A TOUGH YEAR AHEAD FOR GRAVENHURST…….AND TOWN COUNCIL - AND THEN WHAT ABOUT THE FISCAL CLIFF
A FOUR YEAR TERM FOR THE RECORD BOOK - SOME TOUGH DECISIONS AHEAD
FIRST OF ALL, AND LET'S BE PERFECTLY HONEST, WE ALL WISH THE COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST, GOOD LUCK IN THE NEW YEAR. SHOW ME A CONSTITUENT WHO WON'T JOIN-IN ON THIS TOAST, AND YOU'LL SEE THE REFLECTION OF A DEVIL-MAY-CARE CITIZEN, WHO LIKES LONG AND PERILOUS JOURNEYS……CROCODILES SNAPPING, RATTLESNAKES STINGING, AND WOULD PURPOSELY STAND IN THE WAY OF AN INCOMING SCUD MISSILE, FOR THE THRILL OF IMMINENT IMPACT. OF COURSE WE WANT OUR COUNCIL TO PROCEED WITH GOOD WILL AND GOOD FORTUNE FOR ALL OF US. NOW WOULDN'T THAT BE THE CROWNING GLORY FOR ANY HOMETOWN. GOOD NEWS ALL ROUND. NOW THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING.
YOU'D HAVE TO BE CAUGHT IN SOME WHIRLWIND OF TIME TRAVEL, OR IN A WOODSTOCK FLASHBACK, TO HAVE MISSED THE WARNING SIGNS OF IMPENDING DOOM, APPARENTLY TARGETING US ALL, IN THE COMING YEAR. IT'S SHAPING UP TO BE AN INTERESTING TWELVE MONTHS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT STARTS OFF WITH THE AMERICANS FALLING OVER THE FISCAL CLIFF, AS THEY LIKE TO CALL IT. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE SO MANY THINGS IN NEED OF NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENTS. REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IN THE UNITED STATES CAN'T NEGOTIATE A DEAL. THE PRESIDENT OF SYRIA AND THE UNITED NATIONS CAN'T BROKER A PEACE DEAL TO SAVE THE LIVES OF THEIR CITIZENS. THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE HAS BEEN SIDELINED, BY A MONEY SHARING IMPASSE, AND THE TEACHERS AND THE PROVINCE CAN'T SORT ANYTHING OUT EITHER, THAT LOOKS LIKE A WORKABLE CONTRACT.
BEING THE TRUSTING SOULS THAT WE ARE, MOST OF US FIGURED THE FISCAL CLIFF WAS MORE THEATRICS AND RHETORIC THAN SOMETHING THAT COULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN. I'M JUST HOPING ITS NOT A "CLIFF," BUT MORE OF A SLIPPERY SLOPE. AS FOR SYRIA, WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS GUY? HE'S HANGING ON BY A SHORT WHISKER FROM HIS CHINNY-CHIN-CHIN, BUT STILL LIKES LAUNCHING HOURLY MISSILES AT HIS OWN PEOPLE. THE NHL? WHAT CAN YOU SAY, OTHER THAN IT'S A RICH SPORT CONSUMED BY GREED. THE FANS? THE SUPPORT WORKERS? SPIN-OFF BUSINESSES? IT'S THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE, OF INVESTING IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS. TEACHERS AND THE PROVINCE? WHAT A SILLY-ASS DEBACLE, THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE, ESPECIALLY A BILL THAT REVOKES THE RIGHT TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. WHAT WAS THE PREMIER THINKING? IF THE PROVINCE WISHES TO UNION-BUST, THIS WAS NOT THE BEST PLACE, OR METHOD, TO START THE CAMPAIGN. TAXES IN THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST? GOING UP? JUST WANT TO SET THE STAGE. BUT WE'RE ALL PRETTY SURE THEY WON'T BEING GOING DOWN. IF IT'S REALLY A FISCAL CLIFF, EVEN IN THIS MUNICIPALITY, WE'D BETTER GET A LOT OF SLEDS, CAUSE WE'RE GOING DOWN THE SAME DECLINE. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE CASES WHEN WE CAN TEST THE AGE-OLD SAYING, THAT WHEN THE UNITED STATES GETS A COLD, CANADIANS START COUGHING. SO WHAT ABOUT CONSTIPATION. LET'S JUST SAY, WE HOPE IT ALL SHOWS UP AS RHETORIC AND OVER EMBELLISHING OF FISCAL DISASTER……AND NOT THE GENUINE RECESSION CRITICS ARE WARNING ABOUT. TALK ABOUT A SCUD ON THE HEAD.
