Central Frontenac council meeting

Oct 22, 2014

I attended a Central Frontenac council meeting on Oct 14/14, the first time for a long time - I guess a too-long time. It was interesting to observe the councilors/mayor and township staff going about the issues on the agenda, one of the issues being payment of an invoice from the Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans concerning the leases for the Crow and Sharbot Lake docks. The bill was for eight years of lease and was being received for the first time by the township. What concerned me was the question being asked - not the legality of the invoice, but should we maybe charge the ratepayers for the use of the facilities. It does show again our elected officials taking the easy way out: “Raise taxes, problem solved”. What about the legality of that invoice?

Next, what about the 4 p.m. meeting time? Doesn’t that effectively cut out a lot of ratepayers from attending? (Is that the reason for it?).

But then, why would you attend anyway? No discussion is granted, and to top it all off, if you get onto the agenda, it seems like you get calls from certain people telling you what to say and especially, what not to say.

Even if there is public present, the officials in attendance seem to prefer to have their break in a different room. I just guess it's easier than having to answer some pointed questions from the people who

elected them. Even at election time it seems council members and the mayor don’t need to talk to the people. It must be that they are sure to be re-elected. Ratepayers are there to pay taxes and keep quiet.

The experience that followed shows how insignificant our elected official count us. While standing and talking to another attendee, our mayor strode up to us, and without ever making the effort to be polite or friendly, reminded us to vacate the premises because after the break there was an in-camera session coming up. Talking and walking towards the door when the break was over, she again harshly told us to leave. Yes, I know she is the most important person in the township. Sorry.

So ratepayers of Central Frontenac, try to experience a council meeting and really think long and hard who you vote for to represent you for the next four years. My opinion (probably doesn’t count): None of the above.

Juergen Reinecke