HAIGHT BEQUEATH GETTING SOME NEEDED PUBLIC ATTENTION
RATEPAYERS ASSOCIATION GIVES BREAKDOWN OF DEPUTATIONS AGAINST COMMITTEE DECISION -DECISION POSTPONED
A RECENT EMAIL SENT BY THE GREATER GRAVENHURST RATEPAYERS ASSOCIATION, GIVES A THOROUGH BREAK-DOWN OF LAST WEEK'S DEPUTATIONS, AT THE GRAVENHURST COUNCIL MEETING, REGARDING THE COMMITTEE REPORT ON THE RECOMMENDATION, TO USE THE THE MILLION DOLLAR BEQUEATH, TO PAY DOWN THE TOWN DEBT. NOW I MUST FOOTNOTE HERE, THAT THE IDEA WAS NEVER TO PAY THE DEBT DOWN WITHOUT A BENEFIT BACK TO THE CITIZENS OF GRAVENHURST. THE INTEREST SAVINGS, ON THE TOWN DEBT, THE MILLION DOLLAR PAYMENT WOULD PROVIDE OVER THE COMING YEARS, WOULD BE THE AMOUNT USED TO HELP FUND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, AND OTHER FUNDING THEY MAY WISH TO MAKE AVAILABLE. THIS HAS BEEN PART OF THE PLAN, RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE, THAT HAS BEEN OBSCURED BY THE FACT THE "TOWN DEBT" HAS ENTERED INTO THE SAME CONVERSATION, AS THE WORD "BEQUEATH." I'VE NEVER MISUNDERSTOOD THE INTENT BY THE TOWN TREASURY, AND I'M PRETTY SURE THEY HAVE THEIR FACTS CORRECT…..AND THAT THIS MIGHT BE A SENSIBLE PLAN……IF NOT FOR THE OPTICS OF DIVERTING A MEMORIAL GIFT, AND HOW IT MAY DIMINISH IN SIGNIFICANCE IN THE FUTURE.
NEW COUNCILS, DOWN THE ROAD, MAY NOT APPRECIATE THIS "MEMORIAL INTEREST SAVING PLAN" WITH THE SAME SENSE OF "WISE INVESTMENT," ESPECIALLY IF THEY COME TO FACE AN EVEN GREATER FINANCIAL AUSTERITY ISSUE. BURDENING OR "HAND-CUFFING" A FUTURE COUNCIL, WITH THIS ACCOUNTING PROCEDURE, SEEMS TO ME, A GUARANTEE IT WILL EVENTUALLY BE REDUCED, TO A SNIPIT OF OBSCURE HISTORY, OF THE "ONCE UPON A TIME VARIETY."
A SEPARATE MEMORIAL "HIGH INTEREST" ACCOUNT, WHERE MONEY EARNED CAN BE USED EACH YEAR TO HANDLE FUNDING REQUESTS, STANDS AS A LASTING TRIBUTE TO A FORMER CITIZEN, WHO THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT THIS SMALL ONTARIO TOWN. I WAS SO PLEASED TO READ PROFILES OF EACH DEPUTATION, AND IT'S FANTASTIC TO HAVE HAD SEVEN WELL-VERSED DEPUTATIONS FROM THE CITIZENRY, EACH REQUESTING THE COMMITTEE CHANGE ITS PLAN FOR THE MONEY. IT'S A STRONG CIVIC-MINDED RESPONSE, ESPECIALLY WITHOUT THE TOWN HAVING MADE A FORMAL PUBLIC REQUEST, THROUGH THE LOCAL MEDIA, FOR INPUT ABOUT WHERE THE MONEY SHOULD BE INVESTED.
