Now You See It Now You Don't

The McIntyre Heritage Park had a booth at the Home Show. Situated with the Chamber of Commerce and the Historical Society. To the average observer, the plan would appear to have substance and authenticity. What do we know about it. The name McIntyre is familiar. John McIntyre owns one of the properties involved. He is a long-time member of the Historical Society. Also, an honorary member of the town's Heritage Advisory Committee. I think we allowed his family name to be used. But has Mr McIntyre suggested the town spend ten million of the Hydro Reserve Fund to buy his property for a Heritage Park. I am not aware of it but it would hardly be kosher. Bruce Spragg, real estate developer is owner of the third property. Council has seen neither hide nor hair of that individual. Yet promoting the sale of real estate is his business. The Historical Society owns a property. They have not been part of the presentations so far. There have been three. Thanks to Councillor Abel, who received the delegation at HAC which opened the door to the third presentation which opened the door to directing staff to make a different assessment to the one already made by the elected body. Rumours are circling of withdrawals or resignations from what has been called a committee of citizens but isn't. Maybe it's time the town took a hard look at the Historical Society. Who are they? How mny are they? What accountability is there ? Can anybody simply pay $5.membership and infiltrate the organisation to use it to promote a commercial hard-sell. We know of the Mayor's strong support for the scheme. Maybe he's the eminence gris behind the scenes. Maybe it's Councillor Abel,who made it possible for Mr.Albino to lobby HAC and get a secod opportunity to repeat a presentation after Council had already made a decision. Councillor Abel brought forward the resolution to direct the Director of Recreation to make an assessment of the proposal. Like Council's assessment was not good enough William Albino is the only name we know promoting the scheme. What do we know of him He joined the Historical Society in February. By March he already had his wagon hitched to their horse and wheels in motion. A internet search to discover what credentials Mr.Albino might have in the field of Heritage Parks came up empty. What would qualify him to make such a recommendation to the municipality? The only information provided was in association with the province's E-Health scandal. I don't know the connection. Only that he wasn't the whistle-blower. I believe that was the Honorable Peter Kormos. recently deceased, Member for the Provincial Riding of Welland. Now you know everything I know. Except for bits of scuttlebut and names I can't publish for reasons of privacy. A majority of Council,under the leadership and guidance of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor are prepared to spend hard-earned resources to buy a pig in a poke. For all I know,the town might even have funded the booth at the Home Show. The administration has authority to spend money on what they think might be an economic promotion. They did it before without Council approval. Maybe this Blog will flush it out. So far, in terms of identifying an organization with substance or credibilty behind the Heritage Park scheme, we have Nothing,Nada, Zilch,Zero nor a scintilla of evidence. Amen my friends.