Yes, I should have known more about the planned party in Crystal Beach before I gave my opinion. I was hoping the report statement that the Crystal Beach BIA had endorsed the plan, would mean it would be well thought-out and planned. Turned out that was a misstatement; the CBBIA did not give full endorsement; it merely asked for more information.
Good thing others looked into it. Don Lubberts, Paul Collard, John Hill as well as a Crystal Beach business woman did their homework and found not a lot of good information about the group that wanted to promote and organize the event that would have required council's permission to close the public beach at Bay Beach for the day in July. It's really how a local government should work. And it pointed up some glaring problems within the system when it was revealed that Russ Wilson, the Gaming Czar of Fort Erie, was behind the initiative. Once I heard that, I knew that the plan was going to "have problems." Comes with the territory in Czar Russ's world.
Another good thing is that it brought the elusive Russ Wilson to council where he was finally cornered about the bingo license situation for The Friends of Crystal Beach who lost their license in a trumped up charge brought by a former losing council member from the Beach. Once the technicalities were cleared up, the FOCB were supposed to get their license back, but Wilson was absent from last week's council meeting to answer the question. Although he was recently back from vacation, he was available, having attended a meeting at town hall earlier that day. Once he spoke up on behalf of the beach party organizers, Don Lubberts was able to ask him face-to-face, on record the status of the FOCB bingo license. Russ Wilson was forced to say that the next board meeting of the CGDC would address the issue and that he would recommend the restoration of the license which should take effect in June. There, he said it. On record.
Another interesting issue was the property issue regarding the Ridgeway-by-the-Lake development. Guess the property owners are leery of another promise by developer Rob Mills. Another example of people speaking up and expressing their concerns to council members and the council members actually listening to those concerns. And then acting on them. Mills will have to go back to the drawing board to work out a mutually agreeable deal with the homeowners in his development. Again, that is what council is elected to do: work on behalf of the people.
Perhaps with the arrival of the new town CAO thing will settle down and the animosity that the mayor feels towards the four councillors who voted to hire Larry Adams will settle down. Martin can then content himself with fighting battles in Regional Council, which has also been described by some as a "dysfunctional mess."
I haven't said much about Peter Kormos because I did not know him personally, although I met him a couple of times. He was, to me, an example of a good advocate for the people. He showed this in everything he did. He was what I wished I had the guts to be. I hope that he has inspired a younger generation to follow.
May he rest in peace.
Good thing others looked into it. Don Lubberts, Paul Collard, John Hill as well as a Crystal Beach business woman did their homework and found not a lot of good information about the group that wanted to promote and organize the event that would have required council's permission to close the public beach at Bay Beach for the day in July. It's really how a local government should work. And it pointed up some glaring problems within the system when it was revealed that Russ Wilson, the Gaming Czar of Fort Erie, was behind the initiative. Once I heard that, I knew that the plan was going to "have problems." Comes with the territory in Czar Russ's world.
Another good thing is that it brought the elusive Russ Wilson to council where he was finally cornered about the bingo license situation for The Friends of Crystal Beach who lost their license in a trumped up charge brought by a former losing council member from the Beach. Once the technicalities were cleared up, the FOCB were supposed to get their license back, but Wilson was absent from last week's council meeting to answer the question. Although he was recently back from vacation, he was available, having attended a meeting at town hall earlier that day. Once he spoke up on behalf of the beach party organizers, Don Lubberts was able to ask him face-to-face, on record the status of the FOCB bingo license. Russ Wilson was forced to say that the next board meeting of the CGDC would address the issue and that he would recommend the restoration of the license which should take effect in June. There, he said it. On record.
Another interesting issue was the property issue regarding the Ridgeway-by-the-Lake development. Guess the property owners are leery of another promise by developer Rob Mills. Another example of people speaking up and expressing their concerns to council members and the council members actually listening to those concerns. And then acting on them. Mills will have to go back to the drawing board to work out a mutually agreeable deal with the homeowners in his development. Again, that is what council is elected to do: work on behalf of the people.
Perhaps with the arrival of the new town CAO thing will settle down and the animosity that the mayor feels towards the four councillors who voted to hire Larry Adams will settle down. Martin can then content himself with fighting battles in Regional Council, which has also been described by some as a "dysfunctional mess."
I haven't said much about Peter Kormos because I did not know him personally, although I met him a couple of times. He was, to me, an example of a good advocate for the people. He showed this in everything he did. He was what I wished I had the guts to be. I hope that he has inspired a younger generation to follow.
May he rest in peace.