More pictures…

]]> http://www.trefann.org/2008/07/14/suwadosh-picnic3/feed/ http://www.trefann.org/2008/06/23/longtime-school-crossing-guard-retires/ http://www.trefann.org/2008/06/23/longtime-school-crossing-guard-retires/#comments Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:38:27 +0000 Bill general http://www.trefann.org/2008/06/24/longtime-school-crossing-guard-retires/ It is with mixed feelings (1 part ‘happy for her’ + 1 part ’sad for us’) that we say “Happy Retirement” to a wonderful individual in our neighbourhood. Crossing Guard Anne is leaving her post, (held for more than 30 years!) and moving on to her well-earned life of leisure.

Throughout the years, Anne has ALWAYS been a safeguard for the children, a friendly morning greeter to the adults and a comfort to all whoever crossed paths with her. So…

We bid a fond farewell and nothing but kind and warm wishes to go with you.

With the hearfelt thanks of 3 generations of Trefranners…Happy Retirement Anne! You will be missed!

If anyone has any questions, comments and/or concerns, please feel free to contact any member of the Steering Committee.

Toronto Police Service
51 Division
51 Parliament Street
Toronto, Ontario

Attention: Superintendent

Re: Community Police Liaison Committee (the “CPLC”)

It is with regret that the Trefann Court Residents Association (“TCRA”), a founding member of the 51 Division CPLC, has determined that the TCRA is withdrawing its membership in the CPLC effective immediately. A resolution to withdraw from the CPLC was passed at the last meeting of the Steering Committee

The TCRA Steering Committee has concerns that the CPLC appears to openly endorse the Toronto Drug Strategy without proper discussion and without any input being obtained from the organizations that make up the CPLC. Advancing the Drug Strategy is not among the stated goals or objectives of the CPLC and, in our view, the Toronto Drug Strategy will have a material negative impact on our community.

The TCRA Steering Committee is also frustrated with the apparent unwillingness of the CPLC to discuss and address drug-related issues. These issues are, in the view of the TCRA’s Steering Committee, of fundamental importance to our community and should be addressed by the CPLC. The CPLC should exist to address all of the concerns of the member organizations such as the TCRA and no issues, no matter how political, should be “off the table”.

The effectiveness of the CPLC has, historically, resulted from taking a proactive approach to issues and concerns facing the community and the open discussion of all issues raised by member organizations. Where issues as fundamental as drugs and the impact that they have on our community are “off the table” it is impossible, in our view, to work together in identifying, prioritizing and problem solving of local policing issues, or be proactive in community relations and crime prevention ­ two of the fundamental objectives of the CPLC.

We are also concerned that TCRA’s representatives on the CPLC have reported that the “official” minutes of meetings of the CPLC meetings might not accurately and fully reflect the discussion at CPLC meetings. The minutes of CPLC meetings must accurately reflect all discussions at the meetings and no individual should control what is reflected in the minutes of CPLC meetings.

” Because of Provincial legislation, the City cannot simply remove the cost of solid waste from the property tax bill (which would greatly simplify things). Instead, every year on the water bill, every household - regardless of the size of the bin - will receive a $209 rebate. This is the cost of solid waste. Next on the water bill will be the user fee. For those who use the small bin, that user fee is $199/year, which will result in a net rebate of $10/year. For those who require the medium bin, the user fee is $248/year, resulting in a net cost of $39/year, and so on.

Every year, you will see on your water bill a rebate and then the user fee charge. Like any other user fee, these will likely be reviewed every year during the operating budget process. If, at some future date, the province amends legislation to allow municipalities to remove the cost of services from property tax bills, you would likely no longer see the rebate on your water bill but on your property taxes. “

TCRA is registered with the City of Toronto to help clean up Stinky’s Park on Saturday April 19th and/or Sunday April 20th.

For all of you interested in our yearly clean up, just join us at Stinky’s on Saturday and/or Sunday from 1pm on. Bring some rakes if you have them, cold drinks to share and most importantly: yourselves. This is the time we start our Pot-Luck Picnic planning so come on down to give us your ideas. If you cannot join in, you are always welcome to donate YARD WASTE bags.

To ensure exceptions to the unwieldy and unpopular big bins are applied consistently, wouldn’t a published set of criteria help? Something like this:

Such written criteria would provide all residents with the same guidelines to follow, and reassure residents that the City is not imposing an unrealistic amount of extra hardship on some residents, to accommodate these bins. But the city won’t share its criteria, opting instead for an expensive and subjective process: requiring that a City Solid Waste employee representative conduct a site visit for every resident requesting an exception to the bins.