The contract for the Church Street school was designed to give the former Mayor and friends complete control of the building.
Make sure neither Council nor anyone else knew what was going on.
They lost the town hall in the election. They still have control of Church Street School.
That's why this fight is down and and dirty.
Why did I not think of that before?
In defense of myself....because I don't think like they do. It became evident on Tuesday when all the usual suspects were on hand. It was quite like old times.
Still it took a few hours for the plan to become plain.
Ballard's role has continued from an advantage within council. Though the Good God Knows, he is no Machiavelli
But the extent of mischief he wrought was clear and
undeniable on Tuesday night.
Geoff Dawe doesn't think like them either. Nor Michael Thompson. Nor Sandra Humphryes.
John Abel and Paul Pirrie caught a sense of it because the time they spent with board members made them realise they would not let go of complete control unless they were forced.
John an Paul sought the professional advice within the town hall for a motion which would accomplish the objective of providing public accountability.
It was written and re-written to meet every contingency.
It was never likely to win approval of Gallo,Gaertner or Ballard. They were instrumental in setting things up the way they are. They are still members of the cult.
For what it's worth.
So now we know what we are dealing with.
Now it's up to Mayor Dawe, Councillor Humphryes and Councillor Thompson to set things right.
Councillor Humphryes I understand has a crisis in the family. That puts the onus on the Mayor and Councillor Thompson.
I'll get on to that right away.
Thursday, 1 March 2012
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24 comments:
The fight is about real estate, the beautiful rent-free building, and money, the continued cash flow from Aurora. All this talk about 'culture' is a blind and means nothing. They require the building to launch their attacks on the town in order to call the shots through their own people with the aim to get more of 'their' people elected next time. It is their base, their nest, and they will fight like hell to keep it.
You saw Walmer lie once more on tape. She assured the Mayor that she was not going to talk about the Culture Centre in order to get to the mic. Gave a little spiel and promptly began to talk about the Centre. And he let her get away with it.
We do not refer to it as the ' Vultures' Nest' for no reason.
"The contract for the Church Street school was designed to give the former Mayor and friends complete control of the building."
Hyperbole aside, I have a hard time to beleive this. I think that perhaps the contract was drawn up to enable those that travel in the same circle to have a place. They felt that this was their legacy - whether they stayed in power or not.
As a 20 year resident of Aurora, I see a number of "clics".
1. The old timers. These are the residents that have lived here for a long time. They liked Aurora of the 60s and 70s. It was not a bedroom community but a town on it's own.
2. The first wavers. This is a group of residents that moved here in the 80s and created some of the more affluent communities (northwest Aurora), Eldeberry trail, etc. They feel that Aurora is an affluent community and this is the audience that the Cultural Centre is aimed at. This is the group that MorMac appeals to.
3. The second wavers. This is a group that moved in the '90s and they have moved into areas like the south west. These people are not as affluent as the Eldeberry group. They are typically commuters that have moved from the city and were looking for a quieter place to raise their family.
4. The third wavers. This is the group that has moved into the area - typically Aurora east. These are the people that the Sobeys, Walmarts, etc have been built for. Some of these people have no idea where "downtown" Aurora is. They moved here because at the time, the houses were inexpensive (comared to Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Markham).
If council is going to govern the Town they really need to look at the demographics.
For those of you on this blog, where do you fit into the four groups above?
I'm sorry that Sandra has trouble. But her Mom was a politician and she does know these individuals. They have attacked her at committee meetings and probably outside of the Town Hall. We need her on board.
I love 11:47's "rational point of view".
@11:47 - I am on your side, however you are inaccurate in part of what you say. I was there, and Ms. Walmer was given leave to talk about the Cultural Centre by Mayor Dawe. It was a quick exchange, but he did allow her to.
KA-NON
When former Mayor Morris’ campaign manager and speech writer was given the plumb paid job of chairing the ACC the red flags should have gone up right away.
