Opera House Needs Citizens' Advisory Committee

OPERA HOUSE NEEDS A CITIZENS' COMMITTEE - TOWN NEEDS CITIZEN INPUT FOR ONGOING STEWARDSHIP

DO WE HAVE TO MAKE IT AN ELECTION ISSUE? OR WILL COUNCIL SEE THE BENEFIT NOW OF SHARING RESPONSIBILITY

     I DON'T LIKE THE FACT STEWARDSHIP OF OUR MAIN STREET JEWEL IS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF COUNCIL AND MUNICIPAL STAFF. I HAVE FELT THIS FOR YEARS, AND HAVE WRITTEN A HALF DOZEN BLOGS THIS YEAR ALONE, BELLY-ACHING ABOUT THE NEED FOR A CITIZENS' COMMITTEE, TO OPERATE ON OUR BEHALF, TO REPRESENT CONSTITUENT CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THE BUILDING IS BEING MAINTAINED AND CONSERVED, AND HOW IT IS BEING OPERATED ANNUALLY. IT NEED NOT HAVE A VOTE, OR ANY REAL LEVERAGE AT ALL, EXCEPT FOR BEING A WATCHDOG GROUP AND OVERSEEING BODY TO ASSIST WITH ENTERTAINMENT AND SOCIAL FUNCTIONS, PARTICULARLY ATTRACTING NEW PERFORMERS TO A WONDERFUL OLD STAGE. THEY WOULD BE ENTITLED TO EXAMINE THE BUILDING, AND BRING REPAIR AND RESTORATION ISSUES TO COUNCIL'S ATTENTION. THEY WOULD BE OUR CONDUIT OF INFORMATION, AND BE IN A POSITION TO HANDLE PUBLIC REQUESTS AND SUBMISSIONS, AS A SCREENING GROUP WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN.

     NOW BECAUSE THIS BLOG DOESN'T ENTITLE ME TO VOTING PRIVILEGES, AND I DON'T EVEN HAVE ONE EPLET TO GO WITH MY BLOGGING ATTIRE, THE ONLY WAY I CAN INFLUENCE COUNCIL, IS BY INFLUENCING MY READERSHIP, AND POSSIBLY THE LOCAL PRESS, TO EXPLORE WHAT POTENTIAL A CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE MIGHT HOLD……ESPECIALLY NOW WHEN IT APPEARS THERE IS A CHUNK OF ROOF MISSING. AT LEAST THERE'S A PIECE OF PLYWOOD COVERING SOMETHING NEAR THE PEAK, OF THE OPERA HOUSE ROOF….CURRENTLY UNDER RESTORATION. WE ARE LEAVING OUR BIGGEST AND MOST SIGNIFICANT ASSET TO COUNCIL'S DISCRETION, AND WHAT STAFF DEEMS THE RIGHT COURSE OF ACTION. WHILE I'M SURE THEY HAVE GOOD INTENTIONS, AND WANT TO SEE A FAVORABLE OUTCOME LIKE THE REST OF US, REGARDLESS, MANY OF US WOULD FEEL BETTER KNOWING A CITIZEN'S GROUP IS INSIDE THE PROJECT, TO REPORT TO US, ABOUT THE PROGRESS. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN HELPFUL AND RE-ASSURING, IF THERE HAD BEEN SUCH A GROUP IN PLACE, AT THE START OF THE ROOF REVAMP, ESPECIALLY WITH THE CRUNCH OF THE PAST WEEK, WHERE DIFFICULTIES WITH THE PROJECT WERE OBVIOUSLY ENCOUNTERED. HEY, STUFF HAPPENS. IT'S AN OLD, OLD BUILDING. I'VE HEARD SOME PEOPLE CALL IT A "MONEY PIT." WHAT OLD BUILDING ISN'T! THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT HAVING THIS OLD BUILDING, ON OUR MAIN STREET, ARE HUGE AND GAME CHANGING FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. BUT THIS IS THE PIVOTAL BUILDING IN THE BIA ZONE. IT IS AN HISTORIC LANDMARK. WHEN IT CLOSES SUDDENLY, AND A CHUNK OF PLYWOOD COVERS OVER SOMETHING BAD, MANY OF US DO SHUDDER TO THINK OF THE UNDERLYING PROBLEMS. MIGHT IT BE CONSIDERED UNSAFE? CLOSED INDEFINITELY? WE NEED TO KNOW.

WHY WOULD COUNCIL NOT WANT A CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE OPERA HOUSE? WHAT HAVE THEY GOT TO LOSE BY TRUSTING US, TO HELP THEM?

