An Invitation

To  breakfast at Jonathan's hosted by  M.P.Lois Brown. I decided yesterday I should go.  I  might  get a chance to bring up the agreement with the federal government for lease of the  town- owned Hydro building.

I think it's illegal.

The breakfast was from 8 to 10.   I logged in at around 7 a.m.  and thought I could write that last post and be on my way.

Then I thought about all the items on to-night's agenda I need to call for discussion. I have four motions to present. I need to make notes.

But about the hydro building lease; I talked to Ms.Brown about it during the election. I made a request for  the Minister to hold off  signing the agreement. I pointed out Councils are not supposed to make   substantive commitments  after candidate registrations close. The term at that point is a  lame duck.

The member  mumbled something about not being familiar with the Municipal Act and majority decisions. I knew then the  conversation was falling on deaf ears.

Days later  the Mayor  triumphantly announced  the Minister had signed the lease.

It may not have been true. 

The announcement about  an agreement with the Department of National Defense was made in September  2010.

During budget discussion in 2011, I inquired where rental revenue for the facility would show in receivables.

The treasurer  responded  there had  been  none until February 1st.

Rent, we were informed. was $139.Ks.per annum.

We spent more than $200Ks on the building to make it ready.

We vacated it in September or thereabouts.

The parks department were making  good use of it.

I heard, after  Morris'  defeat in October, an amendment to the lease had been  signed.  Date for rent to start was moved  forward three months, until February 1st.

We forfeited use of a building we  owned and were using to our advantage,  spent more than $200Ks for improvements for the tenant , for rent of $139ks  that didn't start until 6 months after we vacated.

It's a  ten year lease, no termination clause. The building is still vacant  a year  later. We have a couple hundred thousand dollars in the capital forecast for maintenance  because we are  landlord and responsible for maintenance.

Net rental revenue therefore  is not what it was said to be.

Being a landlord is not part of a municipality's mandate.

We cannot sell  property we own  without declaring it surplus to our needs.

There's talk of  Queen's York Rangers disposing of the Armories, their  home for the last hundred and fifty years.

Does that mean they feel they are safely ensconced in a building owned by the municipality?

Does it mean, by sleight of hand, we have suddenly become responsible for accommodating the Department of National Defence  at the  expense  of  Aurora  home owners and business operators?

Does it mean, although we cannot sell property unless it is surplus to our needs, we can give it away for next to nothing?

Does it mean this council can sleep comfortably in their beds at night knowing the best financial  interests of the community, for  which we are accountable, are being served?

I think not.