Brighton council briefs

AUDITORS REPORT

The Municipality of Brighton is in good financial shape.

Brighton council saw an auditor’s report at its meeting last night detailing its finances to the end of 2019.

However, Mayor Brian Ostrander says the COVID-19 pandemic could cause the economy to be shaky in the near future and he’s hoping council will be cautious deciding on infrastructure spending going forward.

“Is this the time to be doubling down on an operational issue or should we be holding off on that for a little while? Those are the kinds of questions
I’ll be asking council to consider.”

Budget meetings for Brighton council will begin soon.

DEVELOPMENT CHARGES AND ARENA ICE TIME

Development charges on new construction in the Municipality of Brighton are going up. Yesterday Brighton council voted to increase development charges by 2.6 %.

This means a new single family or semi-detached home in urban Brighton will increase from $10,264 to $10,530.

In other Brighton council news, September 28 will be the day the ice at King Edward Park arena will be available for public use if the pandemic situation doesn’t take a turn for the worse.

MUNICIPAL LOGO/CREST

Soon the Municipality of Brighton will join many other communities and will be able to give away or sell items such as flags, or golf shirts that carry its official crest or logo.

Mayor Brian Ostrander said he recently wanted to give away municipal flags to residents to display on Canada Day.

“… and I discovered we couldn’t just order them and sell them at cost or whatever we wanted to do because we have this policy that says thou shall not so I said well let’s change the policy (chuckles).”

A staff report on exactly how a logo/crest policy might be put in place will come to Brighton council at a future meeting.

SHORT TERM RENTALS

Brighton council will be investigating regulating short term rental accommodations such as Airbnbs in the future.

Mayor Brian Ostrander says due to the pandemic lockdown it’s become obvious to many that there are more Airbnbs operating in Brighton than was realized.

The mayor says it’s time to have a good look at the issue.

“If Brighton is to attract a commercial hotel or motel that pays commercial taxes, is it fair that we permit without regulation these kinds of short term rental accommodations?”

Ostrander also says the proliferation of short term rentals is likely interfering in the supply of much needed long term rental accommodations in Brighton and area.

A staff report on the issue will come to council soon.

SANTA CLAUS PARADE

If you’re someone involved in organizing a community’s Santa Claus parade, the summertime is not too early to start thinking about it and a committee in Brighton is doing just that.

Mayor of Brighton Brian Ostrander says it’s believed that because of the pandemic large crowds such as those common at parades won’t be allowed so it’s time to think outside the box.

The Community Events and Civic Awards Committee has some ideas for alternative ways to celebrate and will present a report to council in the near future.

Brighton’s Santa Claus Parade normally runs in mid-November.