COMMUNITY NEWS Council Briefs – a quick look at the last Council meeting

By Casandra Turnbull

A lot can happen during a County of Brant Council meeting. Important topics regarding decisions made affecting your community take place within council chambers.

When I started my journalism career, about 20 years ago, a reporter would sit through the entire meeting, sometimes 5 hours long like the case this past week, just to hear a few stories of particular interest. The newspaper’s eyes and ears were vital in small communities to give residents the important details and decisions made at council. While news outlets continue to play that vital role today, access to this type of information is available within a few clicks

All council and committee meetings are recorded and uploaded to YouTube (here). Council agendas (here), including any files pertinent to the delegations at the meeting, are uploaded to the County’s website. Keeping your own eyes and ears on council has never been easier. Seeing firsthand the accountability of your elected officials and how the county operates is available to you from the comfort of your own home

Bookmark these links and follow what’s happening in the community – it comes as less of a shock when important decisions are made, if you follow it yourself as opposed to hearing about the outcome when it’s too late to weigh in.

Understandable life is busy. We can’t attend (albeit virtually) every meeting. Sometimes a brief synopsis keeps us in the loop of what’s happening So, here’s a look at some of the items discussed during the November 28th , council meeting. Find the full video here.

Veteran Street Naming

If you’re new to town, say within the last 20 years even, you might not know the full story behind how some street names are assigned in town In 2005, Paris resident Pansy Allison (deceased) gathered a petition with over 600 signatures to name streets in a new subdivision after local war veterans.

Councill agreed passing a motion that 75% of all streets in new subdivisions honour veterans and fallen soldiers. The idea came to Allison while passing through another town, she told Cate Breaugh of the Paris Star back in 2005.

This past meeting, council read an email from local resident Ginny Moor to name a street after local veteran Henry Foster, while the 98year-old veteran has a chance to appreciate it. Henry was a Naval Veteran of the Second World Ward, one of very few still alive today. He faithfully attends every Remembrance Day Service at the Cenotaph and is a member of Branch 29 Paris Legion. Council supported the idea to add Henry Foster to the street naming list.

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Henry Foster (middle) lays a wreath during the Paris Remembrance Day service. He is one of the last remaining Second World War 2 veterans. A local street will be named after him. Also pictured is Donald Macleod