Mayor, council don’t understand our disgust
THE ROC. Artist's rendition of Georgina's $15-million Recreation Outdoor Campus. Programs here and in each community will be scrutinized, reworked or overhauled, along with the department commissioned to deliver the services, and the town wants your input.
I thought I could agree to move on, but after reading about this bylaw, the actions and comments of Mayor Rob Grossi and council in the lawsuit article, Mr. McClure’s guest column and the town’s official press release, which is so small you can hardly read, I don’t think the mayor or council really, truly get it.
Constituents consider the matter personal between the mayor and former leisure services director John McLean.
We do not buy in to the rationale/attempt to justify making it into a town lawsuit.
I have read/heard far more harsh criticisms of the mayor than what Mr. McLean wrote.
We have a right to express opinions, criticism and displeasure at a job elected officials do on our behalf because we pay their salaries.
We have the right to question without fear of reprisal. It’s called freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
I still don’t think they realize our collective disgust: reading the “official” media release shows they haven’t learned anything.
They reiterate the same sanctimonious claptrap that got them into this in the first place.
Council should not be commended for cancelling the lawsuit. It should be ashamed and apologize for this mess.
We are still on the hook for the unknown legal fees and council should pay the costs, not taxpayers. Then, maybe they will think twice before trying this type of
thing again.
We have no place in our system for a bylaw such as this and we must make sure it is revoked.
I am skeptical the bylaw will be revoked in its entirety, I guess we will have to wait to see.
Kevin Squires
Keswick
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I would add only a comment.
Constituents have aright to criticise and communicate their discontent because they gave Council
authority to make decisions. The decisions are made in the name of the constituents.
The lawsuit was launched in the name of the people.
If we understand correctly , it was done behind closed doors..
If they felt the decision was right , why do it behind closed doors.?
They most certainly were not protecting Mr.Maclean's privacy.
It has been said, they were legally advised. Well put it out there. Show people the advice. Let them read it and judge for themselves if the lawyers logic stands up under scrutiny.
Hiding behind solicitor and client privilege is handy but hardly appropriate.
As the client, Council has authority to waive solicitor/client privilege. Since taxpayers paid the fee, the advice should be theirs to see.
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2 comments:
This is weird. The writer is responding to a guest post by William McClure urging people to move on. The moderator on Georgina Forum was a Mr. McClure. Could there be 2 with the same name or does a cat change its spots? The Forum has quit cold - nothing new for days. Weird.
What is happening at the Georgina Advocate has all been seen before with Aurora's Banner. These papers are published by the same company (Metroland) and the current editor at the Advocate used to work at the Banner.
Mr. McClure appears to have understood the significance of what was happening in this case and he expressed a valid opinion in raising awareness of the seriousness of what was happening but it appears that he may have been reigned in. Only the paper knows what happened behind their own closed doors and their resulting logic to wanting to congratulate and commend Georgina Council for their actions while letting bygones be bygones.
You can see what appears to be a bias towards smoothing over little things like attacks on free speech and what some people see as the clear abuse of power demonstrated by some town councils. Don't ask me why, but clearly the internet has a role to play in getting the facts and various opinions delivered to the public because we can't always trust our local media to do that to the degree that some of us feel is warranted.
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