Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Blog Update":
One is supposed to lead by example.
What would you have said and continue to say if Mayor Dawe had performed, in public, the way Rob Ford has done?
I wouldn't expect you to say that such a performance was enhancing our town's image or reputation.
***********************
Election before last, I registered as a candidate forMayor. On reflection , I decided against .
The town deserved a more youthful image.
I never had a doubt about my competence to bring a Council together to work for the best interest of the community, to ensure accountability and share the satisfaction of a job well done.
I have a few basic principles;
Respect for the voters right to choose
The Mayor's role is pivotal.
Judgement is paramount.
Council authority must be respected.
Taxpayers must receive full value
Spending must be controlled by Council.
Fairness, Equity and Consistency is the backbone of decision-making.
Employees at every level, committed to the dignity and meaning of public service are the face of the organization . Their role is the day to day and face to face delivery of service and must be acknowledged and respected.
Leadership comes from the Mayor's Chair ...well not precisely the chair....the Mayor
We don't need someone who thinks he's slumming.
Now then-----take what you like out of that
Thursday, 31 October 2013
A Family Dispute
Numbers are growing. With an Apple App Spam is almost negligible
Standards continue to evolve as I become more surefooted.
Comments denigrating staff continue to be made, not published and numbers are reduced.
Councillors are fair game but I try to screen out personal references. It would be better to stay away from the personal.
As I told the Mayor last Tuesday. I didn't learn what people expect of me from books. I learned the hard way. I don;t think it hurts for Councillors to read reactions to performance as long as it is the political performance.
Growth in the comment numbers is the most positive from my perspective.
I've never understood why people can't get into a vigorous argument for the joy of it.
My twenty -three year old grandson phoned me from Whitby today. He'd been listening to CFRB
speaking on the release of documents from the Toronto police department
I haven't had television or radio on , so I haven't heard it.
Aaron has been determined to prove I'm wrong about Rob Ford and he wanted to rub my face in it.
I love my grandson and I love that he cares as much about something as I do.
We pick up the argument where we left off whenever we see each other.
He thinks I admire Rob Ford personally.I continue to insist the fact he won a decisive victory as Mayor of Toronto in a fair fight against a number of valid candidates. must be respected.
I cannot begin to comprehend what it takes to accomplish such an overwhelming challenge.
In Rob Ford' s case it wasn't urbane slick .
It wasn 't self-proclaimed righteousness.
There was no vainglory .
I think it's because Rob Ford is the common man with all the flaws and foibles plain to be seen.
Voters empathized and felt every cruel cut of the machete attacks by the Toronto Star .
It became even more ferocious after he won the day and became the City's Mayor,
Standards continue to evolve as I become more surefooted.
Comments denigrating staff continue to be made, not published and numbers are reduced.
Councillors are fair game but I try to screen out personal references. It would be better to stay away from the personal.
As I told the Mayor last Tuesday. I didn't learn what people expect of me from books. I learned the hard way. I don;t think it hurts for Councillors to read reactions to performance as long as it is the political performance.
Growth in the comment numbers is the most positive from my perspective.
I've never understood why people can't get into a vigorous argument for the joy of it.
My twenty -three year old grandson phoned me from Whitby today. He'd been listening to CFRB
speaking on the release of documents from the Toronto police department
I haven't had television or radio on , so I haven't heard it.
Aaron has been determined to prove I'm wrong about Rob Ford and he wanted to rub my face in it.
I love my grandson and I love that he cares as much about something as I do.
We pick up the argument where we left off whenever we see each other.
He thinks I admire Rob Ford personally.I continue to insist the fact he won a decisive victory as Mayor of Toronto in a fair fight against a number of valid candidates. must be respected.
I cannot begin to comprehend what it takes to accomplish such an overwhelming challenge.
In Rob Ford' s case it wasn't urbane slick .
It wasn 't self-proclaimed righteousness.
There was no vainglory .
I think it's because Rob Ford is the common man with all the flaws and foibles plain to be seen.
Voters empathized and felt every cruel cut of the machete attacks by the Toronto Star .
It became even more ferocious after he won the day and became the City's Mayor,
Cleaning Up In The Kitchen
I cooked yesterday. Ribs'n beans in home- made barbecue sauce in the crock pot. I cleaned up as I went.
Doesn't matter there was still clean-up today. Not finished yet.
That's one reason I posted someone else on David Suzuki.
Besides enlightenment there was the mention of speaker fees.
$40,000. a pop .
Travel, accommodation and meals would be provided by the host as well.
Think about that:
Suppose Senators Wallin and Duffy were asked to tally the number of speaking engagements on behalf of the Government(Conservative Party) .
Expenses claimed against the Senate budget and speaker's fees would be higher than that which they are now accused of improperly claiming .
The Prime Minister , to house applause , says they deserve to be suspended without pay and should resign.
The Prime Minister made the appointments. Did he not know Mike Duffy worked and lived in Ottawa for years.
For sure, he knew Pamela Wallin had not resided in Saskatchewan for decades.
ThePrime Minister's private sector brand of integrity/ expediency is not useful in politics.
Every politician understands very well why Wallin and Duffy were appointed.
What is happening to them now,at the ands of the Prime Minister,is precisely the reason Senate appointments cannot be put asunder.
Cheques from "private funds" of the PMO Chief of Staff, legal fees paid by the Conservative Party.
are merely dots to be connected.
In the public eye, Wallin and Duffy can't be defended .
In Harper's estimation, they could be jettisoned. They should just crawl away quietly.
Well no, they were never going to do that.
Masters of Communication are least likely victims. Even if told in the first person, the more salacious the story the more delicious to tell. This story is too hot to hold.
Duffy can't hide his glee.Wallin is more ladylike but she is a veteran of wars.
The only Conservative with courage intelligence and decency enough to defend their right to due process was Hugh Segal. No slouch himself in the art of communication.
But never fear, it was likely enough
Now I need to go finish cleaning up in the kitchen
Doesn't matter there was still clean-up today. Not finished yet.
