Ontario has made comprehensive asset management plans a
requirement for all Broader Public Sector organizations seeking provincial
funding for infrastructure projects. To ensure that all municipalities would be
able to complete these and access funding, AMO advocated for asset management
funding for municipalities that have capacity issues in completing these plans
and funding to ensure that critical repairs and projects could be undertaken in
the absence of major federal and provincial funding programs. AMO is pleased
that the Ontario Government has responded.
*************
The above communication was received from the Ontario Association of Municipalities .
The Broader Public Sector Accounting imposed by the Province
is apparently in difficulty..
At last year's conference the problems were discussed. Many municipalities have made little progress . The required changes to municipal accounting are significant
On the advice of a consultant, the town bought $440,000 software last November to manage the change. The consultant apparently didn't consult the IT department.
Thirteen months later the testing stage has been reached . Outside workers are to become data entry clerks as well as their normal duties.
The program will not transfer the asset inventory from spread sheets . The software for that would cost $50,000. We haven't bought that.
We're not messing about with piddlng stuff like $50,000 software Oh Dear Me No.
We had to add $58,000 worth of additional software to the WAMS
software. That's the biggy. The budget allocates another $100,000
for hand held equipment for workers in the field.
The auditors' management letter referred to problems caused by staff not having skills needed and training not being provided. They identified that as a management problem.
It's not hard to connect the dots. People doing a job for ten or fifteen years don't suddenly lose their skills . They don't need training for the job they've been doing for years.
If the job changes, they need new skills.
The job changed. Municipal staff throughout the Province are encountering difficulties.
In the communication above, the province has obviously acknowledged the fact and funding is being provided .
The action plan put forward by management to resolve problems uncovered by the auditors, recommends an organization
shift.
Really it's a re-organisational shift. The Treasurer will no longer be responsible for Human Resources assigned to his office in the re-organisation of 2010.
In the meantime we worm our way ahead with the WAMs software. Already more than a year old , as yet it produces nothing but a need for more money to be spent.
Wednesday 19 December 2012
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