank debt, only long-term mortgages for buildings — primarily the MCC — which is “the better part of $30 million,” said Cribbs.
Speaking of the MCC, did anyone anticipate that its parking lot would be so jammed?
“We're victims of our own success,” said Cribbs. “Four years ago, we were hopeful that 100,000 people would come through the doors of the MCC [annually], and then the Covid pandemic hit, and blew apart our projections. When we reopened in 2022, we broke 400,000 in the building, which shouldn't really be possible for a town with a population of 18,000. We don't have the year-end data for 2023, but we're circling 600,000. So yes, with incredible attendance driven by sports tournaments and special events, parking has been an issue, but it's a great problem to have. And to be clear, you do not have to pay to park during normal hours at the MCC, you’ll only pay if you wish the privilege of overnight parking.”
"You do not have to pay to park during normal hours at the MCC, you’ll only pay if you wish the privilege of overnight parking"
Pelham has the highest average household income in Niagara — at about $167,000 — and the second-highest average housing prices, eclipse only by Niagara-on-the-Lake. Housing affordability is an oft-discussed issue at council meetings.
“We were among the first municipalities of Niagara to approve secondary dwelling units,” said Junkin, “and we're having quite a lot of people interested in the idea. It’s a big positive.”
Cribbs echoed Junkin’s comments, and added that the Town has a good relationship with the development community.
“The majority of new construction is occurring around the MCC,” he said. “There's a really good variety of housing going up there, and it's all attractive. The builders understand that Pelham is sort of a showcase community, and they bring their ‘A’ game. We don't end up hearing a lot of complaints about the quality of the new builds.”
Governance reform in Niagara is on the table again, with some politicians and taxpayers suggesting that moving from 12 lower-tier municipalities and one upper-tier, to a four-city model, would remove multiple levels of duplication in the way services are administered. Others assert that amalgamation to one city in the region is the preferred template for the future, potentially generating multi-millions of dollars in savings—an assertion, however, that some researchers say is not realistic. Cribbs and Junkin maintain that, with only two percent of Niagara’s population, Pelham’s voice, and independence, could be significantly muted.
“In January, the Ontario government is having meetings province-wide with municipalities, to ask them about their vision for the future,” said Junkin, “and amalgamation within Niagara will be up for discussion. It’s been a recurring debate for decades. I'm looking forward to speaking at this meeting. I’ll be telling them that Pelham can stand alone. We're doing great. If the four-city or one-city concept was to be adopted in Niagara, we would lose a lot of our local identity, and control over our parks, festivals, and planning decisions.”
Junkin said that Pelham has been one of the most proactive sub-municipalities in the region for reaching out to its neighbors to develop cost-saving partnerships.
“We share our library system with Lincoln, we share our solicitor with Wainfleet, and will soon have a climate specialist that we share with Lincoln,” he said. “As for our staffing, the latest provincial Sunshine List [of Ontario civil servants earning over $100,000 per year] indicates that Pelham has one of the fewest number of staffers — 13 — on the list, compared to the other Niagara municipalities.”
Cribbs drove home the point by noting that many teachers across the province (some 65,000) were on the Sunshine List in 2023, representing salaries paid in 2022. Some 19,000 nurses also made the list, which accounted for a 78 percent increase in health sector employees earning over $100,000. Ontario Premier Mike Harris first invoked the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act in 1996. In 2023, 267,000 public servants across the province made the list.
Retired Brock University political science professor David Siegel, who developed a report on municipal restructuring in 2019 for Brock University’s Niagara Community Observatory, has commented in the media that past amalgamations have failed to save money, or generated tax savings. Eliminating part-time politicians would be a drop in the bucket, he said, and replacing them with fewer but full-time politicians could actually cost more. Forced amalgamation could also generate resentment by smaller municipalities like Pelham, whose residents might feel decisions affecting them have been usurped by larger neighbouring communities.
"We are not completely out of the woods yet, but we’re in much better health now than we were four or five years ago"
As to removing the top tier of Regional government alone, Seigel said that the Region currently covers social services, public health, policing, roads, water purification, and sewer treatment, and that the lower levels of government would have to take on the daunting task of picking up these responsibilities.
Pelham has $5.8 million in road construction projects lined up for 2024, said Cribbs, and there is interest in extending sidewalks down Canboro Road from Fonthill to Fenwick. Several reports will also be coming to council early in the year regarding speed limits and traffic-calming measures in town.
“We have two large decision points for 2024, or possibly 2025,” said Cribbs. “One involves the fate of the Tice Road Public Works complex, and whether it gets upgraded, or we create a new facility. The other affects Fire Station 1 on Highway 20, which has some serious problems with its roofing and plumbing, among other things. Ultimately, decisions have to be made as to whether we renovate or build new. We’re looking at the variables: cost, timelines, return on investment, mortgage and interest rates.”
Cribbs highlighted the facility enhancements at Town Hall and the adjacent Peace Park, including a new meeting room for community groups, and permanent modern washrooms which replaced an army of porta potties during summer events.
He also spoke in glowing terms of the new Fonthill Arches.
“The right people with the right vision were involved in that project, and their passion created something beautiful that the community takes pride in.”
Cribbs noted the cooperative nature of the Town’s dealing with service clubs, which are the community’s lifeblood.
“We help the Fonthill Legion with their veteran banner and poppy fundraising programs,” said Cribbs. “We host the food drive location for Pelham Cares at the MCC, because we have the physical space, and are convenient for donation drop offs. Building bridges with our local service clubs is important work for us.”
Junkin said that when he took over as Mayor in 2018, his main goal was to bring about financial stability for the Town.
“It’s been the focus for the previous council and this council. We are not completely out of the woods yet, but we’re in much better health now than we were four or five years ago.”
He feels that the current council is composed of a group that is working hard as a team, along with the expert on Town staff, for the betterment of the municipality’s residents.
“Do we do have disagreements in the council chamber? Of course, but nothing is taken personally,” said Junkin. “You state your case, and we have a vote. And then we proceed to the next agenda item. This council is indeed functioning very well.”
