Every now and again, I am reminded of David Nitkin, Integrity Commissioner, first hired and first fired after his first decision to the first complaint which was a dismissal.
At the end of the first workshop held to introduce the concept of ethics to the Council which appointed him, boycotted by the Mormac Twins , it occurred to me to ask Mr. Nitkin about his experience with municipal councils.
He parried the question . I pursued it. He posed the potential of collegiality.
My reaction may have been slightly less than mannerly.
I was reminded of the exchange last night:
Early in the first year of the term, a couple of young Aurora Grove mothers came to Council with a request. They were planning a ten year anniversary celebration of their school in their park.
They needed picnic tables and a couple of litter barrels. They asked for fees to be waived.
The fee was about $85. The park is tidied up before the event. Picnic tables and litter barrels are delivered. The park is tidied up after the event.The fee was similar to that for a soccer game.
No fees are charged for use of a park.
I argued in support. Such events grow a community. I think that's a worthy cause.
Council refused.
They pleaded.
Council refused again.
Last night Well's Street school parents asked for fees to be waived to hold the last graduation celebration in the town park with use of the band shell.
The fees are $300.
A motion was moved and seconded to waive the fees.
The hour was late. I felt the same about the Wells St, School celebration as I did about Aurora Grove. But there was a case to be made for equality and consistency.
If the young parents in Aurora Grove could not be accommodated,why would council make a different decision for the Wells Street school neighbourhood.
Such inequality serves to divide a community.It makes people feel they don't count.
I did not choose to make the argument.The hour was late. When the vote was called, I did not indicate support.
Eagle-eyed Councillor MacEachern called immediately for a recorded vote.
I hit my button."If there's going to be recorded vote, there's going to be a debate" I said.
The Mayor, however, directed the Clerk to record the vote.
Whereupon, I left the council chamber and returned after the vote.My vote was not recorded.
It was an eventful meeting.
There is more to be told.
When I awoke this morning, my first thought was of David Nitkin and his quaint notion of collegiality on Aurora Council.
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
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8 comments:
Ah, but you see Mrs. Buck, Aurora Grove has the disadvantage of being in a new part of town. Wells Street, on the other hand, is nicely ensconced in old Aurora, as well as being politically connected.
I'm an Aurora Grove parent by the way. Council, quite simply, can go **** themselves. I've had it with this town. Duplicitous two-faced bastards.
Just keep holding up a mirror to their hypocrisy, Cllr Buck!
(I only wish hypocrisy was the worst of their sins. We're not so lucky, I'm afraid)
Less than five months to go now.
How many of the six pack will be littering our streets with their election signs? Maybe the Mayor's anti-litter campaign should be moved to the fall? It could be her swan song.
Voters of Aurora, throw out the trash!
A recorded vote on a $300 issue; this is completely ridiculous!!!! Thank-you Evelyn for showing some fairness, consistency and equality on this issue.
First of all Councillor Buck, thanks for raising this issue.
As usual you can be counted on to keep us up to speed on the silliness at Clown Hall.
On the face of it this is just another cock-up in a seemingly endless stream of council stupidity.
I would hasten to add however that these schools have a lot of gall for even asking that these fees be waived.
The fees are minimal and quite frankly, a mere pittance compared to the wads of cash that today's parents lavish on their spawn.
Three hundred dollars?
C'mon!
That's like a dollar, maybe two per child!
Most of these parents would spend more than that on a birthday bash for just one of their precious little ankle-biters.
But of course the cherry on this particularly malodorous pile is the shameless pandering to precious "Old Aurora" by the usual council twits.
Walt's right but quite frankly, I wouldn’t think that having so-called political connections in Aurora is something to be particularly proud of.
It's no bloody wonder that two-thirds of us have found something better to do on election night; it's too difficult to hold one's nose and mark a ballot at the same time.
I totally agree with you Walt about the "old" vs. "new" in this town. As a resident in the newest part of town the duplicity is glaring.
Interesting to watch the video of this.
At 2:46:03 the Mayor calls for the vote, the vote takes place
At 2:46:05 she asks for a show of hands again
At 2:56:10 after everyone has voted, Evilina asks for the recorded vote.
The vote had already taken place…..
I’m sure they will do this again in upcoming meetings.
made a typing mistake in my comment.
"At 2:56:10 after everyone has voted, Evilina asks for the recorded vote."
Should read:
At 2:46:10 after everyone has voted, Evilina asks for the recorded vote.
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