Will you be downtown at 4? Will there be 100? 300? 23? There’s no question the folks rallying in front of town hall against council’s decision to build two fabric structures — one over Centennial Pool, the other over a new ice rink planned for Central Park — are driven
Continue readingTag: Municipal politics
Finding legitimacy…
It’s been quite something to watch some of the comments fly around — here, on Facebook, on the petition, and in emails — with regard to Collingwood council’s decision last Monday to go ahead and build two structures — sole-sourced, at that — to cover Centennial Pool, and a new
Continue readingmark a rayner | scribblings, squibs & sundry monkey joys: Municipal Investment Strategies for the Technological Singularity
An Open Letter to Town Council Dear Councilors: Your town may have an emergency plan, a development plan, a health plan — it may even have a plan for how to fix the potholes (though I doubt it). But does … Continue reading →
Continue readingWhen all else fails…
… launch a petition. Though, based on 20 years of covering council, I can’t think of a petition that’s been successful in swaying council, at least one that’s opposed to a decision of council: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/collingwoodrecfacilities/ I don’t entirely disagree with the thrust; council didn’t ask the public about the, uh,
Continue readingTime to make the best of it…
From what I’ve heard, the furious emails about council’s decision Monday night have been arriving fast and, uh, furious… At this point the whole thing seems moot; you can jump up and down about how the process went all you want, but it’s ain’t gonna change the price of oil.
Continue readingAs it turns out, Sprung could be the better deal…
Though – as it was emphasized several times Monday night – none of us has an MBA, except, of course, the treasurer… However… Setting aside any debate about the aesthetics of the Sprung structures that will soon rise over Central Park and Heritage Park, covering a new ice rink and
Continue readingRec facility proposals – just the facts, please…
OK, so we’re counting down to Monday night, when councillors will deliberate on the direction they’ll take with recreational facilities. According to my sources, there’s a full-court press on this weekend to convince the decision-makers on which is the best option: building two Sprung structures, one over the outdoor pool,
Continue readingAnd another thing…
I hope the E-B’s editorial this week provides food for thought for the folks who make decisions on behalf of the community – especially when it appears on the front page of the Friday treeware edition. I want to provide one more, which struck me as I showered this morning…
Continue readingLet’s try to preserve what we can in Mountainview
There were probably a few nostalgic tears shed this week for the Mountainview Hotel. That’s not including the folks at the local branch of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, who were likely gnashing their teeth over council’s decision on Monday night to accept a bid to tear down the building
Continue readingCalgaryLiberal: No, Nenshi isn’t running for the Liberals
No, Liberals and progressives alike, Nenshi isn’t throwing his hat into the provincial or federal arenas as either an MP or a leadership candidate. He’s happiest where he is right now. Twenty years of schooling, networking, and focus has brought him to the mayoralty of Calgary. His efforts at the
Continue readingPigheaded…
OK, so I haven’t been here a whole heck of a lot lately, but there also hasn’t been a heck of a lot to boil my blood, either – at least nothing that I can say publicly. But… Monday night’s decision to not change the animal control rules and allow
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: All they want is fairity #nlpoli
The people who run the province’s town and cites are looking to get a new financial arrangement from the provincial government. Last week, the municipalities federation held an emergency meeting to discuss recent developments: “What we’re asking government for today is very clear,” said Rogers. “Short-term help in this 2012
Continue readingCleaning up the mess…
It’s not enough that this edition of Collingwood Town Council had to resolve the downtown patio issue, the Admiral Collingwood Place debacle, and the general financial mess left by the previous council. Now word comes down of one more mess: a commitment to cover any deficit for the Ontario Winter
Continue readingThe Admiral forum…
OK, if you want to post your thoughts on last night’s public meeting on the Heritage District Plan amendments to allow the Admiral project to go ahead, do so here. I’ll be posting in this spot on and off today, as the mood strikes… Certainly after last night’s meeting, there
Continue readingToday’s smile… at least for me…
Yes, once again, a bad blogger… but anyhoo… As I was banging out my brief package from Monday night’s council meeting, I happened to read over the staff discussion on the ‘naming policy’, and this little tidbit jumped out at me: Nominations of past/current employees for the Town of Collingwood
Continue readingApropos of nothing in particular…
I just picked up a Freedom of Information form from the Town of Collingwood. I’m still debating what to do with it. Any suggestions?
Continue readingAn admission… and a solution — maybe
According to my sources, my thoughts on allowing the building to go ahead — originally published on the blog on Friday — were offbase; based on the heritage district plan, you can’t build anything taller than three stories. The town can’t even issue a building permit for what Steve Assaff is proposing. So we’re between […]
Continue readingWhy is council letting impartiality go out the window with downtown development?
This will probably make me wildly unpopular. However, here’s the thing… While it’s great to see Admiral Collingwood Place moving ahead, with a very classy and elegant design, the question is: how far does town council have to fall over themselves in their enthusiasm to get this project done? I realize this council was mandated […]
Continue readingHere and there for a rainy Friday…
Geez, this weather sucks, especially when I’m riding the bicycle on a full-time basis. Anyhoo, some random nonsense for a grey and gloomy Friday afternoon – at least until I can hit the Huron Club… First off, so far, haven’t been able to spark enough interest in an Occupy Collingwood event; I thought with town […]
Continue readingBoaters need to be schooled on the rules of the water
What is it about a Personal Water Craft that give its rider an enhanced sense of entitlement? We constantly deal with it at the canoe club; idiots who scream up and down the harbour on those nefarious machines, oblivious to the huge signs that scream out in big red letters: No Wake; maximum speed 7 […]
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