I WAS PARTICULARLY DELIGHTED BY THE FACT GORD DURNAN, MADE A COMPELLING ARGUMENT, FOR A TERRENCE HAIGHT MEMORIAL FUND, AND FRANKLY, I THINK THE COMMITTEE SHOULD HAVE ASKED FOR HIS INPUT EARLIER IN THE PROCESS. BASED ON HIS PAST WORK IN THE FIELD, AND HIS LENGTHY AND SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCE WITH THE SOUTH MUSKOKA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION, IT CLEARLY MAKES HIM THE PERFECT GO-TO PERSON. HIS KNOWLEDGE OF BEQUEATHS, ENDOWMENTS AND MEMORIALS, AND HIS FAMILY ROOTS IN THIS COMMUNITY, MAKE HIM A NATURAL CHOICE AS A FUND AMBASSADOR. I'M SURE GORD HAS FULL KNOWLEDGE OF HOW THESE ESTATE GIFTS CAN PRODUCE AMPLE BENEFITS OVER THE LONG TERM. IF THERE IS ANY COMPLAINT ABOUT THE LENGTH OF TIME, IT HAS TAKEN TO STRAIGHTEN THIS MATTER OUT, THE COMMITTEE AND THE TOWN ITSELF MUST SHOULDER THIS ACCOUNTABILITY…..AS THERE HAS BEEN EXPERT ADVICE ALL AROUND US, THAT HASN'T BEEN FULLY UTILIZED. WHILE I'M NOT OFTEN ASKED MY OPINION, (BUT I'M NOT BASHFUL ABOUT PROVIDING IT), I WOULD HAVE SUGGESTED GORD DURNAN AS A CITIZEN ADVISOR, THE MOMENT THE GIFT WAS OFFICIALLY BEQUEATHED. I TRUST HIS EXPERIENCE AND PATIENCE WITH SUCH MATTERS, AND HIS WORK ON BEHALF OF THE HOSPITAL IS LEGEND. AND HE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT HIS COMMUNITY. HE RESPECTS THE CITIZENS RIGHTS TO AN OPINION ON THE MATTER, AND I WOULD FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WORKING SIDE-BY-SIDE THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE, THE RIGHT DECISION WOULD BE MADE, TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. THE TOWN HAS AN OPPORTUNITY HERE, TO SHOW THAT THEY DO CARE ABOUT PUBLIC INPUT, AND WILL OPEN THEMSELVES TO EXPERT OPINION, IN A MATTER OF SUCH CONSIDERABLE IMPORTANCE.
FROM THE BRIEF SUMMARIES PROVIDED BY THE GREATER GRAVENHURST RATEPAYERS ASSOCIATION, I FEEL A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE, WITH THIS PROCESS, THAN I DID A WEEK AGO, HEADING INTO WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A CONCLUSIVE COUNCIL VOTE ON THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION. I WANT TO EXTEND A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO ALL OF THOSE WHO MADE THOSE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT DEPUTATIONS, AND I HOPE THE LOCAL PRESS WILL FEEL THE SAME, AND GIVE THIS THE ATTENTION IT DESERVES. IF THEY WANT TO BE CONSIDERED A LOCAL PAPER, THEN THIS IS A CRITICAL TEST. THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW. THE POSTPONEMENT OF A DECISION IS A SMALL VICTORY, WITH HUGE IMPLICATIONS, FOR THOSE WHO VOICED OBJECTIONS TO THE COMMITTEE'S CHOICE TO PAY DOWN THE DEBT. IT MAY BE A SMALL VICTORY BUT IT'S FRONT PAGE NEWS.
I HOPE TOWN COMMITTEE MEMBERS, AND THE COUNCIL AT LARGE, WILL OPT TO REVIEW THEIR POINT OF VIEW ON THE BEQUEATH, AND ASK FOR MORE PUBLIC INPUT, AND TAKE ADVICE FROM THOSE WHO CONFRONTED THE ISSUE, WITH SOME VERY COMPELLING, AND SENSIBLY PROPORTIONED ARGUMENTS. I DO BELIEVE, THAT GORD DURNAN HOLDS THE KEY HERE, AND WOULD BE MY CHOICE, TO HEAD UP A SMALL INVESTIGATIVE TASK-FORCE, TO GET THAT CONSENSUS, AND REPORT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION. GORD MAY BE FURIOUS WITH ME