"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Thursday 8 March 2012

Community involvement

Someone commented

"Shut it down. A.S.A.P."

There is no need. Throughout the town we have numerous facilities providing  recreation, leisure and arts programs.

They are not a burden on taxpayers. Users pay fees calculated on  cost of operations and on an equitable basis

For the most part.

Administration is  conducted openly and transparently. Governed  by policies adopted by council in  public meetings in accordance with laws and regulations.

As a consequence of the experience with the Culture Centre Board guided by their legal counsel,  I am persuaded, the town should self-manage the facility.

The community should have input into how it is used. Which opportunity was certainly not provided before the secretive  Cult took over.

Except for the museum. That function was already established by thirty years of occupation,theirs and the town's  investment endorsed by  community acceptance.

We already have professional staff well-versed  and acclaimed in organising programs and soliciting private support to keep admission charges within reach of the average family.

They need no lessons. Time and time again  they have proven themselves with outstanding  success of various annual  events organised by the Department of Recreation and Leisure Services.

Denuded by the last Council to Recreation and Parks, with no authority over the facilities where  programs happen, with no obvious improvement and every sign of the opposite.

The building is ours. It is beautiful. We made it that way. It calls for best practice utilisation.

 It does not have unlimited function.

 Choices must be made.

 The people must be involved.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like the phrase to shut it down ASAP was probably for the money flow. Which should be shut down ASAP. Others can run the place, likely better as the animosity would dissipate.

Anonymous said...

I just discovered that Mayor Dawe has a web-site and went there to see what he had to say about the capitulation to a stronger outside, uninformed invasion of the Town Hall. His last post was January from about a year ago. What is going on here? I am trying very hard not to be rude or inflammatory but when you are tired of fighting mock dragons, the edges start to show. I am dismayed at the Council I voted for with such anticipation. There are all sorts of media outlets. If the Mayor of Aurora can't find a single one to explain his position, he has truly sold the store.
Sorry, Evelyn, will try to do better.