To the Editor,
I never would have guessed that a hot dog stand would cause such a furor for Mr. McPherson. The Evanson’s should be commended for attempting to boost tourist trade. Entrepreneurial endeavours should be applauded not stymied by one councillor’s bureaucratic rhetoric.
Mr. McPherson does highlight some valid reasons to be concerned about the establishment of a hot dog vendor in downtown Meaford. It is true we have restaurants, but perhaps some patrons would opt to sit outside and admire the town of Meaford while eating a hot dog.
Plus, there is the added bonus of less strain on our resources. No glasses, plates or cutlery will need to be washed, and lighting and temperature control is unnecessary in an outdoor venue of this nature. Garbage receptacles are easily purchased and I am sure this vendor has taken disposal of refuse into account.
Mr. McPherson also makes a point regarding no mechanism for vendor contribution to the town tax base. Surely, this could be addressed by council and a fee schedule developed for street vendors.
However, Mr. McPherson went a little over the top declaring hot dogs were not a healthy food for our consumption. He is not responsible for nor can he dictate what food I choose to consume.
I would suggest that his statement “do we as a municipality wish to allow vendors of all sorts occupying our green spaces and selling goods on municipal property?” is a fear mongering tactic to get his way on an issue with which he disagrees. I am at a loss why he would state that this one vendor is going to be the impetus for multitudes of vendors to descend on our small town. Have I missed something? I was unaware that Meaford has become such a tourist Mecca that it would support all these street vendors. Also if tourist visits increase because a hot dog or ice cream vendor are located at some of our tourist attractions isn’t that a good thing? Isn’t Mr. McPherson exaggerating just a little bit? Exactly what is Mr. McPherson afraid of – a little competition?
I am not sure why Mr. McPherson even asked the question regarding the Meaford Hall restrooms. Is Meaford Hall a publicly supported endeavour? If so, then why shouldn’t the public have access to the restrooms?
This is the second letter in which Mr. McPherson has listed the BIA as a decision maker for Meaford. I believe the BIA was started to assist with encouraging and improving business development in Meaford – not dictate or have a veto of what businesses are acceptable. The electorate of Meaford put a council in place for that purpose. I trust that council leads the decision making, taking recommendations not directives from an unelected group.
I am also amused that Mr. McPherson states that as a councillor he wants to develop a policy to address the establishment of vendor stands as to date none exists. Here is a man who doesn’t enforce the bylaws already in existence and yet he wants to put more rules in effect. In fact, he is the driving force in removing a bylaw at present as he has determined it to be the reason for a costly litigation. If the street vendors pursue litigation will he also revamp the policy so it doesn’t have to be enforced by council so as to save on litigation costs?
I get a pervading sense that this is not about the hot dog vendor but actually about the location the hot dog vendor has chosen for his hot dog stand. If the vendor had chosen another location further away for Mr. McPherson’s business perhaps this would not be so disturbing to him.
Sherry Snider, Meaford
