Adam Bramburger
Beaver Staff
Carol Harvey is looking for a bigger role in the governance of her hometown with a run for the deputy mayor’s seat on Greater Napanee council this fall.
Born in Napanee, raised on a farm in the former Richmond Township and practicing real estate in the area for 35 years, Harvey feels she can work effectively with residents in and outside of town.
“My first term on council has given me an appreciation of what a great town we have. I want to be a part of a team that will ensure future growth and take into account all of our citizens — rural, urban, seniors, young people family, farmers and businesses,” she said.
Though Harvey said she found her first term busy, after retiring in 2016, she believes she has time to take on the additional duties at the County council table and to hear residents’ concerns.
She said her priority for the upcoming campaign is to “find more efficient ways to reduce spending and tax increases” and by doing so, the municipality can look into some different priorities.
Chief on Harvey’s list is the medical situation in town.
“One of the biggest concerns I have is actively recruiting more family doctors to Napanee. It’s in a crisis situation. Hundreds of people are without a doctor. We absolutely have to address this and more effectively, I would say,” she said. “Incentives would help. One of my things would be helping with rent on office space if they wanted to locate in the hospital foundation’s building.”
Harvey also said she’d like to see heritage preservation made a priority with the introduction of a heritage committee and the development of the waterfront could also promote tourism and quality of life.
“We have our nice walking path on the south side. We need to address the north side. With the new Gibbard District in process, they’re creating a nice tree space along the water. What would be nice is for the town to have a walkway from Centre Street to the Gibbard walk.”
Harvey would like to see council work with the Province and the County to address affordable rental housing and find ways to direct more money to roads and infrastructure maintenance. Holding the line on taxation is also important.
“I think we should look at every department and see if there is any place we can cut back or save. I don’t want to reduce services, but I do want to look at how we can provide services more economically.”
Harvey also supports increased council transparency by broadcasting meetings via the Internet and Cogeco cable. She said with young people and working families being busy and seniors sometimes having difficulty getting out in inclement weather, it would help more people to be informed.
Touching on some of the hot-button issues of the campaign, Harvey said she believes Napanee should have an indoor pool. After touring the Quinte West YMCA in Trenton, she believes the best path forward is to seek grants and fundraise to build it, then turn the facility over to the YMCA to run it. In Quinte West, there is no ongoing cost to taxpayers.
Harvey believes the issue of tax equalization between rural and urban wards has been dealt with by a committee appointed by council. Speaking on area rating for services such as policing, she said council is still waiting for information about whether calls for service from the OPP can be area rated following a motion Aug. 22, 2016. She said she’s waiting to see the results before taking a position.
“I would like to see the results of that request; right now I am open minded and will decide once a response comes from the OPP and the provincial government.”