I noticed my voice was not heard on Tuesday when I objected to the Closed session agenda. Something weird seemed to be happening with my microphone. No matter. I can repeat my points of contention here.
In my judgment,three items on the agenda were improperly placed. I have already commented on the situation in the Building Department in a previous Blog. There is a crisis. It should have been dealt with during council in committee the week before. Instead it was deferred .A crucial decision was not made in a timely fashion.
The second two items pertained to property .The Mayor disclosed on Tuesday she had reviewed the agenda with Mr.Panizza,and "agreed" these items should be handled in closed session.
I respectfully disagreed
The first item dealt with a request from a resident to square off their rear lot line by a purchase from the abutting land owner. The abutting owner is the town. The land is park land .
By dealing with the matter behind closed doors, it is entirely conceivable a decision to sell park land could be made in secret. The owners , the people of Aurora , could have land sold out from under them without knowing a thing about it.
The second property in question was recommended for purchase by two citizen members of a sub-committee of a citizens advisory committee.Similarly. The town could be in the business of buying property for a purpose about which there has never been a public debate or a policy struck.
Never an opportunity for input from the community prior to a decision being made. All done in secrecy .Behind closed doors.
By my standards, that is not " saving the town harmless" or protection of the corporation's interest. That is a betrayal of the community we serve. Such is not the purpose of the Ontario Municipal Act as claimed by several on Tuesday evening.
As Chief Magistrate of the Corporation, the Mayor's desperate and determined effort to silence my arguments is beyond comprehension.
In opposing the motion to approve the agenda of the closed session and attempting to provide reasons for my opposition, I was conducting myself entirely within the Rules of Order.
The Mayor's threat to close down the meeting by calling a recess to stop me from being heard was not. Quite the opposite in fact. It displayed an inordinate anxiety to keep the public in the dark.
The Mayor also noted on Tuesday that any citizen can file a complaint of a Breach of the Code of Conduct against a Councillor. Even without an appointed Integrity Commissioner. But she is wrong about that as well.
We shall await further developments.
Watch this space.
This calls for an investigation. Enough, already. Call in the OPP.
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