Re: "Who is running Melancthon Township?" (October 22, 2009)

I offer the following observations regarding Ms. Walsh's letter: At no time during the Council meeting in question did I question anyone's right to express their views as a private citizen. Just as we are free to express our opinions in support of the YMCA and other initiatives, others are free to oppose them, even if those initiatives are intended to benefit the community.

The suggestion that The Highland Companies has received, or will receive, information gathered by a thirdparty research firm during the recent telephone survey commissioned by the YMCA is simply incorrect. The YMCA is one of the country's most respected organizations and conducts its due diligence process accordingly. Its use of independent suppliers during its three-staged research process ensures that it is provided with objective information as part of its decision-making. To suggest that the research is tainted is demonstrably untrue.

The process itself was initiated by a request from the mayors of six area municipalities to evaluate the region as a candidate for YMCA programs and services. As the YMCA has stated, it is the residents of Amaranth, Melancthon, Mono, Mulmur, Shelburne and Southgate who will determine whether they wish to support a YMCA in the area.

Finally, if Ms. Walsh had been in attendance at the meeting, she would have known that when the question about the YMCA process was posed, I simply raised my hand as a facilitator in this process and indicated that I would be pleased to provide additional information if that would be of assistance. I was then provided the opportunity to do so.

The real issue underlying this matter is the pursuit of an opportunity to attract YMCA programs and services to a region comprising the six municipalities that requested the evaluation process. We believe that the achievement of this goal would be an asset to area families and to the community.
Michael Daniher
via email