That's one reason I posted someone else on David Suzuki.
Besides enlightenment there was the mention of speaker fees.
$40,000. a pop .
Travel, accommodation and meals would be provided by the host as well.
Think about that:
Suppose Senators Wallin and Duffy were asked to tally the number of speaking engagements on behalf of the Government(Conservative Party) .
Expenses claimed against the Senate budget and speaker's fees would be higher than that which they are now accused of improperly claiming .
The Prime Minister , to house applause , says they deserve to be suspended without pay and should resign.
The Prime Minister made the appointments. Did he not know Mike Duffy worked and lived in Ottawa for years.
For sure, he knew Pamela Wallin had not resided in Saskatchewan for decades.
ThePrime Minister's private sector brand of integrity/ expediency is not useful in politics.
Every politician understands very well why Wallin and Duffy were appointed.
What is happening to them now,at the ands of the Prime Minister,is precisely the reason Senate appointments cannot be put asunder.
Cheques from "private funds" of the PMO Chief of Staff, legal fees paid by the Conservative Party.
are merely dots to be connected.
In the public eye, Wallin and Duffy can't be defended .
In Harper's estimation, they could be jettisoned. They should just crawl away quietly.
Well no, they were never going to do that.
Masters of Communication are least likely victims. Even if told in the first person, the more salacious the story the more delicious to tell. This story is too hot to hold.
Duffy can't hide his glee.Wallin is more ladylike but she is a veteran of wars.
The only Conservative with courage intelligence and decency enough to defend their right to due process was Hugh Segal. No slouch himself in the art of communication.
But never fear, it was likely enough
Now I need to go finish cleaning up in the kitchen
There are two David Suzuki’s.
Most of us know one of the Suzuki's. Let’s call him Saint Suzuki. That’s the Suzuki whose TV show on the CBC constantly lectures us about our lifestyle. He says we need to consume less, buy less and use less fossil fuels.
But then there’s another Suzuki. Let’s call him Secret Suzuki, because he’s far less well-known.
Secret Suzuki is the one who lives on Vancouver’s elite Point Grey Road, on a double lot, overlooking English Bay, right above the exclusive Kitsilano Yacht Club. The City of Vancouver assesses the land value alone at over $8 million. And that’s just one of Secret Suzuki’s properties.
He has another million-dollar home in Vancouver. And then there’s another home on Quadra Island. That’s three homes right there, if you count the double lot on Point Grey Road as just one property.
But then there’s his large property holdings on Nelson Island. What’s so fascinating about that one is that he co-owns the property with an oil company, Kootenay Oil Distributors Ltd. They don’t plan to drill for oil together. It’s a beautiful tourist spot — maybe perfect for a nice big condo development.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with co-owning any property along with an oil company. But isn’t Saint Suzuki against fossil fuel companies — especially oil companies?
Saint Suzuki tells us that the world is desperately overcrowded, that we’re overpopulated, and that we’re going to run out of things.
But in his own life, Secret Suzuki has five children.
There’s nothing wrong with having five children. It’s a blessing. But then why does he think other people should have fewer kids?
Saint Suzuki rails against corporations and profits. He even gave a well-received anti-capitalist speech at the Occupy Vancouver protest.
But Secret Suzuki himself has several corporations. One of them, the David Suzuki Foundation, took in a whopping $9 million last year and has $12 million in assets. More than 10 million of that is invested in stocks and bonds.
Saint Suzuki despises lobbyists, and says they have a disproportionate control of political power in Ottawa. But Secret Suzuki himself has nine paid lobbyists registered in Ottawa’s lobbyist registry. Not one. Nine.
Saint Suzuki despises politicians, and says they can’t be trusted. Secret Suzuki starred in a Liberal party TV ad along with former Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty.
Saint Suzuki says corporations have to be less obsessed by profits, and do more for the public good. They need to especially think of the interests of the next generation, our children.
But Secret Suzuki has made a tidy profit off young people. His standard speaking fee at universities in Canada is $30,000 plus expenses. He billed Quebec’s John Abbott College a cool $41,000 to visit them.
Saint Suzuki speaks in the language of tolerance and equality and liberalism — utterly politically correct.
But Secret Suzuki engages in conduct that should cause feminists to raise an eyebrow. When he visited John Abbott College, his assistant called with special requests to go along with his speaking fee. Here is an internal e-mail from the college’s Mary Milburn: “We have learned, via Dr. Suzuki’s assistant, that although the Dr. does not like to have bodyguards per se, he does not mind having a couple of ladies (females) that would act as body guards.” The college’s Jim Anderson got involved in selecting the coeds, too: “Please be certain that the women are nicely dressed, we don’t want them in evening gowns, but definitely NOT Police Tech uniforms.” All of this bizarre selection of girls, dressed just so, was the result of Secret Suzuki’s special request. If he were a conservative, he’d be called a dirty old man. But he ’s a saint. So the college went along with it.
David Suzuki is not a criminal. But he is not a saint. He’s a real man — a capitalist millionaire, a politician, a man with a staff of lobbyists, a prolific father, a wealthy landlord. If only he’d stop scolding the rest of us for aspiring to do the same.
This column was written for Sun News October 13 2013.
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Wednesday, 30 October 2013
The Tale becomes the Legend
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "It's an Oxymoron":
@ 00:19
The Centre was clearly told by the treasurer that their support by Aurora taxpayers at such a level was unsustainable. And that was after the solicitor had to explain that their ' contract ' was out of whack.
They have learned nothing.
The initial figures that I have seen show that they are still spending beyond their means. And clearly expect Aurora residents to make up the thousands of dollars of difference.
How like the Senate are these folks ?
*********************
It's amazing how many people don't want me to talk about Church Street School.
They're not very nice either. They call me nasty names and suggest I'm not wanted.
If I didn't know better I could easily get a complex. She who writes e-mails at the witching hour is back on track.
Should we be surprised the Historical Society has never given any sign of support for the museum's return. Well no! They actually surrendered the right.
As time goes by the reason becomes more apparent. At first the commitment to manage the facility was withdrawn. They had too few members. The number was fifty-nine.
