With orientation out of the way and installation on the horizon, Chatham-Kent councillors have a brief moment to get ready for the large task ahead as they take our community forward.
At the end of the coming term, Chatham-Kent will be 20 years old and on its way to adulthood.
Chatham Mazda from Chatham Voice on Vimeo.
Like any adolescent, we have our share of insecurities (are we a small large-scale community or a large small-scale community), do we know what we want to be when we grow up, and are we attractive enough to develop a relationship with those well-heeled foreign investors we’re trying to date?
We’ve got a few acne blemishes (in the form of wind turbines). Perhaps we should just think of them as trees that generate revenue, you know, to make up for the trees we keep chopping down.
Our finances are fine/horrible depending on whether you’re collecting/paying taxes and we’re writing our thesis (service review) on municipal functions.
We’ve got some bad friends (meth heads who steal from the Goodfellows) and some great ones like those who stepped up and filled in the gap.
All in all, we should turn out fine.
This week’s myth busters: Despite what you might be hearing, although council’s swearing-in ceremony will be at the Capitol Theatre, taxpayers won’t be footing any rental charge. The larger venue is just being used to accommodate the public.
Most interesting idea no one’s talking about: Why do we have both OPP and CKPS patrolling Highway 40? Is there a way to reduce the duplication? Will we ask or just assume we can’t?
Most objectionable idea people are whispering about: Increased compensation for mayor and council including wages, benefits, vacation and severance.
The ousted mayor of Brampton just received $375,000 in pension and severance. Do we really want to go anywhere near that?
If we do, it’s an issue to campaign on, not examine virtually moments after the polls close.
