Shelburne mayor Al Delany issued a news release this week informing media that, because the facilities at the Shelburne Marine Terminal were in need of repair, public access to the Government Wharf would be restricted to reduce "wear and tear". As the town wharf has been for decades a popular destination for many in and around Shelburne, some citizens are necessarily disturbed.
One SCT reader wrote " If it's that bad, should ANYONE be allowed to use it... big oil trucks?, big fish trucks? What are a few Sunday sight-seers going to harm? Another reader said, "Delaney's excuses for the closure are unconscionable and may be a sign of things to come."
The Shelburne Port Authority received $500,000 some years ago from the federal government for repairs to the wharf, but the repairs were never made and the funds remain idle in Town coffers. It is likely now that the increased degradation of the wharf will result in a repair bill in the several millions - well beyond the financial capability of struggling Town finances - and some knowlegable observers expect the wharf to remain off-limits to citizens for the forseeable future.
Recently, the Town announced the striking of a committee to produce a Tall Ships Festival event in July in coordination with the Tall Ships Nova Scotia / Waterfront Development Corporation operation and, in 2007, the Government Wharf was the primary location for the Festival.
Comments
For years citizens have enjoyed an evening view of the harbour.Delaney's excuses for the closure are unconscionable and may be a sign of things to come.
It is characteristic of the present council to seemingly look the other way!I would think that with all the woes of the town this would not be a time for playing games
with the emotions of those who elect mayors and vote them out.I do not reason for a moment that Delaney was ever voted in..... the other mayor was voted out! Theres a difference.Good people of Shelburne wake up and smell
the.............oh I dearly wish it was roses!!!In the
fall vote them ALL out!
May not be true, but I understand that town might be thinking of a new branding slogan: "If you think the problems here are messy... wait until you see our solutions."
The Dept of Health dropped the ball many years ago when it did not provide an immunization regime to prevent "POLITICAL APATHY".
Quick, pipe some oxygen into Mayor Delaney's ivory tower - the air is getting too thin up there - stupid is as stupid does.
From my vantage point, and seeing the virtual devolvement of managerial competence at Town Hall, I would venture that, in hindsight, this will be considered the "Golden Age" of the current administration.
Come on now, this must be a joke. $500,000 sitting there waiting to be spent on repairs and nothing happened. You people at town council and the mayor should QUIT Just walk out and QUIT ! Right now before they condem the wharf, then the Coast Guard can't tie up, The Clearwater fleet will move out. What is next with town office ?? We the people in pick-up trucks and small cars are not welcome to come down and do some fishing. This sounds like something really bad is about to happen. Do you people at town office have any brains at all ? Is the mayor qualified to make this call to stop people from using the wharf ? I don't think so, not from what I have seen. What good does it do to comment here anyway the MAYOR doesn't seem to care what you think, He will not comment here or in the newspaper
It is obvious that the Mayor surely is experiencing some sort of departure from reality.
If he had a council with any compassion for him,concern for the town or personal credibility then they
would find a way to pull in the reins of power! This gating up of public property without offering any
reasonable explanation is serious. Is the mayor mentally incompetent? The strongest of people can burn out. If he needs help he should be able to get it. Is there a dire danger on the site? Nothing adds up here! There is certainly an apparent lack of public accountability. We are not allowed access to any quantifiable indicators that should be part of the performance management process to determine by and large how well or poorly the town administration is doing. It is one thing to say that we can vote them all out in the fall but that is months away and what dreadful things may occur in the interim. Is it possible to disband the council and Municipal Affairs assume control of the town until the fall elections?
There seems to be an unbearable amount of stress on town employees. And this is quite natural consider all that they endured in these past months. The town is functioning at very low morale leveland this solely lies on the shoulders of the elected council and mayor. And where is the latest electe one.............................Funny how they seem to become invisible after the swearing in ceremony!!
I think everyone knows about this web site There is NEVER a comment from an elected official ?
Sure ,,,,,,,,,,,,,just close the biggest town owned property to cars and trucks $500,000 in limbo,,,, The town elected officials don't make any comment ?? What kind of a MAYOR is this ? REALLY ?
But wheres the council? Once again the checks and balances are not there!!!Sad enough these people think they are intelligent. Even more sad we allow them to get away with it!!! The elected officials are always silent here. But then look at what we elected!!!!!!
Come on elected officials speak up!You owe us that much!
Come on ONE councilor speak up and tell us how $500,000 just sat there,,,, when that money was supposed to go towards repairs,
ONE COMMENT
Hello elected ones! Wheres your mouth now? We are owed an explanation here!You could be liable for something here!
Think! We will not let you rest until you start doing your jobs!!!Mayor Delaney speak up! Who knows you may have a logical answer for all this cloak and dagger stuff!!By being silent the council the is condoning the Mayors actions!!Seems like another SWSDA!!!!!!!!!!!!
With the cone of silence down rumors are the order of the day.One is that the Mayor is ruling without informing the council on almost anything.They rubber stamp his wishes. If so ...why...who knows!!Another the $500,000 for the wharf has evaporated!!/?? Well which is it? Someone please speak up!!!Another is that neither the Mayor
or his council feel that they can not get re-elected so why show anyone any respect they are toast anyways!!! Yes,but why drag the town down with you the electors did not fail you ,you failed them............
How long will the town wharf be closed to the public ???