I"m Fine Thank You

I don't often have to think about my health. All things considered, it's  good. I was busy at the week-end, going through the budget with a fine-tooth comb and responding to comments. I was looking forward to Councillors have an opportunity to impact  the budget with their own ideas.

My  task was not complete by the time I went to the town hall  last night.

I left the meeting at nine-thirty p.m. I felt my head bowed low with a sense of complete  futility and exhaustion.

Even Mormac did not have that effect on my spirits.

I cited a few items culled from the budget. Not the complete list.  Some  were discussed. The first  item was not mine. .

South Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority made a request . in October for work on the East Holland river. IN Aurora it's identified as Tannery Creek..The  memo received last night  indicated, if we contribute   $20,000, it would be "leveraged" to a  $100,000 of service. I asked how that would be accomplished. The Treasurer was unable to supply details.

Councillor Ballard  was in support. He said: we should give them the money.  "we use  the river We dump  waste into  it"

For more than  thirty years  neither Aurora  or Newmarket  has discharged clean and clear effluent into the carrying stream that leads to the East Holland River.  

Mayor Dawe supported Councillor Ballard. Said he didn't think that wasCouncillor Ballard's reference. .
The Mayor thought  he meant the  garbage we  dump into the river.

At  that point,  the sinking feeling overcame me.

When  I left, the recommendation for  three contract  positions  to be converted to permanent status at a cost of $77,300 was up for  discussion. 

The Chief Administrative Officer indicated extra cost was due in part to the employees becoming union members.

Flexibility in Recreation  and parks  programs is created by  use of seasonal contract positions.Programs may differ from year to year. Manpower needs may be less or more 

 Reserves were the next item.We have $69 million . This year  we will add , $1,240 million from 2011 budget surplus.Share of the  gas tax share from the Federal government  adds an additional   $1,419.million.

Councillor Thompson thought  the tax  could be reduced by $125,thousand .I thought the whole thing could be eliminated.

The Treasurer said:

 "CURRENT TAXPAYERS ARE  NOT PAYING THEIR SHARE FOR REPAIR AND  REPLACEMENT WHICH  ARE GOING TO BE NEEDED AS FACILITIES AGE"

The Mayor supported  the  cut of $125,thousand  because a Finance Committee  is proposed by Councillor Thompson.  His  stated preference is" to have  something put by for a rainy day"

When  I left, the recommendation for  three contract  positions  to be converted to permanent status at a cost of $77,300 was up for  discussion. 

The Chief Administrative Officer indicated extra cost was due in part to the employees becoming union members.

Flexibility in Recreation  and parks  programs is created by  use of seasonal contract positions.Programs may differ from year to year. Manpower needs may be less or more

Facility user fees  are impacted by the cost of operation .Five other contract positions alternate between parks and works.  If all seven contract employees received the same consideration, and why not, the costwould be  an extra  $203,900  on the backs of  taxpayers. And that would only be the start.

I listened to the argument about  why council is compelled to honour an agreement that hands over a building , rent-ree  that cost $3million to renovate,  $150.thousand to maintain. plus a generous   $353.thousand bundle of cash  to a self-appointed  board of management, accountable to no-one

The Mayor pomdered aloud, "What would people say about a municipality that doesn't  honour  legal  agreements?

The expenditure represents close to 2 percentage points in the tax rate.

I left before the decision to make three out of five contract employees full time and add them to the union.

I need  to  husband  my  resources. The final budget, pretty much the same as the draft document, received  approval in committee. It will be presented to  council  for approval.