HEATHER'S NOTE: Memo is here.
I hear that people believe half a million dollars have been siphoned from the town treasury . The Banner obviously believes it. They wrote an editorial deploring the circumstances. If it's in print, how can the story not be true? Some people are saying it's a good thing Mayor Morris was there to uncover the dastardly deed.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Imagine what it's like to be falsely accused. Can the harm ever be undone? Was there malice aforethought? You betcha. If we follow logic, are we the people responsible for this injustice? ? Was it not done in our name by our elected representatives? What will it cost us?
On one side of my desk this morning, there's The Banner. On the other, various memorandum which establish the Machiavellian twists and turns of the story.
Councillor MacEachern is quoted in the paper that she found out about the matter by accident through the rumour mill.
The mayor said she "could not comment in detail due to litigation, only that the town's primary focus was in recovering $442,000 spent in contravention of municipal procedure and without council's knowledge"
Does that not suggest money was misappropriated?
"As soon as we discovered this had happened council took measures to review what had occurred and has since that time accepted the advice of legal council," Mrs. Morris said.
Does that not suggest criminal wrongdoing?
That last comment about council taking measures to review what occurred and accepting the advice of legal counsel refers to stuff that happened behind closed doors.It is clearly offered as evidence of due diligence. There is no record of what they did. But I am glad it was mentioned. It leaves me free to reveal that I did make a record . I submitted a written statement expressing, more or less, my repugnance for what they were doing and how they were doing it and disassociating myself from their actions.
I forwarded it to the Director of Corporate Services and asked for it to be distributed to the Mayor and Councillors, three Officers of the Corporation and the lawyer retained by Mayor Morris to conduct "an investigation" along the lines of her direction.
But that's not all; there's a copy of a memorandum dated May 14th 2007 submitted to the Mayor and Members of Council, with copies to various Officers of the Corporation advising them exactly the circumstances of a deficiency in the new rec complex. How it was detected, how it was to be corrected and that it was acknowledged by the architects as a design deficiency which would be funded through the architects' insurance provider.Cost was not relevant because at tha time ,it was not the the town's responsibility..
Three days later, the same memorandum was submitted to the Leisure Services Advisory Committee, chaired by Councillor MacEachern and attended by Mayor Morris. It was subsequently included in a report to Council.
When I can figure out how to scan it and post it in the Blog, I will do so, as evidence for the defence. It is a public document and can be found on the Town's web site in the record of committee or council minutes.
I plan to get a copy of the Procurement Policy as well and let you know what that says.
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
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13 comments:
I don't understand how Evelina MacEachern could say she heard about this 'by accident' (as quoted in the Banner)... there is a letter from the mayor in today's auroran at http://www.auroran.com/?page=pdf_download&id=6410 that indicates Staff is to blame, but in prior editions of the same newspaper, there were brickbats because the Council approved this without finding out how much money it would cost. Dick caught it and he's nearly a hundred years old and wears headphones at the meetings so he doesn't miss a trick! You say you knew about it because you wanted to dissasociate yourself. Where was the rest of council that day? Something's wonky, for sure. Maybe the other councillors need to borrow Dick's headphones?
Councillor Buck,
I'd be interested to know your take on the letter from the Mayor in this week's Auroran.
A concerned Citizen.
All I can say is that I think that the teflon coating on Mayor Morris has just been chipped off. As I wrote on a previous blog entry, I feel that staff did the correct thing in getting the situation resolved. All indications point to the fact that the costs would be covered by the vendor and/or their insurance. In order to keep the facility functioning when the payment was not coming, they cut a cheque on faith that it would be recouped. This is what GOOD staff do - they get the job done.
In reading Tuesday's Banner and the Mayor's letter, she does not have enough fingers to plug this dyke. How is it that staff has access to her electronic signature to sign cheques?
I am afraid that this situation will get worse before it gets any better. There will be no directors left with any knowledge or experience with the situation and the new ones will just bow to her highness.
