Life in Pelham - Community Guide

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Life in Pelham text over an image of a mother holding up a young child

The Town of Pelham’s bi-annual Life in Pelham Guide — commonly known as the community guide — will be offered in 2021 as a series of special inserts in the Voice of Pelham throughout the year.

The change in presentation and distribution stems from the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on programs, events, and key dates. With continuously changing rules and regulations, producing a guide that could result in irrelevant information within a day after being printed; this outcome does not align with the Town’s communications goals.

The Town’s communications plan outlines a commitment to being accessible, accurate, timely, understandable, relevant, and

The Town of Pelham’s bi-annual Life in Pelham Guide — commonly known as the community guide — will be offered in 2021 as a series of special inserts in the Voice of Pelham throughout the year.

The change in presentation and distribution stems from the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on programs, events, and key dates. With continuously changing rules and regulations, producing a guide that could result in irrelevant information within a day after being printed; this outcome does not align with the Town’s communications goals.

The Town’s communications plan outlines a commitment to being accessible, accurate, timely, understandable, relevant, and consistent; continuing with the guide in its traditional form this year would conflict with these principles. Working with the Voice of Pelham allows the flexibility required to ensure the information the Town is sharing about programs, events, services, and more is as up-to-date as possible.

Town information appearing in the newspaper will be presented as centre spread pull-outs, printed in full colour and on heavier, brighter stock than traditional newsprint. This format is designed for residents to pull out the section and keep it as a quick-reference guide until the next installment is printed.


With several inserts throughout the year, the Town wants to make sure that you're getting the information you want. You're invited to use this page to share your ideas and feedback with us.


Check out the first insert, now available online!

Have a question?

Have a question about the Life in Pelham Guide? Let us know. The goal is to make the Guide as useful and informative as possible. If we're missing something or information needs clarification, please let us know. Staff will be happy to answer all your questions.

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  • Share Taxes in the Town have increased dramtically over the last four years. It looks like Council has increased Pelham's share of the property tax bill +7% each year for a total of 28% over this Council's four budgets. Sadly this information is never shared in Town documents. Can you please answer here and publish how much the Pelham taxes have increased for the average property owner in the Town during this term of Council (including the recently approved 2022 budget)? You owe it to taxpayers to be transparient with our funds. Please answer here and in the guide. Thanks. on Facebook Share Taxes in the Town have increased dramtically over the last four years. It looks like Council has increased Pelham's share of the property tax bill +7% each year for a total of 28% over this Council's four budgets. Sadly this information is never shared in Town documents. Can you please answer here and publish how much the Pelham taxes have increased for the average property owner in the Town during this term of Council (including the recently approved 2022 budget)? You owe it to taxpayers to be transparient with our funds. Please answer here and in the guide. Thanks. on Twitter Share Taxes in the Town have increased dramtically over the last four years. It looks like Council has increased Pelham's share of the property tax bill +7% each year for a total of 28% over this Council's four budgets. Sadly this information is never shared in Town documents. Can you please answer here and publish how much the Pelham taxes have increased for the average property owner in the Town during this term of Council (including the recently approved 2022 budget)? You owe it to taxpayers to be transparient with our funds. Please answer here and in the guide. Thanks. on Linkedin Email Taxes in the Town have increased dramtically over the last four years. It looks like Council has increased Pelham's share of the property tax bill +7% each year for a total of 28% over this Council's four budgets. Sadly this information is never shared in Town documents. Can you please answer here and publish how much the Pelham taxes have increased for the average property owner in the Town during this term of Council (including the recently approved 2022 budget)? You owe it to taxpayers to be transparient with our funds. Please answer here and in the guide. Thanks. link

    Taxes in the Town have increased dramtically over the last four years. It looks like Council has increased Pelham's share of the property tax bill +7% each year for a total of 28% over this Council's four budgets. Sadly this information is never shared in Town documents. Can you please answer here and publish how much the Pelham taxes have increased for the average property owner in the Town during this term of Council (including the recently approved 2022 budget)? You owe it to taxpayers to be transparient with our funds. Please answer here and in the guide. Thanks.

    RE1B asked over 2 years ago

    Thank you for your inquiry. The Life in Pelham Community Guide aims to provide information to residents on upcoming events and ways to continue to engage with Town operations. For information specific to the Town of Pelham Budgets and tax rates, it is recommended to review the dedicated section of the website at www.pelham.ca/budgets In this section of the site all budgets and tax rate schedules from 2012 to 2022 (once approved) are available, alternatively, they can be requested from Town Hall. The budget schedule is published in advance and a Public Budget Open House meeting where feedback is welcome also takes place. The 2022 Operating Budget has not yet been approved.

    The Treasurer’s presentation of the 2022 Draft Operating Budget is available in the agenda package of the December 14, 2021 meeting of Council.  The 2022 Operating Budget is scheduled to go forward for Council approval on Jan. 24, 2022.  The 2022 Operating Budget Book will be posted to the website once approved and finalized. The Operating budget book does include an estimate of the impact on property taxes overall, based on the Net Operating Budget Increase after growth, holding other factors constant.

