To Market, to Market, to Buy a Fat Pig

The Farmer's Market was started before I came back to Council. It was a creation of former Councillor Nigel Kean and promoted as a way of bringing life back into the downtown core. So far as anyone was aware, it was not costing taxpayer's money and though I didn't have a lot of interest in it, neither did I have any objection to it. I saw little evidence of the historic commercial core returning to its former glory as a result of the Farmers' Market.

Small ads appeared occasionally bearing Councillor Kean's name and phone number as the contact person for The Market. I had heard he was spending his own resources to make it a success. The Seniors were using the Market to raise funds for their new Centre so that was a plus.

Then a full-page ad appeared and my antennae shot up straight. There was no budget for the project. A full-page ad is never cheap. I considered it unlikely the Councillor was digging into his own pocket to that extent. I made an inquiry.

Finally, I took the question to the Mayor's office and was informed the Councillor was using his “Allowance”. It seems the practice was normal, although, frankly I had never heard of such a thing. Councillors have a “Conference” allowance. In olden times it could only be used for the purpose stated in the budget. Yet I had heard Councillors generously offer their “allowance” to pay for this and that. Usually something I was describing as asinine.

Despite all his efforts to put the Town on the map with the Farmers' Market, Councillor Kean failed in his bid for the Mayor's chair and lost no time declaring it was time for someone else to take on the Mantle of The Market.

Last year, seven vendors took out permits. A farmer from Uxbridge came to Council seeking financial support. He informed us the market was not a commercial endeavour. “It is a community event.” he said seriously

It was determined the permit fee was $60, but it had not always been paid. When staff went to The Market collect it, Councillor Kean had run interference. Public money had been spent to promote The Market. The parking lot was closed for its accommodation. Public works provided the barricades. Some vendors paid nothing at all, others paid sixty dollars. There appeared to be neither rhyme nor reason.

Eventually, last year eighteen vendors returned to The Market. A councillor was appointed as go-between. Soon there was a request for money. Nine hundred dollars were allocated for promotional events - taxpayers' dollars of course. The Market became a fabulous success. Vendors were delighted. They sold out every Saturday, a thousand people patronized the locale.

This year, their stated intention is to move to the Town Park. The paved area in front of the Band Shell will suit them fine, they feel. They will have access to power outlets and toilet facilities. They are not offering to pay anything extra.

Oh Dear Me, No.

Instead, there is a request for additional funds. Councillor Granger asked for staff assistance to take care of the vendors. And money for promotional events. $3,500 are allocated in the budget.

The town park is the home of our one and only water park. Families seeking to use that facility in the long hot summer Saturdays will have to compete with vendors and their thousand patrons for use of the space, toilet facilities and parking. Residents around the park will have to endure traffic that does not belong on their streets.

The vendors intend to continue to bring life back into the downtown core. It's not clear how they intend to do that from a couple of blocks away.