December Was A Month Of Zoom, Zoom, Zoom

Aside from passing by quickly, December 2020 was full of Zoom meetings for me. Typically I have one or two Zoom meetings a month but the higher COVID-19 restrictions that came into play in November forced many of the committees I sit on to switch their meeting styles to Zoom access. I’m quite happy that this has happened as I find it easier for me to participate in a Zoom meeting from the comfort of my home office rather than having to bundle up, warm the car and drive somewhere for a physical meeting. Although I still prefer face-to-face physical meetings, in the colder months, Zoom meetings work for me.

My Meeting Schedule

In the month of December 2020, my calendar had a total of 11 events on it. I (so far) have not missed any (two are scheduled for after the date I am writing this blog). However, there was one meeting scheduled I was not aware of for one of my committee appointments, which I missed. Hopefully, that won’t happen again. Here is a closer look at my meetings for the month.

Town Council Meetings

Wednesday, December 2 - 9:00 AM - Special Meeting of Town Council
Monday, December 7 - 7:30 PM - Regular Meeting of Town Council
Monday, December 21 - 7:30 PM - Regular Meeting of Town Council

Regular Monthly Committee Meetings

Thursday, December 3 - 5:30 PM - Princeton Museum Society (their first-ever Zoom meeting) *
Tuesday, December 15 - 3:00 PM - Princeton Healthcare Steering Committee (Zoom meeting)
Wednesday, December 16 - 5:30 PM Princeton Arts Council (their first-ever Zoom meeting) *
Thursday, December 17 - Interagency (Zoom meeting - called early due to no quorum) *

Other Activities

Tuesday, December 22 - COVID Parade of Light *
Thursday, December 24 - COVID Parade of Light *

Coming Up

Tuesday, December 29 - COVID Parade of Light
Thursday, December 31 - COVID Parade of Light
(These parades are to thank front line workers and to give residents of Ridgewood Lodge and Vermilion Court something to enjoy during the season. My wife, Brenda joins me at each of these).

* - denotes meetings attended alone. All others include other members of the Town Council and/or Town Staff.

A Closer Look At Town Council Meetings

It was during the December 7, 2020, Town Council meeting that we deferred the request for approvals and budget for the Business Facade Improvement Grant Program (Policy No. 003-2020) until January 18, 2021, Regular Meeting of Town Council. The Grant Program will permit local downtown businesses to access a fund that will help them offset some of the costs associated with building facade improvements. There are guidelines that have to be met and eligibility requirements are available through Town Hall. It’s one way Town Council is supporting beautification efforts undertaken by local business owners.

At the December 21, 2020, Town Council meeting a Development Permit (No. 2020-02 DP) was approved. It is for exterior and interior improvements currently underway at the Princeton Post Office building. In addition to changes to the box lobby entrance (including a new wheelchair ramp), there will be a new glassed-in entrance on the alley side of the building to permit access to apartments being built on the second floor. When I moved to Princeton in 1986, the second floor of the building housed various professional services including a lawyer's office. A small parking area will go in along the alley and roof access. All changes will fit into the existing visual look of the building.

Health Update

It was at the end of November when I received notice from VGH that I am now sitting on a Wait List for my upcoming kidney operation (I have a tumour growing on the side of my right kidney). Although the urologist in Vancouver had told me a couple of months ago that the tumour is growing, it obviously isn’t urgent. I am also still waiting for dates from my cardiologist in Kelowna for a cardiac MRI and another CT scan. While I completely expected at least one of those to be scheduled sometime in December, that did not happen. As I have been doing for most of the delays in these procedures is that I have taken advantage of the extra time and continued to build my heart strength with my walking, stair climbing, and weightlifting routines. I am also working very hard on keeping my sodium intake as low as possible.

In Conclusion

As you can see, it has been an active month for me and that doesn’t include the work I’ve been doing with my home-based business (www.looseink.ninja) and the home-based business I help Brenda with. I wish everyone a very Happy New Year and hopefully, 2021 will see changes in COVID-19 protocols where we can all get together more frequently to discuss matters of interest. It has been rather challenging to have reduced physical contact with people as we honour social/physical distancing and various closures to the public. It has not made our jobs as elected officials any easier and I thank those of you who have been patient and understanding of the guidelines issued provincially that we must follow.