Answering The Phone

Kept me busy today . I had to do a bit of snooping. The computer disconnected itself
somehow. I posted a comment or three to the Aurora Citizen.

The Mayor's shill was mis- interpreting comments, I had to deal with that.

The Ontario Municipal Board hearing started on Tuesday at the Old Library. I meant to attend . But Tuesday was not the date I recalled.

OMB hearings are generally held at the Town Hall.

But we have an election happening. Tons of activity at the town hall to prepare for election worker training , advance polls, and the big day.

The Clerk is the Elections Officer the entire operation is his responsibility.

Most municipalities reduce meetings to nil prior to an election, in consideration of the extra work and the importance of getting it right.

Council was informed on Tuesday,Regional meetings are over until after the election

The regional clerk's department doesn't have to deal with agendas, reports, meetings or minutes or delegations of any kind for three months

And they don't even have to deal with an election.

Councillors can concentrate on election campaigns and meetings can't be turned into campaign circuses.

The City of Toronto had their last meeting in August.

We not only have meetings, we have endless and repetitive delegations that morph into cosy or hostile personal exchanges with the presiding member,depending on whether they are friend or foe.

Last minute add-ons to agendas which should require a two-thirds majority vote to suspend the procedure bylaw, are regularly approved by a simple majority.

Last Tuesday's adjournment was 1.15 a.m. If staff present started that day at 8.30 am, it meant their work day was seventeen and a half hours.That's not reasonable.

Beside the fact that under Provincial law, the municipality is required to legislate by Bylaw, dates, times and place where public business will be conducted.

What public can be expected to attend, when the meeting is regularly extended from
10.30pm ,the legislated hour of adjournment, until 1.15 a.m.

By no stretch of the imagination can that be described open , transparent or sane.

Anyway,the Westhill Development Application Hearing is being conducted at the old library.

Space is reserved for six weeks. Whether accommodation is provided for spectators, I do not know. Facilities are not great.The building is a dump. But that's where it's at

Anybody who has the time and interest would benefit from dropping in.

If the decision goes in Westhill's favour, there will no doubt be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth about the incompetence of board members.

It would be good for citizens to be able to form their own judgement about that.