Morris is a productive committee member with ideas

Nov 28, 2007

Re: “Airport committee dismisses criticism” by Andy Cambell in the Nov. 14 edition of the Almaguin News.

As one of a small group of change agents who turned the airport from an abandoned grass strip in the 70s to a more mature facility with potential, I am heartened by enlightened quotes in (the above listed) article attributed to Susan Arnold, Elgin Schneider, Don Roberts and, of course, Barry Morris.

I also support strongly the concept of an airport committee which is composed mainly of people who are passionate about general aviation, knowledgeable about business-like approaches, able to make plans and articulate processes to put plans into action, and deliberate in a co-operative, productive manner.

Ideally, in a committee of say, nine, there should be no more than two political members. Mr. Roberts is quite correct, while there may be general interest among councillors, so far there have been none with the passion about aviation that characterizes a productive committee member.

Barry Morris has swum tirelessly against the tide virtually since the day he became chair. He has been criticized by certain members of his own committee for taking the lead on some decisions. Any citizen who has served on a similar committee knows that getting quality decisions out of such a group is like trying to stop the Titanic. It just takes too much time. Any tactical advantage is typically lost in the interim. Sometimes, chairs just have to move ahead and then face the feedback. In the long run, the proper decision has usually been made.

A viable airport lies at the heart of dozens of Ontario communities, both long-standing and emerging. If we are to continue to move ahead economically, we need to follow examples such as Haliburton/Stanhope and Earlton. I hope that Joly Township ratepayers and its elected councillors will r