"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

Saturday 26 May 2012

Don't Aski...Don't TEll

Please explain for me. If all the reasons to remove the fencing are valid, why did it get erected the first time? It must cost a lot. on
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The first year the Jazz Festival was held, the St Kitts woman pretty well  had the keys of the kingdom and ownership of the park. 
Staff under her direction were ordered to rent port-a-potties for the children in the water park.While  she had ownership of the public washrooms in the park.
Delegation to Council noted  photos of a market vendor with a vehicle in the park, contrary to the Market Bylaw. The vendor was invading space claimed by the  Festival organizer. The vendor was ordered out. 
Market clients, enjoying a breakfast sandwich, in a space set aside for them on the ball diamond, were ordered out by the  Festival organizer. 
The fence eventually  prohibited access to the  washrooms ,despite advice from the town's legal department beforehand, washrooms had to remain accessible.
Standby staff had to be called out to  move the fence to provide access to the washrooms. 
Not only were  user fees of $975. for the band shell waived., a sponsorship of $2,500  provided by the town's  manager of  economic development, in support of economic development.
I know of no permit granted for erection of a fence or  to permit vendors inside the fence to the financial benefit of the festival organizers.  I queried  and obtained no answers.
They were different times. 
No reasons needed to be given  for decisions made. 
 

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I dislike introducing a legal aspect - we've had enough of them. But if there truly is no documentation allowing the fencing to exceed LCBO standards, is this not an example of Squatters' Rights? If so, any of us could lop off a park for ourselves. Really bizarre.

Anonymous said...

I cannot believe that the Jazz Group has not considered al of this. Surely their insurance documents must require them to show permits for fencing and all the details about their vendors. Unless they are being singularly stupid in which case they remind me of those strange little lemming rodents who periodically run off cliffs for no reason.

Anonymous said...

But are we in different times? I have read all the comments & it clearly is a matter for Council to decide. Unless and until they do so, there is nothing that I can find to prevent a senior staffer from providing the necessary permits. It might require the passing of a by-law. That could be done. There is a real problem with establishing a precedent. A possible legalistic quagmire. But are we really in different times?

Anonymous said...

Why is there no one from the town explaining this? Why is no one from the organization explaining the procedures and how everything has been covered satisfactorily? Public Relations person? Anyone?

Anonymous said...

Matt is right. Leave the fence alone. Do it the right way.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 5/26 7:13pm said: "Why is there no one from the town explaining this? Why is no one from the organization explaining the procedures and how everything has been covered satisfactorily? Public Relations person? Anyone?"

Is this a serious question? No one from the Town is explaining it because except for about 25 people that hang out on this blog, no one cares! Stop anyone on the street and ask them... they don't care. Hell I spoke to my supposed "smart, well-read" neighbour and she has not heard of this issue.