Where is the rest of council on this? Sure I saw Steven Granger at a pottery sale on Saturday, but have the others gone into hiding somewhere? Surely Al Wilson has some snide little remark. The new guy is probably still reeling from his stroke of good luck. Wendy is busy doing HotSpot stuff. Evelina is looking under rocks for aliens. Bob and Allison... where are you?
It seems clear something was wrong: a guy lost his job because he messed up. He didn't do something illegal, he just didn't follow the rules of his job. He didn't complain of unfair dismissal. People who mess up lose their jobs.
That's a good thing.In the past people did thing with a handshake. Not any more. If people are living in the past and lax about their jobs well I guess they should worry.
Today's world is filled with lawyers and lawsuits. That's the world we live in. The memo shows people thought certain things were expected. Why did things happen in a different way? I guess that's what the lawsuit is about so those details can't be revealed at this time . That's the law as I understand it.
Councillor Buck,
The Mayor and Council have an ad in Tuesday's Banner regarding this issue, and also another notice in response to perceived misinformation in the public forum.
I'm appalled that taxpayer's money is being spent on advertising space.
Can you find out how much this cost us?
To Anonymous November 19, 2008 1:39 AM, the 'guy' who lost his job had his contract paid out. If there was legal 'cause' this would not have happened.
Given that his salary is a matter of public record it is estimated that his contract payout, legal fees, recruitment costs for his replacement etc could reach $500,000 plus. THAT is a big deal for the taxpayers of this community.
Especially if the real reason that the CAO got escorted to the door was because he wouldn't do the Mayor's bidding.
Do NOT let this issue go away.
The Mayor needs to be accountable and transparent, and the Ads that she wrote and authorized are just more spin.
Buck's comments says it all:
"But that's not all; there's a copy of a memorandum dated May 14th 2007 submitted to the Mayor and Members of Council, with copies to various Officers of the Corporation advising them exactly the circumstances of a deficiency in the new rec complex. How it was detected, how it was to be corrected and that it was acknowledged by the architects as a design deficiency which would be funded through the architects' insurance provider.Cost was not relevant because at tha time ,it was not the the town's responsibility.."
So how does one make it the Town's responsibility - they have a PO issued on behalf of the town. Why is staff issuing POs for something that's not the Town's responsibility, is beyond me but somehow Buck thinks this is a great use of our tax dollars. So much so that she defends the action and those responsible for it.
It's not okay for staff to issue PO's to cover outside contractors mistakes. Those who did, made a mistake they should be canned.
Buck's comments says it all:
"But that's not all; there's a copy of a memorandum dated May 14th 2007 submitted to the Mayor and Members of Council, with copies to various Officers of the Corporation advising them exactly the circumstances of a deficiency in the new rec complex. How it was detected, how it was to be corrected and that it was acknowledged by the architects as a design deficiency which would be funded through the architects' insurance provider.Cost was not relevant because at tha time ,it was not the the town's responsibility.."
So how does one make it the Town's responsibility - they have a PO issued on behalf of the town. Why is staff issuing POs for something that's not the Town's responsibility, is beyond me but somehow Buck thinks this is a great use of our tax dollars. So much so that she defends the action and those responsible for it.
It's not okay for staff to issue PO's to cover outside contractors mistakes. Those who did, made a mistake they should be canned.
Anonymous said:
"All I can say is that I think that the teflon coating on Mayor Morris has just been chipped off. As I wrote on a previous blog entry, I feel that staff did the correct thing in getting the situation resolved. All indications point to the fact that the costs would be covered by the vendor and/or their insurance. In order to keep the facility functioning when the payment was not coming, they cut a cheque on faith that it would be recouped. This is what GOOD staff do - they get the job done."
Good staff would have had the architect issue the PO. They would have antered into a binding agreement with the architect and the contractor doing the work outlining exactly who was responsible for what. Issuing a PO on good faith is not what GOOD STAFF do.
As for your comments that council are ineffective, you are way off base. It is the work of councilors like Evelina MacEachern, who leave no stone unturned that brings matters such as these to light. You should be thankful that Mayor Morris, Councillor MacEachern and the others work as hard as they do to ensure our town is not undermined.