It doesn't seem to have improved. The President made a presentation to Council at the last meeting
on the Fifty year History of the Historical Society.They wanted to change the name but couldn't because only twenty-six members showed up for the annual meeting.
I always had the impression the Historical Society was a really representative of the community.
Seems not.
Going back to the Culture Centre and the comment above. I didn't know the Treasurer told them
the town could not continue to sustain that level of funding. I don't recall Council ever being so advised.
Of course we don't know what the Mayor has been advising the Board.The Mayor was attending the closed Board meetings for a year and Council knew nothing about that either. The Town solicitor apparently told him he shouldn't but he continued to do so.
The meetings are closed so Council has no idea if he is still attending the meetings .
The Board started off with a payment of $343,000. for purchase of culture.
In the first year ,a donation of $50,000 was received from theToronto Dominion Bank . It was solicited by the Interim Chairman and matched with town funds according to the contract.
No such donations were ever received again or solicited either so far as I know.
The contract called for the funding to be increased by a certain percentage each year without asking.
Last year the Board asked for more than theTreasurer recommended to Council. They got that.
The new contract gives the town space to store the collection. It's not clear that a curator will be hired. I is also not clear the small group that is the misnamed Historical Society should continue to receive $60,000 which was the grant provided last year .
Probably they will. The museum has not been operated for ten years but they continued to receive the grant anyway. Now they don't even own the collection and that needs attention so we will probably pay twice.Plus Mr. Albino continues to promote the Heritage Disneyland/ real estate deal.
The original curator provided heritage planning services to the town. Now we have a heritage planner on the payroll as well as the grant to the Historical Society.
Some people have the impression town resources are being expended to establish feasibility of the plan. All I know about tat is Coucil directed the Director of Recreation and Parks to do a little bit ofwork on feasability and tha
Last week we were talking about volunteer organization being provide space rent free.
his week we're talking about handing over $60,000 to a voluntary organization
@ 00:19
The Centre was clearly told by the treasurer that their support by Aurora taxpayers at such a level was unsustainable. And that was after the solicitor had to explain that their ' contract ' was out of whack.
They have learned nothing.
The initial figures that I have seen show that they are still spending beyond their means. And clearly expect Aurora residents to make up the thousands of dollars of difference.
How like the Senate are these folks ?
*********************
It's amazing how many people don't want me to talk about Church Street School.
They're not very nice either. They call me nasty names and suggest I'm not wanted.
If I didn't know better I could easily get a complex. She who writes e-mails at the witching hour is back on track.
Should we be surprised the Historical Society has never given any sign of support for the museum's return. Well no! They actually surrendered the right.
As time goes by the reason becomes more apparent. At first the commitment to manage the facility was withdrawn. They had too few members. The number was fifty-nine.
It doesn't seem to have improved. The President made a presentation to Council at the last meeting
on the Fifty year History of the Historical Society.They wanted to change the name but couldn't because only twenty-six members showed up for the annual meeting.
I always had the impression the Historical Society was a really representative of the community.
Seems not.
Going back to the Culture Centre and the comment above. I didn't know the Treasurer told them
the town could not continue to sustain that level of funding. I don't recall Council ever being so advised.
Of course we don't know what the Mayor has been advising the Board.The Mayor was attending the closed Board meetings for a year and Council knew nothing about that either. The Town solicitor apparently told him he shouldn't but he continued to do so.
The meetings are closed so Council has no idea if he is still attending the meetings .
The Board started off with a payment of $343,000. for purchase of culture.
In the first year ,a donation of $50,000 was received from theToronto Dominion Bank . It was solicited by the Interim Chairman and matched with town funds according to the contract.
No such donations were ever received again or solicited either so far as I know.
The contract called for the funding to be increased by a certain percentage each year without asking.
Last year the Board asked for more than theTreasurer recommended to Council. They got that.
The new contract gives the town space to store the collection. It's not clear that a curator will be hired. I is also not clear the small group that is the misnamed Historical Society should continue to receive $60,000 which was the grant provided last year .
Probably they will. The museum has not been operated for ten years but they continued to receive the grant anyway. Now they don't even own the collection and that needs attention so we will probably pay twice.Plus Mr. Albino continues to promote the Heritage Disneyland/ real estate deal.
The original curator provided heritage planning services to the town. Now we have a heritage planner on the payroll as well as the grant to the Historical Society.
Some people have the impression town resources are being expended to establish feasibility of the plan. All I know about tat is Coucil directed the Director of Recreation and Parks to do a little bit ofwork on feasability and tha
Last week we were talking about volunteer organization being provide space rent free.
his week we're talking about handing over $60,000 to a voluntary organization
Tuesday, 29 October 2013
It's an Oxymoron
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Argument is Not Going Away Any Time Soon":
OK
Colour me cynical
I have seen ads for people who might want to serve on the Board of the Centre
That makes me wonder if they are cleaning house before the next election
Fielding a few candidates
It also would ensure that any promises made in the last few years are no longer valid because " This is a new board
**************
It's another piece of the argument. Board members are volunteers. Well meaning individuals who put their names forward because they were invited to do so.
A Board that operates a facility successfully has status and the satisfaction of a job well done, recognized and appreciated by the wider community.
My impression is there has been substantial turnover since the board was initially created.
They were not a part of the skullduggery.
The agreement was signed before they came on board.
Some members jumped in with both feet and cheerfully joined the tumult.
Centre staff applied for and accepted the positions. They gave up jobs ..
The new agreement specifically does not recognize them as town employees.
Some past board members didn't have the sense to stay clear of the politics.
One I knew for several years, introduced himself to me at the official opening as if I had lost my wits
and needed to be reminded who he was.
It was comical actually. I looked twice at him to determine if he had it all together.
Board members are not my target. Staff particularly are not party to the dispute.
The fact remains ------ taxpayers are not well served by a Culture Centre managed by an
independent Board completely dependent on public funding.
