"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Saturday 10 November 2012

No Room For Argument, Only The Fact.

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "That's An Excellent Question":

Can a non-Aurora resident be on Town Council?

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A person must be a resident or own property in the town to be a member of  Council.
To be accepted as a candidate, a person must register with the clerk of the Municipality and provide information required to determine eligibility.
The Clerk is a Commissioner of Oaths. A  would- be candidate must swear all information provided is true and accurate. Swearing to
 information that is not accurate carries its own risk. 
At the same time, it is not the responsibility of any party to challenge information provided. It has been sworn. The significance can hardly be more emphatic. 
I've known a couple of people who gave addresses which were not their own and gotten away with  it. They weren't around long enough .
Former Councillor Betty Pedersen moved to Newmarket during a term in office. As a property-owner in Aurora, her status was not affected. The Councillor completed  the term. 
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 Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "That's An Excellent Question":

Now I understand the need to rain on the parade of whomever is vulnerable to personal attacks.
Obviously that's where power resides.
Power, wherever it is available.
Not on council, you say.

Pity!
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The comment is less than direct but conveys the meaning nevertheless. 
The question of whether a person is entitled to hold a Council seat after  a change of domicile to another municipality, is not personal. 
Selling  property  is hardly a secret exercise. 
The word going around is that Councillor Gaertner is using an address which is not her place of residence. 
If it is not true, it should be corrected forthwith.
If it is, the process is as follows. 
The person who knows the circumstances, shall come forward and request Council to declare the seat vacant
There is onus.
 Under the law, it rests with the person who knows the facts of the matter.
Aurora residents are entitled to be represented by a person eligible to do so. 
That means living within  or owning property within the municipality. 
There is no room for interpretation.
Or quibble     

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Councillor Gaertner would have been aware of any rules. Perhaps she owns an apartment in town. It could even be rented out but would still qualify her to remain on Council.
Sher St. Kitts ran up against that restriction when she wanted to run for Council. The Clerk refused to grant her any special permission because the paperwork for the condo was ' late '.

Anonymous said...

It is impossible to figure out what this Council is doing most of the time. ? But I feel safe in assuming that if Councillor Wendy were to leave, they would not turn to Granger.

Anonymous said...

This is Aurora. There are no gift horses.

Anonymous said...

I think the resident D. Beetle is wondering if it is too late to re-start its Blog. Do we know who it is &/or will we blow its cover ? One quote stands out from all the others, " I didn't support her, but I didn't non-support her either". Yup. We do know you.

Anonymous said...

Maureen Dowd is super. Please blow one of your #'s on her column. " Romney Is President "

Anonymous said...

Just for interest.
Every Republican male who made ' knowing ' comments about how the body of a female works was defeated.
Progress.

Anonymous said...

Gaertner could be co-owner of another Aurora residence?