SOME OF MY CONTEMPORARIES IN THE CRITIQUING GAME, PROBABLY THINK I DISLIKE TOWN POLITICIANS. I'M SURE THERE ARE COUNCILLORS WHO FEEL THIS WAY, AND I WOULDN'T BLAME THEM FOR FEELING THIS WAY. IT ISN'T TRUE, BY THE WAY,……THE PART ABOUT ME DISLIKING COUNCILLORS…..WHO ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES TO BLAME FOR SOME OF THE SITUATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING IN AND AROUND TOWN HALL, FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF THEIR PRESENT FOUR YEAR TERM OF OFFICE. ADMITTEDLY, THEY HAVE HAD QUITE A NUMBER OF CONTENTIOUS SITUATIONS TO DEAL WITH, ALMOST FROM THE BEGINNING OF THEIR TERM, AND I HAVE TO GIVE THEM ALL CREDIT FOR STICKING IT OUT THIS FAR. I HONESTLY BELIEVED, WE'D LOSE ONE OR TWO AS THE TERM PROGRESSED, BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME NASTY MOMENTS, AND SOME HARD FEELINGS……THAT DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ME. I COME FROM AN OLD SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY, THAT IT IS NEVER GOOD TO QUIT A JOB, MID-STREAM. LIKE THE FLAG BEARER HEADING UP LITTLE ROUND-TOP, AT GETTYSBURG; THE FLAG MUST NOT HIT THE GROUND. IF IT DOES, BY INCIDENT, THEN IT IS PICKED UP BY THE NEXT IN LINE, AND SO ON, AND SO ON, UNTIL THE BATTLE IS FINALLY WON, A RETREAT ORDERED, OR A FULL DEFEAT RECORDED. WHAT I SEE IN GRAVENHURST, IS A WILLINGNESS TO TAKE THE HEAT, FROM THE PUBLIC, AND CARRY ON DOING WHAT THE ELECTORATE WANTED IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO I MUST TIP MY TOP HAT, TO EACH COUNCILLOR AND THE MAYOR, WHO HAVE WITHSTOOD A PRETTY FAIR SHELLACKING, OVER TWO YEARS, AND STILL APPEAR READY FOR THE REST OF THE CHALLENGE. I ADMIRE THIS. THERE ARE A LOT OF CRITICS TAKING POT SHOTS, NOT JUST ME. SO STICKING-IT-OUT SHOWS CONSIDERABLE COURAGE. BUT THE DANCE ISN'T OVER JUST YET.
I GREW UP THROUGH MY OWN PRESS YEARS, WORKING FOR PUBLISHERS WHO WERE RUTHLESS, IN THEIR OWN PECULIAR WAYS, NEVER LETTING A STORY DIE BECAUSE OF A LESSER WILL TO DO THE REPORTING JOB REQUIRED. IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE AN APPETITE FOR THE ASSIGNMENT, YOU WERE TOLD TO HAND IT OFF TO SOMEONE ELSE, POSSESSING MORE GRIT. NEVER LET A POLITICIAN WIGGLE OFF THE HOOK! ESPECIALLY IF THE SCOOP SMELLS LIKE A WINNER. THE FRONT-PAGE STORY, BENEATH THE DOUBLE-BANKED HEADLINE. WHAT I SEE TODAY, IS A VERY KIND AND DECENT HANDLING OF COUNCILLORS IN THIS TOWN, WHO HAVE NEVER REALLY BEEN FULLY SCRUTINIZED; AS THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, OR FURTHER BACK. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS, OF COURSE, IS THAT COUNCIL ITSELF, GETS USED TO BEING GENTLY, LAZILY ROLLED-OFF STORIES, THEY MAY HAVE WISHED UNDER WRAPS. THIS, INSTEAD OF BEING AGGRESSIVELY, AND FORCEFULLY REMOVED FROM ANY KIND OF CONCEALMENT ACTIVITY. ALL OF US REPORTERS HAD OUR SHARE OF SOURCES, INSIDE TOWN HALL, AND WE FOLLOWED THEM UP WITH GREAT VIGOR AND ENTHUSIASM. WE ALL WANTED FRONT PAGE SCOOPS. IT WAS THE NAME OF THE GAME. IT DIDN'T PUT EXTRA MONEY IN THE PAY PACKET EACH WEEK, BUT IT KEPT US INVIGORATED AND INSPIRED…..AND THESE STORIES WERE USED IN OUR PORTFOLIOS, WHEN WE FINALLY WENT FOR OTHER BIGGER PAYING REPORTING GIGS. POINT IS, AND I KNOW I'VE STATED THIS PREVIOUSLY, BUT THERE ARE A FEW GRAVENHURST COUNCILLORS RIGHT NOW, WHO KNOW WHAT I'M REFERRING TO…….WHEN THE PRESS HAD MUCH SHARPER TEETH, AND DIDN'T FEAR BITING DOWN HARD, AND RIPPING OFF HUNKS OF FLESH. THIS SAME COUNCIL, TIME WARPED BACK TWENTY YEARS, WOULD BE MUCH MORE RAGGED AND DESPERATE FOR GOOD PRESS, THAN THEY ARE IN THE PRESENT TENSE. THERE ARE SOME GREAT REALITIES OF A SHARP PENNED PRESS. CALL IT FORCED TRANSPARENCY, OR ELSE. IT'S CERTAINLY GOOD FOR CITIZENS, WHO WISH AN UNCENSORED ASSESSMENT, OF WHAT IS GOING ON AT TOWN HALL. WHEN IT COMES TO VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE HOWEVER, YOU CAN EXPECT THE PREFERENCE TO BE…."NO, THERE'S NOTHING GOING ON HERE OF INTEREST." THE NEWS SLEUTHING ENVIRONMENT ISN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE, SO WE HAVE TO COUNT ON COUNCILLORS TO BE HONEST WITH US……..REALLY !