OK
Colour me cynical
I have seen ads for people who might want to serve on the Board of the Centre
That makes me wonder if they are cleaning house before the next election
Fielding a few candidates
It also would ensure that any promises made in the last few years are no longer valid because " This is a new board
**************
It's another piece of the argument. Board members are volunteers. Well meaning individuals who put their names forward because they were invited to do so.
A Board that operates a facility successfully has status and the satisfaction of a job well done, recognized and appreciated by the wider community.
My impression is there has been substantial turnover since the board was initially created.
They were not a part of the skullduggery.
The agreement was signed before they came on board.
Some members jumped in with both feet and cheerfully joined the tumult.
Centre staff applied for and accepted the positions. They gave up jobs ..
The new agreement specifically does not recognize them as town employees.
Some past board members didn't have the sense to stay clear of the politics.
One I knew for several years, introduced himself to me at the official opening as if I had lost my wits
and needed to be reminded who he was.
It was comical actually. I looked twice at him to determine if he had it all together.
Board members are not my target. Staff particularly are not party to the dispute.
The fact remains ------ taxpayers are not well served by a Culture Centre managed by an
independent Board completely dependent on public funding.
The Argument is Not Going Away Any Time Soon
In the Annual Report for the Culture Centre ,there's an explanation of a substantial reserve..
It provides for the Board to wind up Centre affairs if the town exercises it;s authority and give six months notice of the agreement's termination .
There's an itsy bitsy detail that prohibits a Council from tying the hands of a future Council.
It makes the argument about winning and losing and accepting defeat and being a bad loser
and all that organic matter a tad ridiculous.
The new agreement is something else accomplished by the current Council.
A great deal of work went into it. The town's interest is protected. To an extent.
This week a decision has been handed down from the court establishing Councillors serving on the board will not incur a Conflict of Interest by voting on a matter related to the Centre's finances.
That's a plus.
There is an outstanding question still. An elected member is bound to deal with town business in public, with few exceptions. The exceptions are not about covering political posteriors.
In the negotiations for the new contract , the board refused to agree to open meetings.
Council appointees to the Board will not only attend closed meetings, they will be bound by confidentiality of the board's deliberations.
There is little point in Council having representation on the Board if they can't keep Council informed. It's not like the Library Board whose meetings are also required to be public.
Like Thomas Mulchair I will keep hammering home the point.
If an arm's length board is not charged with operating the Centre like a business , on at least a break even basis, the board has no reason for being.
Simply as a matter of equity between users, Church Street School should be like any other facility the town owns and operates.
Programs are provided.
User Fees are charged.
Facility rentals produce revenue .
Sponsorships solicited by staff and generously supported by local business help to keep fees affordable.
The town's recreation has an annual budget of $5million and revenues of $5 million.Why do we need to mess with success?
Programs cited in the the Centre's Annual Report were previously held in the Aurora Seniors Centre; built for the purpose.
How many venues do we need to have a forties sing along and an annual Horticultural Exhibition
and Sale.??
How many glossy publications, web sites, promotions, etc etc ????
Town facilities and programs are available on Statutory holidays
The question is---what is the Culture Centre doing that could not be done as effectively, efficiently
and more economically under the jurisdiction of the town's administration?
If it;s a question of winners and losers, the taxpayers are clearly losers.
As a person elected to represent the taxpayers interest, I am not prepared to accept .
We are mad as hell and we are not going to take it any more.
At least not quietly.
It provides for the Board to wind up Centre affairs if the town exercises it;s authority and give six months notice of the agreement's termination .
There's an itsy bitsy detail that prohibits a Council from tying the hands of a future Council.
It makes the argument about winning and losing and accepting defeat and being a bad loser
and all that organic matter a tad ridiculous.
The new agreement is something else accomplished by the current Council.
A great deal of work went into it. The town's interest is protected. To an extent.
This week a decision has been handed down from the court establishing Councillors serving on the board will not incur a Conflict of Interest by voting on a matter related to the Centre's finances.
That's a plus.
There is an outstanding question still. An elected member is bound to deal with town business in public, with few exceptions. The exceptions are not about covering political posteriors.
In the negotiations for the new contract , the board refused to agree to open meetings.
Council appointees to the Board will not only attend closed meetings, they will be bound by confidentiality of the board's deliberations.
There is little point in Council having representation on the Board if they can't keep Council informed. It's not like the Library Board whose meetings are also required to be public.
Like Thomas Mulchair I will keep hammering home the point.
If an arm's length board is not charged with operating the Centre like a business , on at least a break even basis, the board has no reason for being.
Simply as a matter of equity between users, Church Street School should be like any other facility the town owns and operates.
Programs are provided.
User Fees are charged.
Facility rentals produce revenue .
Sponsorships solicited by staff and generously supported by local business help to keep fees affordable.
The town's recreation has an annual budget of $5million and revenues of $5 million.Why do we need to mess with success?
Programs cited in the the Centre's Annual Report were previously held in the Aurora Seniors Centre; built for the purpose.
How many venues do we need to have a forties sing along and an annual Horticultural Exhibition
and Sale.??
How many glossy publications, web sites, promotions, etc etc ????
Town facilities and programs are available on Statutory holidays
The question is---what is the Culture Centre doing that could not be done as effectively, efficiently
and more economically under the jurisdiction of the town's administration?
If it;s a question of winners and losers, the taxpayers are clearly losers.
As a person elected to represent the taxpayers interest, I am not prepared to accept .
We are mad as hell and we are not going to take it any more.
At least not quietly.
Quid Pro Quo
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Color of Betrayal":
A new Ipsos Reid Poll shows more than half of Canadians are following the Senate Turmoil closely.
They have got that one right.
Senator Duffy's statement is incredible.
A new Ipsos Reid Poll shows more than half of Canadians are following the Senate Turmoil closely.
They have got that one right.
Senator Duffy's statement is incredible.
************
Senator Duffy has been sending out signals for months.
What didn't we already know about Stephen Harper. We knew he pushed aside Preston Manning founder of the Reform Party before swallowing the venerable Conservative Party of Canada holus -bollus and alienated well respected Joe Clarke and other moderates like him.
