Happy New Year everyone! I hope you had a safe and relaxing holiday season as we said goodbye to a very unusual and challenging year. Looking ahead to a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, there’s a welcome sense of hope that our renewed stores of resiliency will carry us through the coming months. The first COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Ontario, and a small shipment is expected in Grey-Bruce towards the end of January. So let’s continue wearing masks, washing our hands frequently, and watching our distance. This will ensure we reach the finish line with minimal impacts to the health and safety of our community. These simple rules have become second nature to us all, and have been proven effective. By sticking with them, we can look forward to spending next Christmas with our friends and families around the dinner table instead of around a zoom gathering on the computer.

 BarbWith the Provincewide Shutdown until January 23, our Municipal services have been adjusted to keep our staff and the public safe. The first Council meeting of the new year will be held virtually once again, with members of Council and staff logging in remotely. As usual the meeting will be livestreamed on Youtube. We welcome you to tune in, and stay informed as we discuss the 2021 Municipal budget, upcoming infrastructure projects, and planning matters. To see the agenda, please visit our Council portal at meaford.civicweb.net.

Our facilities and Administrative Office are closed to the public for the duration of the shutdown. A skeleton staff is onsite but most are working remotely to continue to offer services, respond to inquiries, and to work on upcoming projects. We will be holding Public Information Centres for infrastructure projects virtually for the time being to keep important work on our roads, bridges, parks, and water infrastructure moving forward. Appointments may be made with staff for urgent service requests, but we ask that you reach out to us online and by phone wherever possible to limit that risk. For more information on changes to our services visit meaford.ca/openandclosed, or give us a call at 519-538-1060.

As we make our way through the weeks and months to come, I know our community will continue to show the patience, kindness and caring that makes our community such a warm and welcoming place.

Stay well everyone!

Mayor Barb Clumpus
Municipality of Meaford