Whitby Council Continues to Provide Strong Representation

Whitby council continues to provide strong representation

Jun 25, 2008 - 04:30 AM

This year's grade: A-

Last year's grade: A-

 

You can be sure of three things in life: death, taxes and a solid performance from the eight members who make up Whitby Town council.

While the taxes part of the equation certainly has elicited some concern as Whitby taxpayers were hit with a 6.6 per cent increase last year, local representation has once again been very good.

If there's one thing Whitby council always scores high on, it's the ability of the octet to pull together for the greater good of the people they work for: you.

Led by a strong leader in Mayor Pat Perkins, who continues to grow in the job she won in November 2006, Town and Regional councillors have a unified purpose in pursuing projects and policies that make Whitby a better place.

Joe Drumm, Gerry Emm and Don Mitchell have the right blend of experience and energy to ensure their Regional colleagues know where Whitby stands. Together with Mayor Perkins, they make their voices heard on a wide variety of issues.

Mayor Perkins and councillors Drumm and Mitchell, while always aware of what is best for Whitby, are also not afraid to speak their minds on issues they feel strongly about.

On the local side, councillors Sue Pitchforth, Elizabeth Roy, Shirley Scott and Lorne Coe are all passionate about taking their constituents' concerns to the council table. Councillor Pitchforth, especially, showed great skill in manoeuvring through difficult budget talks as chairwoman of the finance committee. Despite heated and tough discussions, she kept councillors on track and focused.

Coun. Scott has long been an advocate for local volunteers and shines in that role, while Coun. Coe wears the hat as the man of the people for his push to have citizen involvement at council.

With four grades of A, three grades of B+ and one B, this council overall rates an A- for its effectiveness.

I Believe In Strong Representation for the Residents of the North Ward

Town of Whitby 2010 municipal report cards

Jun 22, 2010 - 04:14 PM

Sue Pitchforth

Ward 1 North

This year's grade: A

Last year's grade: A

Attendance: Council 13/13, Committee 26/26

Expenses: $7,323

Despite her relaxed demeanour, Coun. Pitchforth knows how to get down to business, serving as chairwoman of both the operations committee and the budget deliberations for an unprecedented four years. Her cool-headed guidance during the March proceedings helped council breeze through all items on the budget with little or no contention. Her tireless energy is reflected in her perfect attendance of meetings and the long hours she dedicates to community initiatives. Coun. Pitchforth's cheerful charm allows people to feel comfortable in her presence and take heed of issues that matter the most to her. These include ensuring small businesses stay afloat, particularly in Brooklin, and preserving the town's heritage through her role on the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee.

Whitby council 2009 report cards

Jun 24, 2009 - 04:30 AM

Sue Pitchforth
Ward 1 North

This year's grade: A

Last year's grade: A

Coun. Pitchforth exudes a warm, earnest allure that makes her one of the most approachable members of council. With her plate already full through heavy involvement in the community, she boasts an exemplary attendance record and keeps herself up to speed in Town matters while serving as a calm and collected chairwoman of both the operations committee and budget proceedings. She stood strong on behalf of Brooklin small business owners in her refusal to allow massive commercial development outside of the Baldwin Street corridor, convincing the majority of council to take on the same position.

Attendance: Council 33/33, Committee 14/14

Advance Voting Information & Voting Day Locations

  

 

Advance Voting Locations - Polls Open to all Voters October 14, 15, 16 and 17, 2010.  1:00 pm-8:00 pm daily Locations:  - St.  Leo the Great Catholic Church - Parish Hall  130 Watford Street Brooklin  - Town of Whitby Municipal Building - Meeting Hall 575 Rossland Road East  - Iroquois Sports Complex - Fireside Room (Sports Garden Cafe) 500 Victorian Street West     - Voting Day Locations - Polls Open 10:00 am - 8:00 pm  October 25, 2010. Ward             Polling Subdivision                                               Facility                                                                          Address       1                             101                                         St. Charles Garnier French Catholic School                   4101 Baldwin Street South     1                             102                                                     Blair Ridge Public School                                         100 Blackfriar Avenue     1                             103                                                     Winchester Public School                                             70 Watford Street      1                             104                                                   St.  Bridget Catholic School                                      200 Carnwith Drive West

 

Need a ride to the polls? Please feel free to contact us and we would be pleased to provide a ride for you.

 

 

 

Questions? Concerns? Please Contact Me

I invite you to contact me anytime if you have any concerns or questions about any issue that is important to you.

You can reach me at:

 

Home phone - 905-655-7850

Home email - mscpitchforth@rogers.com

Through this website - www.pitchforth.ca

Twitter - www.twitter.com/ReElectSue  

 

 

 

  

Downtown Revitalization

Work will begin soon to repair sidewalks to provide accessible, safe new sidewalks and to provide street lighting on the east side of Baldwin Street, from Roebuck Street to Pearl Street.  This includes converting existing overhead hydro to underground service.