  • Share Are stats being kept on fox /coyote encounters in urban areas of Fonthill,and if so can they be published as I am hearing of increased sightings? Thanks on Facebook Share Are stats being kept on fox /coyote encounters in urban areas of Fonthill,and if so can they be published as I am hearing of increased sightings? Thanks on Twitter Share Are stats being kept on fox /coyote encounters in urban areas of Fonthill,and if so can they be published as I am hearing of increased sightings? Thanks on Linkedin Email Are stats being kept on fox /coyote encounters in urban areas of Fonthill,and if so can they be published as I am hearing of increased sightings? Thanks link

    Are stats being kept on fox /coyote encounters in urban areas of Fonthill,and if so can they be published as I am hearing of increased sightings? Thanks

    Don Vida asked over 2 years ago

    Thank you for your inquiry. The Town of Pelham does not currently maintain records regarding sightings, however would recommend residents with concerns connect with the 

    Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, who can be reached at Toll-free: 1-800-667-1940

  • Share "The approved budget for 2021 included allocated funds similar to previous years for the community guide, thus a full RFP process was not required." If that's how the budget is done, why does the Town continually tender for annual things like snow clearing and grass cutting and sideway construction and tree trimming. Then, there's other, multi-year things like banking or the audit that the Town tenders for multiple years. And, in the past, the Town tendered newspaper advertizing and the community guide. So what changed? Is Council just wanting to curry favour with the local paper? on Facebook Share "The approved budget for 2021 included allocated funds similar to previous years for the community guide, thus a full RFP process was not required." If that's how the budget is done, why does the Town continually tender for annual things like snow clearing and grass cutting and sideway construction and tree trimming. Then, there's other, multi-year things like banking or the audit that the Town tenders for multiple years. And, in the past, the Town tendered newspaper advertizing and the community guide. So what changed? Is Council just wanting to curry favour with the local paper? on Twitter Share "The approved budget for 2021 included allocated funds similar to previous years for the community guide, thus a full RFP process was not required." If that's how the budget is done, why does the Town continually tender for annual things like snow clearing and grass cutting and sideway construction and tree trimming. Then, there's other, multi-year things like banking or the audit that the Town tenders for multiple years. And, in the past, the Town tendered newspaper advertizing and the community guide. So what changed? Is Council just wanting to curry favour with the local paper? on Linkedin Email "The approved budget for 2021 included allocated funds similar to previous years for the community guide, thus a full RFP process was not required." If that's how the budget is done, why does the Town continually tender for annual things like snow clearing and grass cutting and sideway construction and tree trimming. Then, there's other, multi-year things like banking or the audit that the Town tenders for multiple years. And, in the past, the Town tendered newspaper advertizing and the community guide. So what changed? Is Council just wanting to curry favour with the local paper? link

    "The approved budget for 2021 included allocated funds similar to previous years for the community guide, thus a full RFP process was not required." If that's how the budget is done, why does the Town continually tender for annual things like snow clearing and grass cutting and sideway construction and tree trimming. Then, there's other, multi-year things like banking or the audit that the Town tenders for multiple years. And, in the past, the Town tendered newspaper advertizing and the community guide. So what changed? Is Council just wanting to curry favour with the local paper?

    RE1B asked about 3 years ago

    The Town tenders many projects, but is not required to conduct a full RFP for all of them. Given the pandemic and ongoing changes that occur regularly, this option was preferred as it provided the opportunity to share the most up-to-date and relevant information to residents. In 2020, our spring guide (distributed through Niagara This Week) contained programs and information that immediately became out-of-date and irrelevant due to the various lockdowns. Given that the goal with this communication piece, and all communication, is to reach as many residents of Pelham as possible; limiting that delivery to just one vehicle would not be in the best interest of the residents. The prints ads in the Voice and Niagara This Week, online through the Voice and Niagara This Week websites, and through paid and organic social media posts.

    The Town has printed and distributed the guide in the Voice of Pelham in the past as well as through Niagara This Week; given that these routes reduced the cost to the taxpayer by not having to pay for postage in addition to the printing and production of the guide, working with the local newspapers is the most cost-effective manner to deliver the guide. 

    The decision to publish the guide as an insert in the Voice of Pelham was administrative and not Council-driven. Printing the insert in the Voice of Pelham gives the Town the most flexibility with sharing current content at the best rate. 

  • Share This is all pretty flashy. My taxes keep going up and up and you keep spending on stuff like this guide. I looked for the award of the contact for the newspaper to carry the Town's info, but there's nothing under Bids & Tenders. How much is this costing us? Thanks, on Facebook Share This is all pretty flashy. My taxes keep going up and up and you keep spending on stuff like this guide. I looked for the award of the contact for the newspaper to carry the Town's info, but there's nothing under Bids & Tenders. How much is this costing us? Thanks, on Twitter Share This is all pretty flashy. My taxes keep going up and up and you keep spending on stuff like this guide. I looked for the award of the contact for the newspaper to carry the Town's info, but there's nothing under Bids & Tenders. How much is this costing us? Thanks, on Linkedin Email This is all pretty flashy. My taxes keep going up and up and you keep spending on stuff like this guide. I looked for the award of the contact for the newspaper to carry the Town's info, but there's nothing under Bids & Tenders. How much is this costing us? Thanks, link

    This is all pretty flashy. My taxes keep going up and up and you keep spending on stuff like this guide. I looked for the award of the contact for the newspaper to carry the Town's info, but there's nothing under Bids & Tenders. How much is this costing us? Thanks,

    RE1B asked about 3 years ago

    The Life in Pelham inserts appearing in the Voice this year results from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In previous years, the Town has printed a bi-annual guide, and the change this year, while produced in a different format, is expected to be more impactful as it ensures the information the Town shares is up-to-date, relevant, and accurate. With changing rules and recommendations about what is allowed in terms of programming and services offered by the Town as impacted by the pandemic, this format is our best option to connect with Pelham residents.

    The approved budget for 2021 included allocated funds similar to previous years for the community guide, thus a full RFP process was not required. As an added benefit to this year’s approach, likely, we will come in under budget for this budget line. The community guide is one component of the overall approach to communications, including print and digital advertisements, social media marketing, printing and mailing, and other online engagement tools. The goal is to reach as many residents as possible with Town information that is as up to date as possible.

     

Page last updated: 28 Sep 2021, 09:38 AM