March Community Newsletter
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Questions from Resident
As a concerned citizen of NWV I have questions around th e qualifications of the current CAO, as seen below in a post from the town of NWV in May of 2024 it is stated that she is a project manager. According to the Gardner Centre "Fundamentals of Project Management" is a 2 day course and is only one small part of becoming a "Project Manager" with many more requirements to get your Project Management Professional (PMP) designation and be considered a Project Manager. Next is the statement that she is "currently completing her MSc in leadership for Sustainable Rural Development through MUN". I decided to reach out to MUN for some clarification- this is a copy of the response. This raises a couple of questions for me. • Are these the qualifications that were used to promote from the inte rim CAO position to the full time CAO position? • Is this individual the one we want representing our town as we are goin...
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I think the town is spending to much on gravel they cleared off a pice of land by the fire hall and then they backfill it with gravel and never done anything with it. They backfilled up by the museum and never done anything on it. Down here in poundcove they made a dog park when it was in a old ballfield that was perfect for a dog park we need one they took down the fence in the ballfield and put it up again in the new dog park double the labour
ReplyDeleteThere all driving around in brand new trucks and suv
Were the only town that pays a garbage fee and they don’t even pick it up another company picks that up
Summer events happens on a paved lot instead of in the grassy field across the road
Our town needs a lot of work
I want to clarify that I’m not here to condemn our town, but rather to work together to address some important issues. For example, why is the basketball court in such poor condition that it’s nearly impossible for the kids to use it safely without risking injury? We’ve spent significant money on a dog park, but let’s remember, our kids are the future, not the dogs. Yes, Pearson Park is great for younger children, but what about the teenagers? They need a safe space too. Right now, the only option is riding bikes along the side of the road to get to the dirt road—what else are they supposed to do?
ReplyDeleteAs for our seniors, there’s a lot of focus on community events like the festival and other fun activities, but what are we doing for our seniors? Church groups may put on soup suppers, but I feel like the town doesn’t do enough to involve or support our seniors. I also wonder what happened to the recreational committee that we used to have. Why did it dissolve? Those volunteers did amazing work, and it’s a shame to see that go away.
I think it’s time the town reaches out more to the residents and asks for their input on these issues. It often feels like decisions are made without consulting the people who are directly impacted, the taxpayers. In my opinion this community lack spirit and that why it’s divided.
Anonymous- Well stated-There's more questions on these things you have noted than answers. You hit the nail right"Community spirit isn't there and to a degree we are still 3 separate towns. I have lots to add later.
DeleteAgreed- Let's all work together to make our town a better place to live.
ReplyDeleteLet's start a list of what we think needs the attention of our council, and start asking questions. Why is there an empty lot next to the Fire Hall? Why does the town have such expensive vehicles? Keep the questions coming!
Okay let's think about this for a min here. We want ball field fixed up for events, put something on the land near the town hall, now that it's been filled anyway, there are water issues that need attention and yes it would be nice to have the tennis courts and basketball courts fixed up. I'm sure there are many more things as well.I gotta ask though where is the money coming from? My taxes are high enough! I think we have grant for water treatment so I spose that's coming. But everything else extra better come from grants or something other if possible. Prices for every thing have gone up don't want anything making it worse. As for things already been done like the dog park, it's not much good to grumble unless you have ideas to fix something.Town vehicles, I guess now we want the town public works employees driving junk, probably not suited to the workload or old. Either way repairs will be many. Perhaps we do need to ask more questions. I'm pretty sure we can do that at council meeting if we let them know we are coming to ask questions. A bunch of people around town now complaining about council when they can always go get their concern voiced. If you don't want to go about it the right way all I can figure is you don't want the answer you know you'll get or you got your answer and don't like it. The Rec. committee desolved due to lack of volunteers as I understand it. Things are getting pretty petty here.
ReplyDeleteHello Anonymous,
DeleteWe are allowed to send questions to the town hall the week before the next scheduled meeting for a response during the meeting. We are not allowed to speak at meetings unless we have a presentation to make which has also been pre-planned with the council.
Privileged sessions occur extremely often, so we only know about some of what's happening with our council. Last week, an entire special meeting was held in privileged session so that no audience could be present. What was that meeting about?
If the all the committees dissolved due to a lack of volunteers, why do they never call for volunteers? The town council does not appear to want to hear from its citizens.
We do not believe that expecting our elected officials to follow the rules as stated in the Municipalities Act is petty.
Sometimes questions do not get answered during the council meetings to a satisfactory end. Or they get answered, but no action is ever taken on their motions.
We want to see more transparency on what they're spending our heavy tax dollars on. For instance, lump sum figures of accounts payable every two weeks isn't much of a Finance Report.
It's not about complaining about council, it's about living in a democracy where the people do have a say, and deserve access to information.
As a member of the Concerned Citizens Group for New-Wes-Valley, I wish to present an alternative perspective. Our group is dedicated to fostering a safe, collaborative, and transparent environment for the prosperity of our town. We are committed to avoiding personal attacks and promoting transparency.
ReplyDeleteOur decision not to publicly announce members' names stems from our collective nature as a group. We consist of residents, neighbors, co-workers, and possibly family members who share a common concern for our community. Many citizens fear that openly expressing their concerns might influence council decisions or lead to social ostracism. Regrettably, some individuals feel they have already faced such repercussions.
It is important to acknowledge that the council members are not ill-intentioned individuals. However, even well-meaning persons can make decisions based on incomplete or inaccurate information. The community seeks opportunities to voice their concerns in such instances.
Spreading rumors and gossip only serves to further divide our community. It is crucial to recognize that differing opinions are natural and should not lead to the exclusion or isolation of those who disagree. Council decisions are beyond the control of office staff, and it was concerning to learn that the newsletter caused stress to one of these employees. In my view, there was nothing in the letter that should have led to such stress, as the staff member has no influence over council decisions and does not typically participate in most council meetings.
This discussion is not intended to be personal. It is crucial to hold differing views and express concerns respectfully and factually. We have the democratic right to question such matters. The targeting of residents, anonymous personal attacks on social media, and gossip directed at our members in response to this newsletter are significant issues. This validates our members' fear of speaking up. Even more concerning is that some members are considering leaving or relocating their local businesses to join a more inclusive community. The newsletter is a factual document that provides references for verification. If there are details not yet made public that could provide additional context, please share them. The questions provided were intended to encourage such disclosure.
I am pleased to see such a respectful group engaged in the community. It is our right to be informed and ask questions. Continue with your work and good things will be accomplished.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Stay tuned for lots of opportunity to have your say.
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