North Simcoe Service Delivery Review

In early 2020 the Town of Midland, Town of Penetanguishene, Township of Tay and Township of Tiny were successful in receiving provincial funding to review services provided by each municipality. Service Delivery Reviews are a common exercise for municipalities to gauge their level of service across all business units and see where opportunities for efficiency and effectiveness exist.

The intent of the North Simcoe Service Delivery Review is to consider “who does what” in the context of what is best and meets the needs of North Simcoe residents and businesses looking ahead to the next twenty years. It is the goal of the four Municipalities to investigate service delivery improvements and to identify more efficient and effective ways of operating.

Specifically, the four municipalities are looking to explore opportunities to make it easier for residents and businesses to access municipal services in a consistent manner, processes to deliver efficient and effective local services, and possibilities to reduce unnecessary and duplicate processes, to be more cost effective. Addressing these opportunities will allow the four municipalities to maintain their individual municipal identities, while focusing on improving current delivery standards.

In early August, it was announced that Optimus SBR Inc. was awarded the project to undertake the comprehensive review of eleven (11) Municipal services and service levels, collectively agreed upon by the four Municipalities.

• Human Resources/Health & Safety
• Procurement
• Communications/Marketing/Tourism
• Information Technology
• Legal Services
• Land Use Planning
• Building Services
• Emergency Management
• Fire and Emergency Services
• Engineering Services
• Fleet Management

In mid-December, the four municipalities will each be hosting virtual townhalls that will provide an overview of the Service Delivery Review engagement, and allow for participants to ask questions, provide feedback on current services, and offer their ideas on the future.

In an effort to promote public health guidelines associated with the response to COVID-19, these townhalls will be hosted through virtual methods. Information on each townhall's timing, and how to access them will be posted on the website of each municipality.

In addition to the virtual townhalls, the municipalities will make a survey available online, or by pickup from each Municipal Office. This community survey will provide an additional method for residents and businesses to provide input to the Service Delivery Review.

The virtual townhall and survey will both look to understand:

• Service delivery expectations;
• Strengths, and activities that each municipality should continue, and;
• Challenges faced by residents and businesses with respect to receiving services.