A Thank You...sort-of...I'm not sure..Dammit ,yes I am..It's Not Appreciation.

***********

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,