Strategic Planning Process Overview
Council and staff of the Township of Asphodel-Norwood initiated the strategic planning process in late 2017. This process included discussions among Council and staff, public consultations, and extensive research. A draft strategic plan was presented to Council on July 24, 2018, followed by a public consultation period. After reviewing public feedback, revisions were made, and the four-year strategic plan was adopted by Council on September 11, 2018.
In the second half of the 2018-2021 plan, priorities shifted due to the pandemic.
In late spring 2021, Council and staff began a new round of strategic planning to build upon previous efforts. This process involved internal and public surveys to gather insights on current and future priorities, as well as resident concerns. A draft strategic plan was presented to Council on January 25, 2022, and after a public consultation period, the new plan was adopted on February 22, 2022, to guide the Township from 2022 to 2024. On October 22, 2024, Council resolved to extend the Strategic Plan to 2026 to align with its term.
The Strategic Plan serves as a roadmap for future Council decisions and initiatives. Please refer to the Strategic Plan Documents drop-down below to view the plans.
| Our Mission |
| We will provide a comprehensive range of municipal services in a sustainable, efficient, and cost effective manner. |
| Our Vision |
| The Township of Asphodel-Norwood is a safe, growing community, rich in heritage and offering a rural lifestyle. |
| Our Values |
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Community Building: Council members, staff, residents, businesses, and agencies working together to take steps towards solutions to issues affecting the community. The Township will focus on and grow the positive aspects of the community while understanding the community’s aspirations and addressing change where it needs to happen.
Collaboration: Council members, staff, residents, and agencies communicating with each other and working together to achieve results and deliver exceptional service.
Integrity: Earning and sustaining public trust by serving public interest, using powers responsibly for the purpose they were intended, and acting with honesty and transparency.
Respect: To always have due regard for the values, rights, or opinions of others.
Professionalism: To possess the skill, good judgement, and polite behaviour that is expected of the community.
Proactive: To initiate change rather than reacting to events to ensure a system of mutual trust is in place.
Accountable: To acknowledge and assume the responsibility of its actions, decisions, and policies.
Transparency: To make reasoned decisions without bias by following fair and objective processes.
Sustainability: To meet the current needs of the community without compromising the ability to provide long term municipal services to future generations. This includes financial, operational, and environmental sustainability.
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| Strategic Direction 1 - Strength: Strengthen Our Communities |
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Healthcare
- Advocate for expanded health care services including health care providers and facility upgrades (New Medical Centre)
- Actively participate in physician recruitment
Community Programming
- Continue supporting and expanding youth initiatives
- Continue supporting, expanding, and collaborating for senior initiatives
- Collaborate with Public Library Branches
- Ongoing engagement with the public through community events
Recreation/Parks/Trails
- Enhancement of Mill Pond Forest Trails through expansion and promotion
- Construction of Outdoor Skating Area
- Ongoing inclusion of accessible options in all green spaces
Waste Management
- Adopt and implement Landfill Closure Plan for 187 County Road 40
- Work with partners to adopt a strategy to develop a solution for collecting and managing an organic waste program
Emergency Management/Response
- Location study and design for a new EMS/Fire Hall in the Village of Norwood
- Ensure compliance with emergency management legislation and implement recommendations from the Municipal Control Group
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| Strategic Direction 2 - Sustainability: Achieving Operational Excellence |
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Responsible Growth
- Continue to monitor and react to impacts of growth on infrastructure and community servicing
- Community Cohesion – foster unity amongst stakeholders and community members through community events and communication
- Present aquifer capacity study to support water storage solutions and future growth
- Adopt Official Plan through Peterborough County
- Adopt updated Zoning By-law
- Support mixed housing developments to support diverse demographics
Proactive Financial Management
- Create and adopt responsible budgets – Engage community prior to adoption and capture opportunities to educate
- Adopt Debt Management policy (Water/Wastewater)
- Adopt Reserve Management policy
- Continue to actively pursue grant opportunities
- Ensure compliance with asset management legislation. Continue recognizing the life cycle of assets through reserve allocation and replacement
- Monitor and react to the impact of the Pandemic
Accountable Governance
- Pursue customer service excellence through digital services and software solutions
- Encourage staff development and cross training for succession planning purposes
- Adopt service levels and life cycle management practices as per O'Reg 588
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| Strategic Direction 3 - Prosperity: Growing our Economy |
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Broadband
- Advocate and invest in expansion of broadband width
Business Attraction/Retention
- Review of Community Improvement Plan (annually) to ensure effectiveness of the program
- Support annual Economic Development Work Plan for Shop Local initiatives (2022 - Choose Local Campaign)
- Ensure no municipal road blocks are in place for retail expansion
- Servicing of commercial and industrial lands
- Build partnerships and increase communication with businesses
Agriculture
- Ongoing support of the agricultural community through increased communication (liaise with provincial bodies and complete a Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats (SWOT) analysis)
- Support on-farm diversified uses
- Support and promote local agricultural initiatives and businesses
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Strategic Direction 4 - Engage: Engage Our Communities & Citizens
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Volunteerism
- Attract and retain volunteers to support the delivery of Township services, events, and programs
- Regularly review the composition and mandate of each committee to ensure that it can grow and reach its goals and objectives
- Support each committee with time and financial resources
Culture & Heritage
- Support the Asphodel-Norwood Cultural and Heritage Committee in enhancing outreach and promoting local tourism, while also committing to the preservation of historical documents and collections to ensure that the community’s rich heritage is celebrated and maintained for future generations
Citizen Engagement
- Continue to promote Township initiatives online (Township of Asphodel-Norwood Mobile App, website, and social media) and print (mailouts, newspaper, and community signs)
- Formalize a Public Consultation Strategy to continue engagement initiatives
- Release of a quarterly newsletter
- Release of a Year in Review during the first quarter of each year detailing the previous year accomplishments
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Strategic Plan Documents
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