Town Council and What I Am Afraid Of For Gravenhurst

WHAT WE HAVE TO BE AFRAID OF WITH TOWN COUNCIL'S NEXT YEAR AND A HALF IN OFFICE

WHAT MIGHT THEY DO BEFORE THEY'RE GONE?

     I HATE INTERRUPTING MY REGULAR ANTIQUE AND COLLECTABLE COLUMN, TO WRITE ABOUT LOCAL POLITICS. HONESTLY, I'D RATHER BE DOING WHAT I LOVE, THAN NIT-PICKING AT THOSE WHO WERE ELECTED TO GOVERN US AS A MUNICIPALITY……BUT, NOT REALLY DOING THAT WELL AT THE JOB. AS IT WAS AS WONDERFUL WEEK FOR BOTH ANTIQUE SALES, AT THE SHOP, AND FINDS MADE OUT ON THE ANTIQUE HUNT, I REALLY WANTED TO WRITE ABOUT ALL THE NEAT STUFF WE ACQUIRED, INCLUDING SOME RUBBERSET COLLECTABLES, WHICH WE'RE REALLY HAPPY ABOUT. I PICKED UP AN 1840'S EMPIRE STYLE HIGH BOY DRESSER, ON WEDNESDAY, AND IT'S A BEAUTY. MAKES ME WANT TO WRITE ABOUT IT, BUT I FEEL OBLIGED TO FINISH UP WHAT I STARTED…….DIGGING INTO THE QUAGMIRE OF MUNICIPAL POLITICS. OR WHAT A BLOGGER CAN ACTUALLY DO, WITHOUT A MEDIA MASTHEAD ANYWAY, TO RALLY THE CITIZENS OF TOWN, TO TAKE NOTICE WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THEIR COMMUNITY. HERE ARE SOME OBSERVATIONS FROM A KEEN MUNICIPAL WATCHER…..DIVIDING TIME FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS, BETWEEN RUNNING AN ANTIQUE SHOP, AND TRYING TO ADVISE THE PUBLIC THAT THE PROVERBIAL POOP, ABOUT THREE FEET WIDE, AND THE SAME HIGH, (IF YOU COULD IMAGINE THE MASS) IS ABOUT TO HIT THE FAN HERE, IN GRAVENHURST. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? MY PREDICTION IS, THAT BEFORE SEPTEMBER ROLLS AROUND, THE OPERA HOUSE WILL BECOME THE KIND OF MILLSTONE DUSTED WITH BAD KARMA, THAT EFFECTIVELY BURYS POLITICAL CAREERS AND ASPIRATIONS. AND OF COURSE, THIS WILL COME AFTER THEY FIND OUT WHAT IT MEANS, AND WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT, TO CONDUCT "DUE DILIGENCE," AS OUR ELECTED STEWARDS, AND ACT PROPORTIONALLY TO THE FINDINGS. MY QUESTION IS…..HAVE THEY, AS COUNCILLORS, DONE THEIR OWN DUE DILIGENCE, TO DETERMINE IF THEIR NEW CHANGE OF DIRECTION, FOR THE OPERA HOUSE, WILL MAKE MONEY, LOSE MONEY, BECOME AN ENORMOUS SUCCESS, OR SUCK THE WIND (CASH) OUT OF THIS TOWN, FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS? DO THEY TRULY KNOW WHAT IT WILL MEAN, TO FACE THE TAXPAYERS, WITH REALLY BAD FINANCIAL NEWS…..THAT WE DIDN'T BREAK EVEN; NOT EVEN CLOSE…..BUT BY GOLLY, WE HAD SUMMER THEATRE. THERE'S SOMETHING TO CHEER ABOUT.

    WHAT ARE THE COST PROJECTIONS, AND WHAT IS THE POTENTIAL FOR EARNING A PROFIT AFTER THE RUN OF THE TWO MAIN SHOWS? DOES ANYBODY AT THE TOWN KNOW, OR LIKE SO MUCH ELSE THESE DAYS, ARE THEY JUST "MOVING FORWARD" WITHOUT A CARE IN THE WORLD. THIS IS A HIGH STAKES CHANGE OF DIRECTION, OVER WHAT WE COULD HAVE HAD….., OF A SUMMER CHOCK FULL OF CONCERTS INSTEAD. I KNOW THE BIG GUY WHO WAS JUST ABOUT TO PULL OFF A MAJOR COUP FOR THIS TOWN, AND GIVE US THE ENTERTAINMENT WE DESERVE…..AND HAVE WAITED FOR SUCH A LONG TIME TO GET, ONCE AGAIN, AS OPERA HOUSE SUPPORTERS. OF COURSE I'M MAD AS HELL, ABOUT WHAT HAS BEEN GIVEN UP HERE, BECAUSE OF BLIND CONVICTION SUMMER THEATRE WAS THE CAT'S ASS FOR THE MASSES.

