The St Francis Bay Residents’ Association (SFBRA) has once again aired its long list of grievances to the municipality and to the public.
This time at a meeting with the newly appointed municipal manager, Sydney Fadi, this week.
The SFBRA says it called a meeting on 14 March 2012 because it is “fed up” with what it believes is an apparent lack of commitment by the municipality.
After hearing the long list Fadi committed to address the issues raised.
Present at the meeting with Fadi were the SFBRA chairman, Tony Moore; vice chairman, Nigel Aitken; administration manager, Jacky Green; and the DA Clr, Ben Rheeder.
The following is the SFBRA’s list of grievances:
* The SFBRA believes Municipal Acts are not being adhered to.
* The SFBRA believes it should participate in the budgeting to ensure proper maintenance takes places and all issues are covered in the next budget. For eg, the roads that have deteriorated through lack of maintenance will need to be resurfaced, the SFBRA maintains. This, the SFBRA believes, needs to be provided for in the next budget.
* The SFBRA says again a request was made for the Gobodo and KPMG Reports. The SFBRA has taken legal advice on this.
* The SFBRA believes there is little overall management of the day-to-day running of St Francis Bay. The SFBRA wants to assist Council by helping in any form. Plus it wishes to have someone from St Francis Bay appointed to co-ordinate and prioritise the running of the town in conjunction with Council.
* The SFBRA believes that owing to lack of capital equipment, vehicles, trailers, tractors etc. are in poor state of repair. Some vehicles and equipment, it maintains, will have to be replaced as it believes it is no longer practical to repair them.
* The SFBRA maintains this will have to be provided for in the next budget. It believes also that the municipal yard is in “a shocking state” as it has broken and rusting equipment. The SFBRA believes this needs to be tidied up and properly managed.
* The SFBRA says it has repeatedly requested replacement of missing street and traffic signs (i.e. stop signs etc). Missing signage, the SFBRA maintains, gives the impression of shoddy maintenance to visitors to the town and needs to be addressed urgently.
* The SFBRA believes the lack of storm water management is a major problem in the town and in Sea Vista. The SFBRA says this leads to flooding in the rainy season, plus damage to the roads and other infrastructure. The SFBRA maintains provision for drainage needs to be provided for in the budget. It believes this is a major exercise and maintains it will have to be budgeted for over a number of years.
* The SFBRA says it has again raised the issue of the fire hazard and potential loss of life in the squatter camp behind Sea Vista. it maintains this is because there is no road access for fire engines and emergency vehicles.
* The SFBRA believes properties should be revaluated as soon as possible and not extended by a further year as indicated. The SFBRA wants to be involved in selecting the company doing the re-valuations.
* The SFBRA says it expressed concern over municipal services billing. It maintains the billing period has often exceeded 33 days – what it understands is the maximum period allowed. The SFBRA maintains this has resulted in ratepayers having to pay significantly more money for electricity and water as their readings move into a higher tariff bracket.
At the end of the meeting, Fadi assured the SFBRA he would report back on the grievances within two weeks.
Moore thanked Fadi for his assistance and said he looked forward to a more constructive and harmonious working relationship in the future.
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