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CHAMBER NEWS: Dec. 1 2011
Roundtable format for Mayors’ Breakfast a Success!
(story by Luke Edwards, Niagara this Week)
Businesses in Port Colborne are upset with what they see as a lack of support to deal with vandals and unruly youth in the city.
That was one of the main messages that came from businesses Thursday when Port Colborne and Wainfleet mayors Vance Badawey and April Jeffs held their quarterly mayors’ breakfast with members of the Port Colborne-Wainfleet Chamber of Commerce.
The breakfast, held at the Guild Hall, featured a new roundtable discussion format that saw Chamber members bring up issues they see as affecting Port Colborne and Wainfleet.
“People don’t want to call the police anymore because there’s no action (when they do),” said Chamber member John Mayne, who owns a number of buildings downtown and said he’s frustrated with a lack of response when dealing with Niagara Regional Police.
Badawey urged business owners to not paint the youth of the city with a broad stroke.
“Yes we have bad apples, but they’re not all bad apples,” he said, noting that problems in the downtown and especially along West Street are not the result solely of youth.
He told Chamber members to phone both the NRP and the mayor’s office whenever an incident occurs. He also said business owners should request a constable to come out and investigate. The resulting documentation will give the staff sergeant backup when requesting more support for the city.
Staff Sergeant and district commander for Port Colborne and Wainfleet, Murray Haday, reiterated what Badawey said.
“The worst thing you can do, is not call,” he said, adding that the NRP has initiatives like increased night patrol in place to help the downtown.
He called vandalism and mischief in the city unacceptable and that his officers will do whatever they can.
“We take it very seriously,” he said.
Badawey also noted that youth are only hanging around areas like West Street because they’re bored.
“The response I get, from youth, is that they have nothing to do,” he said.
To help, he pointed out the skateboard park the city is currently working on, which could be in operation sometime next spring or summer. The health and wellness centre, when complete, will also give youth a place to go.
Also, depending on budget constraints, Badawey said the city is considering installing security cameras downtown to curb vandalism.
The find, repair, replace program in Wainfleet was also brought up. Jeffs told those in attendance that the township will be taking over Part 8 inspections, an Ontario Municipal Board requirement that had been the responsibility of the Region previously, within a month. She hopes the township will be able to begin their two-phase inspections of residential septic systems in the boil water advisory area next spring.
Jeffs noted that she was unsure if getting rid of the faulty septic systems will clean up the water around areas like Reebs Bay on Lake Erie.
“The major concern in public health was the aquifer,” she said. Cleaning the drinking water is the first priority, and only time will tell if the program will help water at the township’s beaches, she said.
The breakfast ended with Badawey proposing two questions to the Chamber. He asked the Chamber for their thoughts on the proposed Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce.
“Over my dead body, I’m not being the shortest president,” said Patti Stirling, eliciting a round of applause from the crowd. Stirling is set to become the president of the Port Colborne-Wainfleet Chamber, and said that local chambers provide great service to their members.
“Smaller chambers work hand-in-hand with businesses,” she said, noting that the GNCC would simply be a lobbying group. And while that has its place, not at the expense of what the smaller, local chambers can offer.
Badawey also asked those in attendance which community improvement plan they’d like to see implemented first. With limited resources, the city can’t afford to implement both the downtown CIP and the east/waterfront CIP at the same time.
There wasn’t a clear consensus on this issue. Some business owners said the downtown CIP should be done first, as it only makes sense to support business that is already in place. However, others were worried that tearing up the downtown when business is already suffering because of the economy wouldn’t be a good idea.
Gail Todd, owner of Something Else on West Street, also noted that next year will mark the bicentennial of the War of 1812, and it might not be the smartest idea to have the downtown ripped apart during that time.
Overall, Badawey said the new format worked well.
“It was a great opportunity to listen and get input,” he said afterward. As elected officials, he said politicians are constantly wondering what’s on the public’s mind.
And while he wasn’t surprised by the issues that arose, it was still a good chance to check the pulse of the area’s business community.
As is the case with each breakfast, the Chamber recognized a local business with the business of the quarter award. This quarter the award was presented to Tracy MacLeod, owner of Business Express Centre. Chamber president Mike Sloat and Robert Hesp, investment advisor at RBC Dominion Securities, presented her with the award.
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