Sunday December 19, 2010

Ladies and Gentlemen

Christmas music is playing in the background; gifts have been purchased; and final decisions have been made of who sits where for Christmas dinner. Take a moment to consider those who are having a tougher time this Christmas.

Your Council is still at work. A closed meeting to discuss Committee appointments takes place on Monday December the 20^th at 6:00 pm at the NSSRC. Then at 7:00 pm is the Council Meeting (Deputation Only). A long agenda including:

-          a deputation on the town budget and taxes

-          the public meeting for the new (higher) sewer and water rates

-          discussion of our negotiations with OPSEU (town staff)

The mayors of Penetanguishene and Midland, together with staff, will meet on Tuesday to determine the initial public consultation process for our new Urban Growth Node status. While many people are still unaware of the impact of this provincial designation, what we do with it will guide our economic prospects for the next decade.  Stay tuned for more information on this.

Those of you who tried to attend the Town budget meeting last week were disappointed when it had to be cancelled at the last moment. By way of history, the previous Council had proposed a Town tax rate increase of 5% as it left office.  The new Council at its first meeting set a tax rate increase of between 2 and 3%. The next budget meeting will see Council and staff work out how that can be achieved. The next budget meetings are set for January 5^th and January 17^th.  All meetings are at 5:30 pm at the NSSRC.

Your editor will take a brief Christmas break. My very best wishes to you for a memorable Christmas and a prosperous New Year. And don’t forget to vote for our hospital beds at   http://www.refresheverything.ca/light-registration.

Gord McKay