Stephen Vance, Editor
Now that Meaford's council has settled in after October's municipal election and they have reached a new milestone – the approval of their first budget – council is about to tackle an issue that they have been putting off until now: whether or not to fill the vacant Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) position on the municipal staff...
Stephen Vance, Editor
If you follow the news outside Meaford's borders, even in the most cursory of ways, you know that wherever you might turn in the world at the moment, it seems like chaos is the fashionable state of affairs these days.From the shocking and saddening mosque shootings in New Zealand, to yellow vest protests in France, to a...
Stephen Vance, Editor
The time taken to honour Meaford resident Marilyn Morris, better known to many as Meaford's (now retired) Head Scarecrow, before Monday's council meeting served as a reminder that our council deals with much more than budgets and potholes.With the municipal budget season nearing its completion after weeks of presentations, discussions, and debates, it must have been refreshing...
Stephen Vance, Editor
For the past decade I have sat in Meaford's council chamber for what would amount to hundreds of council meetings, and in that time I've seen it all; from temper tantrums to mind-numbing, far from productive debates, but what I saw in the council chamber on Monday was perhaps the best budget discussion I've seen yet.From my...
Stephen Vance, Editor
Given that there was a council meeting scheduled on Monday, I had planned to write about council's final review of the draft budget that was to have taken place, however Mother Nature had other plans, and the council meeting, like most of what was to have taken place in Meaford on Monday, was cancelled.Cancelling a council meeting...
Stephen Vance, Editor
I am typically not one to observe, celebrate, or care about holidays of any type or description, and a little over a decade ago, I can recall rolling my eyes when there was talk of introducing a new holiday in February. The last thing I figured we needed was another dang holiday, but I confess, I have...
Stephen Vance, Editor
Newly elected Meaford Councillor Paul Vickers has certainly stoked some discussions in the municipality after announcing last week that he already has his eyes on another job, and would seek the federal Conservative nomination for the Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound riding after long-time MP Larry Miller announced recently that he would not seek re-election.The reactions that I have seen...
Stephen Vance, Editor
Over the past week, we've been reminded about the realities of winter around these parts as well as the huge team of folks who are charged with the responsibility of keeping us safe in the face of the worst that Mother Nature can toss our way.When we think of those who help keep the wheels of our...
Stephen Vance, Editor
Over the past week I have fielded some questions from readers about council's recent approval to purchase the former Smith's Tire property on Nelson Street at a cost of $350,000. After explaining that it was simply council and municipal staff planning ahead and anticipating future downtown parking needs, and taking an opportunity in the rare instance that...
Stephen Vance, Editor
After two decades of helping to develop what has become one of Meaford's most anticipated events each year, Head Scarecrow Marilyn Morris has stepped aside, or in her words, she has 'retired' from the Scarecrow Invasion & Family Festival, and I think an expression of gratitude is in order.But first, a confession. When I first met Marilyn...
