Ruby Tuesday

We had a general committee meeting on Tuesday. Among other items on the agenda were a couple of reports from the Leisure Services Director.

The first was a  recommendation for increases on a short list of user fees. There was an increase of 25cents an hour on a few and a couple of new fees, where none had been charged before. The Director reported  they were  intended to keep up to date and generate a little extra revenue.

User fees are generally not increased on an on-going basis. User groups need to know what their expenses are in order to calculate  registration fees. The  town's objective is to obtain the widest possible use of facilities and ensure no group is left out because of inability to afford the cost of recreation.

It's not an easy task. Fortunately service clubs  are there to help out.Local businesses help with sponsorships that outfit teams with uniforms. Parents volunteer. Mothers raise funds. An awful lot of work goes into providing equal opportunity to participate.

A second  report  was submitted by the Director. A request had been received from the South Lake Run for Cancer for a waiver of $750 fees at the community centre. The Director asked for direction.

the Run  is an extremely successful event originally organised to honour&nbspthe late respected  Councillor Bob Hartwell who collapsed and died of a heart attack during a marathon.

Since it's inception, the town has waived  the fees.

Also since then, there has been a steady increase in demand for waived fees.

Sometimes they are waived. Sometimes not.

I recall the two young mothers who asked for a waiver of $75. for
a celebration of the tenth anniversary of Aurora Grove Elementary School. The fee pays for  staff to  provide picnic tables and garbage bins and clean up before and after.

The waiver was not recommended. I felt bad about that. But I did not argue against it. There has to be consistency to ensure everyone is treated fairly.

If you do it for one,you have to do it for everyone. If you don't do it for one, you can not do it for anyone.

A few months later, we broke the rule. Wells Street School  Parents group asked fora waiver of  fees of $300, for a final graduation ceremony in the town park with use of the bandshell.

We  granted that.

Though they may not even have been aware of it, I felt we betrayed the Aurora Grove School parents.

I could not fathom how a politician with any sense of fairness or equality could do that. But they kept doing it.And I kept telling you about it.

Leisure Services staff solicit sponsorships from local business to finance summer concerts in the park.Hundreds of people turn out to enjoy.

Last summer, another staff provided a sponsorship pf $2K to an outfit organizing a commercial jazz concert.This year they are back demanding as of right, $5K.

On  one hand we ask local business to donate to provide something to save  cost to the taxpayer. On the other hand we put our hand into the taxpayers' pocket to give  a hand-out to a fast talker bullshit- baffles- brains artist.

On one hand we struggle to keep  user fees reasonable  so that no-one will be shut out. On the other, we forfeit revenue to give free use of a facility for a week-end.

No equity. No consistency. No integrity.

People are not being treated fairly.

Council should not choose from among those who ask, which are worthy of  support and which are not.

A municipal council is not a philanthropic organisation.

The South Lake run is well established and highly successful.  Payment of the user fee simply means the final charity cheque handed over would be $750. less.

What is that about?

Taxpayers in our area  already pay  the cost of constructing the South Lake facility. Runners obtain sponsors to create the charitable funds. People from places like Bradford .Alliston.Barrie and Uxbridge use the facility and contribute nothing in property taxes to its constructon.

Already, even without fund-raising, there is  inequity among taxpayers to provide the facility.

Is that a reason to exacerbate the situation by waiving the user fee?

I think not. I urged council to start with a fresh slate and  not grant this or any other waiver.

Councillor John Able agreed with the points I  made.  But added   "just this once" he wanted to waive the fee.

And that's how the vote  went.

Sad to say, pretty much like it would have done in  the last term of council.

P.S. The decision  to waive the fees is not yet final. It must be approved in Council. I just thought of another argument that can be made;

The councillors  in favour of contributing $750. from the pockets of the taxpayers to this charity have other options.  They can  participate in the run.  They can sponsor a runner.They can collect the sum from among themselves  and contribute  to the cause.

They should not ask me to join them.

I like to make my own choice about the charity I will support.

I  prefer to keep my choice to myself.

It is my business which or whether I support charity.

It is inappropriate to use  sympathy to a cause  for political advantage.

I believe it is  politics at its most fundamental.

l have advice to anyone  who thinks they have a right to dictate to me how to use my private resources.

Don't even think of putting your hand in my pocket. You may not get it back.

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