Committee
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External
Affairs Committee
Our Projects
2009 External Affairs Committee Report
Committee Chair: Gloria Woodside
Committee Members: Morris Eccles, Fraser Govan, Cliff Hatch, Karl
Jaffary, David Johnstone, Bill Rogers, Barry Morrison, Brian Simpson,
Deb Cumming, Kathleen Black
2010 is an Election Year
Ontario’s next municipal elections are set for Monday, October 25th,
2010. To help you make your decision on local government, the Lake of
Bays Association will be providing background information and a summary
of positions for all candidates. Seasonal residents can vote by mail,
and we encourage all of you to exercise your right to vote.
Township of Lake of Bays Community Based Strategic Plan
We were
delighted with Township of Lake of Bays’s decision to develop a
strategic plan. It was time for the community to establish a clear set
of priorities to guide municipal spending and community development
decisions. Several Association board members are serving on committees
looking at the results of the planning process. Learn more at
www.lakeofbays.on.ca.
Increased Development Charges Approved for District of Muskoka
Last year, the District of Muskoka Council voted to significantly
increase development charges. They are the funds collected to finance
roads, water supplies, sewer systems and other infrastructure required
to accommodate new development. Because the Lake of Bays Association
strongly advocated the user-pay principle – that is, development
charges should pay for the costs of infrastructure required for the new
development — we supported the increase, which will shift the
burden of servicing new development to those using the services. Thanks
to Bill Rogers for advocating our position so diligently throughout the
process.
Ongoing External Affairs Activities
The External Affairs Committee is kept very busy throughout the year
monitoring the affairs of Lake of Bays Township Council to keep your
association up to date on issues facing our municipal government. We
want to be informed and in a position to participate in any debate that
may be of importance to Lake of Bays tax payers.
Several dedicated volunteers attend Township meetings on your behalf.
Our treasurer, Kathleen Black, attends Township finance committee
meetings, where her efforts to improve the Township’s fiscal
transparency and accountability have met considerable success. Planning
co-chair Brian Simpson monitors Planning Committee meetings and Fraser
Govan from our External Affairs Committee keeps an eye on council
meetings.
Cliff Hatch continues to chair the Waterfront Ratepayer’s After Fair Taxation (WRAFT) and reports to our Board on the continuing fight for fair taxation. Malcolm Burwash is a director of the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations and brings the resources of this strong group back to our Board. Morris Eccles represents the Lake of Bays Association on the Huntsville and Lake of Bays Lakes Association – an organization that brings all the lakes of this region together on issues of mutual concern.
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