We learned of his proclivity to rage when Belinda Stronach our M.P. was a member of his Party.
Another M.P. was expelled from caucus for daring to express an opinion different from the party.
No doubt if Belinda hadn't crossed the floor she might well have found herself expelled as well.
A person would have to be several degrees short of sensible not to catch Duffy's drift when he was reported to have said he ought to be sending invoices to "the party " for services rendered on the campaign trail.
Senator Wallin made the same point when she spoke of speaking engagements she travelled to by invitation and on behalf of the government (read party)
Both Senators had a value to the Harper Party well above and beyond service to the country in the Senate.
How convenient to have two such heavyweights on the payroll , ready to take flight wherever
and whenever to carry the party 's message with all expenses paid from the Senate Budget.
No doubt they did everything required of them, secure in the knowledge that everyone who was anyone knew precisely what the deal was and no questions would ever be asked about how they used the expense allowance.
Alas, they knew naught of politics. None of them.
Harper's careless alienation of all and sundry, including the people he used to get to and stay where he is, was bound to come back and bite him.
He is cold and bloodless. Doesn't have emotions. Doesn't understand them when he sees them.
Like Michael Ignatieff's recent confession that not until the night before the election did he realise
it was not about him. It was about the people.
The people who came out on old,wet and windy nights to meetings in Legions and village halls to get a feel about what he was about. Could they trust him? Was he one of them?
Thomas Mulchair knows it. He keeps hammering away and smiling.
Knowing the fish is caught,reeled in and floundering on the rock.
There is no escape. The more he struggles the deeper the hook embeds itself.
It will not be a pretty sight. The longer he hangs on the hook.the greater the humiliation.
Harper has to go.
Conservative Senators will have to decide if they want to go down with him. Or support the rule of law.
Wallin and Duffy will get to fight another day.
We will have a general election.
Senator Duffy has been sending out signals for months.
What didn't we already know about Stephen Harper. We knew he pushed aside Preston Manning founder of the Reform Party before swallowing the venerable Conservative Party of Canada holus -bollus and alienated well respected Joe Clarke and other moderates like him.
We learned of his proclivity to rage when Belinda Stronach our M.P. was a member of his Party.
Another M.P. was expelled from caucus for daring to express an opinion different from the party.
No doubt if Belinda hadn't crossed the floor she might well have found herself expelled as well.
A person would have to be several degrees short of sensible not to catch Duffy's drift when he was reported to have said he ought to be sending invoices to "the party " for services rendered on the campaign trail.
Senator Wallin made the same point when she spoke of speaking engagements she travelled to by invitation and on behalf of the government (read party)
Both Senators had a value to the Harper Party well above and beyond service to the country in the Senate.
How convenient to have two such heavyweights on the payroll , ready to take flight wherever
and whenever to carry the party 's message with all expenses paid from the Senate Budget.
No doubt they did everything required of them, secure in the knowledge that everyone who was anyone knew precisely what the deal was and no questions would ever be asked about how they used the expense allowance.
Alas, they knew naught of politics. None of them.
Harper's careless alienation of all and sundry, including the people he used to get to and stay where he is, was bound to come back and bite him.
He is cold and bloodless. Doesn't have emotions. Doesn't understand them when he sees them.
Like Michael Ignatieff's recent confession that not until the night before the election did he realise
it was not about him. It was about the people.
The people who came out on old,wet and windy nights to meetings in Legions and village halls to get a feel about what he was about. Could they trust him? Was he one of them?
Thomas Mulchair knows it. He keeps hammering away and smiling.
Knowing the fish is caught,reeled in and floundering on the rock.
There is no escape. The more he struggles the deeper the hook embeds itself.
It will not be a pretty sight. The longer he hangs on the hook.the greater the humiliation.
Harper has to go.
Conservative Senators will have to decide if they want to go down with him. Or support the rule of law.
Wallin and Duffy will get to fight another day.
We will have a general election.
The Culture Centre's Audited Statement
I have in my hand he 2012 Annul Repoirt of the Aurora Cultural Centre.
I have read the audited statement at Dec 31 2012 and alongside it the unaudited statement up to June 30th 2013.
Italics in the previous sentence mean nothing. I don't know how they got there so I don't know how to remove them. I pressed everything saw. Put it in save . Checked comments .Came back to start again.
Italics are still there.
It's kind of like reading an audited statement. I would not ordinarily depend on my own reading .
For understanding I would lean on clarification or confirmation from professional advice.
There is information in the document however I can rely upon and pass along.
As an elected representative, responsible for the interest of the taxpayers, the nature of analysis must be a critique.
It's easy to criticize Unless there is a valid point to be made ,it's not useful.
Cash flow from the town to the Centre last year was $370,000.
The pie chart shows town grant representing 61.9% of revenue.
Programs produced 21.8%. in revenue.
Donations and fundraising produced 6 %
Grants ( other) 10.3 %
Revenue is shown as $576,612.
Expenditures are shown at $597,789.
Elsewhere in the report, volunteer hours contributed are noted and the statement made the Centre
could not provide the service without the unpaid assistance of volunteers.
No reference is made to the value of the one dollar a year for rent.
Nor the $140,000 plus cost of maintenance and utilities.
17,500 square feet of space recently renovated at a cost in excess of $3 million capital .
is not beyond evaluation.
I am not the one to do that either.
Cost of utilities and maintenance are precisely accounted .
Hard costs are relevant,
They make the deficit closer to $230.000 than $23,000.
A statement in the report notes the Centre would not be able to operate without the contribution
of volunteer hours of service.
It follows they would not be operate without free rent and cost of maintenance and utilities borne by the municipalities.
The Nokida Report is referenced in the introduction to the Annual Report .
I was there when the presentation was made.
The town treasurer of the day, warned the facility would become a sink hole for tax dollars .
In his view .an arm's length board, charged with operating the facility as a business was the
answer to the problem.
The consultant recommended seed money to allow the program to get up and running.. Fund raising in the community was presented as essential for self-sufficiency.
