ARTICLE FROM BAYSHORE BROADCASTING, by Catherine Thompson
Residents complain about quick Council decision, Mayor addresses protestors.
click to open MP3 version of this news story.
Collingwood councillors were again met by protestors as they arrived for their council meeting on Monday.
The group Friends of the Collingwood Central Park Project and their supporters are upset with what they say was a quick council decision with no public input to cover the Centennial pool at Heritage Park and build a single ice pad at Central Park.
The two projects will cost 11.6 million dollars plus operating costs.
Protestors rallied outside town hall last Monday and yesterday afternoon, a march was held from Central Park to town hall.
Residents complain about quick Council decision, Mayor addresses protestors.
click to open MP3 version of this news story.
Collingwood councillors were again met by protestors as they arrived for their council meeting on Monday.
The group Friends of the Collingwood Central Park Project and their supporters are upset with what they say was a quick council decision with no public input to cover the Centennial pool at Heritage Park and build a single ice pad at Central Park.
The two projects will cost 11.6 million dollars plus operating costs.
Protestors rallied outside town hall last Monday and yesterday afternoon, a march was held from Central Park to town hall.
Rally organizer Steve Berman says he'd say over 150 people showed up this time and about 226 last week.
He says he just wants answers and he's going to keep asking until he gets them.
In an attempt to respond to the public outcry, Mayor Sandra Cooper opened the council meeting by speaking to those in the audience.
Cooper stressed that she believes council did make the right decision in the right, democratic way with staff taking the time to do the research and now council is moving forward in a positive manner.
She adds the rallies are not going to change council's decision.
Following Mayor Cooper's address, Councillor Keith Hull brought up concerns that the 25 metre Centennial pool will be in competition with the 20 metre pool at the Y rather than a partnership.
Hull says he's disappointed that the town isn't going to look at a new proposal that the YMCA apparently has.
Also at Monday's ,eeting, acting CAO Ed Houghton made a presentation on how staff came to the recommendation to move forward with the two recreation projects.
He says a twin ice pad would have cost a total of 21.2 million dollars plus a new pool at the Y at a total of 7.7 million dollars.
And to relocate the ball diamonds at Central Park, it would have cost two million dollars with another 805 thousand to relocate the outdoor rink.
Town staff is still looking at the need for a therapeutic pool in town.
That was part of the 35 million dollar Central Park revitalization project that council decided was too costly.
He says he just wants answers and he's going to keep asking until he gets them.
In an attempt to respond to the public outcry, Mayor Sandra Cooper opened the council meeting by speaking to those in the audience.
Cooper stressed that she believes council did make the right decision in the right, democratic way with staff taking the time to do the research and now council is moving forward in a positive manner.
She adds the rallies are not going to change council's decision.
Following Mayor Cooper's address, Councillor Keith Hull brought up concerns that the 25 metre Centennial pool will be in competition with the 20 metre pool at the Y rather than a partnership.
Hull says he's disappointed that the town isn't going to look at a new proposal that the YMCA apparently has.
Also at Monday's ,eeting, acting CAO Ed Houghton made a presentation on how staff came to the recommendation to move forward with the two recreation projects.
He says a twin ice pad would have cost a total of 21.2 million dollars plus a new pool at the Y at a total of 7.7 million dollars.
And to relocate the ball diamonds at Central Park, it would have cost two million dollars with another 805 thousand to relocate the outdoor rink.
Town staff is still looking at the need for a therapeutic pool in town.
That was part of the 35 million dollar Central Park revitalization project that council decided was too costly.
RSS Feed