By adopting a new procedural bylaw, council has effectively shut down public participation in the political debate. For those citizens that feel our council hasn’t achieved anything, I differ. To their credit, they have achieved more than they promised by consecutive tax increases totalling 11.5 per cent in a one-year period.
Going back to our records, this is a first in our town’s recent history. They are only in the second year of their mandate. Their capacity to do better is immense. Their resilience and perseverance is to be commended. They can be effective in their time remaining. They can do bigger and better, like increasing our debt and the ability to pay for it.
We can only hope this time is not more than their previous record increases. They may not run the town bankrupt. If we are lucky, we can always pick up the pieces and believe in their capacity and ability to do better. We can always ask for divine intervention and ultimately a miracle and reverse their decision on our procedural bylaw and return to normalcy. We can only hope and pray and start listening to the citizens free of charge.
We cannot be a tenant in any future endeavor. Maintaining integrity and being fair and balanced in our decision-making is essential. Our transportation master plan under study is a good beginning. It lacks the foresight and vision for our future needs. It looks for a golden nugget. The town should start environmental assessments after public consultation.
Creating a new corridor bridging existing roads to a new parkway is one option, from Concession 3 North to Howard Ave. It will serve our community well into the future, supporting any area in future development, taking residential and commercial traffic away from residential streets like Front Road North and others. It would create a direct route to south Windsor and reconnect to the major transportation network in which we have been left out. It is an ambitious undertaking to be done. In phases, using available infrastructure funds from federal and provincial governments, we can make this dream a reality. Only a suggestion.
—Frank Cerasa
Amherstburg
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