One Of The Good Things

and not the least of them, is Blog does not use paper.If a post is read every day by a couple of hundred people and not a single page of paper has been used that must be a good thing. Think of all the paper not printed, stapled,collated or circulated that doesn't need to be collected, re-cycled, pulped or take up space in a landfill site

Last week's Council in Committee agenda had 203 pages.

A report from the Director of Infrastructure and Environmental Services on new speed limits on Regional Roads had a twenty-two page regional report, complete with tables, already circulated at the region, attached to it.

Last time I asked, we were circulating thirty six copies of agendas. We added two more for students who don't attend council-in -committee meetings and even if they did, would be unlikely to read a twenty two page regional report complete with tables while attempting to follow discussion at the table.

In the same agenda ,we had a copy of a report circulated on- line to all Councillors from the Ontario Association of Municipalities. It had thirty-three pages of print, including cover and content pages. It was down-loaded and copied and circulated to all members of Council and sundry others to a total of probably forty, at the request of Councillor Gaertner.

It was entitled a Joint and Several Liability Paper submitted to the Province about the hardship of municipalities becoming third parties in law suits because we are the ones with the money.

No reason was given for its inclusion in the agenda. I didn't stay to ask.

Councillor Gaertner is a founding member of the Town's Environmental Advisory Committee,which advised creating the position of Environmental Engineer within the Department of Public Works, now Department of Infrastructure and Environmental Services.

When I asked about return on investment of a hundred thousand dollars a year on the position, The answer was; "identifying environmental initiatives"

I ask during budget discussions each year ,which environmental initiatives have been identified?

The answer is; no answer. Just a glance of complete mystification cast in my direction.

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On Friday I received a lengthy e-mail from the Mayor, circulated to all Councillors except one, entitled "harassment". the mayor took me to task for "criticizing" a senior staff member.

I had inquired of reasons for advertising for Parking Control Officers.What did it cost? Were we adding to the complement? I did not re-call an increase in officers discussed during budget.

No we are not, was the answer. The jobs are contract positions and therefore it should not be assumed the best people are in the jobs.

I had done a little digging and determined two officers have done the job for ten and twelve years and two others five years apiece. The fifth officer works from October until May. The jobs are all part-time.No benefits are paid. No union representation.No job security.

A job with serious responsibilities done for minimal cost...one might say, cheap at the price.

The one job which has changed, very recently, is Manager of Bylaw Services. Also recently Bylaw Services have been transferred from jurisdiction of Town Clerk to Chief Building Official.

Human Resources has also recently been transferred from the Clerk's jurisdiction to the Treasurer's. Both have new long-winded titles.It was the Treasurer/Human Resources Director who responded to my inquiry.

It seems to me, when people have been doing a job as long as the parking control officers have, it is reasonable to assume it has been done properly.That's a sensitive job. If it were not being done properly and fairly, elected officials would certainly hear about it. Nobody...but nobody..likes getting a parking ticket.

I have had the temerity to say, I am unable to accept the rational for recruiting new parking control officers.

Heavens to Betsy!!!!!!

The Mayor says that is criticism of senior staff and harassment.

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Within the last year, the position of Chief Financial Officer, now Human Resources Director as well, was filled without recruitment or a competition. Despite there is a Provincial Regulation which requires recruitment and a Town Policy setting out the process.

Council was informed of the interim appointment behind closed doors.

The position is statutory. Statutory officers must be appointed by Bylaw. Only Council has authority to pass Bylaws.

Ergo, only Council has authority to appoint.

The Bylaw was passed after the fact.

It happened again when the interim appointment was made permanent. The morning after the last Council Meeting in December of last year, Council was informed, by e-mail, along with all employees, the appointment of Treasurer/Human Resources Director had been made permanent.

Again without authority.

Again without the Bylaw.

Provincial law requires municipalities to have a Treasurer. We did not for several weeks.

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Municipalities carry insurance against the possibility of loss of funds for whatever reason.

Everyone who owns a house or a vehicle quickly learns the significance of fine print in an insurance policy.

It occurs to me to wonder if our insurance indemnification protects us in the circumstances of a loss, if the legal process(recruitment) for filling the position of Town Treasurer/ Human Resources Director by competition,to ensure we have the best person for the job, has not been followed.