***********
Do you require more detail? We understood the formal reporting would
occur end of October.
Susan Morton-Leonard
AFA Communications
Little disappointed that a supportive quote was not provided by the
Mayor. In an effort to not continue the negative publicity for the AFA
or town we chose not to submit a press release about our delight in
receiving sponsorship from the Town. Instead we will offer thanks
through a news article and/or personally such as individual invitations
to Council.
*******************
Following up on other failures to acknowledge appreciation of taxpayer dollars to special interest groups, I inquired of the Chief Administrative Officer about the event to be held in a fenced- off town park with an admission fee of $5.
The above was a tag end note of a list of places where the town's Logo will be displayed in association with an event, in return for five thousand dollars worth of cash and service provided by the municipality. The so-called "Platinum Sponsorship Package" of the AFA.
Apparently the town's symbol will only be one of a myriad of logos of a variety of organisations having purchased sponsorships. to finance the event. Including the $25 thousand Trillium grant
Several pointy points were made in the above first name exchange between the CAO and communications officer of the AFA.
First was criticism of Aurora's Mayor, to the top official ,that there was no gush of enthusiasm accompanying the flush of money.
How appropriate was that to send or receive?
Then reference to the effort to avoid negative publicity for the town in the matter of forking over $5 thousand of tax payer dollars for questionable return.
It hardly seems necessary to point out no publicity whatsoever would have been incurred had the demand never been made or acceded.
Then the statement "we chose not to submit a press release about our delight in receiving sponsorship from the town. Instead we will offer thanks through a news article and /or personally such as personal invitations to Council "
Like the five grand was a personal donation from Councillors. Instead of Councillors putting their hand into people's pockets and filching funds without as much as a by-your-leave. Being ever- so- coy about it in the process.
Reviewing the whole issue certain points become prominent.
The event is being held in the publicly owned town park. The publicly owned band shell is being used. Publicly financed power consumed. Public washrooms utilised with water steadily flushed into sewers all at public expense. None of it metered.
Vendors are renting in publicly owned space. Parking is provided on public property. Artists are exhibiting in public space.
The Town's logo used to promote the event. Town funds supporting it.
Not a penny of the proceeds being returned to the town Treasury to pay costs let alone contribute to town revenue.
A gala, dress-up, pre-event is being held probably at the Culture Centre , last year provided at no cost, on the righteous basis of promoting culture for the great unwashed and of course at the expense of same.
One thinks of other affairs organised by the special events division of the town's leisure services
department.
Summer Concerts in the Park, Arctic Adventure, Easter Egg Hunt, July 1st Celebrations in Lambert Wilson Park, July 1st Parade, Santa Claus Parade, Borealis Festival , with the park turned into a fairyland of lights with music and free skating and hot chocolate to the delight of all participants.
All provided with no other purpose in mind but to bring people together in enjoyment of family life and community . All supported by local business sponsorships and at minimal or no expense to residents and taxpayers.
None of it for the purpose of funnelling undisclosed funds into the pockets of unknown recipients and all of it accountable to the public to the very last penny.
All marvelously well-done, to the credit of Shelley Ware our special events co-coordinator, skilled and willing helpers from various town departments and generous support from community businesses.
I am not on the Morton-Leonard's invitation list. I will not likely be privately informed of any expressions of delight or receive an invitation in return for public funds provided in the shape of a hand-out , to swell the coffers of a private commercial enterprise.
It's not a list I aspire to.
Me and the Mayor..... we are in good company,
"A gala, dress-up, pre-event is being held probably at the Culture Centre (sic)"
ReplyDeleteNo, it's at The Mansion (a.k.a. DiNardo's) on Industrial Parkway.
The money you mentioned does not include the Farmers Market funds that started the Festival....remember....the type of festival proposed by a citizen in 2009 that would have the proceeds returned to the taxpayers.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, thanking a personal list of councillors does not thank the actual source of the 5K, i.e. we, the taxpayers but then I guess we "joe blows" on the street don't carry the perceived influence of councillors, do we?
ReplyDeleteSecondly, if there has to be a personal list of councillors, it should be all inclusive and certainly not selective!