FOR SUGGESTING HE BREAK RETIREMENT, AND GET BACK TO WORK; OR JUST EMBARRASSED AT BEING SINGLED OUT. BUT FROM MY OWN LENGTHY PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF HIS CAPABILITIES, FROM A MEDIA PERSPECTIVE, I'D TRUST HIS JUDGEMENT TO PRESENT A FAIR AND OPEN PROCESS, TO MAKE THIS A TRULY DYNAMIC, LONG-SERVING MEMORIAL GIFT TO OUR FAIR TOWN. THE OPTICS WILL BE MUCH BETTER, THAN DEBT REDUCTION, AND I'M SURE THE HAIGHT FAMILY WILL BE DELIGHTED WITH THE HIGH PROFILE CREATED BY A "TRIBUTE FUND." A FUTURE COUNCIL WILL NOT BE BURDENED BY IT, BUT HAVE THE GREAT BENEFIT OF CONTINUING A TRADITION OF BENEVOLENCE…….A LEGACY, CREATED BY A TOWN COUNCIL, THAT RESPECTED THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
THERE IS A PERCEPTION, AND TO SOME DEGREE A MISCONCEPTION, ABOUT WHAT A MUNICIPAL COUNCIL WAS ELECTED TO PERFORM ON OUR BEHALF. THERE IS A GENUINE CONCERN THAT COUNCIL SHOULDN'T BE SEEN AS BEING UNDEMOCRATIC, BY ONLY LISTENING OR REACTING TO WHAT MAY SIMPLY BE "A MINORITY OPINION." IT'S ONE THING, FOR US TO COMPLAIN, THAT COUNCIL ISN'T LISTENING TO US, BECAUSE "US" DOES NOT REFER TO AN ACCURATE PORTRAYAL OF CONSENSUS. IT MAY JUST BE THE ACTIVE MINORITY, PUNCHING AWAY AT THIN AIR, TRYING TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION THEY REPRESENT THE COMMON SENSE OF ALL THE CONSTITUENTS. YET THERE ARE TIMES, WHEN UPON REFLECTION, WHERE THE FEEDBACK AND COMPLAINTS ARE COMING FROM, THERE ARE CERTAIN QUALIFIERS, THAT ADD MORE LEGITIMACY TO THE ISSUE. IF FOR EXAMPLE, THE RATEPAYERS ADOPT A POSITION ON SUCH A CONTENTIOUS PROPOSAL FROM THE TOWN, IT WOULD BE THE RESULT OF CONSIDERABLE STUDY. A POSITION WOULD BE TAKEN, AFTER CRITICALLY WEIGHING OVER EVIDENCE AND THE POINT / COUNTER-POINT, OF WHATEVER ISSUE IS ON THE TABLE. WHILE IT IS NOT CONSENSUS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC, I CAN'T FIND EVEN ONE SERIOUS DIFFERENCE OF OPINION I'VE HAD WITH THEM, SINCE THEIR INCEPTION. ONCE AGAIN, THIS ISN'T MUCH TO GO ON, EXCEPT FOR THE FACT, THEY SEEM TO HAVE A TRACK-RECORD OF FAIR AND REPRESENTATIVE OPINION, AND IN THE CASE OF THE HAIGHT BEQUEATH, THEIR POSITION DOES REFLECT A CENTRE OF THE ROAD POINT OF VIEW, MOST CONSTITUENTS WOULD FIND MUCH MORE ACCEPTABLE, THAN THE COMMITTEE'S INTEREST IN PAYING DOWN THE TOWN DEBT. THE RATEPAYERS DON'T LIKE THE DEBT LOAD, BUT THEY DON'T FIND USING THE BEQUEATH IS THE KIND OF FITTING MEMORIAL, WE SHOULD BE PRESENTING AS A FUTURE PLAN, TO THE HAIGHT FAMILY MEMBERS. WHO I DO BELIEVE, DESERVE AN EXPLANATION HOW THE MONEY IS INVESTED.
I THINK COUNCIL SHOULD BE FAR MORE ENCOURAGING OF PUBLIC INPUT, WHERE IT IS LEGALLY AND MORALLY ACCEPTABLE, AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TREMENDOUS EXPERTISE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, IN SO MANY DISCIPLINES, SO MANY DIVERSE PROFESSIONS EXPERTLY REPRESENTED. VOLUNTEERS CAN DO MORE THAN TAG FOR SPECIAL FUNDRAISERS, OR PLANT GARDENS, PICK UP GARBAGE, OR COOK HOT DOGS FOR A GOOD CAUSE. VOLUNTEERS CAN ALSO BE OF TREMENDOUS SERVICE BY OFFERING THE EXPERTISE THEY POSSESS, TO A COUNCIL THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM CITIZENS WANTING TO HELP THE CAUSE…..AND IMPROVE THE HOME LIFE IN OUR TOWN.
