Something New

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Another Sample":

Once the dust settles, Council is going to have to examine whether or not their CAO has exceeded his authority in his dealings with the Cultural Center. From the outside it appears as though he was working for the Centre instead of for Aurora. That has to be sorted since it quite clear to all involved in this blasted mess that there was no free flow of information. This doesn't have to be done now, but it does need doing.

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I can't publish this without an accompanying comment.

Keep in mind the circumstances in which this board and the agreement were created. It was not  done  during this term.It was not done by legal counsel or Councillors. It was done by the Mayor's friends. 

The last term was four years. Much of the first three years spent trying to silence all opposition within the council

The lament was frequently heard throughout the land:

 "She is trying to undermine everything  council  does.. She must be stopped."

When the first  plan  failed , the next was to move corporation business beyond the purview of council or part thereof.

It was not easy to do with an administration which understood  shared responsibility.

So the administration was changed.  I used to  imagine  an entry  arch  to the town hall;  large wrought iron letters affixed


"ABANDON HOPE ALL YE WHO ENTER HERE" with tiny  flames of  hell curling, twisting and turning between the letters..

After original familiar faces departed , even new faces were in the process of changing.

Silence in the halls and corridors tangible with tension while everyone waited for the next screeching harridan episode that echoed like a banshee.

People with  children  and mortgages to pay, do not simply  pick up and move on. Good gigs are hard to find.

In municipal public service, there's always  hope for relief in the next election, accompanied by the fear of retribution  with change.

One must simply weather the storm and master wooden inscrutable facial expressions.

Change comes  and of course ....Who  to blame?  Who to blame? Who else  is left but staff. It would be so-o-o easy.

No use to say" The devil made me do it." though  truth can  be contained in that small  kernel of cliche.

I had not heard the board was meeting with the CAO until Mr.Layton made the statement in his call to arms. It cannot be ignored.

The statement,it seems, has been circulated throughout Ontario.

But it has not been confirmed. 

I knew the financial statement was submitted quarterly to the treasurer to obtain the next payment of funds. There was no obligation  under the agreement  to report any part of the information to Council. 

I believe ,the agreement was written to keep council in the dark.

The  CAO  was not  intended to be exercising control.

The plan to sidestep council authority continued. Agendas  appeared with no  substantive business.

Decisions were made and actions taken without the messy time- consuming business of  obtaining council authority.

A new Mayor took office and discovered an arrangement much to his liking.He knew nothing  different.

To my knowledge, he and the CAO, without direction from Council undertook to meet with the Historical Society. They came forward with a plan.

Now we find  from a supporter's e-mail The Mayor has attended Culture Centre board meetings. It may or may not be true.

If true...to what end...does he contribute to board deliberations? Provide assurance of support?

It would explain the  board's confidence in  mounting opposition to any council attempt  to change the agreement.

I do not know

But we do all  know the Board's plans ARE  to counter any  attempt  by council to change the agreement.

The battle was enjoined as soon as the notice of  motion was reported. Did the Mayor discourage the Board from challenging Council's authority?

I wish I knew.

Whose side is the Mayor on? Does he represent  Council or the appointed board? Can he represent both?

I'm  doubtful.

The situation is obviously more complicated than first appeared. Sometimes politics have  to run  their  course for  the game plan to emerge.

Just as it has. Every day...  sometimes two or five,  here-to-fore unknown details, come to light.