By stephen Vance, Editor
Ontario's Ombudsman André Marin, in his annual report on local government transparency has said that Ontario municipalities are addicted to secrecy, and that councils make a concerted effort to keep residents from learning too much by holding excessive “in camera” or behind closed door meetings.
“There is, in my view, a putrefactive decay in democracy at the...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
It's the first week of December, and we're already on the verge of having next year's municipal budget finalized and approved by Meaford's council.
What is unfortunate about this year's budget season is that the fact that it has been the smoothest budget process in the last five years, and the proposed tax increase is miniscule when...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
Like many smaller Ontario towns, Meaford is struggling with the increasing costs of policing. According to Meaford's senior staff, roughly half of the 325 Ontario municipalities served by the Ontario Provincial Police have opted to ‘pay as they go’ rather than lock into a long-term contract, and escalating policing costs is one of the primary reasons...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
In recent weeks, the circus that has been Toronto's city council has provided a cornucopia of punchlines for late night comedians, startling headlines on the front pages of Toronto's major daily newspapers, and water cooler chatter for people not only in Toronto, but around the world.
What Mayor Ford does in his off-time is in theory nobody's...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
Three years ago The Meaford Independent published an editorial warning residents that the very first bylaw to come before the newly elected council was to be a revised procedural bylaw which would have stripped public questions from Meaford council meetings.
Many members of the soon-to-be-sworn-in Council said at the time that they had been bombarded with email...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
On Monday November 4, Meaford councillors met to discuss and debate the first draft of the 2014 budget which had been presented to council the week prior.
The fact that a special meeting was scheduled at the request of Deputy Mayor Harley Greenfield in order to allow councillors a dedicated time to fully discuss the proposed budget...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
At the Meaford Independent, we believe in holding governments accountable, we believe in giving the community a voice, but what we believe in first and foremost is ensuring the truth is communicated to Meaford residents. Yes, we are hard on Meaford's council when warranted, and we go to bat for Meaford residents on issues that we...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
Nobody likes tax increases, and Meaford ratepayers have certainly had more than their share of hefty tax hikes in recent years. While it may not have seemed fair, and while Meaford councillors have endured the wrath of residents angered at the increased drain on their pocketbooks, we're now seeing the benefits of Council remaining steadfast in...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
Meaford's council has had a rough year. A year in which at times it must have seemed to members of council that it is impossible to make anyone happy, let along any specific interest group.
When councillors aren't being scolded by residents for spending too much money, they hear complaints that they aren't providing services that people...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
While October is my favourite month of the year, it is also the time I begin fretting about the cold, snowy weather on the way.
When it comes to snow, there is almost nothing I enjoy about it. I don't like driving in it, I don't like shovelling it, and I don't like the fact that in...
