59 Carden St.

Another visit to the taxpayer-funded trough

Oh, those wacky Wellington County officials and their bottomless wallets.

Just 13 days after approximately 150 county politicians, staff and guests enjoyed a catered lunch and open bar reception at the River Run Centre -- minutes after Warden Joanne Ross-Zuj claimed staff were "scrambling" to deal with the recession -- they're at it again.

A host of politicians and staff were invited to the grand opening this morning of the Rae Bridge on County Road 16 near Belwood. Following the official opening, a reception was planned at the posh Breadalbane Inn in downtown Fergus.

Well played, Mr. McCaughan

One of my favourite lines from Tuesday's budget meeting, but which did not find its way into today's story, came from Operations director Derek McCaughan.

Councillors decided to maintain winter sidewalk plowing, and asked McCaughan to find the $100,000 in his department's budget to cover it.

When Coun. Karl Wettstein suggested McCaughan had volunteered to do so, the ops boss replied, "If council directs me, then I volunteer."

Some budget highlights

Here are a few highlights from the 2010 budget passed Tuesday night:

- 29 full-time positions to be eliminated

- all staff to have five unpaid days during 2010

- sidewalk snow plowing to continue

- Guelph Transit passes to increase five per cent; 25 cents for cash customers

- U of G bus pass will continue

- statutory holiday bus service discontinued

- Evergreen dining room to remain open

- Free metered downtown parking to continue

- no cuts to community or neighbourhood grants

- east end library branch opening delayed until June

- city will continue funding summer day camps

I found it a little surprising Bob Bell and Kathleen Farrelly, the two councillors for Ward 1 -- which obviously includes the downtown -- each voted to end free two-hour parking which is hailed by some downtown businesses as one of the key things keeping them afloat. In fairness, Bell and Farrelly each indicated they are opposed to free on-street parking, and would prefer parking in lots to be free.

I was also surprised, though not as surprised as Gloria Kovach, that she could not get anyone to second a motion asking that councillors approve contract hires, with the exception of those hired to work on council-approved projects or to fill in for someone on parental leave.

Kovach noted there have been instances in the past in which councillors have refused to hire for a certain position, only to later see that position filled by someone working for the city on contract.

"I'm just stunned this council would support contracting out," Kovach said when her motion appeared to fall on deaf ears.

Three point six six

City councillors have approved a 3.66 per cent tax increase for 2010. On a home valued at $258,000 this will mean an annual increase of $102.

I'm on deadline, and will try to post a few more details after I've filed my stories. We will, of course, have full details in tomorrow's paper.

We've reached a milestone

Sometime over the weekend, this blog registered its 100,000th visit. I had noticed about a week ago that milestone was approaching, but only noticed today we had surpassed it (100,874 at the time of this posting)

I'm sure the true traffic number is likely higher than that, since 59 Carden was around for a few months before my former colleague Magda Konieczna -- who set up this blog along with Laura Thompson -- installed the official counter thingy that tracks visits.

Either way, thanks to all who have stopped by and left a thought or two -- or a thousand -- and please keep it up.

Here's that first posting, from way back in October, 2007:

Welcome

Posted by Magda
Welcome to the Mercury's brand new blog. Laura and I will be posting city hall tidbits as they happen. We encourage you to get involved in the discussion. Let us know what you think by posting comments, and please email us with ideas.
Happy reading!

Posted by Magda
Welcome to the Mercury's brand new blog. Laura and I will be posting city hall tidbits as they happen. We encourage you to get involved in the discussion. Let us know what you think by posting comments, and please email us with ideas.
Happy reading!

The assault on your wallet has begun

As city councillors get set to debate and, hopefully, pass the 2010 budget tonight, you are already a little lighter in your pocket.

Council last night approved a 10 per cent hike in water and wastewater rates. For the average homeowner, that will mean a jump from $643 to $710 annually.

Councillors will meet tonight at 6 p.m. to determine how much more you will pay next year.

Olympic torch coming through Guelph

Guelph will get a brief dose of Olympic fever three days after Christmas, when the Olympic Flame makes its way through the Royal City.

There will be a series of "rolling roadblocks" that morning as the convoy of torchbearer shuttles, media vehicles, support vehicles and police cruisers makes its way through the city.

The Guelph leg of the torch relay is expected to begin about 7:30 a.m. on Paisley Road, near Heath Road. From there it will head downtown, loop around Macdonell, Wilson and Carden streets and then head along Wyndham Street and up Eramosa Road, reaching the city limits about 8:30 a.m.

For more on the route, click here

Goodbye, Mr. Ferris

Long-time Mercury readers will be quite familiar with veteran journalist Al Ferris, who covered a wide range of beats here and wrote a popular weekly column -- Ferris Fare -- until his departure from the newspaper three years ago.

Al passed away Tuesday night. He had been wrestling with Alzheimer's disease for some time.

We're just learning some details this evening, and will have a story about Al's passing in the paper later this week.

Visitation and funeral details can be found here

A little too close to the issue?

Earlier this week, city councillors endorsed some changes to the intersection at St. George's Square which are intended to help downtown businesses struggling with the recession and ongoing construction.

But I wonder if one councillor might not be a little to close for comfort.

Ian Findlay, owner of Thomas Entertainment on Baker Street, has become the champion of downtown in general, and this issue in particular. In fact, on Monday night after councillors heard from one business owner about the impact construction is having on his business, Findlay echoed those sentiments and then made a motion endorsing the recommended changes to the intersection.

I won't pretend to be an expert in municipal conflict of interest, but it would seem council motions designed to put more money in the pockets of downtown business owners should be made by someone other than a downtown business owner.

It's perhaps not unlike Coun. Bob Bell, who makes his living building bicycle trailers, championing more bicycle lanes throughout the city.

38 delegations, no waiting

I'm back already from city council's public delegations night, where 38 people addressed council on a wide range of topics related to the 2010 budget deliberations.

The meeting was finished in about 3 1/2 hours, including a 10-minute break.

City staff will spend the rest of this week answering queestions posed by councillors following many of the presentations, and council will reconvene next Tuesday night to debate, and possibly pass, the tax-supported budget.

We'll have a couple of stories in the paper tomorrow about what went on tonight.