A8

Brent Mazerolle

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Speak Up

Tonight's meeting of Moncton city council was supposed to be a lot longer. The city's chief financial officer John Martin was supposed to give the public the first look at a draft of the city's 2009 budget.

However, with the necessary tax base information from the province only being released Friday and the necessary unconditional grant information still not ready, the budget deliberations are delayed.

Once the city receives the unconditional grant figure, staffers require at least one week to complete the budget before it can be presented to council. Councillors usually spend another week reviewing the document before taking another two or three days going over the budget with city departments.

With Martin leaving the podium empty tonight, others will step up.

Council will get an update on the city's Ability Transit system, will hear from Moncton Fire Chief Eric Arsenault about his department's increased involvement in the Sue Stultz Turkey Drive this year, and Enid Egers of the December 6th Committee and the Moncton & District Labour Council will help ensure no one ever forgets what the golden ladder in the city hall lobby, the one bearing 14 women's names, represents.

The 2008/2009 Sidewalk Snow and Ice Control Plan will also be presented to council tonight, as the city has gotten one dumping behind it but is sure to face many more this winter.

On that topic, don't forget it's December 1 and the city's winter parking ban is now in effect.

In accordance with the City of Moncton by-law T-102, it is not permitted to park a vehicle on any Moncton street from December 1st to April 15th between midnight and 7 a.m. Non-compliant vehicle owners are subject to a fine and their vehicle could be towed at their expense.