Category Archives: Uncategorized

SNOW REMOVAL IN WESTPORT

February 20, 2016 robinthemayor

Attention business owners, snow plow operators, residents and other concerned community members.

The most recent snow storm and its clean up has highlighted the need to hold an open forum where everyone can have their say about snow removal. Roads, sidewalks, snow banks – they all require discussion. Council wants to hear from you. On Thursday, February 25 from 5:30-7:00 pm, mayor and council will be hosting a Town Hall meeting. Anyone wishing to share their concerns or perspective will be given the opportunity.

Within the next year, Council will be making changes to the existing snow removal by-law. The current contract for snow removal expires April 2017 and the village will be putting out a tender in 2016. The information that is shared on Thursday will assist us in our deliberations.

Please mark the date and time on our calendar – come to the Town Hall meeting and have your say!

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Meeting with Minister Duguid scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in Toronto

February 19, 2016 robinthemayor

Thank you to everyone who sent an email or letter to Minister Duguid requesting consideration for the OCIF grant from the Village. The Minister has scheduled a meeting with me next week. If you haven’t sent your email yet, please follow through as your concerns need to be heard by the Minister.

I would appreciate having a copy of all your emails/letters as I intend to have them with me at the meeting – so please send them to me if you haven’t already done so.

When the grant was turned down on February 5th, I also sent letters to the Minister of the Environment, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. These three ministries and the Ministry of Infrastructure are the four that overlap in their responsibilities for the municipality.

Glenn Murray, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change and Ted McMeekin, Minister of Municipal Affairs have committed to meeting with me – those dates are still being arranged.

I will take with me into the meetings the knowledge that the thoughts and needs of all 672 residents and those who work and play in the Village are with me. Westport has such a strong spirit. I am proud to be your Mayor.

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54 cm – Record 1-day Snowfall

February 18, 2016 robinthemayor

Wow! I think we can all come up for air now. Schools are open today. Sun is shining and the temperature is “February cold”. Thanks to Mr Charby and Mr Jackson for working so hard to get the streets open Tuesday night and working on widening them on Wednesday. Still lots of work to do on the roads. I spoke to the gents yesterday and the sidewalks are going to be a challenge. We will see how what progress they make later today. Perhaps the warm weather on Saturday will help. In the meantime, please be careful when walking on the roads.

I also noted, like many of you, huge piles of snow moved onto the streets from private property. I will be hosting a meeting in the next couple of weeks with business owners and snow plow operators to discuss options of how we can work together to manage large snowfalls in the future.

Final word on this snow event is FUN! The children (of all ages) hadn’t had any snow related activities yet this winter, so 2 “snow days” helped make up for that!

Uncategorized

FILL THE RINK – THANKS TO FOTA

February 14, 2016 robinthemayor

On Friday night (Feb 12), the rink was filled with the FOTA volunteers and donors, whose hard work and generosity was recognized by the Rideaus and the community. It was a special occasion as AVIVA was on site to present FOTA with the $50,000 cheque for receiving the winning number of votes from hard working (and voting) folks earlier this season.

Councillor Ron Pollard, Township of Rideau Lakes, and I had a Mayor challenge during the 1st and 2nd period. The young’uns – and I do mean young – the 4-6 year olds played a 10 minute game and Ron and I each took a different team to coach. I am not certain that the goals were recorded, but the winners were each of the girls and boys who took to the rink and made their moms, dads and coaches proud!

To all who have donated your time, effort and money to FOTA, thank you for your commitment to our community.