Svob presentation to council

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_0PKejhg8Y0JcV4oA5lfxNBB3qwEBDbn/view

One page quick read

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bsAlxIbLAoyYqCfKfKqMSjWdRBHZgmbN/view

Here is the link to the audio/video recording

June 10 Pelham Council meeting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVTGOD9TCKo

Time stamp from 55:30 to 1:21;35

June 10, 2026

Presented our feedback to the town council this morning. I was allotted 5 minutes to present but the discussions continued for a while. 

I am well convinced that council members, the Mayor, and town staff reviewed the entire 20-page feedback document. They have heard your voices via this process and in the feedback, you submitted directly to the town. It was stated that they have never received this much feedback for a public project before.

Unfortunately, the small teams concept is not going over well with town staff or David Cribbs. Mr. Cribbs answered a question from the Mayor late in the dialogue. He stated that no public works project ever had community involvement like what was being requested. They can't execute engineering and project management with the public involved. Well David totally missed the point here.

We are not interested in managing the project engineering, logistics or any other similar details that need addressing. I stated again for at least the second or third time that we want more engagement (small teams) to help set requirements. 

The Mayor gave me an opportunity to retort to Mr. Cribbs' statement. You have to talk to your customers (read residents) to understand and agree upon requirements. That's what I thought we were doing here. If not, it should be. 

Also stated that we need to set the date/time/place for the second public meeting well in advance to allow residents to arrange to be there. I asked for a summer date, before the fall, to hold this second public meeting. If they do not want to engage us in small teams earlier then this second public meeting will be of utmost importance. It may be your last chance to know what the town wants to do and respond. 

I am getting somewhat concerned the town may push this second public meeting past the election date to avoid it becoming an election issue. It's such a critical milestone in project management that you can't let it float undefined like this. 

Update:  Town may schedule second public meeting for August 11

I decided to run for council for these reasons amongst others:

My most recent property tax bill and another large percentage increase (6.7%).  This is far in excess of inflation.  It is also years away from the justification of covid and supply chain issues.  Looking at recent trends you have to wonder if our municipal and regional governments are in control.  This got me researching Town financial publications.  Fundamental financial management controls seem to be lacking at the Council level based on the public documents.  Where is the town performance review comparing actuals to budget spending?   I see budget to budget reviews which do not effectively bring the spot light on issues and are much easier to allow budget padding.  The Council needs to be more aggressive in asking for core explanations to the financial performance of the Municipality and to demand better financial performance.   I have decades overseeing budget developments, financial performance reviews, and cost containment.

 Time for a voice of restraint and cost improvement.  See the “Numbers to Know” page

My experiences with the 29/31Emmett Street housing project.   I am disappointed with the approach and position of the Mayor, our Ward 2 councillors and Town staff.   The behaviour of many residents is also rightfully subject to criticism.    At the very beginning of the construction, it was evident to residents that the town did not appropriately apply new provincial legislation correctly.   Instead of addressing the issue quickly to minimize costs the Town doubled down on its position only to change it four months later and then again almost a year later.  Eventually ending in the place residents felt they should have been from day one.   Much chaos could have been avoided if the Town would have realized its position was incorrect to begin with.   Once the issue became more heated it would have been good to have our leaders, the Mayor and Councillors perform some outreach with residents, outside of the formal council chambers, to improve the situation.   The interests of local residents were not well considered and to some degree marginalized.   Of note the Town in late winter 2026 had modified its bylaws to address a few of the more serious concerns resident have on a go forward basis.

 Please read my blog on the subject.  See my “Fold” blog

The College Street, Emmet Street Reconstruction project.   The first public information session introducing the project to residents was underwhelming.   This along with the insufficient time from invite to the meeting prevented many College and Emmett St residents from attending.   Some residents left the meeting with conflicting answers to questioned posed.   The residents organized, held a public meeting,  and provided the Town a great deal of feedback which included improvement ideas and a request to work together on a few subjects of importance to the residents.   This request was rejected publicly by our CAO who appears to want to be prescriptive instead of conciliatory.  Why work with residents if we can just do what we deem best!   We are still on this Reconstruction project journey but it has become clear to me that Town staff could use direction in these sorts of situations.  This can only be done by the Mayor taking advice from Council members.  I want to be on the Council to provide such advice to the Mayor.  See my Reconstruction Blog