NOT Disappointed

Letters to the Bradford Times January 13 2011
To the editor: Council has a somewhat adversarial role, and that is to keep the Corporation of the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury honest and to ensure that the ratepayers are being treated respectfully with regards to services provided and with their taxes paid. I applaud the current council for doing their job with respect to Line 5 Interchange discussions. If anything, previous councils were somewhat disappointing.
The Town cannot make major decisions on “guesses.” All reasonable costs must be explored and understood before any decisions are made by Council. Being responsible is not the same as attempting to scuttle.
Developers will challenge any attempt at making them foot the bill. In order to have them pay 90% of the costs, the Town will need to demonstrate that developers will receive 90% of the benefits. One of the Town’s arguments is that the interchange will benefit existing residents and become an alternative to the existing Canal Rd. exit, likely replacing it. The only reason to consider widening Line 5 is so that the existing residents receive significantly more than 10% of the benefit (and developers significantly less than 90%).
If residents care about their tax bill, they too must applaud those who cared enough to raise their voices on our behalf.
– Anthony Melidy, Bradford
Disappointed with Editorial
To the editor: The meeting, referred to in your January 6 editorial titled “Disappointed,” was far from disappointing.
I was at this meeting and it was a Council meeting that was actually extremely productive.
The presentation was made to help the new Councillors understand what was happening in Town. The Council’s job is to ask questions, and tough questions. It does not matter how long they are on Council. It would appear by the questions that the Councillors did do their homework, by the number and quality of questions that were asked. Is it not incumbent on the Council to ask questions of those presenting, to have satisfactory answers for their constituents, to be concerned about the Town’s taxes?
They had an opportunity to see the real picture… that the Town cannot afford this.
However, your comment about the disparity between the $25 million and the $48 million should be a concern for all Council and to all residents. Slight of hand…. how about Director of engineering Ms. Korolnek does not really care that 1/3 – 1/3 – 1/3 does not equal “no tax increase” to the residents of this Town. She thinks this is a bottomless pit of money.
We all have had to pay an extra $200 on our taxes over the past four years for the Leisure Centre – money that had to be borrowed from the Town. That means the residents. That’s what you should be talking about.
And your comment about the hostile tone… well, when the presenters or Staff do not have the satisfactory answers to the questions asked of them, one does get frustrated.
I commend Council for taking a stand and questioning whether this interchange/cloverleaf project is within the financial abilities of this Town. Perhaps the very fact that the first big project the Town took on, on Dissette-8th Line, is proving to the Council that this project is way over budget, and has yet to even be finished. If they cannot get that right, how in the world are they going to get the 5th Line interchange right?
– Sharon Mosna, BWG