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Lakeshore Advance, 2013-01-16, Page 6Wednesda , January 16, 2013 • Lakeshore Advance 5 Community letters to the editor Resident responds to year in review There are approximately 92 weeks before the next election. I read with utter dismay the perspec- tive of our Deputy -Mayor on the achievements of the Larnbton Shores Council in 2010-12. Has any politician ever delivered a recital containing such a distortion of reality? The first 11 items seem more or less relate to the govern- ance that Lacnbton Shores received dur- ing 2012. Reducing the debt by $4 mil- lion which by their own lack of answers (December 17, 2012) none could state that any action on their part contributed to this decline. Choosing a STT that is $8.2 million cheaper than the originally proposed STF, however there seems to be no guarantee of funding nor any indi- cation of what the real cost to tax payers will be. When will the council reveal its "New Direction"? When will the budget indicate the cost to tax payers of the set- tlement incurred with the firing of the CAO? Was this the good governance promised during the campaign by the "endorsees"? If you are reading this let- ter you probably have read a second perspective on the degree of good gov- ernance we got. Do all members of the Council agree with her assessment? Was not the opportunity to express any suc- cesses of the past year (s) (during the closing moments of the December 17th meeting) sufficient? Why did she feel that she needed to explain to an already informed public that which she felt the council had achieved? Her last three points are expressions in a more political vein. Why such a compelling need to clar- ify media reports and nunours? Most people know that relationships between the Press and some members of Council are abysmally poor but many voters trust and appreciate the accurate report- ing by our two papers. When asked during the December 17th meeting's question period if the councillor(s) who had attempted to "pre -interview" the applicant(s) would admit to it, there was no such admis- sion. Ratepayers from Ward 4 would have liked to know if that councillor(s) planed to share any insights they might have gleaned from a "pre -interview" with any other councillors in or outside the meeting or even with the public? Ratepayers have a right to ask any questions of councillors about council business as many times as they like and at a time when any opportunities to ask a question presents itself. It is part of our democratic tradition. Ratepayers don't expect to always get an answer, but it is one way that they can point out (rightly or wrongly) to anyone paying attention that they feel that those who make the bylaws are not always "transparent.' It's just trying to keep them honest so to speak. At the December 17th meeting ratepayers from Ward 4 demonstrated their displeasure because they felt that their wishes were being undermined after they had accepted that the pub- lished procedure would he followed. Was it an example of incompetence or gerrymandering? Why the one-sided lecture on parlia- mentary procedure? (Wen in Parliament the "Opposition" can express their frus- tration by asking questions and demon- strating their dlsapprovnl ttt the induce of thou' questioned to answer for their actions. It's called "Question Period." An outburst in the gallery is the way that any opposition to any council decision or action can be expressed at the munic- ipal level.'Ihe Deputy -Mayor need not be intrigued. It's not intriguing. 'I he Deputy -Mayor needs to just suck it up and accept all the features of our denuxcntty, not just lecture the voters o11 the Ones that she feels lxolstt'rs her position, 1 hopefully the council will not move to n1tl/lle the opposition either during the meetings or elsewhere. What a trav- esty that would he for our deuuwnttic municipal government! Vilification of those who do not agent' with them aright just conte hack to bite them in ( )deicer of 2014. 'thank goodness we have two local papers that are unafraid to report coon. cil shenanigans and rye have citizens who understand our democratic wadi bolls just as well as the 1 )eputy Mayor. 'thank goodness ratepayers can also write )tetters to the editor(s) expressing their desires to keep the council working for the all ratepayers. In order to get anything dune a coun- c11 inust build tap political capital. Once at council has capital it must spend It doing something that benefits the vol • els. 'the firing of the (:A11 "in cameral: the abysmal awkwardness of the se+lec tion pnwess for a replacement council for in Ward 4, the arrogance of ignoring die advice Of paid experts, the loss of development and the potential atm - titer pollution (tithe lake due to inade- quate sewage treatment facilities (esp '- cially in Wants:( and 4) and the malty other failures have politically bank rupte(1 this council. '1 he Deputy Mayor concludes by stating that she wants to head in a "new direction" 1 11111 reminded of the fact that the "endorsed" candidates nun on at platform of (Iltns- parency" and "good governance:' It seems we got neither in 2012. Maytag!' they are able to rebuild some "capital" by governing In a truly transparent man- ner the ratepayers of 1111111)1011 Shoe's might be open to a new direction. I low - ever it seems like they have little or no political capital right now to spend on any "new direction" 1 think the articles in the local papers this week clearly demonstrate this Pint Eric Staffer, Forest Ontario BIGs say thanks to community support 1 herr 1 ditor: iiIg linitllels Nig Sisters of South Huron has been very busy over the Christmas S4'115011. lilt` cllhld►rn, paul'nts, and volunteers involved with our agency par- ticipated in the Santa ( :hus parade, enjoyed a Christ • Inas Party and hosted our a1)11(4al Christmas Shopping Event. would like to take this opportunity to thank our community for their support throughout the holi- day season. 