TheWinter Of 2001/2002

There was very little snow. The earth in Spring was hard packed and cracked with drought.
An early heatwave   followed the dry winter and water restrictions were imposed in May.
I heard  equipment at the Family Leisure Complex was flushing out  thousands of gallons of  clean warm water a day from the ice making equipment.

I went to Council and challenged former Mayor Jones to justify the contradiction between extravagant water use by the town and restrictions on water use by homeowners.I speculated the same foolishness was going on elsewhere in the Region and I poked and prodded  and demanded  an explanation.

He responded  water usage was less since  the construction of a new, insulated roof at the arena.

Imagine an  ice  arena in a heat wave in a hot box of aluminum with an uninsulated roof .

There was no denial by anyone at the table, that hundreds of thousands of gallons were  used  and disposed daily to make ice in a summer heat wave. 

Aurora  Family Leisure Complex has had a chequered history.

The first thing I noticed  on completion, was the concrete floor covered with fume-laden industrial carpet  in the fitness centre.

The  jacuzzi pool  in the swimming area was  regularly closed for repairs.

The swimming pool literally fell into a hole and had to be completely re-constructed.

The gymnasium was seldom used and ended up becoming the fitness centre.

The fitness centre became a child care centre.

As noted, in 2002 , I discovered  the ice making equipment was horrendously extravagant with water and the roof of the arena had to be re-built for  ice even  to harden.In July 2011, we learned the facility still has soft ice not suitable for hockey but perfect for figure skating.

 Heavy water  use  is aggravated by the fact the  clean warm water is being released into the sewers. So we were not only  paying for  water we were paying  for clean, warm  water to go through the sewage system,

When the Stronach Centre was being planned ,I argued for three ice surfaces in one place for economy in management and  equipment and to decommission the ice surface at the complex. My argument carried no weight.

Now we are contemplating  providing a youth centre.

In early July, Council had an all day session to consider various items. One was a recommendation  for hundreds of thousands of dollars  to refurbish the ice making equipment. A second was to replace an accessibility  elevator that shifts half a floor.  At a cost of $170,000.

The debate was fulsome. The decision was not to proceed with refurbishment of the ice making equipment. To do repairs as required. Until a decision is made about a youth centre.

 Replace the existing elevator was nixed. The accessibility advisory committee made the recommendation because they do not think people who need  it, should have to wait for someone to open it with a key.

The desk and attendant in the facility are  alongside the elevator.

The decision of council was to get keys cut and  distribute them to those who needed them.

During the discussion, a comment was made the ice making equipment  doesn't use much water.

During the re-organisation of staff, management of facilities was transferred  from the Director whose programs use the facilities to the Director of Environment and Infrastructure.

The Director currently in charge regularly must refer questions to the Director previously in charge. 

It was a long day. Council had one business meeting to follow  in  mid July. Minutes from the day long session noted the report on the Family Leisure Complex  had been  received. It  had not. Part of the recommendation was approved.  Two major items were decided in the negative.

Further to that, a second staff report  reversing Council's decision  was approved. 

I am one of nine council members. A lowly third down the table at that. When I have participated fully in a debate and a decision is made, I do not anticipate  having to track the report  to ensure the direction of  Council is carried out.

It's the job of the Mayor and the Clerk of the Municipality. 

When I discovered  what happened , I needed to confirm my recollection .  I learned  the Mayor  was aware of the  contradictory reports but  made no effort to ensure Council's  direction was followed.  He had waited for someone else to make the point and was surprised that didn't happen. 

At the August meeting , with an agenda of over thirty items and half a dozen delegations, awards and recognitions, I brought the issue forward for correction. 

It was no go. The Mayor responded. "The issue wasn't called for discussion Councillor. It's too late now."

The Chief Administrative Officer  commented the all day meeting was for the purpose of allowing Council to have "input"

The explanation appeared to satisfy Council. No support  came forward to reverse the misdirection that went  through unnoticed by all except apparently the presiding member.

I hesitate to suggest the mix-up was anything but inadvertent. Yet the CAO's comment that Council's role  is nothing more than  "input"  is  a concern. Staff  have input. Council is the decision-maker. 

Over the years, I have developed a number of  small maxims to guide me in certain situations.

One of them is to trust and expect the best from everyone until and unless they give me reason not to. Then the trust can never be the same  again