No Debates, No Comments, No Replies, No Public Meetings, No Transparency
OPINION:
Mayor Bifolchi is not displaying the transparency she promised in her 2018 election campaign. In fact, there is a cloak of secrecy around the Beachfront Redevelopment project. The mayor has refused to answer Taxpayers' questions directly or to hold public meetings on the project. Mayor Bifolchi is acting in a manner that suggests she does not care about Taxpayers' concerns. She seems to believe that, since she won an election, she was given carte-blanche to make all decisions without any input. We believe that is simply not true.
FACT:DEBATES
Mayor Bifolchi has stated that she will not participate in candidate meetings that are organized by supporters of her opponents. She also stated, "...you will not see me in a political debate." She will attend the Chamber of Commerce All Candidates Meeting held at the RecPlex. Presumably, she will be represented there by an empty chair, should any debate be attempted.
FACT:PUBLIC MEETINGS ABOUT BEACHFRONT REDEVELOPMENT
A resounding 95% of respondents to a WBRA survey, and validated by a scientific poll, said they wanted public meetings to be held BEFORE the sale of the taxpayer-owned
beachfront properties. Mayor Bifolchi has not held any public engagement meeting on the sale of the beachfront properties to Bayloc Developments or Slate Management before that.
FACT:COFFEE WITH COUNCIL
The mayor attended Coffee with Council on April 30, 2022, at the Recplex. Mayor Bifolchi walked away from a number of taxpayers waiting in line to ask her questions.
FACT: SOCIAL MEDIA/PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT Comments were shut off on the town's Facebook page in October 2021. The announcement posted on the Town's website was vague and not specific in what comments they determined to be hate/bullying. It suggested people leave comments on their Let's Talk Wasaga public engagement platform. However, access there is limited to the topics they choose to post and comments are closed after a period of time. There is no ability to comment on the impending sale of the town-owned beachfront properties. The temporary block of comments on their Facebook posts remains in place.
FACT: EMAIL
Mayor Bifolchi continues to suggest taxpayers call or email with their concerns, however, two email letters were sent to the mayor, one on April 9th and the second on May 8th, on behalf of the hundreds of survey respondents requesting public meetings. At the time of this posting, NO response has been received from the mayor or any other council or staff member.
We are a growing group of Wasaga Beach taxpayers and residents,
with a priority on the best interests of our Town's future.
Our Mayor and Council work for us!
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