Sunday February 9, 2014

Ladies and Gentlemen

A number of interesting meetings from last week. Last Tuesday I spoke to the Public School Board’s Review Committee about the need for a stronger high school in our area. (My presentation is on the blog at http://newsfromthetown.blogspot.ca/.)  I also provided input to Garfield Dunlop’s provincial budget consolation – also on the blog.

The Georgian Bay mayors had their first meeting of 2014 to discuss the impacts of low water on our local businesses. Last year we saw the International Joint Committee receive a report stating that long term “adaptive monument” was necessary to manage our lake levels. The federal and provincial governments seem to have accepted that recommendation. Our challenge though is the report speaks to the long term – ten plus years before anything happens. Over the short term we are likely to see low water levels continue to affect many of our shoreline businesses and municipal facilities.

To date a number of federal ministers have indicated financial help is coming.  We mayors will continue to help them in fulfilling that intention.

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Monday February 10^th will start with a closed meeting of Council at 5:00 pm to address a number of issues including contract negotiations and personal matters. At 7:00 pm that evening at Town Hall is the February General Committee. Depending on what happens in the closed session we may discuss Council’s representatives on the Police Service Board.  Other items of interest are:

-       Update on our progress with the many opportunities from the KPMG report

-       Changes to our process for evaluating our CAO

-       Selection of Council representatives for the new Audit Committee

Tuesday will feature the County Council meeting starting at 9:00 am in Midhurst. That evening you may wish to take in the fourth play-off game between the Flyers and the Kings – 8:30 pm at the NSSRC

Then it’s quiet until Thursday when the four municipalities meet at Tiny Town Hall for the Heads of Council discussion. The meeting will select Council’s North Simcoe representative to the County’s Affordable Housing Committee.

Weekend

Saturday

-       Penetanguishene Winterama kicks off with a parade at 11:00 am

Sunday

-       We Are the Villagers is hosting a Valentines supper and dance at the Library restaurant. Starts at 6:30 pm.

Gord McKay

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