15 | durhamregion.com | This Week | Thursday, August 25, 2022 | The Regional Municipality of Durham is accepting applications from individuals interested in serving as a community member on the Durham Regional Police Services Board. Responsibilities include monthly board meetings, attending training sessions, zone meetings, conferences and sub-committee meetings. This will involve more than 20 hours per month. The term of this appointment is four years and coincides with the term of Regional Council. To be eligible for appointment, the public member must be at least 18 years of age, be a resident of the Regional Municipality of Durham, and meet the eligibility requirements in the Region's Recruitment and Selection Policy. The successful candidate should demonstrate the following qualifications: • an interest in and commitment to public safety and responsible police governance • an understanding of the role of a police services board • senior executive or board of director experience • administrative and budgetary experience • previous community and professional involvement • availability to attend meetings • a flexible schedule to meet time commitments of the position Application forms can be obtained from the Region of Durham website (www.durham.ca), or by contacting the Legislative Services Division by email at appointments@durham.ca. Further details regarding the Durham Regional Police Services Board can be obtained by visiting the Durham Regional Police Services Board website (www.durhampoliceboard.ca). Completed applications must be submitted to the Regional Clerk by 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 27, 2022, at the address shown below or by email to appointments@durham.ca: Regional Clerk/Director of Legislative Services The Regional Municipality of Durham 605 Rossland Road East, P.O. Box 623 Whitby, Ontario L1N 6A3 Phone: 905-668-7711, extension 2097 If this information is required in an accessible format, please contact the Regional Clerk/ Director of Legislative Services at 1-800-372-1102, extension 2097. The Regional Municipality of Durham is Accepting Applications for the Appointment of a Community Member to the Durham Regional Police Services Board Regional chair John Henry said he's not looking for the enhanced "strong mayor" powers that his counterparts in Toronto and Ottawa are set to receive from the province. Recently, Premier Doug Ford said the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa will be given enhanced powers that could only be overruled by a two-thirds vote at city council. "We'll do a trial and we'll look at (extending the powers to) the rest of the mayors of relatively large cities," Ford said. Unlike Toronto and Ottawa, which are single-tier municipalities, Durham communities have councillors both at the local and regional level. "For me it's not something we've asked for," said Henry. "In Durham, what we do right now works well for us. We're different than the City of Toronto or Ottawa, we're made up of eight individual municipalities that have their mayors that manage their communities and we manage all the other parts of the Region of Durham." Responsibilities for lower-tier municipalities include parks and recreation, fire services, libraries and local road maintenance. Among the Region of Durham's responsibilities are water and sewer, waste disposal, policing, regional roads, public health and social services, including housing. "So for us right now, it's interesting to watch what's going on," said Henry. Henry said that in Durham, he feels regional council has been able to finish council meetings and get the work done residents expect. "For us right now, I don't see a benefit at all, I believe here at the region the program we have in place works well and council has worked well together." With a population of 175,000, according to the 2022 census, Durham's largest city is Oshawa, but it's not clear if Oshawa would meet Ford's definition of a "relatively large" city. Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter shared a similar sentiment to Henry. "I like our system that we have at this particular time," said Carter. "I like having the full input of our council and I like to be able to hear different opinions and different ideas. I think it's good for democracy, I'm comfortable with this way of operating as a mayor." Currently, if Carter wants to see a project or policy advanced, he needs to drum up support among a majority of his council. He is one vote among 11. Five local and five regional councillors sit on Oshawa council. "It's a process where first I have to take it through a committee structure and then it has to go to council and I have to be able to get support prior to getting into committee and I have to get support in committee and then I have to get support in council," explains Carter. "I'm humble enough to understand I'm not the smartest person in the room and when you have a collective effort of 11 members of council that participate, I think that helps make solid decisions. "There are times where I wish it would be quicker and faster ... but I just feel based upon the system I've been working under, I think it's been efficient." NDP municipal affairs critic Jeff Burch released as statement questioning Ford's decision to give the mayors of Ottawa and Toronto more power. "Why did Premier Doug Ford keep his Strong Mayor plan secret throughout the campaign? Why won't he consult municipalities or the people they represent? It's baffling that Ford is focused on giving two mayors more power, instead of working on giving municipalities support that would actually help people -- like better funding for housing, public health, long-term care and transit." - With files from Torstar News Services DURHAM REGIONAL CHAIR NOT LOOKING FOR ENHANCED POWERS FROM PROVINCE REKA SZEKELY rszekely@durhamregion.com John Henry is the Durham regional chair and CEO. Sabrina Byrnes/Metroland NEWS A STRONGER VOICE We recognize that diversity is the strength of our communities and we are inviting you to share your voice in our publications. DURHAMREGION.COM/COMMUNITYDIVERSITY