    COUNCILLORS MAY EVEN FIND THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE INFORMATION LOOP, AND GEEZ, THAT'S NOT GOOD. IF THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT LIABILITIES THEY'RE GETTING INTO, WITH THIS CHANGE OF DIRECTION, CAN WE BE CONFIDENT, THEY ARE GOING TO JUMP ON THIS ISSUE, AND FIND OUT THE RISK POSITION, THEY HAVE PUT THE TOWN IN……WITHOUT KNOWING FULLY, THE CONSEQUENCES. HAVING A LESS THAN STELLAR SUMMER SEASON, OF PUTTING BUMS IN SEATS, AT THE OPERA HOUSE…..WOULD BE, IN ONE WORD, "EXPENSIVE."

          I DON'T LIKE TOWN COUNCIL'S "WE'RE WEARING BLINKERS" ATTITUDE, AND I REALLY DON'T CARE FOR THEIR MEDDLING IN OUR FUTURES, AT THIS POINT…..OR THEIR HOUR LONG PARKING LIMIT ON THE MAIN STREET, WHICH IS JUST STUPID. THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TO TICKET EVENT-GOERS OF THEATRE MATINEES, AT THE OPERA HOUSE, WHICH CAN ALSO INCLUDE SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS. A TOURIST GETS TICKETED WHILE SHOPPING, AND THEN DROPPING IN TO SOME RESTAURANT, OR SANDWICH SHOP FOR LUNCH. AN HOUR JUST FLIES BY. THIS REALLY ISN'T THE POINT OF MY BLOG TODAY. IT JUST SEEMS SO DARN HOOTERVILLE-LIKE, FOR GOSH SAKES. IN OUR SHOP, A CUSTOMER, TO SEE EVERYTHING, AND HAVE A LITTLE CHAT, AND MAYBE EVEN MAKE A PURCHASE, MIGHT USE UP AN HOUR AND A HALF. WE'VE HAD TO ASK CUSTOMERS WHERE THEY'RE PARKED, IN THE MIDDLE OF FRIENDLY CONVERSATION, BECAUSE WE'RE WORRIED THE BYLAW BRIGADE, IS GOING TO TICKET THEM…….AND YES, FOR SHOPPING IN GRAVENHURST. I GOT A WARNING TICKET WITH A TOWN PROMOTION INSIDE, AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF……WHAT A WAY TO IMPRESS VISITORS TO TOWN…..THAT WE APPARENTLY NEED TO SURVIVE. I TOSSED MY FRIENDLY REMINDER IN THE TRASH, SO I HOPE THEY DIDN'T PAY TOO MUCH TO HAVE THEM PRINTED. THIS TOWN IS A QUAGMIRE OF CONTRADICTIONS. WE WANT FOLKS TO SHOP ON OUR MAIN STREET, BUT YOU CAN ONLY PARK FOR ONE HOUR, BEFORE YOU ARE LIKELY TO BE TICKETED. ABSURD? NOT REALLY, IF YOU TAKE IN THE WHOLE MUNICIPAL PICTURE, AS IT IS UNFOLDING DAY BY DAY, ESPECIALLY AT THE OPERA HOUSE…..WHICH AT THE VERY LEAST HAS A NEW ROOF CONSTRUCTED ON OLD BOARDS. I COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE, FROM MY PORTAL ACROSS THE ROAD. THE WHOLE WOODWORK OF THE ROOF, SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN MY OPINION, BUT I'M NOT A VOTING MEMBER OF THIS MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT……AT THIS TIME!