WHAT'S IN STORE FOR THE COMING YEAR
There are two huge issues facing the Town of Gravenhurst this year, if you want my honest appraisal of the events yet to come. The first will be the annual budget hacking and whacking, which will have to take into consider, the first year (almost) of the newly refurbished Recreation Centre……and how much of a burden it is going to be on the citizens who don't use the facility for any number of reasons…….such as being cottagers, absent for most of the year. And of course, those who won't afford the luxury of attending. There are many residents out there, who simply won't attend the facility, because of their economic circumstance. Even if there are subsidy arrangements, for those of lesser incomes, having to apply for entry, based on economic disadvantage, can be very embarrassing to applicants…..and stop them from attending anything, even if it would prove to their general disadvantage. I'm predicting the town will have to revamp some of their expectations about the facility, and if there is a worsening economic situation, nationally, and then locally, God forbid another whiplash of recession, then a much deeper revamp will be necessary, to keep the taxpayers from marching on town hall.
The next major issue, of course, will be the proposal being put forth by the local uptown revitalization group, the BIA, to Town Council, later this spring, to back a proposed expansion of the present commercial zone, to include a huge swath of main street commerce, which would likely be close to a tripling of its present size. As I predicted earlier, the seeds of dissension are already sprouting, and it's likely the BIA plan for expansion, will be met with considerable opposition. My hope is that the Town of Gravenhurst will recognize the enormity of the issue, and handle the proposal with the utmost respect for full transparency, and democratic procedure, to allow public debate on the issue….and not just from those immediately affected by the expansion. This is a town issue, not just confined to the BIA. The group has the right to make the proposal, but not to circumnavigate democratic perusal.
These two main issues, will be the tests that keep repeating, like garlic and peppers, for the next two years. Count on it. It's going to take some cool heads, the ability to get tough, stay firm, be willing to negotiate, compromise where needed, and to be constantly open, to the will of the people. For our Town Council, it could be a wonderful opportunity, to shake off the problems of the past two years, and finish the next two years of this term, resolved to improve-upon what went so wrong minutes after the swearing-in ceremony. And in case they don't remember, for a while…..it was pretty much a case of everything going wrong, and at once. There were ratepayers calling for resignations of councillors in the first six months of the first term. I'm pleased that councillors hung in there, to fight another day. In the case of the upcoming BIA expansion talks, there are some interesting perspectives yet to be heard, and I believe the BIA, as it exists today, is going to run head-long into formidable opposition. They have a chance to deal with these issues before making a full public presentation. From that point, there will be little going back on this……and a failure to deploy, will only hurt what the BIA believes it has accomplished to this point in its history. They should have been perceptive enough, from the beginning of the expansion talks, to appreciate the prevailing commercial sentiment is not exactly in their favor. It would be a real shame, if they steadfastly refused to look at the negative impact, of getting into a major battle with other commercial areas, not wanting any part of this inclusion. This is a battle that need not happen. The town can stop this now, by making it clear to the BIA, that nothing is imminent…..because some proponents seem to feel it's going to be a community "happening." This is raising tensions needlessly. I'm sure there will be ample discussion time. If not, there is likely to be a court challenge.
Town Council could ease the situation, by insisting the matter be deferred, until their is full public disclosure, about the impact, such an expansion will have on new member property owners and businesses. What was wrong here, is that the expansion situation wasn't handled by the town as it should have……if they were genuinely interested in a smooth transition. By allowing the BIA to promote this plan, without even having one information meeting, hosted by the town, and for affected property owners and businesses, the horse, as the saying goes, "is long gone"……so closing the barn door now is a little redundant. So it's going to be pretty hard at present, to calm dissenters, when it appears the town is allowing the BIA to call the shots. This is what some folks, in the target area, are feeling, and this isn't right. I hope before it becomes one of the those front page stories, beneath the double or triple banked, bold headlines, that a compromise can be made suitable to all parties…..at least for the negotiations in the future. It doesn't need to get ugly. But it will, if precautions aren't taken now.
I am still a council supporter. I want them to lead us into the future. I'd just like them to pay a little more attention to democratic protocols for the public……under the terms of transparency, and our rights to know……stuff.
I wish Town Council, Town Staff, and all constituents of this fine town, a very Happy New Year…..good health, safe journeys…..and future prosperity. And thank you all so much for making this 2012 blog project so successful. I started off with a plan to get a hundred readers a day. I have at times, in the past few days, quadrupled that expectation. So I think I'll stick around for a while longer. With kindest regards. From Birch Hollow.
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