CORPORATE ADMINISTRATION
ERCA's Corporate Administration office, led by the CAO, provides expert knowledge, strategic advice and recommendations to the Board of Directors with regard to policy, program and budget decisions. The CAO also provides operational leadership to ERCA staff, and influences processes, decisions and implementation with the goal of advancing our vision and mission and the objects of the Authority. Administration also ensures broad corporate compliance with multiple pieces of legislation.
2019 Achievements
- • Implemented new comprehensive Corporate Administration By-Laws as legislated under the 2017 Amendments to the Conservation Authorities Act.
- • Met with municipal, City and County CAOs to provide updates on shared initiatives, and identify opportunities for future partnerships
2020 Actions
- • Consultation towards the development of new regulations pursuant to the Conservation Authorities Act to ensure CAs and municipalities can find the best local solutions to support community resilience
- • Encourage the province to adopt a fourth mandatory program that helps to achieve the Made-in-Ontario Environmental Plan actions for clean water, climate change resiliency, and conserving land & greenspaces
- • Continue to lead the Essex Region Conservation Foundation
- • Cultivate partnerships/Municipal and Regional CAOs
2020 Pressures
• Changes in delivery of programs and services through Conservation Authorities Act, the identification of activites related to provincial and local programs and services and the development of municipal Agreements and transition periods uncertain.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Solid financial management is the hallmark of strong and sustainable organizations. Understanding business processes and how they affffect financial outcomes, along with the ability to make necessary changes successfully is paramount for a modern organization. ERCA's Financial Services group supports Conservation Authority and Foundation staff, members and programs through budgeting, financial controls, accounting, procurement, and administration of payroll and benefits to ensure financial accountability to municipalities, funding partners, senior levels of government and other stakeholders.
2019 Achievements
- • implemented a number of mechanisms to ensure that its activities are transparent to member municipalities and watershed residents to ensure that program and services aligns well with the proposed provincial mandatory programs and services and with the expectations of our member municipalities
- • Upgraded financial software
2020 Actions
- • Finalize a comprehensive procurement policy to address changing needs and support fair and transparent procurement. Develop and implement an e-procurement tool to improve the internal workflow
- • Update the asset management plan, with long term financial strategy, to ensure a sustainable approach to asset replacement
- • Enhance focus on internal controls and business processes, to effect savings, minimize asset/resource losses and streamline operations.
- • Develop new 5-Year Sustainability Plan to support initiatives identified in the Strategic Plan and to ensure that ERCA has the appropriate resources, managed in the most effective and efficient way, to support the watershed and its municipal members' requirements.
- • Promote ways to create awareness and support the authority's financial pressures and sustainability goals through staff and board training and information sharing.
2020 Pressures
• Budget pressures to minimize the tax levy requirements from funding partners, while still achieving strategic plan activities