I have been keeping up with the various financial affairs of the town recently, and it seems to me that there could be cause for concern.

On the one hand, several BlackBerrys have been purchased for the mayor and senior staff while, on the other hand, various sports groups and the Port Sydney/Utterson and area chamber of commerce are told the town is in grim financial shape and, respectively, their user fees are immediately rising by 10 per cent and their request for $8,500 is apparently difficult to fulfill.

Considering that payment for the BlackBerrys for 2007/2008 already totals $7,737 I wonder how the town can refuse the chamber’s request for $8,500?

As well, I understand that our municipal taxes are slated to rise by 16 per cent in 2008. I do wonder what other expenses the town has incurred that could be considered extravagant?

I believe that it might be time to ask someone like the provincial municipal affairs minister, Jim Watson, to send in a group to audit the town of Huntsville’s books.

Whatever happened to the judicial inquiry that was requested in December?

Marilyn Laycock
Huntsville