Readers respond to letter about fate of Dr. Solomon Secord Monument

To the Editor:
RE: "Cowardice of the highest order"

I was just reading Eric Howald’s letter to the editor in the Kincardine Record, and I couldn’t agree more with his comments about the Dr. Solomon Secord Monument.

And I believe most of the Kincardine and area people also agree.

Great comments, Eric!

Thanks,
Lynn Farrell
Kincardine
 

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To the Editor:

Thank you, Eric, for speaking up. I totally agree with you on this issue.

I am tired of this council having to continually get a report or an outside facilitator, to make decisions that it should be capable of making, or have staff who are capable of advising on making a decision.

Enough is enough! I do not want my tax dollars to be wasted on nonsense like this.

Judi Brown
Kincardine taxpayer
 

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To the Editor:

Kincardine needs more taxpayers like Eric Howald.

I voted for people I thought would be strong and make decisions. Wrong again!

"Woke" rules in our indecisive management group. Is there a Dundas Street in Kincardine – possibly they can look into changing that to ...?

Please ask your chosen facilitator his opinion.

Clarke Pollock
Kincardine
 

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To the Editor:

I agree with Eric Howald when he quoted “cowardice” - a fine example of our municipal council!

We pay enough taxes, and voted this council in to make decisions on all, or most, of the items that come before it.

To hire a facilitator (at the taxpayers’ cost) to decide what to do with the Solomon Secord Monument is absolutely disgusting.

The whole council (including the staff who recommended hiring a facilitator) should resign or make a decision on this issue.

Kincardine council needs to have a backbone and make decisions on difficult situations and not put it on the backs of the taxpayer.

John Hill
Kincardine
 

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To the Editor:

Hello, Eric. Thank you for the feedback.

I have a somewhat different perspective. What you call cowardice I would call respect for all the parties involved.

I suggest that you re-read the staff report: pub-kincardine.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=27890

The recommendation is to hire someone to facilitate discussions on an emotionally-charged issue as you have not so eloquently demonstrated in your letter. It isn’t to have someone make a decision; and it isn’t solely about location.

If you feel that there is anyone on council or staff who is impartial on this and already has this skill set, I’m all ears. We’re not talking about a parks and recreation issue here.

One last note: The next time I’m in the Tim Hortons downtown in the morning for a coffee, feel free to come over and have a discussion with me about this or any issue. You’ve had numerous opportunities.

Thanks for the free advice. It’s about as useful and constructive as what was paid for it.

Regards,
Mike Hinchberger
Councillor-at-large
Municipality of Kincardine
 

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To the Editor:

Eric Howald is absolutely correct in saying “get rid of a garbage can and put the monument back where it belongs.”

The monument has been there for more years than the people who want to remove it have been a resident of our great town.

If we let council insist on trying to change history, we are not worthy of living here. Just take a look at the direction the council, the BIA and the Chamber of Commerce are going?

Council studies everything to death and doesn’t make a decision. The BIA does whatever it wants and the chamber makes people who don’t even live in Kincardine “citizen of the year.” I ask, does that make sense? Especially when the chamber does it two years in a row.

I’m seeing more and more what Bryan Edden was talking about and it wasn’t this bad when he was still with us.

I really don’t have an answer when you can’t keep up to all the bad moves this council has made but I hope someone comes up with a solution.

Dave Cuyler
Former Kincardine councillor
 

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To the Editor:

From what I’ve read about Dr. Solomon Secord, he was an abolitionist.

Let’s consider the entire history of his contributions. Perhaps an additional plaque placed on the monument, providing more contemporary context, may be a solution acceptable to both opponents and proponents.

Please don’t spend more tax dollars on studies and recommendations that are rarely implemented.

Silence from our community is not an option on this and other issues.

Neil Geoghegan
Kincardine
 

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To the Editor:

I am currently doing research on the deceased in Kincardine and surrounding areas between 1850 and early 1900s.

Dr. Solomon Secord provided care to so many of our pioneers.

Jacqueline Faubert
Kincardine
 

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To the Editor:

I find it offensive that Mr. Howald would make such libellous claims of cowardice against my fellow councillors.

Every single one of them appears on public display, recorded at the council table under full public scrutiny.

Each meeting, they demonstrate their competence and the courage of their convictions. Even those I may disagree with; I respect for being brave enough to step forward when the election call went out for community leadership.

I also have the privilege of sitting at a council table full of some very well-read and intelligent individuals. Any one of them could tell you about the history of the Secord monument.

What most of my fellow councillors couldn't tell you, is what it feels like to be a person of colour living in the only town in Canada with a monument that glorifies Confederate service. The motion Mr. Howald labels as “ineptitude” seeks to address this inequality.

Sincerely,
Rory Cavanagh
Councillor
Municipality of Kincardine