Dear editor,
I am intrigued with Jon Ambler's musings of late — I believe they are giving me clearer insight into this civic representative.
Yes, I voted for him with the little knowledge I had of him, thinking he would represent my views in governing our jurisdiction. Recent happenings have me now scratching my head about my decision to think Jon Ambler is somehow representing my views/opinions.
It is not just Mr. Ambler who supports the most recent topical issues that have been showcased in the local media (e.g. dedicating staff to the wooden bridge project and the need to make a motion to maximize Council participation in local government conferences).
Council generally has supported his motions.
Whether he likes it or not, he has become the face of encouraging the expenditure of hard-earned tax dollars on what is many of our taxpayers' opinion as being out of step with the times.
I feel I need to express my concern to Mr. Ambler and councillors who have supported his recent motions that given our current economic environment and priorities that I cannot agree that dedicating staff (ergo time and money) to an unlikely project (i.e. wooden bridge) and trumpeting the intent to encourage councillors to attend any and all local government conferences are prudent decisions at this time.
I believe most taxpayers in the Courtenay would agree that having a novel structure such as a wooden bridge (by the way, all the wood you would need for the construction of this bridge is lying on the Lerwick Park forest floor due to winter storms) strategically placed on our river would indeed be an enhancement.
However, not at this time and perhaps even if it were ever to come about that it be an initiative (with the wooden material provided by the city's own parks) of interested parties.
I object to any tax dollars being spent on this project at this time. In terms of the notion of encouraging local government conferences, what is the need to put that in the form of a motion? This move gives taxpayers the perception that Mr. Ambler is a spendthrift with little to no regard for these hard-earned tax dollars.
I do not dispute that our council should send representatives to selected conferences; however, this motion provides no more impetus to councillors to attend these conferences than they had prior to the motion — looks from a distance like a bit of grandstanding.
Larry Wenezenki,
Courtenay