I now see Catherine Marshall’s picture in the Banner leading the charge for the ACC at Tuesday night’s council meeting along with Morris’ town awarded friend Sue Walmer. Catherine is Morris’ graphic designer and one of her loyal defenders through recent letters to the editor, one of which called critics of Morris cowards. It’s all the same pack of Morris-sites.
I think that the town should give the Board of the Culture Center a limited opportunity to offer their proposed changes to the contract along with a five year plan that outlines how they will become self-sufficient over that timeframe. The town council can then decide if it wishes to offer favorable lease terms to the ACC or pull the plug on funding all-together.
I’m surprised the ACC crowd didn’t wear their tuxedos with placards in one hand while holding out their other hand for funding. After all, the town only subsidises their ticket prices by approximately 50% right now.
There is something very wrong with this picture when you think that the town does not give a dime to the food bank.
Thank you Evelyn - for the hard work that you do.
I was excited after the first round of comments it seemed like we had enough votes to get it done and then suddenly the amendment and it all died.
Why Sandra, Why Micheal, Why Mr Mayor - especially after you gave such a great talk on the matter...
And I'm glad you're running again!
Oh, come on!
You're not trotting out that old chestnut are you?
Geez, Evelyn, are we getting that desperate that you're giving her power again? Stop feeding the Morris monster.
When Susan Morton Leonard got ousted from the board, the door was slammed shut and locked on Morris et al.
Seriously, your paranoia is not helping this issue.
The Vultures are a dedicated group of Board Sitters which gives them access to a large amount of taxpayer dollars with which to work their aims. It would be interesting to see just how inbred these boards have become but I do not have the computer skills. Maybe C. Watts could give it a shot?
I have found out that members of the Cultural Center board are involved in the two Morraine Protection outfits and there may be more. Probably with titles linked to history, preservation etc. Groups we donate to without knowing the shadowy figures behind the expensive advertising presentations. There is not supposed to be pay for board members but I suspect they could fudge that with expense accounts and deductions. All very hush/hush to keep one from seeing that the same individuals are occupying the management and treasury slots.
Last I heard of Ms. Marshall, she was eagerly awaiting the show trial for Morris non-defamation lawsuit that would restore Morris to glory and make her a very rich iwoman. Now that we see the combined wealth of these people, it becomes easier to understand how Morris could just drag her case on for months and why she has not seemed concerned about employment or hefty legal billings. Some people can easily write cheques that would blow the socks off the average Auroran.
Catherine Marshall was hustling merchants and businesses for donations to Ballard's Ranger Gala event for the silent auction. They all live in each other's pockets. The lust to have their photos taken blows their cover all the time. It is not imagination that keeps placing them together.
No need to invoke any computer skills to find out about me I have lived here in Aurora for 27years.
I am on the Board of the Cultrural Centre and the OakRidges Moraine Land Trust two orgainzations that I support with my volunteer time and resources. Quite proud to do so.
I am a retired person and volunteering is a strong Canadian value that I got from my parents who both volunteered in their community of Richmond Hill
All this information is readily available and I am not sure whether I should be flattered or offended by being described as a shadowy figure by someone called anonymous but the irony is not lost on me
I just spent some time trolling through the Cultural Centre website. Under Staff there are 12 people listed, including Mr. Layton and the 2 people he had with him at the meeting.
Are all 12 people paid staff? Or are some of them volunteers? I would guess that they are paid, otherwise they would be called "volunteers", instead of "staff".
Does the limited amount of financial reporting that the town have received from the CC include remuneration details for these 12 individuals? I assume that since it is funded by our tax dollars that we would have a right to know what they earn? At the very least we should know who among the 12, if any, is getting more than $100,000 per year, according to Sunshine List rules.
Who is Robert Layton? What is his background?
