By Stephen Vance, Editor
With 2013 in the history books, and 2014 in its infancy, we've taken a look at where we've been over the last three years, and where we are heading in the coming year.
In the middle of December, we sent five questions to each member of Council seeking their thoughts about the successes and failures of this...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
Hello Santa, it has become a bit of a tradition for me to send along a letter during the holiday season each year with my wish list for my community of Meaford.
I hope all is well up in the North Pole, and that Mrs. Claus and those reindeer are doing fine.
I have to say, Santa, that...
By Stephen Vance, Editor
If I was a member of Meaford's council, I would be scratching my head with confusion at the moment, and I would bet that those councillors who are paying attention are confused indeed.
The source of the confusion?
It occurred to me recently that many of the same people who argue that Meaford should be making cuts...
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...
