Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Look At The Whole PIcture":
9:59 AM
So ? That's like rehashing old elections. It matters not how it happened. It matters how we set about fixing the situation so that it reflects the history. And the history is totally supportive of the Museum. The Culture Centre has no history and has given up earlier promises to work with the Historical Society.
So, as you correctly point out, you cannot support two in one building, the current tenant must vacate.
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The true irony of this situation is that which was to be avoided like the plague became the ugly reality.
Original advice to Council was to set up an arm's length board to become self-sufficient in every aspect of operation and not become a sinkhole for tax resources. The principle was endorsed.
The financial officer giving the advice was on his way out when the pestilent agreement was contrived.
The town solicitor's recent report refrained from identifying responsible parties. Methinks they are not far.
It makes no never mind. The deed was done. There is nothing left to do now but fix it.
I sense no immediate intent to accomplish that.
The Mayor's recent resolution to work with the Historical Society,I suspect is a stalling device. The CAO indicated during discussion, finalisation of an arrangement will not be accomplished in 2012.
It means the current Culture Centre agreement will be allowed to run its course.
Two million dollars instead of the one already transferred will be siphoned from taxes paid by homeowners and business in the town.
Staff at the centre will still be in limbo.
The museum will not likely have a home until immediately prior to the next election
The boys will clasp hands in glee for smooth operations.
Another episode of Aurora's history will be locked in.
Meanwhile, facilities such as Church Street School in other Ontario municipalities are managed by Leisure Services departments with no additonal cost of administration. Users pay fees just as in other town facilities. Operational costs are covered.
Separate administration, accountable to no-one, draining huge resources directly out of taxpayers' pockets are not a burden.
The plan always was to have a state of the art museum and allow cultural activities to share the space.
It is still a good plan.
There's just a whole lot of useless baggage in the way, incredibly costing several per centage points in the budget increase last year and this.
While loud lamentations were heard about extra cost of fire service, not a whisper was heard about this boondoggle.
Keep that in mind during pious declarations of solemn striving by your council to keep taxes under control..
Then it really is about who yells loudest and last at Council and Town staff. That is so depressing.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could be wrong, Evelyn ? I remember each of today's Councillors and Mayor Dawe being elected in order to stop wasteful spending. Add that to the current economy and they should see a big red target on the back of the Cultural group.
ReplyDeleteWhat are the odds ?
In December, 2010, the brand new Council took a decision to immediately cease any further payments for the former mayor's ill-conceived defamation suit, something that many argue Council had no authority or jurisdiction to have undertaken in the first place.
ReplyDeleteOne of the present objectives of the Conflict of Interest litigation is to seek to recover the full amount of money, $55,000, that was paid, and return same back to the town's coffers.
If the town can terminate one arrangement, why can it not terminate the arrangement/agreement with the Culture Centre and in its place create a joint asset for the town that combines culture with history?
There has been altogether written and said without any action. The Town Solicitor's recent statement could not make the situation any clearer.
This is a pretty simple solution to an increasingly ugly discussion.
Hey, cut that out. The councillors I voted for, the ones who got in, were selected for courage and because they knew what they were up against. That hasn't changed. We will have to wait and see if they have changed. I sincerely hope not.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - 01/12/11 - 3:40pm said:
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could be wrong, Evelyn ? I remember each of today's Councillors and Mayor Dawe being elected in order to stop wasteful spending. Add that to the current economy and they should see a big red target on the back of the Cultural group.
What are the odds ?
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Are you sure? Did every councillor have in their platform "I will stop wasteful spending"? And if they did, perhaps "wasteful" for one person (ie. YOU) is not the same for another person (ie. THEM)?
The correct phrase should be....
..each of today's Councillors and Mayor Dawe being elected in order to run the corporation to the best of their ability and represent ALL residents.