Dear editor:

The opinion and editorial pages of The Lake Report on Feb. 12, pages 14 to 16, have a great deal to say about the lack of transparency and public input involved in the activities of this elected town council and unelected staff in its recomendations and decision-making process.

As a taxpaying resident of NOTL, while I am in agreement with your comments, I am not in agreement with the claims and opinions expressed by Mr. Ruller or Mr. Zalepa.

In fact, in my opinion (with the exception of two councillors), this town council is the worst council led by Mr. Zalepa, in terms of criticism, public input and the lack of transparency, that I have experienced in several years — and I believe that many other residents of NOTL would agree.

A couple of years ago, The Lake Report carried out a survey that gave results (again with the exception of two councillors) which were so low, even to the point of embarrassment, that clearly indicated that council, again, led by Mr. Zalepa, could not claim to be representatives of the electorate (“Mid-term approval rate for NOTL council is extremely low, survey finds,” June 27, 2024) — and it was suggested by this writer at the time that some of them should consider resigning.

Derek Collins
NOTL