Council addresses community concerns and future initiatives
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
The North Hatley Council, led by Mayor Marcella Davis-Gerrish, convened on Aug. 5 to discuss various community initiatives and address residents’ concerns. The meeting, characterized by a strong sense of community engagement, tackled pressing issues related to parking, infrastructure, and local events.
Davis-Gerrish provided updates on community events, commending the volunteers who contributed to the success of recent activities. She highlighted the ongoing concerts at Dreamland Park, set to continue until the end of August, and praised the volunteers involved in the garage sale at the North Hatley Elementary School. The Mayor also noted that the Farmer’s Market would remain open until Oct. 12, and announced a garage sale at the Curling Club, along with an end-of-summer barbecue hosted by the North Hatley Recreation Society (NHRS).
During the first question period, residents raised several concerns and inquiries that reflected the community’s active participation in local governance. One resident expressed his involvement in the ALS march and sought clarification on event logistics, to which Davis-Gerrish responded, “We are working with them because there’s also a spring event between the two of us, but we are planning to take more steps and build more tents.”
Parking issues dominated the discussion, with multiple residents voicing their frustrations. One resident highlighted the lack of parking meters and enforcement, leading to revenue losses and inconvenience. “There’s a huge amount of money being lost every day from April through the fall. Where are the meters? Where’s the organization? When is it getting done?” she questioned.
