OK who else has heard this?

The rumour of the month (year, or decade) has to be the one about Elton John buying into the condos at the Cobourg harbour. Details are sketchy but it goes like this - he has purchased the whole of the third floor in phase three. Of course the people who push this rumour insist that EJ knows where Cobourg is because his partner's parents live in Port Hope and obviously he has been here!

Results of poll

As promised here is the result of the poll: Do you favour public financing of the Seniors Centre?

"It's not about the money!"

That was the comment hissed at me during a question and answer session of the meeting convened to discuss the "Seniors Community Centre" I beg to differ it is ALL about the money.

About 150 people sat through a presentation showing the proposed centre, given by Cllr. Brocanier, as he explained just what he and a committee of supporters had prepared for the general public. This presentation, that justified the spending of $2.14 million, was totally electronic and not a piece of paper was handed out. So we all sat and listened then were given the opportunity to ask questions. It was during my questions that the offending remark was hissed at me and obviously this person didn't want to hear this proposal was going to raise my taxes 4.5% for the next two years, if she did she certainly didn't seem to care that the some of the public objected to building a private playpen for two exclusive demographic groups. It wasn't until later when the venerable Ed Pursey got up to tell the crowd what he thought about his taxes going up to build a place he couldn't understand anyone would need because as a senior he has never found time to use such a place. As an aside, the person who said that we don't create this fuss when we build hockey rinks certainly got a lesson on Cobourg history as Ed replied that the Council of the day refused to pay for "Pad 2" and he and others raised the complete amount needed in three months in spite of Council's reticense.

Despite calls for such things the public have not seen a business plan or a financial projection based on a needs study showing just how many people would use such a place and how much revenue could be raised to cover the annual operating costs of $153,000.00. The major portion of the operating costs would be covered by charging a membership fee of $100.00 for each person. There are 418 people currently enrolled in the Cobourg Seniors Activity Group. It is hope by building this place that number would increase to 900. Without documentation Cllr Brocanier said he had calculated that his business plan (something that the public has not seen) needs 900 people to break even. However, the Soccer Club will pay rent, how much is unknown, and a nebulous creation called the "Sports and Active Living Council" will also pay rent. Events will take place and a kitchen will provide revenue even though the cost of running a kitchen haven't been factored in.

So am I convinced that this building will be multi-use - NO. Am I convinced that the building will be self-sustaining in two years time - NO. So what can we do?

How muddy the waters are!!

The muddy waters of the local policing debate have just got murkier and very confusing. Firstly the County of Northumberland established a process to examine a County-wide policing initiative, then the Police Services Board of Cobourg decided not to bid on the RFP that would give them the County-wide option whilst the Town of Cobourg decided to ask the OPP for a costing option, then Port Hope decided to do the same thing (decline to bid on the RFP) and in a bizarre move decided to build a new building for 2.7 million. Meanwhile most poeple who are watching the situation agree that the OPP is puffing themselves up and lowballing the price to get the RFP. It is also acknowledged that the OPP have the inside track because of the backgrounds of the consultants. At the same time the seven municipalities are agreed that the policing issue will not move forward one inch if it is going to cost them more money!

So here is a suggestion: because the problem of the high cost of urban policing as compared to rural policing is the lack of grants (the rurals get them and the urbans don't) and will be ameliorated by a County-wide system where the rural population will dominate and thus the urbans can get grants, establish a County-wide system policed by a succesful bidder; probably the OPP. However because the OPP will not have the manpower or the inclination to police urban West Northumberland create a West Northumberland subcontract that will allow the status quo in West Northumberland.

An old saw!

The subject of the "Seniors Centre" will be in the news again next week, as a public meeting is going to be held on Wednesday 17th. If readers click on the poll at the left of this panel and look at the results one will see that the readers of this fine 'zine have voted 77% as the idea being a terrible one. The poll is going to stay up until Thursday evening to allow for clear and open minds to vote after the meeting when all the evidence should be presented. The results will be available on Friday morning.

A couple of sad notes

A sad day for democracy
Today the McGuinty fiberals slammed another nail in the coffin of local democracy by legislating four year terms for municipal office. The current three-year period is bad enough when you have a Council that deserves to be turfed, but four years will be inexorable.

This new measure, introduced by the obscene act of tacking it to another bill, was brought in after a measure of consultation with all concerned. Presumably the leaders of AMO (the Association of Municipalities of Ontario) phoned Dalton one day and said we have a great idea – keep us in power for another year. At the AMO convention it was voted upon and passed closely, certainly not enough of a margin to warrant sneaky legislation. The public was allowed to comment in a five hour period over one day last week. But the public session demonstrated little public support, but the legislation passed anyway. So the question is “What is the pro quid pro?”

A sad day for local policing
A funeral was held for the President of the local Police Association, Don Thompson, yesterday. Described as a quiet strong man Don died quickly and too soon. If any good can come out of this it should be the awareness that little things, like stepping on a rusty nail, will kill you.

A bite in the bum by pesky gnats

The gnats of Council bit again last night, this time the bugmen were feeling the nips. A proposed bylaw to control the use of pesticides was before Council and a record number of delegations came to speak. As usual they were listened to very quietly and then released without so much as a follow up question - the usual Council insult. One telling omen of who had the ear of Council, the Environmentalists or the Business sector, was in the receiving of correspondence of the many letters about the pros and cons of the topic only the one letter supporting the bylaw was read in full. The others were just received without reading or comment, hmmm!

The interesting thing was that one homeowner, saying she represented 41 others, gave a presentation full of indignant homeowners rights and the usual bluster about democracy. Wonder if she is cranking up a run for Council? She came across very well as a one issue candidate might. On the other hand she just might be the best friend the Pest Industry has at the moment.

Interesting rumours

Ole Huff and Puff, even he has adopted this moniker, David Craig, started his two minutes of local wisdom this morning by dismissing rumours. But then he launched into a whole host of them, and revealed that he was speculating about local pols intentions, in the upcoming election, because they weren't. Trying to make the case that nomination day should be earlier than it is because we, the electorate, do not have enough time between nomination day and election to get to know the candidates.

One of his rumours was one about DM Bob Spooner going up against the real Mayor Peter Delanty, this is still a bit of a stretch for me to believe as Bob has always believed in sure things. Perhaps he knows that Gil Brocanier wants his job and figures that the easiest opponent is the Mayor. He might be right, the Mayor has always had a split following. The problem is that Bob is not the shooin that he thinks he is. My money is on finding out what Brocanier is up to and then watching the pieces fall into place.

Why don't we just let George Bush run our country?

TheStar.com - Media barred from return of soldiers' remains Another example of the rapid Americanization of our culture, didn't Harper long did it?

More Police follies

More of the same nonsence! Port Hope has announced that it wants to build a new police station, what for? To hold the artifacts from a municipal force that will be out of existence in a couple of years! Build a new station; they'll be building a museum.

The only way small urban forces will survive is to get bigger, not much bigger but still bigger. That means a new department within the County strategy must emerge. That means both Provincial grants and local autonomy will prevail. That also means that "King Jeff" (lees) must get of his high horse and start to accept reality and look at alternatives to the status quo. Otherwise he might as well take his chair and sit a the banks of the "Ganny" and play Canute.