On January 28, Paul Dulmage said at Carleton Heritage that the town’s downtown area is slowly transitioning to service-based businesses from being retail-based. The statement was spoken by the mayor during the Business Improvement Association’s Annual General Meeting.

According to the Carleton Place Mayor, in his opinion, not all businesses will be able to handle the change.

There were about 60 members from the Carleton Place’s business sector who attended the meeting in order to hear about BIA’s progress last year and this year’s plans.

For this year, the BIA plans to embellish the town’s downtown with flowers and new lightings. They also plan to continue with their marketing and promotions by organizing events in order to attract both residents and outsiders. One of those events is the planned Free Comic Book Day in May, sponsored by Heroes Lounge and the BIA.

The evening’s mood changed its course when the discussion of the budget came up. Partners Advantage Real Estate representative, Ralph Shaw, said that he wanted more support regarding the repayment of the main street budget.

He said that the BIA should not be responsible for paying 25 percent of the budget as opposed to what has been agreed upon. According to Shaw, the town council should “step up” and realize the importance of improving Main Street.

Dennis Burn retorted by listing down some of the projects that the town has helped. Surprisingly, Paul Dulmage stepped in to offer his opinion. He said that it is not the government’s responsibility to create a healthy retail core.

Ultimately, the BIA’s budget was passed with a 3 percent increase by a 16-4 vote.

The 2nd district Police Services Board, which covers all of eastern Ontario, has elected the Carleton Place councillor, Dennis Burn, as its new head last January 15. Burn, who recently filed his nomination papers for the Deputy Mayor seat, was given the job during the board’s annual meeting which was held in Carleton Place.

Burn shall replace Hilda Docker, also from Carleton Place, whose current 3-year term as provincial appointee of the Carleton Place Police Services Board is coming to an end. There are 36 separate police services boards which fall under the District 2 committee and the local committee is only one of them.

As the current longest serving member of the Carleton Place council, in which he shall complete his 3rd term this October, Burn is very pleased that he would chair the Police Services Board. He said in an interview that it is an honor, in his point of view, to accept such challenge. The board, according to Burn, shall act as the voice of all the boards in the whole region when it comes to consulting the provincial ministry.

In addition, Burn said that Hilda Docker has done great work in her 6-year tenure in the office. He is pleased to know that there is someone with such experience whom he can draw knowledge from.

Burn shall replace Docker in June when her term as provincial appointee in the office will officially end.