Original articles written during my term as Ward 1 Councillor, together with material from my time as Chair of the Long Point Region Conservation Authority.
During my time on Norfolk County Council, I regularly wrote articles for Port Rowan Good News about what was happening at the County and in Ward 1.
Early on, the editor and I had some discussion about the content. The publication was called Good News, and the preference was naturally for good-news stories. My problem was that not everything happening at the County was good news, and I was not interested in pretending otherwise.
We eventually found common ground. The “good news” did not always have to be the issue itself. Sometimes the good news was that a problem had been identified, that I was asking questions, and that I was working to address it.
That understanding allowed us to move forward, and it allowed me to write honestly about budgets, infrastructure, service delivery, broadband, community projects and the issues residents were bringing to me.
I kept many of those original articles. This is not a complete collection; some issues are missing from my personal files. Port Rowan Good News may still have copies of those editions for anyone interested in the complete publication record.
What is here has not been rewritten years later with the benefit of hindsight. These are the words I wrote while I was serving on Council. They provide a snapshot of the issues I was raising, the questions I was asking and the work I was trying to move forward at the time.
My public-service record also includes serving as Chair of the Long Point Region Conservation Authority. The 2017 Annual Report includes the Chair’s Message and the Authority’s work during that year.
View 2017 LPRCA Annual Report →Budget efficiencies, overtime and absenteeism reporting, Ward 1 capital improvements, and keeping tax increases under control.
Read Original Article →Long Point parking, the St. Williams Fire Hall, community recreation priorities, road work, and a push for a County service delivery review.
Read Original Article →A year-end reflection on taxes, community participation, volunteers, emergency services and the people who make Ward 1 strong.
Read Original Article →Taking on the LPRCA Chair role, rebuilding reserves, investing in assets, improving customer service and making difficult governance decisions.
Read Original Article →Long Point signage, shoreline protection, Hastings Drive access, hydro costs, septic policy and Canada 150 community events.
Read Original Article →The Long Point Causeway, local infrastructure, capital priorities and community investment.
Read Original Article →A summer update on Council issues, community projects, infrastructure and local priorities.
Read Original Article →Listening to residents, community consultation and bringing local priorities into Council decisions.
Read Original Article →Community hub discussions, County finances, reserves and the importance of understanding long-term costs.
Read Original Article →A closer look at Norfolk’s finances, spending pressures, reserves and the need for stronger financial oversight.
Read Original Article →A year-end review of Council work, local projects and priorities heading into 2018.
Read Original Article →Expanding high-speed internet, supporting growth and using infrastructure investment to strengthen rural Norfolk.
Read Original Article →Council decisions, local infrastructure and community issues affecting Ward 1.
Read Original Article →Local projects, the Big Creek Bridge, the Causeway, outstanding capital work, water and wastewater policy, and LPRCA progress.
Read Original Article →Council meeting access, enormous agenda packages, water and wastewater arrears, responsiveness to residents and the decision not to seek re-election.
Read Original Article →Broadband expansion, affordability, Council accountability, outstanding capital projects, debt pressures and reflections at the end of a Council term.
Read Original Article →