EVEN FORMER REGIONAL POLITICIANS HERE ARE SELDOM CALLED UPON FOR THEIR INPUT, WHICH IS A TREMENDOUS WASTE OF TALENT AND EXPERIENCE. FROM A FORMER DISTRICT CHAIRMAN, TO NUMEROUS LONG-TERM COUNCILLORS, MANY OF THESE FOLKS WOULD BE THRILLED TO BE ASKED THEIR OPINION ON TOWN MATTERS. IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD, FOR A CURRENT COUNCIL, TO LOOK TO THIS "EXPERIENCE FOUNTAIN," TO HELP BOLSTER COUNCIL DECISIONS AND DIRECTION. IT IS NOT AN ADMISSION OF FAILURE, TO CALL THESE VETERANS TOGETHER FOR A LITTLE SUMMIT, NOW AND AGAIN, TO ASK FOR ASSISTANCE ON THE TOWN'S PRESSING ISSUES AND FUTURE CONCERNS. IT SHOULD NOT BE SEEN AS A SURRENDER, TO ASK FOR HELP. YET I THINK IT IS FELT AS IF, ASKING FOR OUTSIDE OPINION, SEEMS INHERENT WEAKNESS OR DEFICIENCY, WHEN I SEE THE EXACT OPPOSITE. WE HAVE RETIRED "GENERALS" (AS I CALL THEM), IN OUR RANKS, AND A LOT OF PROBLEMS WE HAVE TODAY, ARE ONES THAT HAD THEIR ORIGIN WITH PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS. AS AN HISTORIAN, I DEPEND ON SAGE ADVICE OF PAST HISTORIANS. BEING IN COMPANY WITH SO MUCH TALENT, AND EXPERTISE, THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY, IS A VERY COMFORTING FEELING. IF ONLY OUR ADMINISTRATORS FELT THIS WAY. WELL, IT'S NEVER TO LATE TO CHANGE THIS DEFICIENCY OF SHARING. A START, WOULD BE TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC IN, ON THE HAIGHT BEQUEATH, UNDER STEWARDSHIP OF THOSE WITH MOST EXPERTISE……BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. IT'S CERTAINLY NOT AGAINST PROTOCOL TO SEEK OUTSIDE OPINION. AND IF IT'S SOME OLD FASHION FREE ADVICE, WELL, THAT WORKS TOO!
NEW DECKING ON THE BARGE IS THE FUTURE OF ENTERTAINMENT
It's almost breathtaking to see those brand new board feet, freshly attached to the floor joist of Gull Lake's entertainment venue, The Barge, now only a few short weeks from opening ceremonies. I've dropped down to the park several times in the last week, and the change is pleasant and dramatic at the same time. New decking has been put in place, on the main area of the island-stage, and the facing has been restored around the contour of the platform. I believe the work has been provided by Beaver Creek Correctional Institution, with some key volunteer guidance, from the Barge Debating Society, moving the re-construction project along. I was on the stage a week before the refurbishing work began, and from there to here seemed almost insurmountable, to have concerts on The Barge for this summer season. Well, to those of us who aren't woodworking-inclined, the transformation has been a true work of art. Damn uplifting to Barge volunteers, who had been worried the structure as too-far-gone to save. Those experts in reconstruction have saved the day, and Music on the Barge. Council should be pleased with the progress that they initiated with just a little coaxing. The first concert of the 2012 season with be on Sunday, June 24th, featuring The Muskoka Concert Band, conducted by Neil Barlow. The following Sunday, Mr. Barlow returns for a Canada Day concert, featuring The Biofocals Concert Band. There is a potential that these opening acts, will be held in the Rotary Club Pavilion. Remember to bring a rain coat and umbrella. There are no rain-out re-locations this year. The may be a pause in the case of a brief rain shower. The show will go on if it can, even in a misty rain. Thunderstorms of course, will certainly cancel the concert evenings. Please come out and support this Gravenhurst summer-time music tradition.
OPERA HOUSE BOARD OF DIRECTORS COULD DEAL WITH USE PROPOSALS
I have always thought it was awkward, for the Town of Gravenhurst, to run the Opera House, without a small panel of experts in the field of entertainment, (Board of Directors), to act as a liaison body with the venue manager and town council. As new longer term event proposals come forward, I think it would be highly beneficial for the town to have a small appointed body, to oversee negotiations, to provide some sensible distance between regular council business and theatre management. Some submissions are beyond what the Opera House management can negotiate on its own. I think it requires an overseeing body, not a town committee) to assist with procuring productions and festivals, processing and screening applications, with the capability, (having front-line experience), to provide and acquire expert opinion, before reaching the council stage for final approval. It is quite common for theaters of this nature, and size, to have a board of directors, which could improve relations with the community, and potential patrons. In order to make long overdue improvements at the Opera House, the first major issue, is to recognize the future is upon us, and we are currently ill prepared to meet the challenge. I predict a lot more use for the building in the near future, but "business proposals," that will require much enhanced managerial guidance. I have heard about some ambitious plans for a new theatre relationship in the coming year, and it would be great if a deal can be worked out. With such a big proposal, there is a huge need to cover all the intricacies and complexities such a relationship can inspire. Think of it as risk management. I think a board of directors can provide experience that town and management today, can not perform as efficiently, as it must, to make sure the theatre project is successful……and not a financial misadventure. I'm sure council will feel it can cover all eventualities, but we do have considerable experience in this town to draw upon, to employ an advisory group, that knows, intimately well, the idiosyncrasies of the theatre wing of performing arts. There's some time to think about this, and make appropriate, and sensibly proportioned reactions, to what could herald a new future for the Gravenhurst Opera House. It's an exciting time.
