A Misunderstanding

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "A Mathematical Equation":

"Consider the average salary and benefits of the team of $180K times 8.=$1,464. million. It's an annual cost. However, only ten months of service.are realised because of statutory holidays, vacations, sick pay, family emergencies, close relative funerals etc. etc. "

I would consider that this is a good reason that our taxes are too high! Consider too that these people will have a wonderful pension from OMERS when the retire too. I am all for paying staff for their good work, but if $180K per year (salary, benefits, etc) is the AVERAGE.... we have some problems. If they are only working 10 months a year, perhaps attendance records should be reviewed.

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My intention  was not to make an issue of  salaries paid to Aurora's  senior directors. They  are not out of line.Nor are the various benefits provided. Municipal employee benefits are known to be the best there are.

Vacations and statutory holidays are also on a par. One might argue,and I have, we are top heavy in administration for a town our size. It will at some point be an argument in favour of amalgamation.
And at that point, it will be too late to say  "I told you so"

My purpose in writing the post was to illustrate  how  resources are squandered by the various activities  in a Council meeting which have nothing whatsoever to do with town business.

The purpose of a Council meeting is to  deal with the  town's business in a thorough and efficient manner.

The assembly of  staff  has a price tag. It behooves Council to keep it in mind  when delegations are allowed to exploit the opportunity  over and over again.

Or come to Council ,like a couple did a few weeks ago and suggest the town make a community park out of a shopping centre because they didn't want a shopping centre in the location. They came back twice with that  irrational proposal.

When citizens are invited  to use  a formal council meeting to showcase  their special interest  to the community because of the presence of media and cameras.

When awards are presented  during a  formal Council meeting.

When Councillors are invited  to make public pronouncements to promote community organisations and events.

When we provide open forum and  the same individuals exploit  the opportunity to talk about the same issues ad infinitum.

None of it has anything to do with  town  business..

My intention is to point out, when staff are sitting with  hands folded ,with no role to play except as a captive audience , Councillors  have not prepared, have nothing to say but insist on saying it anyway, organisations intent on lobbying for advantages, citizens who have no understanding of the  purpose of a Council  meeting, taking it upon themselves to  delegate to provide their own definition.

A Council meeting is not a soap box, a Town hall meeting or a free- for- all

Council is a legislative body. A Council meeting  has a legislative purpose.

It is not a kindergarten sandbox with a shortage of toys.
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Mis-using expensive resources is not the cost of democracy. It's the cost of profligacy.

It brings the institution into dis-repute.