A google search reveals that Tracy Smith is acting Executive Director of the Ontario Forestry Association, and has ties to Ms. Walmer through the Oak Rdiges Moraine Land Trust, and that Heidi Franken is, I believe, an accountant with the Ontario Securities Commission, and was also a member of the Community Action for Wells Street. However, a google search reveals nothing of Mr. Layton.
I was expecting to learn of his qualifications to run the Cultural Centre, and maybe even a bit about what other ties he may have to certain groups within our community (like the others), but I can't find anything.
What is his background? Is he qualified for the position? What is HIS association wit the controlling interests?
Watching the Council meeting on tape without the planned applause and noise, one can see Tracy Smith pulling Layton's strings whenever a reply is needed. Special hesitation over any commitment whatsoever or any promise to actually deliver anything by a specific date. They are not prepared to given an inch. It will have to be taken from them.
Mr. Tracy Smith,
Then why did you act like an idiot when Watts was taking pictures at a meeting ? Why is your photo the only one missing in a page of Board members { can't recall which board } and why did you have to keep supplying the answers to Layton during your abysmal performance Tuesday night ?
Just asking. And since Layton refused most of the questions, it is clear the ACC has no answers for Aurora.
5:49 PM
Good questions, What you are seeing is the reason they are fighting so hard. The' chitter" " chitter ' of rodent claws hitting the gang plank. Oh, yes, there are paid staff, expense accounts and God knows what else.
And, before anyone comes up to argue with me, I will state up front that if you won't show us your books, we are entitled to any conclusions we might draw.
Question for Mr Smith - just a yes or no
Did you know about the dump site on the Morraine?
Went fishing and got a big one. Guy is really proud to be spending Aurora money and that of at least 2 other groups. Could we have some accountability for your pride, please ? Stick to Aurora for now,
5:49, there is no need to "guess" and "assume" - you merely need to ask. Actually, the twelve people that you apparently were looking at are the Board of Directors (all volunteers).
If you had scrolled further down the page, you'd have seen that there are only four full-time staff, plus four additional part-time positions. Along with the assistance of many volunteers, these are the people involved in the day-to-day operation of the facility.
It seems like you're picking on the current people involved with the Cultural Centre for something that they weren't responsible for many years ago. I don't think that is fair, Councillor Buck.
It is clear that you have a vengeance against all things Morris (I'm no fan of hers) but I don't give them any credit for what the people are doing there now. I go to lots of events there and I'm hardly a "culture vulture".
I am on a very fixed income but like doing things in my own town with my family that are entertaining, informative and reasonably priced for all members of my family. It is certainly not snooty as it seems some suggest on this site. Perhaps they haven't been to the place.
I understand from this site that you have never been to the place. As my elected official, (yes, I did vote for you) I am very surprised that you rely on other people to tell you things without seeing it for yourself first hand.
It doesn't help you if they are giving you misinformation.
"...we are entitled to any conclusions we might draw."
You mean make stuff up? Cllr Buck doesn't like people to spread lies, you know.
One would think that the Cultural Center would be eager to open up their books and clean the slate.
The political environment we now have is once again tainted by the same cast of characters.
This is public money that deserves accountability. The crap that is being stirred up by a few people that want to defend a flawed contract is not helping our community.
You can bet that there are people trying to leverage this mess for what it is worth politically. Political tension is potentially good for their interests.
I have to ask myself why the ACC is not trying to build bridges in a spirit of appreciation and cooperation. The only warmth that I’m feeling right now is from the burning bridges.
No, Tracy . Irony was when you accused Watts of intimidation tactics - he knew you not. Then you summon your supporters with incorrect information to intimidate Council. That is your irony.
Fortunately Rogers actually did a good job. Check out the tape. A perfect illustration of bullying, full of sound and fury, and complete with Gallo's crude play to the crowd with a crack at Evelyn.
So much for that Code of Conduct he kept harping on.
All the while, the Mayor looked blandly on .Not for him to correct ill manners.
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