'the generosity Of local business's and organizations has been overwhelming. 'these events would not have been possible without the sup)x» t of these business's and of course, our volunteers. 1 maim also like to thank members ol'the ennum1 pity for their support and generosity. Our Adopt a Family Campaign was suet:m.11i once again this year: We had a Christmas at the Exeter I ibrluy and invited IWOI)le or businesses to buy a gift for the chit • Men lit one of the families involved with our agency. With the support of our community we were able to provide gifts for children from 41 families Involved with our agency. We also provided foot items for 35 of our families. 'ihe response from the community was absolutely amazing. 'thank you everyone! Your 1141111 work, (1011841011s, and oventll support have addend meaning to the season for myself and for our'1 lutes' tot). We could not have done it without you! Conning up: We are in full swing of preparing for our annual Indoor Yard Sale which is on February 2, 2013 from Halm-2pn1 at'1'rivitt Memorial Anglican (:hunch on Main St. in Exeter. l have attached a poster with details and would love if anyone is able to post this informa- tion at their workplace, clutch, etc or forward the email on to anyone who might he interested in this event. We are accepting donations at the (:hutch on Friday, Februauy 1st from 9an1-7pen. We will also accept donations at our office in 1)ashwood before February 1st. No clothing or electronics donations pleas(' as we have limited space for set up. We will take books, toys, small furniture, household items/decor, etc. 'thank you everyone for your support with this event! If anyone is interested in volunteering on Friday or Saturday, that would lx' great tux)! Maggie Miller, Casework Coordinator Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Nunn Chamber wants parking a priority for budget Grand Band Chamber of COMMIX In a recent letter to the Mayor and Council of l,atmbton Shores, the Gnind Bend & Area Chamber of Commerce requested parking, pedestrian safety and traffic congestion in Grund !lend he given prior- ity placement in this year's budgetary discussions and deliberations. In the past two years, the Chamber has had n number of conversations and discussions with Gnund Bend businesses and residents - including the Parking Summit hostel by the ( limber at the Gnlnd Bend Legion August 29, 2011, which resulted in an official report -. Parking & Congestion in Grand !lend. 'the general consensus of local business owners is that the stability of the retail sector needs to he sup- ported through increased parking opportunities. Recommendations from the Parking Summit ti)cused on the need for additional parking with var- ied pricing levels, traffic congestion especially on Ontario Street, and pedestrian safety again espe- cially on Ontario Street, 'I he Report offered 21 recommendations to OHM - Me the shortage of parking, go some way to handling traffic congestion and address txxdestllan safety. 111 its letter to Council, the Chamber highlighted 11 of these recommendations i11 the hope available monies may be put into action during 2013: Psrldnat Additional ps ddtg could be provided by: 1. Use of angle parking on 91 Crescent Street. 2. Use of angle parking on River Road with a 2 -hour paatidng limit west of the Municipal Ix)at lallncll. 3. Maximizing the Municipal parking lot located behind the Gnuid Bend 1 melon in Ix)th number of available spots and strong signage tU direct tour- ists to this otherwise hidden location, 4. Developing the little -used parkette on the south side of Main Street adjacent to the current Munid- pal parking lot located at Either Street and Main Street Into additional parking. 5. Developing overflow lots through partnerships with property owners. Pedestrian Safety: (. Install pedestrian crosswalks on Ilighway 21/ Ontario Street South and North in front of the No -Frill's / LCBO shopping plazas and In front of Tim Norton's / Grandpa Jimmy's Scottish Bakery. 7. Install/construct covered pedestrian walkways on either side of the Ontario Street South bridge immediately south of the highway 21 /Main Street intersection. Traffic Congestion: 8. Increase the length of the current left -turning lane south of the highway 21 / Main Street intersection. 9. Revamp the bridge to eliminate the sidewalks an(1 blcnatse the number of lanes (this recom- mendationwill need to be undertaken in con- junction with the construction of the two cov- ered pedestrian walkways mentioned in Item 7 :Orme). 10. Construct a second crossing over the Ausable River connecting Pinedale Road south of the town to Gill Road enabling eastbound traffic to move around the town instead of through the town's Main Street intersection. 11. Change the lane markings north of the 1 lighway 21 / Main Street intersection to two northbound lanes. The conclusion of feedback to the Chamber from its members on Main Street and Ontario Street is that Grand Bend has reached a critical juncture whereby Municipal lteai0ll now Will help ensure the continued well-being of local business. Addition- ally, as a Chamber of Commerce and in its'lburism Services role for the Municipality, the Chamber actively seeks to increase the number of tourists visiting the area, so addressing parking and con- gestion issues now will reap future benefits. 'ib obtain n copy of the 2011 Parking & Conges- tion 1(1 Grand Bend Report go online to www. grandbendtourism.com/parkhngreport or contact Susan Milts at 519-238-2001.