Mayor's Corner - September 14th, 2012

Just read the municipal newsletter for September that gave me pause. Reading the Mayor's Corner, I'm not sure on some of what he says, or maybe it's I don't want to believe what I think I'm reading?

For example, is he now saying he and council, after making a mess of Rum Runner Days by cancelling Thunder in the Valley (TITV) are now washing their hands of this event for good, and walking away? Walking away from what has not only successfully put our community on the map for years now, but at the same time has proven itself to be a huge economic generator and tourism bonanza for our local businesses and hospitality industry?

The way I'm reading his newsletter, they now plan on leaving it to others (volunteers), those having no experience, with limited resources and without financial means, to now assume the responsibility of planning, organizing and overseeing this event, when even they couldn't successfully do so despite having unlimited municipal resources and dollars at their disposal? Yet, "we'll still play overlords and masters as you will have to come to us for approval on everything from nuts to bolts having anything to do with this event?" (my paraphrasing). In other words, let volunteers do all the work (if we can get them?) while mayor and council and our municipality gets all the credit and glory... provided, that is, everything goes okay? Otherwise, our volunteers become the scapegoats and fall guys, and not them. Ya, right!

I would like to remind this mayor and his council that it is they who stuck their collective noses into this event this year by micro-managing it with direct participation by councillors in its organization and delivery. Never before was this ever done this way? All community events from Bellecrest Days to Coleman Days for example do not have direct participation from council (although they do get funding).

This year, we did, and next week we'll get the figures on how much it cost us because of their interference. I imagine it will be quit a hefty bill considering they over-spent on everything thinking we would get the same crowds as in past years, when any simpleton knowing in advance that there would be no TITV could have told them differently.

Now, I imagine, they'll use those bloated figures to try and justify its cancellation and/or denial of future funding... unless of course, volunteers want to step forward to form yet another board knowing in advance the municipality will fund them little to nothing, while demanding they are accountable to them... the ones who bastardized everything in the first place... and are now ducking for cover, taking the easy cowardly way out by passing the buck.

"Community groups who enjoy volunteering for such activities or benefit directly from such activities may or may not decide to proffer such festivals." (bold emphasis mine).

Boy these guys are killing our town! In more ways than I can count.




The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments.