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Opening comments: More at the end. The Mississauga News showing its bias again towards those who stand up for the community.
The Mississauga News - May 11, 1988 Clarkson BIA After nearly three years of internal bickering over the viability of the Clarkson BIA, the principals involved have turned the whole matter into little more than a popularity contest, while the real issues remain unresolved. If, as the two main players - BIA president Ted Biss and vice-president Pat Pleich - insist, the real issue is what's best for Clarkson, they'd be wise to resist the impulse to take things personally and invest in a little objective problem-solving. Operated efficiently, with input from a majority of members, BIAs have proven to be very effective tools in improving local shopping districts.
Certainly, the BIAs in Streetsville and Port Credit have had a positive effect on their communities, from both the merchants' and area residents' perspectives. Pleich, whose main concern appears to be lack of involvement from Clarkson BIA members, which has resulted in a small minority making commitments for the majority, has set her sights on the wrong target. If anybody's to blame for lopsided representation on the BIA executive, it's the membership. While Ted Biss may not have gone out of his way to invite the participation of all members, their involvement - or lack of it - remains their responsibility. Pleich has complained that notice of meetings is poor, if not non-existent, denying the majority of members the right to attend and become involved. Hogwash. Anyone who is really interested in what the BIA is doing should make it a priority to find out when meetings are held, a simple enough venture when Biss' telephone number is easily found in the telephone book. Already, cloudy issues are being further muddied by the meddling of the Freedom Party, which has embarked on a province- wide campaign to quash BIAs. A newsletter circulated last month to local merchants accused the BIA of many sins against its members, mostly unfounded. While the past three years have been filled with charges and counter-charges, name-calling and reputation-battering between two of the most long-standing business people in Clarkson, one thing remains eminently clear. Control of the Clarkson BIA lies in the hands of its embers, or at least those who choose to exercise their rights of membership and become active participants. If the majority of members don't like what's going on, they have the power to change the direction of the organization. And if the detractors are in the minority, well, that's democracy.
[COMMENTS BY DON B. - ] |