WHAT AN AMAZINGLY BUSY WEEKEND IN GRAVENHURST
I'm sure there will be another doom and gloom column in the local press, one day soon, about how we are starving to death on the main street, here in Gravenhurst; but by golly, from Thursday evening to Sunday afternoon, it was a beehive of activity, and an impressive show of support especially, for what we offer locally in entertainment venues. The crowds at the "Just 4 Kicks," annual spring dance program, at the Opera House, were huge, and it was kind of nice not finding parking spots during their multi-show run. It shows we're a "happening place." There was a large crowd at Peter's Players, further up Muskoka Road, for their Saturday night showcase, and the restaurants looked to have good crowds during the dinner hours. On Saturday morning, the Gravenhurst Lions Club was up at dawn, setting out their annual fundraising garage sale, at their Pavilion at Sagamo Park, and there was a huge crowd in attendance throughout the morning. I hope they did well. Trinity United Church held their fundraising sale of donated items, inside this year, due to the wet weather, and the gardens centers and grocery store lots were jammed with vehicles. The main street appeared to be busy, and it was a good sale day for our boys, in their main street music shop. Gravenhurst was a happening place this weekend, and it appears to be a very nice trend. Next Saturday we've got a car show to visit, at Gull Lake Park, and I'm told the Gull Lake site will be raked-up by then. Also good news.
WORKING ON THE ANTIQUE WING OF ANDREW CURRIE'S MUSIC
It's been a long time since I had to multi-task at anything, other than having my dinner and watching the nightly news. We've commenced work on getting inventory prepared for the expansion of the boys' shop, to sell a selection of antiques and collectables, ranging from furniture, art work, quilts, vintage wool blankets, and general oddities you don't often see. The boys will be unveiling the two new rooms on the first of July. I have a dozen small refinishing jobs on the go, and some re-framing projects. It's been quite a while since Suzanne and I embarked on such a large scale project. We did have a shop in Bracebridge, in the 1990's, but I closed it when I began work with the Crozier Foundation, as public relations director for Muskoka. I'm looking forward to getting back into antiques and collectibles more seriously, even though our job in the boys' shop, will be to do the sale "picking," meaning we get to roam all over the place, enjoying the scenery, and treats along the way, finding interesting pieces to put in the shop. We've been planning this semi-retirement enterprise since the late 1980's, when we first opened Birch Hollow Antiques. We just don't want to be in the shop all the time, which is great for Andrew and Robert……because they don't want us in their shop all the time. I can understand this. They don't like Herb Alpert music. Heathens! Drop in some time this summer, to say hello. We may be there, but then again, if the open road beckons, we're more likely to be "out there" instead. I write a monthly antique road-trip, feature article, for a regional Ontario publication, known as "Curious; The Tourist Guide," so to get story ideas, I need to be out hustling through the estate sales, flea markets, antiques shops, malls and country auctions. It's a tough job but someone has to do it! I start out every trip like the beginning of the book, "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance," if you know the book. There's something powerfully alluring about the open road, having no strict agenda. It's the personification of freedom. I began serious, for profit collecting, at eighteen years of age. I've had a little practice at this wandering and "picking" thing. By the way, Gravenhurst was a great place to "antique pick" this past weekend. You should give it a try, if you like antiques and collectibles. We've got a lot of fantastic yard sale and fundraising hosts, who put on very unique and surprise-filled events. The yard sale traffic begins at sunrise. What a neat way to start the weekend. Muskoka. What a great host region, for yard sale Saturdays. In case you haven't noticed, there's a huge sale following, and they invade our town. And yes they do spend money here on food and gas, plus stopping at the grocery stores. I see these folks many times each Saturday, and not just on the sale circuit.
Thanks so much for visiting today's blog. Please visit again soon.
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