Hello everyone. My name is Debbie Myles and I was your Deputy Mayor for the 2018 to 2022 term.
I wanted to share a couple of experiences from that 2018 to 2022 term that are still having financial consequences for taxpayers, plus a few issues I have had with the present council. I believe voters need facts in order to make informed decisions before they cast their vote.
During the 2018-2022 term, the majority of council voted to create a new position over the facilities supervisor position. It was to be a temporary two-year position. Both Smokey and I voted against this new position. Six months later, the old facilities supervisor, who was a licensed plumber and did all the municipality’s plumbing, was no longer working for the municipality.
Present day, we are now paying over $246,000.00 a year for these two positions (they are on the sunshine list https://www.ontario.ca/public-sector-salary-disclosure/2025/all-sectors-and-seconded-employees/). The old employee was not on the sunshine list, so made less than $100,000.00, plus we are now paying for our plumbing needs on top of the wages. I don’t know what the cost of that would be per year, but it will be substantial.
Would someone please tell me how this was a smart move financially for the taxpayers? And if you don’t remember who your council members were for this term, please look it up before you vote, because some of these people are again asking for your vote, in this election!
Some concerns from the present council:
December 16, 2024 I questioned council on them voting in favour of spending $348,000.00 on a new dock for Lion’s Head harbour, and it did not go out for tender. No response from any one of them.
January 2, 2025 I wrote to the clerk at the time, at the suggestion of the Ombudsman’s office, and I asked if the municipality had a response policy or a bylaw stating a certain length of time that council and staff had to respond to taxpayers questions. I also asked 3 other questions about the Lion’s Head harbour docks. I did receive a response, but not one of my 4 questions were answered by the clerk and most of the response was written in red. I went back to the Ombudsman’s office and they suggested that I file a formal complaint, which I did. I spoke to the CAO about the complaint, she assured me that council was aware of my suggestion of a response bylaw. I don’t believe to date anything has changed nor has a response bylaw been put in place.
May 11, 2026 I wrote to the CAO and Clerk of this municipality, as I had attempted to watch the November 12, 2024 council meeting on video, only to find a message that the YouTube account associated with this video has been terminated, along with quite a few more council meetings. I asked how I could obtain these council meetings. No response from either staff member.
June 15, 2026 I sent correspondence to the council and staff requesting it be included on the next agenda. I had questions regarding Cabot Head road, and had requested the answers be included so the taxpayers would also have the answers. My correspondence did show up on the June 22, 2026 agenda, but no answers were ever received from council or staff.
July 21, 2026 I sent correspondence and asked that it be placed on the agenda, and I was asking where my answers were from the June 22, 2026 correspondence. No response from council or staff, nor did my correspondence show up on the agenda.
There seems to be a problem with no responses, no transparency, accountability, honesty, or integrity with both council and senior staff.
It was a pleasure and an honour to have been your Deputy Mayor for the 2018-2022 term, but it was crystal clear to me that there was no interest by my fellow council members and senior staff in making the municipality more open and transparent.
Please vote.
Debbie Myles
