Letters to the editor...Council urged to reconsider decision

Council urged to reconsider decision

Dear editor, When I read an editorial it is usually about something the editor agrees with, wants to expand on, or criticize. The editor has addressed all three in the July 14 edition and rightfully so, and since my name appears in the editorial let me respond. As I understand it, the editor agrees with me that the median should go and the sidewalks be widened in the reconstruction of Main St. in downtown Georgetown. When I conversed with the consultant on this project, he, after having taking a fair amount of time to look at the project, concluded that the median should go and the sidewalks should be widened. Consultants working for the Town, often see the bigger picture. They are very knowledgeable on certain subjects; more so than councillors or the public. But what of the "silent majority's" input? The editor's concern is its apathy. Why didn't they attend the open house forum to express their concerns? Did they know of the meetings? Did they know the choices? Maybe they thought it was a "no-brainer" and that the council they elected would be giving good leadership as they have done in the past. Not everyone has the time to go to these meetings-- that's why they elected these councillors to make these decisions for them not for the "special interest groups", whose input is often worthy but not necessarily to be used. As the council and mayor are like the board of directors and chairman elected by the shareholders of a corporation (electors), the electors trust council to do the right thing. But council didn't listen to the Main St. core; they listened to a very small sampling of possible outside users of the downtown. We have a population of about 50,000 people in Halton Hills, and so 60 outside core users in favour of keeping the median will drive this million dollar project. Council must know that this sampling was too small and flawed and should have therefore done what they were elected to do for this community-- use foresight and insight to protect, promote and save this community and to show leadership and courage. However, if council should decide they erred, it still can be changed. People can make wrong decisions with the information they have and can change their minds if they think new information or redirection will result in a more beneficial outcome. I say to the council, do the right thing. You saw the consultant's recommendations, and many councillors agreed in the beginning but changed their minds for what they thought was being fair with 60 people. But being fair with a few is not being fair with the electorate and the future of downtown Georgetown. Hopefully the electorate will show this on voting day in November. The issue is not dead. David Harley, Georgetown