Stephen Vance, Editor
Another year has come to an end, and what a year it has been in the Municipality of Meaford.
2015 was somewhat of a transition year in this municipality as a newly elected council with four rookies found their feet, while ratepayers hoped that the new councillors would stand by their campaign promises.
For a scribe like me, a...
Stephen Vance, Editor
Cut costs, residents said repeatedly leading up to and throughout last year's municipal election campaign. Cutting costs and fixing our roads are common themes in the council chamber, and this winter, Meaford residents might just get a taste of what cutting costs truly looks and feels like when our roads department begins some tinkering with response times...
Not to suggest that serving on a municipal council should be a walk in the park, but it has to be a frustrating enough job to begin with, let alone having to answer for the decisions and mistakes of previous councils.
This municipal budget season has been a bit of a yawn-fest, which is a good thing actually. Municipal reserves...
Stephen Vance, Editor
Later this month, Meaford's council will vote to approve the 2016 municipal budgets – that is if they're done adding items. At their last meeting, our group of seven councillors almost seemed to be competing to add to the proposed increase in the 2016 operating budget, which as of the end of the November 23 meeting had...
Stephen Vance, Editor
At the Monday, November 23 council meeting, a notice of motion was made by Councillor Jaden Calvert that in part makes perfect sense, but a paragraph at the end of the notice of motion makes far less sense.“Whereas, the Town of Collingwood passed By-law No. 2015-077 permitting the use of Pedelecson multi-use trails, including the Georgian Trail,...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
Meaford is about to reduce its streetlight energy consumption by more than 60 percent as they get set for the installation of new LED lighting. Not only will the conversion to LED lighting save energy costs, but it will also reduce streetlight maintenance costs by 80 percent. Talk about a bright idea: who says going green...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
After hearing from the recently formed Meaford Refugee Welcome group, Meaford councillor Tony Bell said it simply, and he said it perfectly – it's just the right thing to do.
We've all read the news reports, and we've seen more video than any of us cares to, and we all know that there is a massive world...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
For the first 14 years of my life, 24 Sussex was occupied by a Trudeau, and now after a surprising, if not stunning victory in the October 19 federal election, a Trudeau will once again take up occupancy at the limestone manse overlooking the Ottawa River – not just yet however, as the old structure has...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
Those who don't attend Meaford council meetings missed quite a performance on October 26, when councillors tied themselves in knots trying to undo a proposal that just two weeks ago had the support – albeit narrow – of council.
The issue? Community Grants policy.
The problem? Some members of council were reluctant to turn over administration of the...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
I stopped in to our local bookseller last week in hopes of picking up a copy of the latest Stuart McLean book. After not finding it on the shelves, I asked at the counter and the response I heard, while not surprising, made my heart sink.
I was told that while the book may come in to...
