Today’s breakfast with Santa, and the mayor, cost more than neighbouring municipalities.

By comparison, the November 26 Economic Development Committee meeting is a good example of preferential treatment of delegates and how well received input is if it aligns with interests like heritage, Open Air (also known as closed streets) and the potential Murray Street closure.

Patricia Simone, chair, advised delegate Kurt Reffle his five minute speaking limit was up after he spoke for 11 minutes and 12 seconds at the meeting.

“Sorry to interrupt just because we have hit the five minute mark, just hoping that you can just wrap up in the next 30 seconds. So apologies for that. We just, unfortunately, this committee cannot extend the time of delegations, so you’ve already hit that, but I’m going to add another 30 seconds if possible to that,” said Simone.

Reffle continued speaking for another 1 minute and 6 seconds.

Council chair usually strictly enforces the 5 minute rule and council typically votes to extend delegates’ time for another 5 minutes.

Reffle also made comments without being asked a question, something council delegates were told is not allowed.

Reffle’s delegation request form stated the item was not on the agenda, also something that council delegates are not allowed to do according to the controversial procedural by-law.

Reffle delegated because ‘after the heritage district was created and you were looking for ideas I said, well, I’m coming.’

He said his idea already has good community support. However, he mentioned only ‘a coalition of partners that have already said yes to this’ including:

• Mark McGuire, Vintage bikes
• Musicland, Bethany, all in
• Kat from the Park House, all in
• Anna from Pantera, all in
• Ron Deneau, brilliant idea. who would be against this?
• President of the Marsh Collection, Chris Gibb, how can I help?
• One of the librarians, great idea
• Laura Alessandro, ACF member, great idea
• Phil Kasurak, great idea,
• Frank Di Pasquale, Heritage Committee member, great idea
• Hotel Stry and the O, how can we help, Kaine and Laurie [Bruyette]
• Dan Gemus, great idea
• Chief Nikki Anna-Maria Oroszhow, how can I help
• Alex Dale, Fort Malden, great idea
• Tammy, provincial marinas, I’m all in
• I have never heard back from the ACF, the freedom museum or the Gibson gallery.

The committee members embraced Reffle’s ideas, judging by comments:

• “I would certainly support that for sure, will we be able to contact you down the road as it relates to the concepts and ideas?” asked the first committee member to speak.
• “If I could make a comment in support of Councillor Crain, I’d like to see us in our next committee meeting put this on the agenda, and hopefully we’ll have the notes from the delegate that we can read in advance and come prepared to put some meaningful, some sort of a meaningful recommendation together based on that, if that makes sense.”
• “I like the recommendations for the culture and the way you summarized what what we’re doing as a community for bringing culture to the foreground.”
• “You put together a good list.”
• “Thank you Kurt for your presentation. Quick question, what role do you see the town playing in this is something that you’d like to take place during open air. Where do you see next steps?” asked Councillor Crain.
• I really want to commend you for all the work that you put together. It was very thoughtful…and I just commend you for your ideas, and I do, I really want to echo what Alan had said; it’s definitely worth a journey, and certainly the faster we can act on it, the better. So again, thank you,” said Michael Deneau.
• “Thank you so much for your delegation, and I echo what the committee said, lots of great, interesting ideas, and hopefully we can chat about that more during our work plan session this evening.”

Council and committee members should treat all residents equally when they delegate and when they provide input, not just when interests align. Otherwise, there is the perception of favouritism.