It was pie in the sky and I said so at the time.
Nonetheless the, financial plan presented by the Consultant was adopted by Council and conveyed to in turn for public consumption.
The contract signed with the new board in 2009 gave scant recognition to the financial plan adopted by Council and conveyed to the public.
I believe the interim board understood the concept. They were in place until the official opening.
The new operating board had the written contract and possibly other guidance for direction.
The contract signed by the current Council effects no change in understanding.
The Board is in the third year of operation
The Annual Report indicates more staff will be needed to operate in 2014.
A Message from the President starts the Annual Report, The last sentence of the first paragraph notes the following.:
i am pleased to report that our centre is poised for a bright future of continued growth and contribution to the Town of Aurora ad its surrounding communities.
Yep ! It's a sink hole .
I have read the audited statement at Dec 31 2012 and alongside it the unaudited statement up to June 30th 2013.
Italics in the previous sentence mean nothing. I don't know how they got there so I don't know how to remove them. I pressed everything saw. Put it in save . Checked comments .Came back to start again.
Italics are still there.
It's kind of like reading an audited statement. I would not ordinarily depend on my own reading .
For understanding I would lean on clarification or confirmation from professional advice.
There is information in the document however I can rely upon and pass along.
As an elected representative, responsible for the interest of the taxpayers, the nature of analysis must be a critique.
It's easy to criticize Unless there is a valid point to be made ,it's not useful.
Cash flow from the town to the Centre last year was $370,000.
The pie chart shows town grant representing 61.9% of revenue.
Programs produced 21.8%. in revenue.
Donations and fundraising produced 6 %
Grants ( other) 10.3 %
Revenue is shown as $576,612.
Expenditures are shown at $597,789.
Elsewhere in the report, volunteer hours contributed are noted and the statement made the Centre
could not provide the service without the unpaid assistance of volunteers.
No reference is made to the value of the one dollar a year for rent.
Nor the $140,000 plus cost of maintenance and utilities.
17,500 square feet of space recently renovated at a cost in excess of $3 million capital .
is not beyond evaluation.
I am not the one to do that either.
Cost of utilities and maintenance are precisely accounted .
Hard costs are relevant,
They make the deficit closer to $230.000 than $23,000.
A statement in the report notes the Centre would not be able to operate without the contribution
of volunteer hours of service.
It follows they would not be operate without free rent and cost of maintenance and utilities borne by the municipalities.
The Nokida Report is referenced in the introduction to the Annual Report .
I was there when the presentation was made.
The town treasurer of the day, warned the facility would become a sink hole for tax dollars .
In his view .an arm's length board, charged with operating the facility as a business was the
answer to the problem.
The consultant recommended seed money to allow the program to get up and running.. Fund raising in the community was presented as essential for self-sufficiency.
It was pie in the sky and I said so at the time.
Nonetheless the, financial plan presented by the Consultant was adopted by Council and conveyed to in turn for public consumption.
The contract signed with the new board in 2009 gave scant recognition to the financial plan adopted by Council and conveyed to the public.
I believe the interim board understood the concept. They were in place until the official opening.
The new operating board had the written contract and possibly other guidance for direction.
The contract signed by the current Council effects no change in understanding.
The Board is in the third year of operation
The Annual Report indicates more staff will be needed to operate in 2014.
A Message from the President starts the Annual Report, The last sentence of the first paragraph notes the following.:
i am pleased to report that our centre is poised for a bright future of continued growth and contribution to the Town of Aurora ad its surrounding communities.
Yep ! It's a sink hole .
Monday, 28 October 2013
The Color of Betrayal
I left out the biggie off the list of space used by various volunteer organizations.
Church Street School has been leased rent free to a Board without accountability.
They have closed door meetings.
Not only that, the town pays for all maintenance and utility costs. $150,000/
Not only that ,the town provides funding to the board that increases each year. Four years ago, it started out at $343,000 a year. Last year it was pretty close to $400,000.
Any revenue earned stays in the pot. Programs with charge are advertised as "Free"
Aurora has always nurtured culture for what it adds to life's enjoyment but alsofor a practical purpose.
A firm seeking to re-locate hopes to transfer key executives.
Quality of living for families is an all- important consideration.
Supercilious , disrespectful,condescending, sly.sneaky, two faced , manipulation to steal the museum from its rightful occupant, double dealing in the extreme.
Contribution to an attractive image-----nil.
Foisting a new burden on hard-pressed taxpayers without as much as a by-your-leave and without consultation
did little to generate trust or well being.
The real irony -------there was always room and support for heritage and culture but something more had to be insinuated.
A town's population is fluid. New residents arrive and others leave.
I will tell the story again as long as there are new listeners.
If the straight goods in politics are preferred, people need to know what the other stuff looks like.
Church Street School has been leased rent free to a Board without accountability.
They have closed door meetings.
Not only that, the town pays for all maintenance and utility costs. $150,000/
Not only that ,the town provides funding to the board that increases each year. Four years ago, it started out at $343,000 a year. Last year it was pretty close to $400,000.
Any revenue earned stays in the pot. Programs with charge are advertised as "Free"
Aurora has always nurtured culture for what it adds to life's enjoyment but alsofor a practical purpose.
A firm seeking to re-locate hopes to transfer key executives.
Quality of living for families is an all- important consideration.
Supercilious , disrespectful,condescending, sly.sneaky, two faced , manipulation to steal the museum from its rightful occupant, double dealing in the extreme.
Contribution to an attractive image-----nil.
Foisting a new burden on hard-pressed taxpayers without as much as a by-your-leave and without consultation
did little to generate trust or well being.
The real irony -------there was always room and support for heritage and culture but something more had to be insinuated.
A town's population is fluid. New residents arrive and others leave.
I will tell the story again as long as there are new listeners.
If the straight goods in politics are preferred, people need to know what the other stuff looks like.
Spades Are Trumps
When my motion on Town Hall accommodation of Sport Aurora was being considered last Tuesday, Councillor Pirri proposed an amendment to terminate arrangements with all groups
using town space,
It was not seconded. No debate followed. But the differences deserves to be explored.