 

I Have Been Proud to Support the Following Initiatives at Council on Behalf of the North Ward

Design & Construction of the Brooklin Community Centre & Library- a major investment in our Downtown built to a LEED Silver Standard Completion of the Town's 1st Transportation Master Plan guiding transportation strategies and priniciples for the next 20 years Opening of Folkstone Park the Town's 1st Fully Accessible Park Renovation to Luther Vipond Memorial Arena - roof and interior work Opening of McKinney Arena Expansion of a new parking lot in Downtown 3 Youth Rooms for the Youth of Whitby - 2 located in the North Ward Approval of the Brooklin Downtown Streetlight Relocation and Sidewalk Project - a major improvement and investment in the Downtown Implementation of the Brooklin Heritage Conservation District to perserve our unique heritage Replacment of traffic signal lights with new LEDs to reduce energy consumption Implementation of the Cityworks Program for resident inquiries 407 - Link route - input to design and route Economic Competitveness and Developement Strategy Plan - our blueprint to show that "We are Open for Business" Design and construction of local and district parks and improvements to some exsisting parks

Chair & Moderator of the 7th Annual Summit - The Future of Canada's Infrastructure

This past September I was honored to be invited to chair and moderate this summit in Toronto. Attendees and speakers from around the world came to share best practices and ideas.

http://www.infrastructurecanada.com/agenda/detailed-agenda.html

First Fully Accessible Park in Whitby

 

 

 I am proud to have supported "Folkstone Park" behind McKinney Arena- this is the first fully accessible park in Whitby and is located in the North Ward..

 

 

Brooklin Harvest Festival

Enjoying the community atmosphere during the Harvest Festival in Downtown Brooklin.  I am proud to be President of Group 74, a women's service club in Brooklin who hosts events in the community to bring the community together. I am a dedicated community volunteer and believe in helping out where I am needed.

 

Meet the Candidates Evening Hosted by the Whitby Optimist Club

I invite you to come out and attend the "Meet the Candidates" evening on October 19th 2010.   Hosted by the Whitby Optimist Club at Henry Street High School -  Doors open to the public at 6:00pm - 9:30pm.  Hope you have an opportunity to drop by and ask any questions that you may have.

 

 

Come & Join Me At The Brooklin All Candidates Meeting

Please join me at the All Candidates Meetings on Tuesday October 12, 2010.  6:30 pm at St. Thomas Anglican Church 101 Winchester Rd.  East in Brooklin.  This opportunity to hear from the candidates is hosted by the Brooklin Town Crier.  I hope to see you there!

 

Downtown Brooklin - New Development is Coming!

 A sign of things to come.........a major new multi -use development coming to the Downtown bringing new stores, offices and residental units into our Downtown. 

 

 

Our Historic Downtown

Enjoying a visit in our Historic Downtown where many shops and services offer friendly service. I am proud to have supported the adoption of Downtown Brooklin as a Heritage Conservation District to help preserve our buildings and history. Our Facade Grant Program enables businessowners to apply for funding for exterior work on their buildings to help improve and beautify our Downtown.

The Business and Professional Women's Club of Durham

 

I had the pleasure of attending this special Durham Candidates Political Forum Sept 22, 2010 hosted by The Business and Professional Womens Club of Durham.  The evening was an excellent opportunity to share ideas and discuss important issues regarding children and women in our community. Thank you to the organizers for inviting me to attend. 

New Dedicated Bicyle Lanes in Brooklin

At the corner of Conlin Road and Anderson Street where recent upgrades to the roadway allowed for installation of a dedicated bicycle lane. As more roads are upgraded more bicycle lanes will be constructed.

Expansion Ceremony of the Ajax/Whitby Community Garden

I was pleased to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony and celebration for the expansion of the Outdoor Seminar Area at the Ajax/Whitby Community Garden on Lakeridge just south of Hwy 7.

My Vision for the Next Four Years- Important Issues I will be Working on for Our Future

Growth in the North Ward

I will use our Official Plan, which will guide a sensible, sustainable, "Made in Whitby" growth strategy, while providing opportunity to shape our future with a strong public voice. I will work toward preserving our hamlets, protecting green, natural areas and creating pedestrian friendly growth, while maintaining our community values. I will fight for rules and guidelines where intensification should occur. It should be rational and not have a negative impact on the surrounding areas. Our Transportation Plan and Cycling & Trails Plan will also lay a strong foundation and will work hand in hand to create a vibrant, accessible community where our decisions will affect how our residents get to work, how you shop, how you spend your recreation time and how the community will look. I will explore Green Opportunities where ever possible and will work with Public Works and the community to bring Roundabouts to our area which are a traffic and safety measures which also help minimize gas consumption.