     The fact that I wrote about establishing such a committee, six or so times in the past year, with no response, or any feedback from councillors, means that….A. They don't read my blog. B. They don't want citizen input. C. They feel everything is under control the way it is. First of all, councillors do read my blog. Most just don't think a blogger can inspire either a rebellion, a small insurrection, or even a cold wind over the council chamber. Of course, they felt exactly the same about The Bog. Sometimes it does pay to address dissension before it gets to the protest stage. It's not about council surrendering their authority, every time a critic takes a pot shot, but admitting an unfortunate shortfall and error in judgement is pretty damning. Pro-active is a word with so many positive attributes. A citizens' advisory committee, for the Opera House, allows for intervention, that may help save the old girl in the future. It's not about giving up authority at all…..but recognizing, like The Barge, that citizens can be darn helpful when the town runs out of options. The Opera House needs a similar citizen body, even loosely put together, to act as civilian stewards to make sure our main street asset is getting the best treatment possible. Since the last renovation, in part managed by then manager Fred Schulz, the building has been showing considerable wear, inside and out, and shingles have been flying off that building for years…..without any serious preventative measure to conserve and replace them. At times in the winter, ice build-up from the heat-loss has created behemoth icicles, dangerous to the building and certainly anyone passing below. It shows a significant problem, wouldn't you say, that should be addressed at some point. Maybe now would be a good time.

     The town is reluctant to give up any of its authority. The idea of a citizens' advisory committee, might become intrusive, and bothersome down the road. But here's a little reality check. Such a committee could lighten the stewardship burden, off of council, and through their advocacy for the building, could assist with fundraising projects to cover ongoing repairs of which there are a few. Council can only benefit, from having such a group paying such close attention, to the continuous demands of old architecture, getting rocked by heavy traffic all day long, every month of the year……and on and on. Town staff, as reliable as they are, need assistance, and a group to lobby for repairs and improvements, would guarantee action where often, there is the bold face of inaction.

     I am telling councillors, and citizen readers, in just one more blog……that I will carry on this mission to establish a three to six person Opera House Citizens' Advisory Committee, all the way to the next election, if the town refuses to seek public input on the concept….or discuss it further at the committee level, with the intent of exploring its range of possibilities. It will be an election issue in two years, because I will make it so! I'd just like to think it would be the kind of proactive approach, that would help the town and the Opera House, deal with the immediate future…….and put stewardship of this landmark at the top of the agenda, for once…..ahead of the recreation centre and town hall. The fall-out from a serious structural problem at the Opera House would be tough to top, and letting a citizen's body help shoulder the responsibilities, would show a level of co-operation and openness we haven't seen much of in the first two years of this present council term. How incredibly refreshing, to have citizens feel their services are needed, to keep our town ticking away.

     I have been told, and this is hearsay until I read the article myself, that we have been heavily criticized in a feature news article, in a local publication, by a theatre promoter who isn't particularly happy with the way our town handled his request for the Opera House. It was during this original application, for a summer theatre program, that I first suggested the creation of an advisory board, to liaison between council and Opera House management. To my knowledge, there was no citizen committee input…..as there is no such group……which might have handled the review and decision exactly the same…..but we would have felt that even by rejecting the offer, we were doing so as a common front……looking to reap the full potential out of our Opera House. Instead, we once again, find the town being critiqued for missing a golden opportunity.

     The town doesn't have to share stewardship of the Opera House. But they should. Under the right chairmanship, and enthusiastic membership, of which I can think of a dozen candidates, the town would be affording themselves the luxury of qualified stewards, and entertainment experts, for the cost of volunteer recognition. It's not an extravagant idea. It is grassroots. The Opera House is going to need more work than just replacing shingles, over the coming decade. It will need fundraisers and many advocates, willing to put in the work to keep this historic site in operation. I am not satisfied that it has been maintained inside and out as well as it should have been, and only the town will know this for sure. Right now, tell me honestly, what's to lose, by having citizens' input on the building we own? It may be cliched, but you can only call it a "win win" situation. Will council think the same? I'd really like to think at least once councillor will feel as I do, and suggest it is an idea worth exploring. Maybe some calls from citizens wouldn't hurt either.

     I hope it all works out for the Opera House, because she looks awfully injured right now. With a Muskoka winter approaching, it's relative madness, to have an unfinished roof……..when the winter we've missed over the past few years, finally shows up, and buries us in snow. It's just not wise to let this delay go on too much longer…..and it sure would be nice to know what's being done to correct the present work stoppage.

     Thanks so much for joining me today, Thanksgiving Monday. Hope you will return again soon. There's always room for a few more readers, and guests are always welcome at this little blogsite I call my Hometown Advantage.