Yesterday

An e-mail went to the Chief  Building  Official yesterday, recounting a story from the community.

A person  with his very old, former rescue dog  was in a local park. The dog is overweight and waddles rather than walks. The owner removed the leash and  immediately  received  a ticket for $750. for allowing his dog to be off leash.

A couple of  Saturdays ago, tickets were issued to patrons of the Farmers Market for parking at a school bus drop off zone. Wells Street Public school has not been a school for several years. Even when it was a school, there were  no buses on a Saturday...or a Sunday either.

Last Tuesday Council received a report from the Planning Department. A small apartment building at the corner of Bell Street and Wellington is being altered to make additional  one bedroom apartments out of two-bedroom apartments.

I can't see why the numbers of residents should change. 
 
The owner will pay for building permits and cash in lieu of parks .The cost will likely not be much less that $100,000.

Five additional parking spaces must be provided. The parking lot currently drains towards the creek.

It will still drain towards the creek. But South Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority wants $3,000 to review the drainage.

I drew attention to the fee requirement .

Councillor Gaertner asked  "Who will be paying the fee?"

Like.... why should it matter ?

It appears it didn't.

I heard a story about the protagonist for removing  play apparatus from Confederation Park because of the  hazard to  life and limb of  children who play there.

Apparently a video of his four year old driving a vehicle on the street has been posted. Without a helmet yet.

I heard also about a resident being issued  a ticket from the town  for  noise made by a bird. The winged variety. When the pet owner  is gardening, she brings the  pet outside with her  to the deck. A neighbour complained.  A ticket was issued.

Council recently  held a  hearing  to determine  guilt or innocence of a dog that bit another dog.

External legal counsel was not retained. But legal  services were required.

Council has received an invitation to attend the "Opening" of the new section of the Nokiida Trail.

It  has to be held outside because the trail is outside. 

Otherwise it would undoubtedly take priority  over  town business in the  September  Meeting. It already has most of the town business from the August meeting still to be decided.

No doubt other events can be found  to make sure the show is a success. 

In George Orwell's book 1984.the fictional horror was about everybody being watched everywhere all of the time.

In 2011, the  reality is about nobody  watching. Everybody texting. No judgment exercised. No understanding of the concept.

We are living in a time, after thirty years of  everyone who plays, win or lose,  getting   a trophy.

Finally, it seems there's hardly any  point in trying. What we mostly do is talking but not about anything that matters.