A Strong Financial Future

I have been Budget Chair for the past 4 years, bringing fiscal experience and leadership to ensure a sustainable plan. I will continue to contain expenses through Road Asset Management Plan, use technology to improve services and continue to develop more partnerships with other levels of government as well as developing public/private partnerships. I will also continue to work to actively implement our Economic Development Strategy by bringing industry to our community which will positively affect our tax rate. My philosophy is to take care of the Town's assets, provide existing day to day services and provide for capital costs of growth. I will continue to work hard to spend your tax dollars wisely and efficently.

Whitby- Open for Business

Mixed use, commercial and industrial development will be the "Gateway into Brooklin" alongside the 407 expanding our Historic Downtown. I will work with industry, business and our Economic Development Team to bring a better balance of commercial, industry and residential that will provide tax relief to our residents. I will ensure that Council provides appropriate zoning requirements so this area will be attractive for industry and that our processes at the Town will be streamlined where possible. Along with my Council collegues we will continue to advocate for the timely construction of the 407 and the Link as well as the widening of Highway 7. I will implement our Economic Development Competitiveness Strategy which will provide a blueprint to follow and will let everyone know that Brooklin/Whitby is "Open for Business".

Historic Downtown Brooklin - Proud of our Heritage

I will continue discussions with MTO for a Baldwin Street truck bypass, resulting in Town ownership of the roadway and a full signal traffic light at Campbell and Baldwin Street, having a very positive effect on our Downtown. The successful Facade Grant Program will be expanded to ensure our businessowners have an opportunity to upgrade their exterior facades. I will continue to make investments in our Downtown on an annual basis. I will work with the Brooklin Downtown Development Steering Committee and the Downtown Brooklin Business Association to look into the feasibility of developing a B.I.A. I will work with developers and LACAC Heritage Whitby to ensure that any new infill development in our Downtown is welcomed and adheres to the Brooklin Heritage Conservation District. Continuing to work with our Downtown Development Office will assist in promoting our Historic Downtown .

Recreational, Cultural & Institutional Opportunites Abound

I will support and encourage the Lakeridge Health Hospital Task Force team and the LHIN to bring a fully operational teaching Hospital to the North Ward. As the North Ward continues to grow we will need to bring on more recreational facilities. There will be a Master Plan to redevelop Memorial Park, of which I am very supportive and I look forward to public input on what everyeone would like to see on this site. We will also need to find a location in the North for additional pad space for hockey/lacrosse and an aquatics centre would be certainly well used. A baseball and soccer field complex rounds out the facilites that I see needed in the North Ward. I am very open to looking for partnerships during the process of planning for these facilities. I will continue to support, encourage and expand programs for our youth and seniors.

My Role as Councillor - My Philosophy

I will continue to be accessible, accountable and approachable which are key to my role as Councillor. As Chair of various meetings, I welcome and encourage public engagement. My monthly articles in the Brooklin Town Crier keep the community informed about what is happening at Town Hall. Being out in the community daily allows residents the opportunity to speak with me in an informal setting. I will continue to make the entire budget process much more open and inviting to the public. Through our Cityworks program, residents are assured that their concerns and queries are looked after in an timely and professional manner.

Experience & Leadership Skills

During this past term on Council I have had the opportunity to: Chair the Operations Committee Chair the Finance/Budget Committee - the longest consecutive serving Budget Chair of the Corporation Be the Mayor's Designate for: The Whitby Public Library Board Downtown Brooklin Development Steering Committee Management Committee Roadwatch Whitby Youth Council Whitby In Bloom LACAC Heritage Whitby Founding Committee member of Brooklin Neighbourhood Watch

About Sue

For the last 15 years Sue, her husband Mike and son Chris have made Brooklin their home. Brooklin offered them a sense of community and a safe, vibrant place to raise a family. She is a dedicated volunteer in the community, giving many hours of her time and talents where needed. From participating in Scouting, School SCC's, BAM Lions Club, President of Group 74, mentor to youth and volunteering on many fundraising efforts, she is an active, passionate person who enjoys giving back to the community. Proud winner of the 2008 Phenomenal Women Award in Durham Region, she has enjoyed meeting and working with many members of the community and helped to shape the North Ward and the Town of Whitby. A successful business owner, she has operated her decorating/homestaging business "Room for Change" for 10 years here in Brooklin. She also is co-owner of "Lets Do Lunch" a businessowner's luncheon series based in Durham Region that bring dynamic businessowner's together to connect while raising funds and awareness for many local charities. Both businesses offer Sue the opportunity to reach out into the community and really make a difference each day. As a member of Council for the past two terms, Sue has gained a great deal of experience and looks forward to continuing her dedicated, passionate and accountable representation of the residents of the North Ward. Her calm demeanor, organized and businesslike approach is reflected in her perfect attendance at meetings and the long hours she dedicates to her constituents, their issues and concerns.