Community member addresses council over Terry Alyman's breach of the Parks & Recreation policy and procedure

Mr. Kirouac started off – “Through the Chair to council - first of all, let me congratulate the town for the great new signage at its parks and rec. facilities. They look great. I was a little surprised to see it being used for private commercial uses, but figured there was a good reason a commercial message was being displayed rather than a community one.

On May 3^rd I contacted Terry Alyman and asked about the town’s decision to endorse private businesses in Acton’s business improvement area. Now don’t get me wrong, after what this council did to turn Acton’s business improvement area into a ghost town, I feel the BIA members need all the help they can get. However, if you are going to allow private use of the board, you have to let the non-profit groups use it too, and in no way shape or form should you be discriminating against anyone who wants to use it.

After a lengthy discussion with Mr. Alyman, he had his assistant forward me the policies and procedures and a request form regarding the marquee signs. After clearly noting… “No requests from commercial outlets will be entertained.”, on May 6^th , we, the non-profit newsgroup - the Halton Herald.ca submitted request forms to the Acton arena and Mold-Masters Sports-Plex entering into an agreement to rent the marquee’s for a period of one week with the following message …

GO GREEN

VISIT

thehaltonherald

dot ca

The applications were reviewed by staff and accepted. Registered receipts were issued for the $80.00 fees from both facilities.

Mon., May 9^th the day the Herald’s message was suppose to be displayed on the Acton arena’s marquee, a message was left for me to contact Al Hague from the Town of Halton Hills.

On May 10^th I contacted Mr. Hague and was told the director of Parks and recreation, Terry Alyman, had contacted him, instructing him to contact and inform me that the town would not be honouring their agreement to display the Herald’s message on the marquee.

Of course I asked him if any reasons were given and he told me yes, Terry mentioned something about – “a conflict of interest, and something else about the police investigating town council”.

On May 13^th I finally got a hold of Terry Alyman and questioned his motives. He told me – “after reading about my involvement in the potential police investigation involving council, reported in the Star on May 6^th, he decided it was in the best interest of the town not to display the Herald’s message”.

The reason I’m here today is, first of all I want to know – what is the conflict of interest this council has with me or The Halton Herald, and what rights do you have to impose sanctions against different entities while allowing commercial use of the boards? I entered into an agreement, it was accepted, I paid. Now Mr. Alyman doesn’t think it should be displayed. Why? What is the purpose, what is the reason you do not want the Halton Herald displayed on the board? And that’s what I’m here for today,” said Mr. Kirouac

The Mayor asked if there were any questions