We don't Hold Meetings We hold Court

HEATHER'S NOTE: This post is a letter to the editor that was published in The Auroran's January 29th edition. ~HEATHER SISMAN


This week the mayor issued her edict that henceforth she would decide which questions will permit councillors to ask of delegates. Henceforth disobedience to her edict will result in a culprit being required to apologize or risk banishment from the august presence.

On Tuesday evening, the newly formed Sports Coalition of Aurora presented their mission statement asserting lofty goals and aspirations. A spokesperson of the organization has already lobbied council against any increase in user fees which partly cover costs of operation of facilities. There have been no increases since 2004.

At the end of the presentation, I asked if the organization had developed a philosophy on the principle of paying user fees. He replied, "We have not made a decision on that yet".

On Wednesday, we had a Public Planning Meeting. An environmental lawyer presented opposition to a development in the Oak Ridges Moraine. It has an Official Plan designation which gives the owner rights which cannot be negated. The young lawyer confidently stated Aurora is maxed out on water.

I asked who was paying him to attend the hearing. He answered his organization is funded by charitable donations. I asked him on what basis did he make the statement there is no water available for the development. He didn't exactly answer. So I told him there is an insufficient reservoir capacity to allow people to turn on taps in a drought and let them run until the reservoirs are almost empty.

That's when the mayor became annoyed and stated she would not allow the delegate to be harrassed.I suspect the delegate was there by invitation.

That meeting started at 7 p.m. It ended at 12.20 p.m. I left at midnight without having had the opportunity to participate in debate or vote. For five hours we listened to technological jargon, very little of which is within our range of competence to argue and which will all be repeated April 7th before an Ontario Municipal Board who will make the final and over-riding decision.

The Planning Act requires municipal councils shall not take a position on any application until all interested parties have been heard. At three minutes to twelve, without comment from any councillor, Councillor Evelina McEachern dictated a resolution, three pages long containing a list of actions for staff to carry out and report back to council prior to February 7th, the date the Municipal Board will hold a pre-hearing.

On Thursday night at a budget meeting, a presentation was made by one of last year's 18 vendors at the Farmers’ Market.

He asked for financial support to pay for promotions and provide staff to assist the vendors. The Market is a community event, he said, and should be funded like other community events. I asked: if the permit is $60 and the season is 20 weeks, that amounts to an outlay of $3 a week to set up shop on public property.

He agreed. Then I asked how much he makes from his day at the market. He opted not to answer. And therein lies the rub.

Up and down and on either side of Yonge Street, retailers are operating businesses. They provide their own accommodation, meet payrolls, pay Workman's Compensation. They promote their businesses.

In slow times, they pay more for interest on a bank overdraft than they take in. They pay property taxes to the Town, the Region and the Board of Education. In strip plazas they even pay property tax on the parking spots in front of their stores. They support with money, scores of sports teams that allow young people to enjoy robust and healthy activities. They are solicited and buy advertising in the Leisure Services Guide which is circulated free throughout the community.

Any day of the week, they are solicited by organizations galore for charitable donations. Last year, it was reported the vendors at the Farmers' Market were very satisfied with the success of their endeavour.

Every Saturday, they sold out their inventories. They received $900 of taxpayer money for promotions. This year, they want $3,400 for promotions and staffing. The invoices are to be sent to the mayor's office. The cheques will be co-signed by the mayor and treasurer.

I suspect market vendors have been encouraged to believe their request is reasonable. The issue, like all the others, is more about political currency than any other kind. It always has been.

Like I said, we do not hold council meetings, we hold court. The favourites cluster around. Honours are bestowed. Photos taken. Councillors are invited to proclaim their extra-curricular activities.

Last Tuesday we listened to a proclamation that took 25 minutes to read. The only thing missing was a clarion of trumpets.

At precisely the hour of adjournment, the business agenda of the Corporation finally began. At that hour, it is not at all likely to be given the attention it deserves. Many, many questions are never asked simply by the exhaustion of time and endurance.