Interview with Mayor Jerry Acchione - October 1st 2024

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Tuesday, 1 October 2024 10:54

This week's council agenda includes the community grant recipients, a sponsorship agreement with Maglin, and a report from Parks and Rec that looks at the future of the Easter Egg Hunt.

WOODSTOCK - It's going to be a busy meeting for Woodstock City Council.

Several items will be brought to council this Thursday, including a report from the Parks and Rec Department.

Mayor Jerry Acchione says it looks at the future of the Easter Egg Hunt.

"They're talking about the possibility of not doing the Easter Egg Hunt anymore and introducing a new Fall Festival. They would be using the money that's been in that budget line for the Easter Egg Hunt, I think it's $14,000, and putting it towards something to spread out the events more throughout the year instead of it being so concentrated. Having something in the fall would be nice because we have a blank period from Cowapalooza up until the Santa Claus Parade."

The Parks and Rec Department is also recommending that Cultural Canvas will become part of Streetfest, instead of being its own stand-alone event.

Another big item on the agenda is a 25-year sponsorship agreement with Maglin Site Furniture. Mayor Acchione says it would benefit Maglin employees and other members of the community.

"They're proposing, and to benefit probably a lot of their staff I'll be honest with you, but also a lot of the community can use a trail around the storm sewer management pond that is out by their location. They're proposing it, so they want to make this trail and they're going to pay for it."

It would be called the Maglin Trail, and it would be at the end of Innovation Way.

City Council will also announce the community grant recipients for Fall 2024 this week.

Mayor Acchione says the Community Grants Committee distributes funds twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall, using funds from the Gateway Casinos location in Woodstock.

"In this case, they spent about $37,000 in community grants. They gave it out to many deserving including the Woodstock Scouts, Operation Sharing, Oxford County Community Health Centre, and the Woodstock Curling Club. There was a bunch of them that were successful."

The largest cheque is $10,000 and it's going to Operation Sharing.

Thursday's City Council meeting will begin at 1:30 p.m. and it will be livestreamed on the City of Woodstock YouTube page. You can also find the meeting agenda online here.

During his interview with Dan and Marcie this morning, Mayor Acchione also discussed the following:

- His recent trip to Washington D.C. as part of an art exchange. He also toured the White House and celebrated his 12th wedding anniversary with his wife Sarah.

- How he observed National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. He attended the sunrise ceremony at the Pittock Conservation Area and the march in Ingersoll.

- How the City is looking at provincial funding applications for recreation (sports) and infrastructure (roads and bridges).

- A proposal from Vuteq to purchase a portion of Keyes Drive so they can close it down. This would impact the stretch between Longworth Lane and 920 Keyes Drive.

- A sewer study Environmental Assessment on Warwick Drive, close to Winchester Street Public School.

You can listen to the full interview below: