Changing Gravenhurst
I encourage you to contact the lake and residents organizations or get involved in the advisory committees. Click here for a list of organizations. Make Gravenhurst the town you want it to be!

We Have Been Busy
Month 1: During this month I and the rest of council have been busy. First, we called an extraordinary council meeting to give staff guidelines for preparing their budget submission.

We directed the managers to reduce their operating budgets by 5%.

Background: the part year costs for servicing the increased debt and operating the expanded arena and aquatic facility will be approximately $500,000. This is almost 5% of the total town expenditure last year. In discussion, most all of council agreed that fiscal restraint means we absorb these extra costs left behind by the old council. To do that, we need to find 5% operating savings.

The process: managers will prepare budget drafts and consult with their respective council chairs and with myself and the chair of corporate committee. We will work through the numbers and find savings. To stay within the rate of inflation, we must rethink the business of the town.

Secondly, we have had two regular council meetings.

The Big Issue
Highway 11 expansion and realignment by Ministry of Transportation. This project had a public information session during the fall and under my direction we have adopted a more substantive position for dealing with the MTO on this project. The MTO was considering a complete bypass of the town, severely impacting on a conservation reserve and 2 lakes, Gull and Silver. It is also considering staying within the same route but making it a fully controlled access highway of 6 lanes. Both options are not acceptable to the town, the citizens, or the lake residents.

Now, as of December 21, the bypass is off the table. The modifications to the existing route are still being looked at. We have pressed for data to justify the project and its wanting. I will be active on this issue to protect all taxpayers.

Agendas and minutes for these meetings are available on the town website, or click here.