Tori Sutton
Staff Reporter

The Sept. 10 deadline for filing papers for this fall’s municipal vote is near, and over the last two weeks, several city councillors have announced their intent to seek re-election.

When contacted by the Gazette, most said they hoped to see the many projects they’ve worked on over the last term completed.

Finance chair Coun. Tom Clifford is no stranger to council, and is wrapping up his fourth term.

The owner of Brown’s Climate Care will be spending a bit more time out of the office – “I’m not calling it retirement,” he insists – which will free up a bit more time for his political duties.

“I thought long and hard about it and talked to my wife Heather,” Clifford said. “I’ve got a bit more time now and I like working with the people who are on council at the present time.”

Clifford would like to continue on as finance chair, so it’s no surprise the majority of his platform revolves around fiscal responsibility.

He admits taxes have increased under his watch, mostly due to major infrastructure projects such as the extensive multi-year storm sewer upgrades, and the Stratford Rotary Complex. But now those projects are complete, it’s time to tighten the reigns, he said.

“I’m advocating we keep a close eye on capital expenditures until we pay down our debt, which is around $90 million,” Clifford said. “I want all of council to be fiscally responsible.”

He is also suggesting a two-year wage freeze for all municipal employees and would also like to focus on city growth, including attracting more high tech businesses and building more homes to increase the tax base.

Now that rookie Coun. Paul Nickel has one term under his belt, he’s decided to seek a second term, hoping to keep a focus on the downtown core, the parks system and affordable housing.

“Council has been cohesive and proactive and (Mayor) Dan (Mathieson) has provided excellent leadership,” Nickel said.

“I am especially proud of the resolve to stand firm to Walmart’s bullying and the acquisition of the Cooper site for the location of the university.”

The new RBC data centre being built off Erie Street and recent investments in infrastructure are also something of which he is proud.

But there are several issues Nickel would like to see addressed in the near future, including vacant gas station and convenience store lots and closer scrutiny of zone change requests. He’d also like to see road resurfacing and pot hole repair become a priority, along with the development of new soccer fields and a splash pad.

“I found council deliberations to be challenging and rewarding and I would like to serve a second term if city electors deem that so,” Nickel said.

Seeking a third term, Coun. George Brown has a lengthy list of initiatives he’d like to see accomplished, or at least investigated further.

Brown, who served as deputy mayor this term, would like to see more pedestrian-friendly trails for bikers and walkers on city streets, along with the elimination of parking meters to make way for a pay-and-display system, similar to those used by most major cities.

“Overall, it will make more sense in the longterm, certainly from a snow removal and esthetic point of view,” Brown said.

He’s also interested in beautifying Market Square behind City Hall and eventually getting the buses moved to the new university site. Affordable housing – including the possible use of solar technology – and north shore rehabilitation are also on his radar.

At the same time, the city’s debt is also in the front of his mind, he said.

Brown has been working with the mayor to get Stratford designated as one of the world’s Top 7 Intelligent Communities, and would like to continue to push for it.

“We think we’re running in the right direction and I’d like to continue to help with that if I can,” he said.

Coun. Karen Smythe feels confident about running for a second term, especially when it comes to her knowledge of how the municipal process works.

“There’s a lot of big issues and the city is a huge business, and it takes a long time to learn all of that,” Smythe said, of her biggest challenge during her first term.

“I enjoy working with the other councillors. The decisions we’ve had to make have been tough, but they’ve been well formulated and thought through.”

Her top topics include the city budget, maintaining the affordable housing inventory, improved bicycle trails and diversifying the local economy to help create jobs.

During this term, she has represented council on Heritage Stratford, which has piqued her interested in another public building – the hospital’s Avoncrest building, on John Street.

Smythe would like to see the exterior of the building receive heritage designation and the protection that comes along with it.

Fiscal responsibility is also important, she said.

“Everything comes with a huge price tag,” Smythe said. “We have to really do some careful planning as to how we want to spend our dollars, yet take care of the needs of the citizens. “It can be done, but I think we have to be creative.”

Coun. Bonnie Henderson is interested in keeping her seat for the next few years.

She admitted her first term has changed the way she looks at her city, and said she has a better understanding of budgetary restraints and other determining factors she never would have thought about before becoming a councillor.

Henderson feels there’s still plenty more for her to accomplish and she’s enjoyed helping residents through their issues and making them as satisfied as possible.

Along with making the city more environmentally friendly, one of Henderson’s major goals is to see more sidewalks and multi-use trails constructed in the city. She would like to see every area have a sidewalk on at least one side of the road and a ring trail around the entire city.

For example, Lorne Avenue is one area that could use a multi-use trail, especially since there are several agencies – like Big Brothers Big Sisters – in the area, Henderson said.

“I see people trying to cross Lorne Avenue at Dufferin Street and it’s pretty scary,” she said.

“We need (a trail) out there. It makes it more accessible for people in wheelchairs, pushing a stroller or just going for a walk.”

Henderson is also in favour of establishing a splash pad and wants to focus on keeping the city, including housing, affordable for all.

“We’ve had too much downsizing in industry, there’s a lot of people out there whose unemployment (benefits) has run out and are struggling,” she said.

But most of all she would like to improve communication between city hall and residents, and help educate them about the city’s workings.

“I want to make it easier for people, when they have complaints, problems, or issues, to know where to call and what to do,” Henderson said. “It’s still a bit confusing.”

Veteran councillor and former mayor Keith Culliton said sewers are still his top priority.

“I’m glad to see the councils in the last 10 years have supported improving the sewer system and it’s my hope that will continue,” Culliton said.

Council also needs to keep an eye on finances. With taxes and water and sewer rates having risen over the last four years, he wants to make sure they do not skyrocket.

“There’s many things the City of Stratford wants, like splash pads, and I think when council sits down we’ll have to give careful consideration to the things people want and try to look after them,” Culliton said. “We have to be very careful because one of these times the taxes are going to be too high in the city.

“Our debenture debt is a lot more than it was 10 years ago and I don’t like spending money I don’t have.”

Overall, he hopes residents are pleased with the work he’s done over the years.

“I think that I can provide a service to the citizens of Stratford that’s worthwhile,” Culliton said. “I just hope the citizens will give me another opportunity to serve them again this time and I’ll work for everybody like I have in the past.”