A facilitator could be brought in to “advance” discussions between the city and Heritage Guelph following recent tensions between the advisory group and city staff.
Krista Walkey, the city’s general manager of planning and building services, pointed out the possibility during a meeting of the advisory committee this week, saying the possible move came out of the recent issues surrounding the cultural heritage action plan (CHAP).
“We have been having some conversation with our clerk's department about looking at Heritage Guelph and re-looking at … the terms of reference and the mandate of the committee,” she told committee members.
“How can we, together, move forward to make sure that we’re working effectively … (and) we’re all on the same page?
“I don’t exactly know what that will look like.”
Walkey later clarified with GuelphToday that the facilitator would be a staff member from another department, someone “more familiar with Terms of Reference review process.”
“Reviewing the Terms of Reference with the committee is good practice to ensure they reflect current legislation,” she said in an email, noting the current terms of reference was drafted with the assistance of HG in 2016.
When asked by GuelphToday about what inspired the decision to bring in a facilitator, Walkey made no mention of the CHAP, though she told the committee it stemmed from the “experience that resulted in the CHAP and some of the discussions that took place.”
Here’s a brief summary of what happened with that:
- Heritage Guelph reviewed the draft CHAP in 2019, offering several suggestions for change and pointing out factual errors in the document, though chair P. Brian Skerrett later said they didn’t receive the entire plan for review.
- The plan’s final draft was presented to city council on Oct. 13. In a report recommending approval, staff noted the plan was “revised to address comments and feedback from Heritage Guelph and from the community.” The plan was deferred to January at the prompting of Coun. Leanne Caron, in part to allow HG to comment on the final draft.
- In early November, Melissa Aldunate, the city’s manager of policy planning and urban design planning, told GuelphToday that HG would not be asked for comments on the final version, stating it had met its mandate by reviewing the draft.
- Walkey attended the committee’s Nov. 9 meeting and invited members to comment on the final draft and clarify that it can discuss information included on its agenda (the CHAP was listed as information for the Oct. 26 meeting).
- On. Dec. 8, HG unanimously rejected the CHAP and called for major overhauls to the document.
- Last week, the unchanged plan was approved by council, along with some additions, during a committee of the whole meeting. Skerrett delegated during that meeting and urged council to reject the plan and noted members questioned whether their comments on the draft were incorporated into the final version.
- The CHAP is on the agenda for next week’s formal council meeting for potential ratification.
It’s unclear who will head the committee into this potential facilitator process. During Monday’s meeting, Skerrett declined to continue in the role for another term, turning down the nomination from a committee colleague.
“At this juncture, no thank you,” he said when his name was put forward.
“There was a lack of personal satisfaction and enjoyment in the role anymore,” Skerrett shared with GuelphToday afterward. “While I wouldn’t have resigned, given the opportunity to not let my name stand, I took that opportunity.”
Asked why he’s no longer enjoying the position, Skerrett offered, “a firm no comment.”
Current vice-chair Arlin Otto was recommended to take on the role but she also declined, stating she doesn’t “have the bandwidth” for that right now. She further declined to be re-instituted as vice-chair if there isn’t a chair in place, as that would essentially push her into the role.
Asked after the meeting why she’s not interested in the chair position, Otto said she’d rather not comment.
In the end, the election of a new chair and vice-chair were deferred to Heritage Guelph’s Feb. 8 meeting.
Stephen Robinson, the city’s senior heritage planner and staff liaison for the committee, said the nomination and election process is an annual occurrence. Skerrett and Otto, he added, will remain in their current positions until replacements are appointed by the committee.
