Mayor, Councilors, staff and residents -
I have been a proud Tavistock resident nearly all my life.
In contrast to Mr. Breyer, who is a newcomer, I grew up here, went to school here, raised my children here, have worked in Tavistock since 1969, and owned a business since 1988.
But we both share the same feeling about this village. Tavistock residents have become second class citizens. Who do we turn to when we disagree with the County on lagoon expansion and expropriation of land from a local farmer? Who do we turn to when the traffic is backed up out of town due to construction and there are no police to take control of the situation? Who do we turn to when the Township wants to take land away from a new resident to create a parking lot? It seems we are labelled as whiners and complainers, but we live here.
We see what is happening, minute to minute, hour to hour, and day to day. Where is our representation? When we get the answer that it's "a County issue" or "not our responsibility," it's not acceptable. Council should be making our concerns known to the proper authorities, no matter how trivial the request seems, and whether it's one person or 50.
I'm sure that when you decided to run for Council, you held to the ideal that you could serve your community and be a voice for fellow residents. Get involved in the community and relay our concerns to the Council table. Today, residents feel we have no voice.
As a newspaper editor and publisher, I try to be impartial and look at both sides of the story. What I am observing is a population that wants one thing, but a Council that wants another. The words and ideas of the people are falling on deaf ears.
During my lifetime there have been controversies, disagreements, and compromises on many different issues in the village. However, this is the first time I have seen residents so frustrated with decision-making, and the lack thereof, that they want to leave the town.
I won't elaborate anymore on what has already been said, but the lagoon, the library, the traffic lights, and the Royal Reno, continue to be sore subjects. The parking issue has just put people over the top. They've had enough, not only with the issues, but in the way residents are being treated.
I congratulate Deputy-Mayor Maureen Ralph and Councillor Don MacDonald for listening to the people and putting forth the motion at the last meeting to rethink the angle parking construction on Maria Street. I am, however, disappointed in our Tavistock Councilors for not supporting their constituents and at least looking into their concerns further. And I am shocked at the actions of Mr. O'Neil cutting down the tree moments after Council's decision. That was simply unnecessary and flies in the face of respect for the community.
Parking for the sake of parking is not a good idea and angle parking on Maria Street is downright ridiculous. Not only will people have trouble backing out onto a busy street, but after parking they will have to cross the same busy street as a pedestrian. You've just doubled the chances of an accident or injury.
Tavistock doesn't need more parking, it needs a more vibrant downtown with no empty stores, attractive streets without weeds, better lighting, more workable traffic signals, and garbage bins that are large enough, emptied regularly, and enough of them in place to handle the need.
If Council wants to gain back the trust they have so easily let slip away, then it's time to start listening to the people again.
Thank you for this opportunity to speak.
Bill Gladding, editor/publisher, Tavistock Gazette
Very good.
ReplyDeleteBob Routly