SYS update on the review of SYSRC governance, financial management practices and operational effectiveness (Part 2):

Dear Residents of SYSRC:

In yesterday’s statement I reported on the first 30-day phase of our 90-Day plan to Stabilize, Standardize Processes & Improve Oversight in SYSRC. I covered key actions #3 to #5.  In today’s statement I report on key action #1, i.e. “Establish short-term guiding principles” for municipal staff.

We reflected on the role in the day-to-day management of the municipality set some guiding principles that will inform all actions in executing our functions.

In the absence of a defined vision, mission, values (and corresponding strategic plan for SYSRC) these guiding principles are important and will act as guideposts to ensure that our short-term actions are well aligned with our purpose and that staff are acting in the best possible interests of the community we serve.

Over time, a strategic plan will help formalize our priorities and our guiding principles will continue to live through a shared vision, mission and values.

What is the role of the Administrative Team?

The Primary function of the Administration Team (current and future) is to manage the day‑to‑day operations of the municipality and implement the priorities and policies set by elected officials.

Core Purpose

• Oversee daily municipal operations to ensure services run efficiently and effectively.
• Implement policies and strategic direction established by the mayor and council.
• Act as the administrative link between council and municipal departments ensuring decisions are carried out properly.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Managing municipal staff, budgets and resources to support community services.
• Overseeing essential community services
• Providing expert advice to council and preparing reports, plans, and decision-making materials.
• Ensuring transparency, efficiency and ethical administration of municipal programs and decisions.

In Simple Terms

The Municipal Administration Team is the professional management arm of the municipality. While elected officials make decisions, the administration team turns those decisions into action and keeps the municipality running smoothly.

What are the principles that will guide us?

Having understood staff’s purpose, the discussion turned towards the key principles that will guide staff in executing day-to-day functions, methods of work (processes and policies) and in how staff interact with key stakeholders.

Guiding principles should be adequate in number to be impactful in decision making but not so many that they lose meaning.  Nine (9) principles have been identified.

Statement

We, the administrative team of Sunbury-York Rural Community, will allow the following guiding principles inform every action we take in the execution of our duties.  Every stakeholder will feel the impact of these principles in their interactions with us, today and in the future.

In all endeavors we will strive to:

• Be a model transparency and integrity
• Be good custodians of public funds and assets
• Be collaborative and inclusive with stakeholders
• Be responsive and accessible to residents
• Be empathetic and pragmatic in problem solving
• Be fair and impartial
• Be optimistic and future oriented
• Be cohesive in our approaches and methods
• Achieve excellence and be proud of our work in serving the community

We believe that this is a good foundation upon which to build the administrative arm of the community.

Tomorrow, I share the second 30-day phase of our project.

Don Ferguson
Supervisor SYSRC