"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Friday 12 February 2010

This Just In

I received a call this morning from a representative of Westhill Development Corporation, owners of land in the Town of Aurora.

Their application for a golf course and condominium on legally designated land, has been the subject of four appeals,two before the Ontario Municipal Board and two before the Divisional Court of Ontario, for a Joint Board Hearing rather than a regular Ontario Municipal Board Hearing.

None of the appeals have been successful. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent. Millions if costs are combined for proponents, opponents and the town.

My caller this morning sought to understand the motivation for the town's appeal of the last decision.

I parried the question.

Council decisions made in camera are confidential until reported out at a future meeting.

He responded his client had already been informed by his lawyer. Mr. McQuaid, who had been informed by the town's lawyer, Mr. Beaman, that the town had decided to appeal the last decision.

The information was provided on Monday.

Copies of the latest decision was an add-on to the Council meeting on Tuesday evening. Council went in to closed session to receive "solicitor/client advice" following the Council Meeting.

The closed session conference ended after eleven p.m.

Question ?..how was a decision. not unanimous and not made until eleven on Tuesday evening, relayed by the town's lawyer to the developer's lawyer the previous Monday?

By whom and where are Aurora Council's decisions being made?

I am a Councillor and I do not know.

And you know, if I knew, I would tell you. And I will too if and when I find out.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ev, surely this is something the big print media would be interested in?

Anonymous said...

What the hell? We should call in the RCMP, or the circus or something. That's borderline criminal!