When our town staff and council make poor decisions, the consequences affect the public and the pockets of the taxpayers. 

When engineering reports are prepared addressing service issues and traffic on our roadways related to the controversial Parliament Oak hotel plan and there are “no liability” statements regarding the use or completeness of its recommendations, the public pays for any errors or omissions. 

Columnist Brian Marshall documented my concerns in his July 18 piece, “Concerns and costs around town’s infrastructure and stormwater management.”

When a council erodes historic designations regarding properties and land in our community, the public pays for the consequences. 

With the constant issuance of minor variances that change the historic look and nature of our Old Town, the public and our town suffer the consequences. 

When we hire staff and elect councillors and a lord mayor, they must understand our community goals and objectives as set out in our official plan and zoning bylaws. 

It appears that there is no commitment from our council to protect public interest, nor our extensive historical status and our unique community features. 

The question remains: why is this happening in NOTL, a town that has worldwide acknowledgement of its history and its architectural assets, a town that played a major role in the formation of Canada?

We live in a special place that needs care and our attention in order to retain our town and community as a national historic visiting place for the world.

We have been gifted a special place on this Earth that needs care and preservation. Our focus should be that and that only.

With the direction that is being provided by staff and council, we are about to “fall off the cliff.”

Richard Connelly
NOTL