I have tried commenting on the Citizen Post. For no reason I can determine, an almost complete comment will vanish before my eyes. I don't have patience for that.
The thread of commentary has been opposition to the town park being fenced off for four days and whether the Leisure Services Director has authority to issue a permit for four days/
There is nothing normal about this situation.
While Councillors have finally decided the promoters will not receive free use of public facilities, their enthusiasm for the "festival" jazz remains unbounded.
From my perspective the Leisure Services Director was informing Council, there may be an application for four days. If it was made the next day, he would grant it. The tone was, if council wants to give different direction, now is the time because I have no reason to refuse.
There is no policy I know of to limit or permit the park to be fenced off for a number of days. The question has never arisen .
Such a policy would be struck by Council. I recall nonsuch
I expressed my objection to four days fenced but I was the only one.
The event is advertised as three days . The calculation likely is if they could make this much money in three days ,they could increase it with an extra day.
It's about the money.
There's all that profit from the food vendors,the beer garden and pedlars of various merchandise. All the more to compensate the manager and the entertainers .
It's an odd contradiction for a municipality whose role it is to be the tax collector.
People who own or rent buildings, operate businesses, pay rent or mortgage, property taxes, income taxes, water and sewer rates, provide employment and sponsorships for sports activities, are our partners in providing service to the community. They pay and pay and pay for the privilege.
They are also expected along with other taxpayers, by their council, to subsidize an outfit that pockets at least $150,00 in three days , using volunteers, government grants and free town facilities for as long as they care to do so.
What's wrong with that picture?
Monday, 16 April 2012
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1 comment:
The following is not meant to be an argument for or against the Jazz+ festival, or its use of Town Park, per se.
Seems like there are competing ideas at play.
One, we should charge for the use of the park. This, council has affirmed by refusing to waive the user fee for the Jazz+ festival.
Two, we should never fence off the park to the public. I think that you might have intimated that something in our bylaws, or in come covenant to the deed dating back to when the park was bestowed on the town prohibits it.
We can't have it both ways.
IF we charge a group to use it, then we must allow them the sole use of it for the time period that they are paying for it. When someone rents the ice, or the pool lanes, or whatever, they are afforded sole access. Same should apply here. Public skaters cannot just step on the ice during a minor hockey game.
If that is the case, it shouldn't matter whether it is fenced or not. It is for the use of those with the permit, and none other than those permitted by the permit holder shall enter.
We have to choose whether or not we want to rent the park out, or keep it for public use 100% of the time.
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