The previous post generated swift response.
The statement has been made several times the building was not being used for years. Indeed it was. By the parks department for several purposes..
I went to check it out at the time the lease was announced.
It was orginally built by Aurora Hydro prior to the Harris government edict that local utilities be privatised. It is an architect designed building.Head offices. Landscaped in the front. Wide paved and illuminated driveway and parking lot. The property is an acreage,the enclosed yard at least half , completely secured with a high chain link fence and power controlled entrance and I believe, an alarm system.
A substantial workshop forms the larger part of the building and is enclosed with the yard.
Bob Panizza was clerk of the municipality until November 2008. After him came Lucille King. MsKing
decided to" retire" on the day or the day after handing me the decision of the first Integrity Commissioner, who dismissed as wholly political the complaint filed against me at a cost to the town of $70K for a lawyer retained to "investigate" my blogs, letters to the editor and comments in council,by Phyllis Morris,Evalina McEachern,Steven Granger,Wendy Gaertner, John Gallo and Al Wilson.
Six months after Lucille King left. a new clerk was appointed. He is still in the position. That makes Bob Panizza three places removed from the current clerk.
I was informed about the artifacts and other uses of the building by Mr. Panizza. I am assuming the barn from a development property, carefully dismantled and stored, probably at developers expense, was one of the artifacts stored in the building. Now after a mover was hired to re-locate it at the time the lease was signed , the dismantled barn is now resting in the works yard fully exposed to the elements.
We Have $98K in the budget for an architect consultant study to examine space needs in preparation for building a project at the expense of $8 to $10 million dollars to accommodate the parks and works department.
Both facilities currently occupy space at the end of Scanlon Court. The hydro building could have been a factor and was a factor for four years , in the solution to whatever space needs there are.
Instead it was whisked out from under and leased out to week-end soldiers to accommodate
"the kiddies", within hours of an election.
With no rental revenue showing for still another four months.Instead $100K expenditure for a sprinkler system for the new tenants.
I am a Councillor and I can't tell you how that came about. . I have asked for a copy of the lease to gain a clearer understanding, so that I can pass the information along.
I have been given to understand a copy will not be forthcoming.
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In response to another comment, other than becoming chairman of the Town's Economic Development Committee, and being assigned the role of cutting ribbons during the former Mayor's absence and trotting behind the former worship on more than one occasion, I know nothing whatsoever about Councillor Ballard or his connection to Queen's York Rangers.
Except I'm told he tweets and I am a favourite target of his tweets.
The Councillor fails to intrigue.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/50789496/QUEENS-YORK-RANGERS-INVITE-2011
ReplyDeleteThe address and phone number provided are those of his business.
Damning evidence that.... I invite you to visit here:
ReplyDeletehttp://qyrang.ca/
http://www.rangers2799.com/
As a former member of a militia unit (although not the QYR) and a Cadet Corps (not the 2799) I can tell you that there is no tolerance of municipal officials meddling in military affairs. The closest municipal people get are during the Freedom of the City/Town or Remembrance Day events. Ballard may be organizing a levee, but it would ahve nothing - zero - to do with the hydro building.
Correct, the levee has nothing to do with the hydro building. However, the announcement does show that Mr Ballard is a "big wheel" with the QYR.
ReplyDeleteAnd who had the mayor's ear last year when she was desperate for "good news" (as she perceived it) during the election campaign? Someone with particular connections to make other connections? It's plausible, isn't it?
Mr Ballard is as much a Big Wheel with the QYR as Evelyn Buck!
ReplyDeleteI think that you naive if you that a DND militia unit needs to be cosy with a town councillor.
Ballard is organizing a levee for QYR members that have served overseas. Trust me, this is not a DND nor QYR initiated event. From within the military, these people are just doing the job that they are trained to do - it's the civilians that think it extraordinary and see the need to have events like the levee.
Do not read anything more than this into the whole event.
It's not about the levee. Forget about the levee. Forget about the misdirection. It's about the building and the lease.
ReplyDeleteFor the record.....
ReplyDeleteMr Ballard is not a affiliated with the Queen's York Rangers. His son is a member. He does however, volunteer for the Regimental Association.
I ASKED! No subterfuge, put away your foil hats.