Perception Is The Reality

Council adopted a motion on Tuesday to direct staff to invite proposals for a music festival  in the Town Park on the August long week-end. 
The park is public property as is the band shell. Similarly all  amenities , like  washrooms, picnic tables,  power for food vendors
and parking are publicly owned.  
Shade from mature trees and play facilities for children make the  park an ideal  gathering place and a perfect venue for  entertainment.  
A pad in front of the bandstand provides for dancing   if  people are so  inclined.
The idea of inviting proposals  to  ensure  no  group has the monopoly of a public facility doesn't seem so far-fetched.
There needs to be equity  and logic ifor fees paid for amenities provided. 
The concept of fencing the park off from public use. and employing security to ensure residents do not  enter   for a period of days without paying admission, does not sit well with some .
C'est moi, mon ami.
Councillor Ballard had some  accusatory things to say about the motive for the motion.The Councillor was  honoured guest at the Festival this  year. 
The town's first citizen was snubbed by  organizers. 
It  appears Jazz Festival  supporters are being organized for an e-mail onslaught against  the decision made on Tuesday.
Tracy Smith,  of Culture Centre Board fame, was first up to bat with  castigation. 
In fulsome fashion, he charges  ignorance and other less than complimentary attributes among Councillors.
Someone who apparently makes a living assisting festivals with advice and  equipment,  lets us know where he is located. Should his services be required I  presume. . 
A couple from Richmond Hill want  the town to notify of where the Jazz Festival might be held  if  not in Aurora. They don't want to miss it. It is part of their summer. 
It's not yet quite  a deluge of e-mails 
It's hard to imagine the objective.
The question  asked by Councillor Ballard is, are we  going to put hockey tournaments  and similar events out to competition?
It  makes one  pause. 
How are hockey tournaments organised?
Hockey is a Sport.  Associations organized by district. Dozens of parents volunteer to coach and manage  teams.
High registration fees are paid.  Equipment costs  hundreds of dollars,
Thousands of dollars  are paid to the town for ice time and a surcharge when new facilities are built. 
Tournaments are fund-raisers to help control  registration fees .They are organised by  the Minor Hockey, Association .
Nobody  makes a living from  giving kids an opportunity to learn and play hockey. Local businesses provide sponsorships.  
The same principle applies to other junior sports.
With the possible exception of Minor Soccer. 
So why would we offer free  use of  an arena  to a  private organization to exploit , for the business of making  a  profit?
Councillor Ballard's logic escapes me. 
But then, I just noticed ,the Culture Centre Board will present its  2013 budget to Council on the same night as the Library Board 
presumable with the same status as the Library Board. 
The town will again  provide funds  from  tax revenues to purchase art and culture. To provide free space for exhibits to artist from throughout the Region. 
That doesn't make sense to me either. 
It  obviously makes perfect sense to Councillor Ballard and others.