COUNCIL REPRESENTS THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY - NOT JUST THE RATEPAYERS
BEQUEATH SHOULD BELONG TO US ALL!
MIGHT TERRENCE HAIGHT HAVE CHANGED HIS MIND ABOUT THE BEQUEATH OF A MILLION DOLLARS, TO THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST, HAD HE KNOWN THE POTENTIAL OF DISAGREEMENT, REGARDING HOW IT WAS TO BE SPENT? ISN'T THIS ALWAYS THE WAY? SQUABBLING OVER AN UNEXPECTED INHERITANCE.
IF THE ELECTED COUNCILS OF THE PAST, IN THIS TOWN, GAVE A CRAP ABOUT DEBT-LOAD, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE SIGNED ONTO A RECREATION CENTRE UPGRADE ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. THEY WOULD HAVE SAID TO THE FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS, AND LOCAL RESIDENTS AS WELL,….."WE'RE NOT READY FOR THIS POOL PROJECT." WE NEEDED MORE TIME. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN RUSHED. AND MOST DEFINITELY, WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MASTERS OF OUR DOMAIN. IT WAS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FUNDRAISE. IF WE WANTED TO FINANCE A POOL, WE SHOULD HAVE CONDUCTED MOST OF THE DONATION-SEEKING ON OUR TIME, WITH OUR VOLUNTEERS. WE HAVE SO MUCH DEBT BECAUSE WE WENT INTO THE PROJECT ILL-PREPARED, AND WITHOUT KNOWING ABOUT THINGS LIKE A HIGH WATER TABLE ON-SITE, AND THE PROBLEMS OF LINKING TWO ROOF-TOPS, INSTEAD OF HAVING ONLY ONE.
SO AS COUNCIL APPEARS DETERMINED NOW, TO USE THE TERRENCE HAIGHT BEQUEATH, OF A MILLION DOLLARS PLUS, TO PAY DOWN THE GENERAL DEBT, THEY ARE UNDOUBTEDLY SLAPPING THEMSELVES ON THE BACK FOR BEING SO DARN RESPONSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC PURSE. COME ON! THE DEBT? THAT'S FUNNY BUT IT'S TOO PAINFUL TO LAUGH. CONSIDERING THEY COULD HAVE SAVED ABOUT FIVE TO SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS, OR MORE, IF THEY HAD REFUSED PUSH THE CENTENNIAL CENTRE UPGRADE, WITH THE HURRY-UP AGENDA, (FORGETTING ABOUT THINGS LIKE HIGH GROUND WATER LEVELS), AND OF COURSE, BUYING A BUILDING FOR A NEW TOWN HALL, WITH AN INADEQUATE ROOF. ON TOP OF THAT, GIVING AWAY THE OLD MUNICIPAL HALL. SO FORGIVE ME FOR CHORTLING QUIETLY, ABOUT A TOWN COUNCIL THAT IS NOW WORRIED ABOUT THE DEBT-LOAD, SO MUCH, THAT THEY PLAN TO TAKE A GIFT TO THE CITIZENS OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND PAY DOWN THEIR PAST EXCESSES. IT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE FORWARD-BACKWARD SYNDROME.
FOR THOSE COUNCILLORS WHO VOTED AGAINST THE PLAN TO SPEND THE BEQUEATH ON TOWN DEBT, I APPLAUD YOU. YOU HAVE VOTED CORRECTLY. FOR THOSE WHO VOTED IN FAVOR, OVERTURN THE DECISION, AND ALLOW THE PUBLIC THEIR RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS.
THERE IS A NAGGING SHORTFALL OF INTEREST, IN THIS TOWN, WHEN IT COMES TO THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF THOSE PEOPLE, WHO DON'T OWN PROPERTY. AS VOTERS AND RESIDENTS OF THIS TOWN, WHETHER THEY OWN PROPERTY, OR HAVE EVER PAID A TAX BILL, THEY ARE EQUAL STAKEHOLDERS IN GRAVENHURST. ALTHOUGH COUNCILLORS MAY NOT WISH TO BORE THEMSELVES WITH THE DETAILS OF WHO THEY REPRESENT, THE CASE IN POINT, IS THE BEQUEATH. THE KINDLY-EXTENDED INHERITANCE, FOR OUR TOWN, BELONGS TO THE CITIZENS, AND THEY AREN'T NECESSARILY RATEPAYERS. WHILE PAYING DOWN THE MUNICIPAL DEBT-LOAD, MAY IN FACT, PLEASE A PORTION OF THE RATEPAYERS OUT THERE, THOSE WHO RENT ACCOMMODATIONS, AND DON'T PAY PROPERTY TAX, HAVE THE INHERENT RIGHT, AS RESIDENTS, TO AN OPINION ON HOW THE MONEY IS SPENT. OF COURSE, THERE ARE A FEW COUNCIL MEMBERS NOW, WHO THINK THEY KNOW WHAT THE PUBLIC WILL IS…….YET THE INSIGHTFUL AMONGST US, REALIZE THEY'RE JUST WINGING IT…….OR CLAIRVOYANT. THEY'RE WILLING TO GAMBLE ON THEIR HUNCHES. THERE'S ALWAYS A PRICE TO PAY FOR TAKING A GAMBLE. WE ALL KNOW THAT, RIGHT?
