Thursday, March 28, 2024

Editorial

Earth Day a Chance to Change the World Within Our Reach

By Stephen Vance, Editor Earth Day was first observed the year I was born, and for the last 42 years the initiative has gradually gained traction in North America and throughout the world. Personally, I like the fact that I was born into a generation that was beginning to take stock of the human impact on our environment, and is...

The Next Step in Waste Management – Reduce

By Stephen Vance, Editor The Municipality of Meaford has posted some pretty impressive waste diversion numbers over the last couple of years, and everyone in the community should be proud that our little municipality is currently ranked third of 223 municipalities in our efforts to shift waste from landfills to recycle stations and compost heaps. Even more impressive is that of...

What Constitutes a Meeting of Council?

By Stephen Vance, Editor One of the most frequent complaints about Meaford's council that I have heard over the last several years is that council spends too much time behind closed doors. With Councillor Deborah Young this week suggesting that our council has been abusing the in-camera meeting process, the issue has once again reared its ugly head, and tongues are...

Thank a Firefighter – It’s the Least We Can Do

By Stephen Vance, Editor If you've ever been in a room full of firefighters when their pagers start beeping, you can really appreciate the dedication and focus required by members of our volunteer fire department.Recently at a gathering at Meaford Hall to honour Meaford firefighters who had participated in the dousing of the Reeds restaurant fire of 2009, the galleries...

It’s Time to Open Up Debate on Area Ratings For Police Services

By Stephen Vance, Editor The first mayor of the amalgamated Municipality of Meaford is continuing to pressure council to do away with area ratings for police services in order to make Meaford's taxation system fair for everyone.Gerald Shortt, who had a lengthy political career which included terms as Reeve of St. Vincent Township as well as the Mayor's chair in...

What’s Wrong With Meaford’s Council? It Depends on Your Perspective

By Stephen Vance, Editor Perspectives are important. It is always fascinating to read one person's take on a situation and then compare it to your own. Sometimes you learn something new, sometimes you don't, and at other times you might simply scratch your head, shrug your shoulders, and move on.In a column this week, our friends at the Express have...

Preservation of Community Worth The Fight

By Stephen Vance, Editor Living in the somewhat insulated environ of a rural Ontario town, it can be easy to forget that many of our problems – or perceived problems – are relatively minor when compared to those experienced by residents of larger communities. Not that the issues faced by rural residents aren't important, but many of them aren't unique to...

No Need For Panic

By Stephen Vance, Editor Meaford may have lost two of their top ten administrators in the first few weeks of the new year, but there isn't likely much reason to assume that the sky is falling, and other senior managers will begin an exodus from our municipality.   We also don't need to worry that the loss of the CAO and the...

When it Comes to Respect, You Get What You Give

By Stephen Vance, Editor I don't envy members of our Meaford Council.   While the first year of their current term - with the exception of the ever-present wind turbine issue - was a fairly tepid one, in the first weeks of 2012 councillors must feel like they have been thrown into a pot of boiling water.   Residents upset about a proposed waste...

Outrage Over Waste to Energy Proposal Could Have Been Avoided

By Stephen Vance, Editor The controversy and public angst over a proposed waste to energy facility in the Municipality of Meaford need never have happened at all, and though he might not know it, my eight year old son can tell you why.   The other day I watched with fatherly pride as my son set about creating a very intricate battle...