Dear Editor:
It would be helpful in civil discourse to be careful not to degrade the discussion by accusing a group of people of wrongdoing or selfish intent without evidence.
The increased tax rate in Centre Wellington has many people accusing our politicians and township staff of thoughtlessness, and meanness. If we do have evidence of wrongdoing then let the cannons fly, otherwise, as citizens, we have a duty to be informed and aware of the new challenges that face our governing bodies.
Dave Bittorf (‘Wasting’ tax dollars, Jan. 4) needs to realize our staff in Centre Wellington make decisions based on data and studies, not personal observations. You can contact them and they will share with you the data they have collected as they try to slow vehicles down by using street calming measures.
However, Bittorf may be right, the speed of cars is not coming down as much as it should so I hope they continue to add more street calming measures. Street calming infrastructure is much cheaper and more effective than paying for police enforcement.
To be clear, we need to challenge our township staff and elected officials over monetary items. We need to take an active role in creating the healthiest, happiest community we can by speaking up (I delegated in front of council questioning the necessity of some of their budgetary items).
One thing, however, we should not do, is use our opinions as justifications for tossing in zingers such as: “spend other people’s money without giving it a second thought”, or “Centre Wellington (staff? council?) sure doesn’t care about their citizens.” When you say things like that, you are hurting a lot of hard-working and caring individuals, and that’s not right or helpful.
John Scott,
Elora