ADDITIONALLY, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT. WHILE THE BANNER HAS A GOOD CIRCULATION FOR A SMALL TOWN LIKE OURS, IT IS NOT READ BY THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, AND COUNTING ON ITS NEWS PAGES TO SPREAD THE WORD, AS COUNCIL HAS SUGGESTED, ISN'T SUFFICIENT ALONE, TO INFORM THE PUBLIC. HATE TO RAIN ON THEIR PARADE BUT I'M GOING TO ANYWAY.
There is a good opportunity here, before this decision by council, is cast in municipal stone, for those who supported the proposal, to fan out in their community, and casually find out, what local folks think about the plan to spend the bequeath. Don't ask leading questions, if you want fair comment in return. Asking a question like "You want us to pay down our horrible debt," isn't the kind of question I was thinking of. How about, "If you were the mayor of Gravenhurst, how would you invest a million dollar gift to our town?" It's unofficial, and a non-sanctioned survey, but it's what real and caring people do, when they want consensus, and not just conformity, and compliance.
There was a comment in another news item, this week, in The Gravenhurst Banner, about department changes. It once again had to do with transparency and improved governance, being implemented by Gravenhurst Council. Talk is cheap. There's a political-speak going on in this town, that is bizarre. You can't promise this new and improved governance model, and then turn off the tap, when its deemed convenient to do so. In the matter of the Haight bequeath, this is precisely what happened. I do have a serious problem with the prevailing attitude, especially, the statement that council was voted-in to make these important decisions for us. As if to say, we're the kings of the world, and we'll do what we like. The councillor who made this comment, should take a wee look at what is going on in Quebec these days, the result of proposed tuition increases. Civil disobedience has, as its root, problems with poor, misguided and excessive governance. The student protesters and the anarchists who have joined the ranks, are the motivated, pent-up result of years and years of government arrogance and ineptitude, to deal with public discontent. The "just ignore them, and they'll go away," attitude. So what if they don't go away? What then? That's when you call in police reinforcements, day after day. No one who cherishes democracy, wants to see rioting and criminal behavior associated with protest. As far as the public's right to protest government, it is one of those democratic things……that some politicians like a bit, but not a whole lot, when they're faced with comeuppance like they've seen recently. There are times when democratic rights, in our own country, are trampled by politicians, and in many cases, they get away with it. Other times, it prevails in a most profoundly disturbing way, like watching an out-of-control mob burning a city. Frustration and civil unrest needs to be understood by our politicians. It's like your mother used to tell you about getting a sliver removed before it becomes infected. There's a lot of nasty infection out there. Negotiation could have gone a long way to fix the problem, versus, increasing the antagonism with new restrictive, undemocratic, legislative measures…….that at best, only fan the flames of unrest. But then that's Quebec and not Gravenhurst. Funny thing though, about civil unrest wherever it exists. Talking about making government more democratic and transparent is just hypocrisy at its finest.
I don't recommend a huge protest gathering at Gravenhurst Town Hall, when the matter of the Haight Bequeath is discussed again, on June 5th, because I'm hoping those councillors who voted for the debt-payment proposal, will by then, sense the growing frustration with their town administration, and reverse the previous decision. It would take great courage to do this, and it would show the citizens of this town, that council does pay attention, to the will of the people. What the people want, is an open forum to discuss the way the bequeath is invested. It's not really asking a lot, is it? If however, Council continues to use the battering-ram approach, it will be their consequence, especially if they're considering taking another run for elected office.
For councillors who think this blogger hides behind a computer screen, sitting in an armchair, critiquing everything they do, I'm also a citizen of this town, who is always willing to discuss local issues, and public relations with anyone, at any time, and councillors must surely know by now, I'm always looking for a coffee and good conversation. I have yet to bite-off a single head, and any councillor who has dealt with me, and our family in the past, knows darn well, I'm not mean spirited……and I can defend every statement I make. So if they ever get the urge to meet with their critic-in-cyberspace, let's have a chat. It might be worth the effort for all concerned, trying to represent and preserve the good life we know in Gravenhurst. The welfare of democracy is always worth the effort. I'm in! Are you?
