Leroux unsure if PR $250,000 is budgeted, vote deferred

By Linda Reyolds WaterWatch
Gord McKay of  Zero Waste Simcoe made a presentation to Penetanguishene Town Wednesday night which was well received. Unfortunately, presentations and deputations have a 10-minute time limit which meant that Gord was rather rushed, but he did a good job and his presentation received only positive comments.
Mayor Anita Dubeau pointed out some steps the town is already taking to reduce waste, plus she made a commitment to see that next year’s budget includes money to place recycling stations on the street alongside the garbage cans. Also the Treasure Hunt, started this year, will be carried on next year.
On the agenda was the resolution from the Township of Tiny requesting support for the opposition to County hiring the public relations firm.
Two councillors immediately spoke up and voted in favour of supporting this resolution. However, Deputy Mayor Doug Leroux said that he believed this was not a case of an extra $250,000 being spent over and above the County’s budget for information and public relations. He believes the money is part of the 1.1 million allotted in the budget.
(Editor’s note: it isn’t.)
After some discussion, the majority voted to table the resolution pending receiving more information regarding the source of the funds. (Four voted in favour of tabling the resolution, three voted against the resolution – including Mayor Dubeau, and two voted in favour of it.)
Deputy Mayor Leroux said that if the $250,000 is on top of the 1.1 million budget, he will vote in favour of supporting Tiny Township’s resolution in opposition to this expenditure.
In other business, a positive note was struck when an item came up to approve the purchase and installation of an air conditioner for the data room. It was deferred for two weeks to see if they can come up with a “greener” solution for cooling the room.
During question period, Carolyn Fishleigh asked if any of that $250,000 for public relations would be spent on trying to smooth over the fact that Anne Ritchie-Nahuis and Vicki Monague, citizen of the year in Elmvale, were sued, arrested and charged. Mayor Dubeau said there was more happening in the County than just Site 41 and that all the good things they do were being overlooked.