Several organizations have rent free leases with the Town.
Rooms are available in theTown Hall for voluntary organizations to hold meetings.
Space at the community centre is made available to sports associations whose members provide
thousands of hours to make the programs available.
Theatre Aurora occupies a building donated to the town for the purpose.The story of how the ramshackle concrete factory became a bijou theatre can await another day.
The Tennis Club and Lawn Bowling Club have use of a Clubhouse built for them with funds raised by the Aurora Lion's Club.
The Highland Field used by the Men's Soccer Club was built and is maintained by the Club as was the Club house.
The town has thirty hours a week use of the field for minor soccer use.
Pine Tree Potters pay rent and made a substantial capital investment in the space they occupy in the
Library.
I have had vigorous discussions with the Director of Leisure Services on the subject of free
space.
He has been challenged to justify town support .
His arguments have trumped mine all but once.
using town space,
It was not seconded. No debate followed. But the differences deserves to be explored.
Several organizations have rent free leases with the Town.
Rooms are available in theTown Hall for voluntary organizations to hold meetings.
Space at the community centre is made available to sports associations whose members provide
thousands of hours to make the programs available.
Theatre Aurora occupies a building donated to the town for the purpose.The story of how the ramshackle concrete factory became a bijou theatre can await another day.
The Tennis Club and Lawn Bowling Club have use of a Clubhouse built for them with funds raised by the Aurora Lion's Club.
The Highland Field used by the Men's Soccer Club was built and is maintained by the Club as was the Club house.
The town has thirty hours a week use of the field for minor soccer use.
Pine Tree Potters pay rent and made a substantial capital investment in the space they occupy in the
Library.
I have had vigorous discussions with the Director of Leisure Services on the subject of free
space.
He has been challenged to justify town support .
His arguments have trumped mine all but once.
I wont do it. You can't make me..You're not the boss of me
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Fantasy World":
You have to use something to clobber him because he is so right about himself, he will not permit anything bad to be posted about him. There was a blogger that tried but I think he got tired of the battle and has gone.
Watts makes you use a logon to make the comment so he knows who you are whether he posts it or not.
I don't have a problem if you ban people from slagging him on this blog, but you must also band posts of those that promote his blog - they are probably him anyways
*********
We are early days using social media. It's much like hacking a pth through a wilderness. Not that I"ve ever done such a thing. But I do feel I'm still testing how far I can go.
I've drawn some lines. People who put themselves out on the public stage, be they politicians or activists are not in the same category as people who do not.
People who do not , have a right to be anonymous. I understand some who write blogs also choose
not to identify themselves.
Peeople who write a blog have a right to decide to publish or not anonymous comments.
I want people to comment more than I need to know who they are.
It has it's drawbacks.
The comments can be dismissed .
They can be abusive, insulting, inaccurate and on occasion downright disgusting .
Then a decision has to be made. To publish or not.
I am criticized when I don't.
Though Council colleagues don't complain, I suspect critical comments appearing here may not be appreciated.
I understand I am criticized elsewhere. Since I don't read it. I'm not disturbed by it.
It comes with the territory of politics.
Before social media the buzz around town was social media. People who paid attention had their say about things to each other wherever they happened to meet.
That's how I see the blog. People having their say about things.
But the blog is not without restrictions.
Chris Watts writes a blog. Far and away more professional than mine.
It isn't mine.
If Chris writes something that displeases, my blog is not the platform for retaliation.
We agree on some things. We disagree on others,
He is free to criticize. I am a politician. That's his right.
I an free to respond,,,or not. I an a politician. I do not.
I am also free not to allow my blog to be used to clobber him
It's beyond the pale so to speak----------. or the range of this blog.
You have to use something to clobber him because he is so right about himself, he will not permit anything bad to be posted about him. There was a blogger that tried but I think he got tired of the battle and has gone.
Watts makes you use a logon to make the comment so he knows who you are whether he posts it or not.
I don't have a problem if you ban people from slagging him on this blog, but you must also band posts of those that promote his blog - they are probably him anyways
*********
We are early days using social media. It's much like hacking a pth through a wilderness. Not that I"ve ever done such a thing. But I do feel I'm still testing how far I can go.
I've drawn some lines. People who put themselves out on the public stage, be they politicians or activists are not in the same category as people who do not.
People who do not , have a right to be anonymous. I understand some who write blogs also choose
not to identify themselves.
Peeople who write a blog have a right to decide to publish or not anonymous comments.
I want people to comment more than I need to know who they are.
It has it's drawbacks.
The comments can be dismissed .
They can be abusive, insulting, inaccurate and on occasion downright disgusting .
Then a decision has to be made. To publish or not.
I am criticized when I don't.
Though Council colleagues don't complain, I suspect critical comments appearing here may not be appreciated.
I understand I am criticized elsewhere. Since I don't read it. I'm not disturbed by it.
It comes with the territory of politics.
Before social media the buzz around town was social media. People who paid attention had their say about things to each other wherever they happened to meet.
That's how I see the blog. People having their say about things.
But the blog is not without restrictions.
Chris Watts writes a blog. Far and away more professional than mine.
It isn't mine.
If Chris writes something that displeases, my blog is not the platform for retaliation.
We agree on some things. We disagree on others,
He is free to criticize. I am a politician. That's his right.
I an free to respond,,,or not. I an a politician. I do not.
I am also free not to allow my blog to be used to clobber him
It's beyond the pale so to speak----------. or the range of this blog.
Sunday, 27 October 2013
What Price Genius?
About the Stronach gift . Stephen Hinder made a presentation of spectacular generosity.
Wholehearted appreciation on behalf of the community was expressed. May the Saints preserve us
it appeared the sentiment was shared.
Yet a resolution to refer the gift to the Environmental Advisory Committee was approved.
As often happens, the logic escaped me.
I have heard committee members took it upon themselves to make demands according to their perception of how things ought to be.