AS FOR THE POOR OLD MAIN STREET - LET THE EDITORIALIST HAVE HIS DAY
THE GRAVENHURST BIA AND THE LOCAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAVE A REALLY BIG CHALLENGE AHEAD. THEY MUST WORK MORE PRO-ACTIVELY, TO COUNTER THE DISPARAGING COMMENTS, BEING PUBLISHED, ABOUT THE STATE OF MAIN STREET BUSINESS, AND TOWN BUSINESSES GENERALLY. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY OF GRAVENHURST, TO PUT UP WITH THE CONTINUAL BERATING AND DOOMSAYING IN THE LOCAL PRESS? ISN'T IT TIME FOR COUNCIL, ESPECIALLY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOLKS, TO START QUESTIONING WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE, THAT IS INSPIRING THESE INCREDIBLY NEGATIVE BUSINESS REVIEWS. WHEN IS THE LARGER BUSINESS COMMUNITY, GOING TO MOUNT SOME SORT OF REACTION, AND POSITION TO THE PRESS, TO INSIST ON FAIR PLAY EDITORIALLY. IF YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU READ ABOUT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, WHY WOULD YOU BOTHER SHOPPING HERE…..EVER? APPARENTLY WE ARE ON A SLIPPERY SLOPE THAT DOESN'T END. I DON'T BELIEVE IT, BUT SOME READERS WILL.
I SUPPORT WHOLE HEARTEDLY, THE RIGHT TO OPINE. I AM A FREQUENT COMPLAINER MYSELF. BUT I COMMENT ON WHAT I KNOW INTIMATELY WELL. LESS SO, ABOUT THOSE REALITIES I'M AWARE OF, BUT HAVE LITTLE BACKGROUND. I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT THIS BEFORE, BUT IT IS WORTH REPEATING UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. THE FACT THAT OUR OWN MAIN STREET SMALL BUSINESS IS PROSPERING, AND HAS EXPANDED ITS RETAIL AND STUDIO SPACE TWICE THIS SPRING, WARRANTS SOME CONSIDERATION, WHEN COLUMNISTS AND NEWSPAPER EDITORS, ARE LOOKING FOR INTERESTING BUSINESS STORIES. FOR SEVERAL YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN ASKING THE MEDIA, AND THE CRITICS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, TO PLEASE STOP IN AT OUR STORE FOR A LITTLE CHAT. WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE OUR STORY. TWO GRAVENHURST HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, WHO WENT RIGHT TO WORK AFTER GRADUATION, AND OPENED THEIR OWN MAIN STREET BUSINESS IN OUR TOWN. THEY COULD HAVE MOVED TO BRACEBRIDGE, BUT THEY DECIDED TO INVEST IN THEIR HOME TOWN. EVER SINCE, THEY'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH THE UNREST AND NEGATIVE BOMBARDMENT, INVOLVING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP THEM……NETWORK WITH THEM…..AND BE PROUD OF THEM FOR BELIEVING, AND CAPITALIZING IN THE POTENTIAL OF THE LOCAL MARKET-PLACE. A FATHER IS OF COURSE BIASED, FOR CALLING HIS SONS ROLE MODELS. IF YOU KNOW OUR LADS, ANDREW AND ROBERT, YOU TELL ME. IF YOU WERE TO ASK OUR YOUNG CUSTOMERS, (WHO, BY THE WAY, ARE THE FUTURE OF OUR TOWN), YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO FIND OUT, HOW JUST ONE LOCAL BUSINESS, HAS RESTORED INTEREST IN STAYING HOME, AND ALSO INVESTING IN SMALL BUSINESSES.
OUR BOYS HAVE TAKEN IT ALL AS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE, BUT BECAUSE OF THE INFIGHTING OF THE PAST, AND THE CONTINUING NEGATIVITY, NOW FROM THE PRESS, THEY'VE OPTED, QUITE APPROPRIATELY, TO CONCENTRATE ON THEIR OWN BUSINESS…….AND LET THE REST OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY FIGURE OUT THEIR OWN FUTURES. IT'S A SHAME, BUT IT'S NECESSARY. TOO MUCH TIME WAS LOST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT ALLIES FROM ENEMIES……WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN UNFALTERING COMMITMENT BETWEEN NEIGHBOR BUSINESSES TO STICK TOGETHER, AND FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT.