It wasn't that long ago that past Mayors and councils, with the exception of a few councillors, would have their heads so deep in the public trough that they wouldn't have even noticed such shenanigans, not to mention take the iniative and do something.
I'm confident that there more rocks to be turned over before this term is done. Councillor Buck and her supporters should realize this by now, and at the very least get out of the way, and let the work get done.
Re the comments from Anonymous (November 20 8:30pm)
" It is the work of councilors (sic)like Evelina MacEachern, who leave no stone unturned that brings matters such as these to light. You should be thankful that Mayor Morris, Councillor MacEachern and the others work as hard as they do to ensure our town is not undermined...I'm confident that there more rocks to be turned over before this term is done. Councillor Buck and her supporters should realize this by now, and at the very least get out of the way, and let the work get done."
With all due respect, are you kidding?
Are you seriously suggesting that they should be commended for their inappropriate and self-serving actions? To be commended for decimating the ranks of staff? To be commended for impeding the ability of the Town to attract new hires (why is it so hard for the Town to fill positions)? To be commended for negatively impacting the image of the Town within the municipal and regional governmental community? Thank god for the antics of Vaughan's Council otherwise Aurora would truly be the laughing stock of the Region.
Despite what the Mayor and Clr MacEachern think, it is not the role of Council to investigate, harangue, harrass, berate and belittle staff publicly or otherwise. The statement that Councillor MacEachern will "...leave no stone unturned" sounds chillingly like the Inquisition - which, from Madam Buck's description, is exactly what Councillor MacEachern and Mayor Morris have taken upon themselves to execute, (apologies for the pun). A serious and some would say irreparable harm has come this Town as a result.
And what was it all for? What have they uncovered? They've simply measured what they sought to measure and consequently they've found what they were looking for.
Nothing more, nothing less.
In science and statistics, this is called inherent bias.
or in everyday terms - a self-fulfilling prophecy.
To say that they should be applauded for their actions is, quite frankly, appalling.
Their actions are not motivated by a sense of obligation to the Town but rather by a sense of entitlement for themselves and their own agenda.
To suggest otherwise is to be, at best, naive.
“ The self-fulfilling prophecy is, in the beginning, a false definition of the situation evoking a new behaviour which makes the original false conception come 'true'. This specious validity of the self-fulfilling prophecy perpetuates a reign of error. For the prophet will cite the actual course of events as proof that he was right from the very beginning."
I remember the other approach... the one where staff were left to do whatever they wanted with little or no inspection or interference from those elected to ensure they were accountable.
I remember when things were moved along like "the good ole boys" like to do. That's when I worried about what was going on.
I remember the days of watching council meetings when I realized that everything had already been decided and for the benefit of those of us able to stay awake there were the issues of parking and garbage to hash out in public.
The times have changed, with some kicking and screaming, some calling foul, and some nodding off.
I love the idea that staff are held to account. It makes me sleep better at night. In my world of business those who have cozied up to the boss always start to sweat tsunamis when a new boss comes to town, especially when that new boss is a woman who hasn't played easy does it with the boys.
Yes things are being shaken up, and everyone is running around trying to see who can be blamed. I'm someone who is loving to see the rats come out of their nests to scramble for the cheese.
And as usual, Evelyn is Chief Cheese.
Keep it coming. I'm loving it!
To Anonymous,
So think think the actions of Councillor Buck are more becoming of our Town.
She hits fellow councillors over the head.
She puts her coat over her head when the Mayor is addressing council.
She is vulgar and rude to citizens who address council meetings.
She opposes the vast majority of motions put forth and claims everyone votes against her when she looses.
The list goes on.
And I suppose that you, like Councillor Buck, are in favour of staff issuing PO's to cover the mistakes of outside firms even when those firms have acknowlodged their error. Like Councillor Buck, you probably think the Town's current legal fees are a waste of money. How much do you think it's going to cost in legal fees to collect the $500K we've just being screwed for? Perhaps it would have been better if council would have never found out about this escapade. You think it's better that we keep our heads in the sand. That way our asses will be wide open for the next crew that wants to take a run at us.
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