     I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT OUR TOWN COUNCIL DOES IN THE NEXT YEAR AND A HALF, LEADING UP TO THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION. THEY'RE NOT REALLY A TRUE LAME DUCK COUNCIL, JUST CLOSE. HONESTLY, I WOULD PREFER THEY DON'T DO MUCH AT ALL, ESPECIALLY WHEN I READ THIS WEEK, ABOUT AN UPCOMING PUBLIC MEETING FOR THE FUTURE PROPERTY USE, AT MUSKOKA CENTRE, SITUATED OF COURSE, ON THE HEAVILY TRAVELLED MUSKOKA BAY. THERE ARE LOTS OF RUMORS CIRCULATING NOW, OUT THERE, ABOUT PROPOSED USES FOR THE ACREAGE……SUCH AS A PLAN FOR A CONDOMINIUM DEVELOPMENT. THIS WILL BE A HUGE AND CONTROVERSIAL DECISION, REGARDING FUTURE LAND-USE, AND I'M SURE THE LOCAL COTTAGE ASSOCIATIONS WILL BE VERY MUCH A PART OF THE DISCUSSIONS. I WOULD PREFER, FROM WHAT I KNOW TO THIS POINT, ABOUT COUNCIL IN GENERAL, THAT THIS HIGHLY VOLATILE ISSUE, BE LEFT TO THE COUNCIL ELECTED IN 2014, SO THAT THE WHOLE ISSUE CAN BECOME PART OF THE ELECTION CAMPAIGNS OF COUNCIL-HOPEFULS……WHICH MAY INCLUDE COTTAGE ASSOCIATION MEMBERS, AND "ONE MUSKOKA" SUPPORTED CANDIDATES (IF THAT COMES TO FRUITION). YOU NEVER KNOW. IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, AND I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF IT, IN THE TOWNSHIPS OF THE ARCHIPELAGO, NEAR PARRY SOUND, AND THE TOWNSHIP OF MUSKOKA LAKES, IN THE EARLY 1980'S. IT WAS A PRETTY GOOD THING, IN MY OPINION, THAT COTTAGERS (SECOND HOME OWNERS) TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO INFLUENCE COUNCIL BUSINESS FROM THE INSIDE……BECAUSE FROM THE OUTSIDE, IT WASN'T GETTING THROUGH THE "NO, WE'RE IN CHARGE," POINT OF VIEW. I'M HOPING THIS IS JUST THE PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION, AND NOT THE BEGINNING OF AN INTENSE PERIOD, WHERE DEVELOPERS START POURING IN, WITH PLANS TO IMPROVE OUR TOWN WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT. I WANT THE FOLKS OF THIS MUNICIPALITY TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS, AND MAKE IT CLEAR WHAT WE WANT FOR THAT HISTORIC, WONDERFUL PROPERTY. I HAVEN'T FOUND THIS COUNCIL PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN LISTENING TO COUNTER POINT, SO I'M HOPING THIS REVIEW AND STEP FORWARD, STUDYING IDEAS FOR THE FUTURE, WILL ENCOURAGE AN EARLY COMMITMENT OF COUNCIL CANDIDATES, TO MAKE THEMSELVES KNOWN…..AND THEIR POINTS OF VIEW EXPRESSED, BEFORE ANY DECISIONS ARE MADE. A YEAR AND A HALF IS A LONG TIME TO WAIT. HAVING CONTENDERS MIGHT JUST SPARK INTEREST IN REAL CHANGE TO THIS MUNICIPALITY……IN THE WAY DEMOCRACY SHOULD AND CAN WORK…..WHEN CONSTITUENTS KNOW THEIR RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES.

    IF WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE OPERA HOUSE, THIS SUMMER SEASON, IS REALLY THE BEST DARN THING TO OCCUR IN THIS COMMUNITY…….SINCE IT WAS NAMED AFTER WILLIAM HENRY SMITH'S WONDERFUL BOOK, "GRAVENHURST" THEN I WILL OFFER AS MUCH CYBERSPACE PRINT, AS IS NECESSARY, TO APOLOGIZE FULLY FOR BEING A SKEPTIC AND A CRITIC ROLLED INTO ONE BLOGGER. AS I WROTE PREVIOUSLY, IF IT IS A FINANCIAL DISASTER FOR THE TOWN, I WANT COUNCILLORS TO COME CLEAN……AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR GAMBLE WITH OUR MONEY. I DON'T THINK THAT'S A LOT TO ASK FOR, UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. IF COUNCILLORS HAVEN'T GOT A CLUE WHAT I'M WRITING ABOUT, IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE A LITTLE CHAT WITH SOMEONE WHO DOES KNOW THE FISCAL RISK OF THIS MAJOR UNDERTAKING, BRINGING SUMMER THEATRE BACK TO GRAVENHURST. THERE REALLY ISN'T MUCH EXCUSE FOR ANY OF OUR COUNCILLORS TO BE IGNORANT OF THE FACTS AND FIGURES OF THE MONTHS TO COME.

     I AM RESIGNED TO FEELING ANGRY ABOUT WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN, AND WHAT, I FEEL HAS BEEN DENIED US, AT THE OPERA HOUSE, BY A TOWN COUNCIL OPERATING IN A LESS THAN DEMOCRATIC FASHION. BUT WHAT CAN ANY ONE OF US DO ABOUT IT NOW?  WELL, HOW ABOUT RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN 2014.

    I'M BACK ON THE ANTIQUE TRAIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 6:00 A.M. MAYBE I'LL SEE YOU OUT THERE.