The Age-Friendly Committee is accusing City Clerk Matthew Trennum of completely ‘annihilating’ the committee system in Thorold.
Back in November, City Council unanimously approved report CLK 11-2023, written by Trennum.
The report details a complete overhaul of the way committees work, with some of them being converted into informal community groups that can be called upon at will.
The committees still standing have had their budgets removed, and transferred to the appropriate department, or community grant program.
“This allows staff oversight, Council review and approval in a timely fashion,” reads Trennum’s report.
But some city volunteers feel that the decision has taken away their power.
On Thursday afternoon, members of the Age-Friendly Committee held Trennum’s feet to the fire as they questioned him on the sweeping changes.
“Our city council — who in the majority are 50 years and over — voted on it in the dark, voted against the seniors in this town and never bothered any of us to ask for a suggestion,” said Brenda Bator, who is also the president of the Thorold Senior Citizens Association. “I guess they do not understand that the best way to communicate is through transparency.”
Trennum explained that the changes have brought Thorold in line with other municipalities.
“And what I can advise is that all twelve, plus the Region, are having discussions on how we can ensure we’re following the same compliance,” he said. “I don’t believe these measures are as drastic as they are made out to be. There’s no change to your mandate or how your committee will function.”
Under the new regulations, committees can still make recommendations to council, but they can no longer organize events.
“We do not have a budget to do the activities that we’ve been doing for the last ten years,” said Chair Jean D’Amelio-Swyer. “So we can make a recommendation like we’ve been doing with the signs and wait three years on a report from City Council? That is what we’re reduced to. We can now make a recommendation and let the city take it over.”
Committee member Leslie Daniels, who is the president of the Thorold Garden Club, said she’s been waiting since the summer for City Hall staff to help her fund a city-wide garden contest.
“City staff is already overworked,” added committee member Barb Daly. “If we’re not around to run events, and we suggest an event, that means somebody at City Hall has to do the event.”
Trennum said the changes remove the liability risk for committee members if something were to go wrong at an event.
“You can mitigate the risk of having a car accident by not driving a car, but you have to assume reasonable risk in life,” responded D’Amelio-Swyer.
Councillor Tim O’Hare, who is a liaison on the Age-Friendly Committee, was asked why city council unanimously approved the report without any discussion.
“I didn’t realize that the changes were so drastic that it would stir up such debate and emotion around it,” O’Hare told committee members. “I think my biggest error — and I can only speak on my part, not other council members — is that we did not discuss it and we did not approach our committees to share it with them as well."
It is Councillor O’Hare’s hope that committee members will adjust to the changes in time.
“Like all changes it’s hard to see any good in it,” he said. “I feel confident that the money that has been set aside for Age-Friendly will be there. It’s still on a line in the city’s budget for the many needs and requirements the Age-Friendly group will need. They will be able to apply for community grants that are available.”
But a lot remains unclear about the community grant process.
According to the City’s website: “Eligible applications are due each year on the last Friday of November by 4:00 PM, for the following year. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted after this time.”
While Trennum specified the timelines would not be as strict this year, he also seemed to indicate that committees are not able to apply for grants.
“The formalized committee don’t run events,” he said. “Community members can access funds. If you think this is something the city should be doing you can still do that.”
Despite Trennum’s answers, committee members feel silenced.
“You have completed annihilated the Age-Friendly Committee, as well as other committees in Thorold,” said D’Amelio-Swyer, in her closing remarks. “We don’t have the authority to do anything anymore. It’s a slap in the face. Why would I as a volunteer subject myself to this? We will no longer be an exemplary committee to others in the region.”
And with that the meeting came to a close.
Only time will tell if the long list of yearly events put on by the Age-Friendly Committee will still come to fruition going forward.
