Form The Sublime To The Ridiculous

 I awoke in the night.My mind  turning over everyting I'd seen and heard  throughout the day.
It was a particularly tedious day. 
We took "the show" on the road. 
 8.30 a.m. at Dr; G.W.Williams High School. Left there at 10.30 a.m.  1.00 a.m, at St. Maximillian Kolbe  High School.
Left there at 3.00 P.M. or thereabouts. Back at the Town Hall at 7.00 P.M.  to get the real work done
We were  showing students how  a Council functions. Not.
Three times we  listened to the same presentation for building a youth centre;how the need was determined;what  such a facility  would include;what it would cost to build.
But not what it would cost to operate. 
Early in the day, Councillors had no role to play. We were mere  props or part of the backdrop or extras in the crowd scenes.
We didn't even have bit parts.Except for Councillors Abel and Pirri and Mayor Dawe
Students lined up at the microphone  with questions . They heard only the staff presentation.  
In Council,I didn't get to complete my questions. The Mayor said  it wasn't fair to ask the Director to project cost of operation.  
No matter, the debate will happen  next Tuesday, I will have no further questions. Only  answers.
A preview. 
The town  added a "youth co-ordinator" to staff complement in 2000.  In the twelve years since, many youth programs have been instituted  in response to demands. 
Intent of the centre is to being all the programs together  in one place and add more.
There could be justification . 
In my judgement, the case is  not  yet proven.
Age is  not defined for a youth demographic. In twelve years only   student population  has been consulted. 
No figures are available to determine  youth population out of  school. Yet we know, not all young people  are bound for post-secondary education.. 
For others,the amenities of educational institutions, like gyms and sports, arts and culture, counselling and mentoring  are no longer at hand.
At St. Max. in the afternoon, I waited for the  bus fleet to disperse before leaving. 
I saw it, yet I didn't. 
In the  middle of the night  I  awoke and realised the significance.
High Schools serve  districts.
Transit is not supplied by school boards except, for a specific mileage  away from the school.
 It is not within walking distance. 
A considerable percentage of the high school population therefore would  not be residents of the town. Their parents would not be  charged with the expense of a  youth centre.
It was  another factor. .

Time of operation of  proposed  facility is  to be from 2.00 to 9.00.p.m.
At  2.00 p.m.,  buses  carry half the school population away from  schools. To a place not within walking distance of a youth centre. 
The  centre is  proposed  at  the Aurora Family Leisure Complex. No interest has been shown  either by schools or  students in using  either the ice surface, swimming pool,  fitness centre or  racquet ball courts.
A  racquet court may be replaced with a climbing wall  in the youth facility. 
Captain Lusk of  Queen's York Rangers is excited by that project, With two companies of cadets numbering   hundreds. wall climbing is part of their training. 
We will be in the happy circumstance of  providing  facilities for the Department of National Defense at home -owner's expense as well as providing an armouries for their convenience.
For the past six years we have operated a  Seniors Centre. Membership dues are paid. Staff are on hand. 
We know the size of the facility and numbers of members
Cost to  taxpayers of providing the service is $270,000 per annum. 
Still, it gives us   no idea of cost  to operate a youth centre. 
Source of  capital funding  is also problematic. 
Master Recreation Plans are required by the Province to justify calculations for Development Charges to developers. 
C.D. Reserves are   currently in deficit. We spent more than we received. . 
But the situation  is further excoriated. . 
The Town's  last Development Charge Bylaw was appealed to the Ontario Muncipal Board. A  board decision in Orangeville means our overcharge is  in excess of $700,000.  The money must be returned one way or another. 
The 2011 annual  audit revealed  $1.3 million for  naming rights of the Stronach Centre, was mistakenly entered into the Development Charge Reserve Fund. And swallowed up. .
 Money mistakenly credited and  development charges paid  in excess must be repaid. We are currently planning to spend   $13 million for a joint works and parks centre. 
There has never been a time  I could cheerfully contemplate spending millions of dollars without having regard for  people's ability to pay.
No more so now than ever before. 
Councillor Pirri, on the other hand, having neither chick nor child,
is utterly sublime.