Editor:
To Mr. Earl and Mayor Sorensen
This morning (Monday) I learned that town officials scheduled a meeting on Dec. 16 to discuss pay parking.
I am surprised that Alanna Pettigrew was not invited to this meeting. Alanna told me a few minutes ago that she would like to attend.
It seems to me that it would be wise to involve the individual responsible for initiating the successful anti-paid parking petition at this, and future, meetings.
Generally the exchange of ideas between opponents and proponents of any given idea can have beneficial results for both parties.
I am also surprised that you did not accept Ian Mackie’s offer (made at the July 21/14 council meeting) to serve on a parking committee. As quoted from that meeting: “Mr. Mackie expressed interest in serving on a public committee to consider parking options.” No doubt you are aware that Mr. Mackie has extensive experience working with government agencies.
Mr. Dave Watson, at that same meeting, also expressed a desire to participate in such a meeting.
I am also disappointed, but not surprised, that I was not invited to participate in these meetings. As recorded in the same July 21/14 council meeting minutes: “Mr. Whalen (sic) would like a public committee to be established to consider parking initiatives and would be interested in serving on the committee.”
Given that only a handpicked few, all of whom I suspect are supporters of paid parking, have been invited to the Dec. 16 meeting it seems reasonable to believe that it is the intent of council and administration to implement pay parking during 2015.
I suggest that the exclusion of opponents of pay parking will quite likely result in the circulation of another anti-pay parking petition.
I can assure you that this time we will not make the same mistakes that Mr. Earl claimed (and I emphasize the word “claimed” – more on that in the near future) we did during the circulation of this past summer’s anti-pay parking petition.
I look forward to receiving your response to the above.
Jon Whelan,
Banff
