It appears that Councillor McPherson has lost his focus already.

Over the last few months we all (as well as everybody else in the province it seems) have been made very aware of the political scene in Meaford.  However, new appointments have been and are being made and it is a time for healing.

Now is the time for all of our elected officials to roll up their sleeves, get to work and dedicate themselves totally to getting Meaford back on track and sort out the mess. No time for anything else, and the aformentioned Councillor should know that.

I attended a B.I.A General Meeting March 28 to participate in the vote to fill the position of Chair for that Association.  Richard Morris was standing for that position, having filled that position in prior years.  I know Richard as a tireless promoter of the B.I.A.

There are very few on the main street who have not seen him visiting merchants for input, putting out flower boxes, deadheading flowers, picking up garbage, recruiting volunteers, cutting corn stalks to decorate the main street, attaching seasonal wreaths to poles, pursuing promotional activities to bring tourists to town, representing the B.I.A. at Chamber and Council meetings and the list goes on and on. 

In general, he has done an admirable job in the past.  It is evident, as I have personally witnessed over the years, that many hours a week are required of the Chair to do a competent job

Having stated all that, I was greatly disturbed to find Councillor McPherson was in attendance and had forwarded his name to stand for Chair also.  A vote was held and Richard was elected.

What is beyond my thinking is why, when Councillor McPherson knows Richard and the good job he has done in the past, found it necessary to get involved.  I understand that he too has a vested interest in B.I.A activities as a member, but I do not understand why he thinks he has the time to undertake those activities when there are far more pressing matters for him to devote his attention to, and we all know what they are.

The town needs fixing, so please try and stay focused on the task at hand and let other competent people do their jobs. Stick to the tasks you were elected to do. You have been part of the problem but you can also be part of the solution.

I live here and care about what is going on.  I have contributed many hours of work as a volunteer for both the Chamber and the B.I.A. Two years ago I pressure washed and repainted the Big Apple, last year I refurbished and repainted the Information Kiosk by the Hall. 

I have helped set out /picked up fire barrels and helped clean up after B.I.A. Street Events, etc.  No big deal, I do it because I love Meaford, as do the hundreds of other volunteers here in the Municipality that do the same, if not much, much more. I figure that, along with being a concerned taxpayer entitles me to throw my two cents worth in!