Wasaga Cease and Desist

I just want to show I am being fair to Mayor Smith.

When he allowed those on the panel to introduce themselves, he stated, “Tomorrow they will be saying the Mayor doesn’t know who the town staff are.”

I know he reads these daily, so I didn’t want to disappoint him. I will confirm, he probably knows all of the staff that were on stage. In regard to introductions, he is getting better and I only heard him refer to a female employee as “lovely” once. Baby steps. Improvements are important to acknowledge.

This morning I got several messages saying that finally, the town has shared the “open mike” or “town hall”, or whatever anyone wants to call it. I have added the link.

Got two hours? Watch the video. I won’t repeat all of the issues I have spoken about already in 4 previous posts. Those posts have actually resulted in the Town of Wasaga Beach sending me an email titled- “Cease and Desist”.

To be clear, I will continue posting. My love for Wasaga Beach motivates me daily. As winter approaches, I suspect there will be much to write about.

I won’t get into ALL details of the letter, but I will say it refers to my discussion post # 247. That was the second post I shared about the public meeting.

The letter claims many things I may discuss later, but due to ongoing issues with the Town, I will only say, they should stop mis-quoting me. It makes it clear they are attempting to harm my reputation by attributing words or assertions to me that are not true.

One sentence in the extensive letter says, that in my post;

“You state that development at the main beach could be subject to “no trespassing” signs on the beach.”

What I actually said was;

“Yes… Even the development at the main beach could be subject to the same protections. Wow! Welcome to Wasaga Beach- No trespassing!”

I did not say the no trespassing signs would be erected “on the beach”, as I am accused of writing.

Any future no trespassing signs could easily be erected on any private property the Municipality sells to private owners. Even those lands presently used for parking, park space and roads that appear to be slated as townhouses could one day (soon) be fenced off.

I am pretty careful what I say in these things and especially when I speak in person. I did speak in person at Thursdays meeting. I think I was the third last speaker during the meeting. I disagreed with and was actually offended by the answers to my questions but so be it. I simply walked away from the microphone.

What did I question? I do not understand why Council would not resume the public comment period at the beginning of meetings. Both the Mayor and the Clerk indicated it was still possible to comment. Sure it is… you just have to apply!

Mayor Smith had to point a finger at the previous Council and claim they completely changed the rules. Of course they did… we experienced a World Wide Pandemic that changed EVERYTHING in regard to public meetings. But, when the Mayor indicated that the present system is no different than the past, he was WAY off.

Past: You showed up to the Council meeting, if you chose to speak, you simply walked to the microphone during the allotted 15 minutes and had your say. It had to be about an item on the agenda but no appointment necessary. (I, and MANY others prefer this method).

Present: You have to apply to the clerks office well ahead of time in order to speak. They have every right to refuse your application.

But more alarming is how brazenly he justified saying the public “hijacked” meetings. Mayor Smith chose to say he had meetings so badly disrupted the last time he was Mayor, that he could not even finish his meeting. Here is my vague memory of the only meeting I ever remember not being finished.

Word had gotten around that Mayor Smith was going to “Clear the Gallery” at the evenings Council meeting. He had threatened it at an earlier meeting where another integrity Commisioner Report was discussed. He remained true to the rumour that night in 2017 and when he felt the time was right, he ordered the CAO to “Clear the Gallery” Now, at that time, very few people apparently stood and walked out. “I wasn’t there when he ordered everyone out.”

The issue being discussed was something our entire community seemed to care about. (Ejecting an elected official from her seat) When people chose not to leave, the Mayor called in the Police. Now, to be PERFECTLY CLEAR, police were already in the Council Chambers (I wonder who arranged that?) One person who arrived late described the parking lot as being filled with cruisers.

In the end, the Police did NOT order anyone out. The Mayor returned to his chair and simply adjourned the meeting.

For those who were not around for that circus atmosphere, the Mayor had a group of supporters. He also had a group of critics. Coming into meetings was comical. It was like going to a wedding and being seated on the appropriate side of the room.

The TRUTH is, Mr. Mayor had very little control of outbursts from his supporters and rarely tried to shut them down. He also had to deal with moans and boos from the opponents of his actions but usually tried to clamp down on them instantly. (Kind of like Thursdays meeting) It was bizarre to witness.

During that last term, Councillor Belanger once even complained to the Mayor that audience members were photographing him, but then he would also be known to pull his camera out and film the audience. Like I said… it was bizarre! There is even a photo circulating of Councilor Belanger taking a picture (from his chair during a meeting) of a resident who is taking a picture of him. lol…. Bizarre!

(For those wanting to re-live the Cowardgate experience, Google phrases like “Wasaga 2017 CTV clear the chambers” to find a CTV story from August 23rd. When reading the story, remember, it was later learned that the OPP were already there.)

More about my Cease and Desist letter? Maybe… but there are other issues right now that I feel may conflict and quite honestly, I have made it clear to the CAO, that any erroneous content in my posts should be pointed out to me in writing, so I can correct the post. I will not stop writing.

Have you checked out the Towns YouTube Channel?

Since they started posting meetings there, it has always been meetings in their entirety. Last week, they decided (for the very first time) to post an actual excerpt from last weeks meeting. They wanted it to have its own title I guess. It is where the Council and a staff member actually discuss submitting a report to specifically identify legal costs they claim are directly associated with myself and my wife. Again… they can do whatever they want… they are in power!

Is it possible some of these legal fees are related to this cease and desist order? Who knows?

Here is what EVERYONE knows. This Council uses a lot of lawyers.

But on a week where a cheque register identifies massive lawyers fees, bringing up creating this report is, well… bizarre.

I look forward to the report. I think it will be a great lead in to a story I am working on from 2017.