THE LATEST HARANGUE ABOUT THE FAILINGS OF GRAVENHURST BUSINESS GENERALLY, THE MAIN STREET SPECIFICALLY, IS ONE OF THOSE RIGHT-TO-AN OPINION SITUATIONS, BUT IT DOES MAKE YOU WONDER WHERE IT IS ALL HEADED. CONSIDERING THE LOCAL MEDIA DOESN'T SEEM AT ALL INTERESTED IN A "MAIN STREET BUSINESS DOES WELL STORY," BUT IS QUITE HAPPY TO ADVANCE OPINIONS ABOUT HOW THE TOWN IS FAILING. MAYBE IF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY BEGAN A LITTLE COUNTER CAMPAIGN, AND SUGGESTED TO THE MEDIA, THAT IN THE INTERESTS OF FAIR PLAY…….THERE NEEDS TO BE JUST AS MUCH APPETITE, TO GIVE INK, TO HIGHLIGHT SUCCESS STORIES…….AS REALITY CHECKS ABOUT THOSE BUSINESS HAVING A ROUGH TIME. IT'S NOT FAIR, IT'S NOT EQUAL, AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT.
EACH DAY ANDREW AND ROBERT HEAD OUT TO WORK, WITH GREAT ANTICIPATION AND ENTHUSIASM. THEY LOOK ON THE SUNNY SIDE, AND THEY SEE POTENTIAL WHERE OTHERS PREDICT DOOM. THEY TREAT CUSTOMERS WITH RESPECT, AND THEY GET IT IN RETURN. ON SATURDAYS THEY TAKE A TIN OF COOKIES THEIR MOTHER HAS MADE, THE NIGHT BEFORE, TO SHARE WITH THEIR PATRONS. IF THEY DIDN'T MAKE A DIME THAT DAY, THEY WOULD NEVER DESPAIR THAT IT WAS A TREND. THEY WILL CLIMB BACK UP, ON THAT SADDLE, THE VERY NEXT DAY, AND MEET THEIR CUSTOMERS WITH OPEN ARMS. BROWSERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME, THEY WILL SAY; "HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY? WOULD YOU LIKE ONE OF MY MOTHER'S FRESHLY MADE COOKIES?"
JUST A NOTE IN PASSING. WE JUST CONFIRMED TODAY OUR FAMILY'S INTENTION TO OPEN TWO MORE LARGE ROOMS FOR ANTIQUE ITEMS, IN THE BOY'S MAIN STREET BUILDING…..THE FORMER MUSKOKA THEATRE…..AS OF JULY 1ST. SO, WHAT ARE THE CRITICS PLANNING TO DO TO IMPROVE LOCAL BUSINESS? YOU GUESSED IT. ANOTHER COLUMN ABOUT HOW CRAPPY IT IS TO BE LOCATED ON THE MAIN STREET OF GRAVENHURST. WHICH I DON'T HAPPEN TO BELIEVE, IF IT ISN'T ALREADY QUITE EVIDENT. I DON'T INVEST IN LOSING PROPOSITIONS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THOSE NEW BUSINESSES STARTING UP IN GRAVENHURST, THIS SPRING AND SUMMER SEASON, AND BEST OF LUCK TO ALL THE STALWART FOLKS WHO DEFY THE CRITICS, AND SOLDIER ON WITH THEIR BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIES. I LIKE WHAT I SEE OUT THERE……AND YES, I'VE HAD THE QUEBEC POUTINE, AT THE NEW FOOD SERVICE AT THE SOUTH END, AND I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THERE WAS A LINE-UP THERE, FOR SERVICE, AND AT THE ICE-CREAM OUTLETS AROUND TOWN. THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT IS ALIVE AND WELL……AND CUSTOMERS ARE PREPARED TO LINE-UP TO GET A SLICE OF THE PIE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING TODAY'S BLOG. PLEASE VISIT AGAIN SOON.
AND PLEASE JOIN ME THIS JULY, FOR MY CELEBRATION SERIES OF ARTICLES, COMMEMORATING GRAVENHURST'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY, (AUGUST 1862 - AUGUST 2012), OF THE NAMING OF ITS NEW POST OFFICE, BY WILLIAM DAWSON LESUEUR, INSPIRED BY THE TITLE OF A BOOK, WRITTEN BY BRITISH POET / PHILOSOPHER, WILLIAM HENRY SMITH. THE ANNIVERSARY IS A LOW-KEY AFFAIR, CELEBRATED IN THIS COMFORTABLE CYBER-SPACE. SORRY WE CAN'T AFFORD A TOWN CELEBRATION. APPARENTLY THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TOWN'S INCORPORATION, IS MUCH MORE COMMERCIALLY IMPORTANT THAN BEING NAMED AFTER A FAMOUS WRITER'S WORK, GRANTED BY A POSTAL AUTHORITY, WHO WAS ONE OF CANADA'S RESPECTED HISTORIANS. WELL, BY GOLLY, I'M GOING TO MAKE A BIG SPLASH OUT OF IT ANYWAY……FOR ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WHO MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR LITTLE TOWN IN SOUTH MUSKOKA…….AND THE LITERARY PROVENANCE WE HAVE……THAT FEW KNOW ABOUT.
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