Cobourg News Blog – Page 65 – Cobourg News with comments

Parking and Transit back to normal – almost

5 January 2021 John Draper

At the Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, Cobourg Council voted to start collecting parking fees downtown once the Provincial lockdown is over – currently scheduled for January 23. They also voted to start collecting Transit fares and resume normal hours January 26. With free parking, staff have observed that many spaces that would otherwise be used by shoppers are likely occupied by “people who have continued to work in the downtown area or are residents of the residential units above the many storefronts”. Although parking is free, other restrictions are still being enforced – these include tickets for parking in “no-parking” areas or in front of Fire Hydrants etc. For Transit, a significant issue is the continued closure… Read complete articleParking and Transit back to normal – almost

Council Asked to Approve Land Sale

3 January 20214 January 2021 John Draper

A growing business wants to come to Cobourg – Brock Street Brewery wants to buy four acres in Lucas Point Industrial Park to build a canning plant. It will can ready to drink vodka soda’s and gin cocktails and possibly also its current beer product. Based in Whitby, they were founded in April 2015 and have been growing fast. Subject to approval of their building plans by Cobourg’s Planning Department, they want to initially build a 12,000 sq. ft. packaging facility that would be staffed by 25 to 35 employees. They expect a year later to expand in phases 2 and 3 by 18,000 sq. ft. then add two more buildings of 25,000 sq. ft. and 10,000 sq. ft. which… Read complete articleCouncil Asked to Approve Land Sale

Annual Review by Mayor Henderson

2 January 20212 January 2021 John Draper

On New Year’s Day in most years, the Mayor, Council and senior staff welcome citizens to a Levee event at Victoria Hall where everyone can mingle. But this year, the event was virtual although it featured the usual players: The Concert Band of Cobourg, Town Crier Mandy Robinson, Poet Laureate Jessica Outram and Mayor John Henderson. The main event was the Mayor’s review of the highlights of 2020 – and there were quite a number. John listed them grouped by Department with accompanying photos. The resulting video on You-Tube was “premiered” at noon on New Year’s day with about two dozen people watching it live. Others can now watch it on the Town’s You-Tube site or embedded below. Although John and the video production… Read complete articleAnnual Review by Mayor Henderson

Predictions for 2021 – Opinion

31 December 202031 December 2020 John Draper

Predictions by their nature are not facts – they are really opinions. I made no predictions this time last year for 2020 and the predictions for 2019 posted a year earlier got about 8 right out of 12. So take the predictions below with a grain of salt – except for death and taxes, the future is never certain. To predict what’s going to happen, the only facts you can rely on are what has happened up till now. So based on what I’ve seen in 2020, I think that in 2021 we can expect: Covid-19 Cobourg will go back to Yellow zone January 23 Most people in Cobourg will be able to get a vaccine shot by July. Most… Read complete articlePredictions for 2021 – Opinion

Draft Capital Budget for 2021

28 December 202028 December 2020 John Draper

Cobourg’s Capital budget is used to pay for items that produce or repair assets. The source of the money is indicated in the budget and is mostly not a direct charge to the taxpayer – instead, money comes from reserves (money put aside for the purpose), grants from the Provincial and Federal Governments, bank loans and other miscellaneous sources. The totals of these sources is not provided in the budget but can be determined by adding all the numbers – so I did that. See table below. The other interesting thing to know about the Capital budget is what it will be spent on. Many items are routine like vehicle replacements but others are Town improvements. Major and significant projects… Read complete articleDraft Capital Budget for 2021

Town’s Draft 2021 Operational Budget now online

26 December 202025 December 2020 John Draper

In this “in-between” time when there is not much news, I think we can afford the time to look at what the Council and staff have proposed as a budget for the coming year. Unlike the wish lists that were submitted earlier, the draft Operating and Capital budgets that were put online on December 22 seem intended to be realistic. Also unlike the wish lists, complete details have been provided (well almost). Omitted are personnel details although it would have been good if “head counts” were included so we can see if more or fewer people are employed. But sufficient detail is provided that sensible comments on the budget can be made – for example you can comment using the… Read complete articleTown’s Draft 2021 Operational Budget now online

Merry Christmas from Cobourg News Blog

23 December 202023 December 2020 John Draper

A year ago we had a “normal” Christmas and nobody imagined that 2020 would be such a disaster. But we now have light at the end of the tunnel with vaccines coming so even though Christmas for many will mean smaller family gatherings, we humans are a resourceful lot and we’ll still find a way to feel good at Christmas time. Alma and I are planning to join two others in our “bubble” at a Christmas lunch at a local restaurant and we have already had a small family Christmas lunch (two other family members). I know that some kind souls are offering to do similar things with individuals who live on their own. In the odd times I have… Read complete articleMerry Christmas from Cobourg News Blog