Why an environmental assessment is required for land to be left in ia natural state as a wildlife park with a foundation fund tp maintain it also escapes me.
A check as late as Friday indicates no communication between the benefactor and the town since the presentation was made.
Not a dicky bird. Not a whisper. Not even a whimper.
Nothing. Nada . Nil. Zilch. and Zero.
Question of the day! What does it take to sabotage a million dollar gift?
While applications are made for Awards of Excellence, who is watching the store?
Saints Preserve us and Save Us from Ourselves.
Wholehearted appreciation on behalf of the community was expressed. May the Saints preserve us
it appeared the sentiment was shared.
Yet a resolution to refer the gift to the Environmental Advisory Committee was approved.
As often happens, the logic escaped me.
I have heard committee members took it upon themselves to make demands according to their perception of how things ought to be.
Why an environmental assessment is required for land to be left in ia natural state as a wildlife park with a foundation fund tp maintain it also escapes me.
A check as late as Friday indicates no communication between the benefactor and the town since the presentation was made.
Not a dicky bird. Not a whisper. Not even a whimper.
Nothing. Nada . Nil. Zilch. and Zero.
Question of the day! What does it take to sabotage a million dollar gift?
While applications are made for Awards of Excellence, who is watching the store?
Saints Preserve us and Save Us from Ourselves.
Too Good For Politics
I was eating breakfast and pondering the question I posed. Who messes with that stuff. ...awards and acclamations?
I recalled a proposal during the terms before last; Aurora should enter the Communities in Bloom competition.
the proponent had approached the hotel and received a commitment for accommodation for the judges. All the town needed to do was pay the $12,000 fee to enter.
Several towns and cities in Ontario were into spectacular public floral displays.
Oakville, Burlington,Brampton. Richmond Hill where the rose is in the town crest and is their floral emblem.That level of excellence came from years of investment and experience.
Aurora could not place with such competition.
Another thought entered my head. Each year I argue against a budget item of $10,000. for membership in the Canada Institute for Excellence.
This week we've been hearing that motions moved and seconded and debated in Council were senseless and designed to embarrass some poor helpless innocent individual.
Well. you know, entering a competition designed by a distant institution , making an application for an award of excellence. Paying $10,000 a year for membership in an elitist organization, to become eligible for such an award , I think that's embarrassing.
It is affectation. Empty ,frivolous, foppery. Flim-flam in the extreme . A pile of meaningless twaddle.
If any such assessment could or should be made, I think municipal employees. would be the ones to judge. Not the ones at the top.
I would be content to be assured good town employees feel secure in their jobs.
I recalled a proposal during the terms before last; Aurora should enter the Communities in Bloom competition.
the proponent had approached the hotel and received a commitment for accommodation for the judges. All the town needed to do was pay the $12,000 fee to enter.
Several towns and cities in Ontario were into spectacular public floral displays.
Oakville, Burlington,Brampton. Richmond Hill where the rose is in the town crest and is their floral emblem.That level of excellence came from years of investment and experience.
Aurora could not place with such competition.
Another thought entered my head. Each year I argue against a budget item of $10,000. for membership in the Canada Institute for Excellence.
This week we've been hearing that motions moved and seconded and debated in Council were senseless and designed to embarrass some poor helpless innocent individual.
Well. you know, entering a competition designed by a distant institution , making an application for an award of excellence. Paying $10,000 a year for membership in an elitist organization, to become eligible for such an award , I think that's embarrassing.
It is affectation. Empty ,frivolous, foppery. Flim-flam in the extreme . A pile of meaningless twaddle.
If any such assessment could or should be made, I think municipal employees. would be the ones to judge. Not the ones at the top.
I would be content to be assured good town employees feel secure in their jobs.
Extra October Tuesday
This October has five Tuesdays .
The regular schedule has two Council meetings and two Committee meetings.
I find organization of the agenda a bit of a puzzlement.
Tuesday's Council had little of substance to deal with other than the four motions I presented.
In May June July and August, going into and throughout the sumer recess, agendas were jammed with issues .
We dealt with half at each meting though we worked until midnight,
Many important issues got short shrift as a consequence.
Presentations and awards got priority and delegations took huge blocks of he time allocated for town business.
Motions by Councillors waited months not weeks to be heard. It was hardly worthwhile under the circumstances.
Months ago Councillor Abel put forward a motion without notice ,to direct the director of Parks and Recreation, to do a small study and report back on "feasibility " of the idea of the town buying a block of land with Yonge Street frontage for a "Heritage Park"
That was after Council had informed the proponent of the scheme , Bill Albino and a real estate agent owner of one of the properties they should prepare a business plan before coming back and after they'd gone to the Heritage Committee angling for a recommendation from them to Council.
I asked the Director several weeks ago ,how was that feasibility report coming along ?how was he doing it ? and how much time was he spending on it ?
Turned out ,none at all, the task had been taken from him.
I think he said it had been given to the heretofore planner , now a special projects manager in the CAOs department.
I have since heard from two sources, the second being Chris Watts that $25,000 is being spent on it.
I know nothing about that. But it's possible because the CAO has authority to spend far more than that without Council approval.
All of which leads me to believe there's very little respect for the role of Council and transparency goes by the board.
Last Tuesday the Mayor reported the town had made it to the short list of some institute of excellence as one of the top hundred employers in Canada.
The application was prepared by the town's manager of communications
Who does stuff like that ?
When the town won the Prince Charles Award for something or other, I tried to find out who we were our competitors. Who did we beat out?
It was a secret.
Could be we were the only ones who nominated ourselves.
I concluded there weren't enough towns with enough staff with enough time on their hands to be messing about with stuff like that .
The prize might not mean anything at all.
The regular schedule has two Council meetings and two Committee meetings.
I find organization of the agenda a bit of a puzzlement.
Tuesday's Council had little of substance to deal with other than the four motions I presented.
In May June July and August, going into and throughout the sumer recess, agendas were jammed with issues .
We dealt with half at each meting though we worked until midnight,
Many important issues got short shrift as a consequence.
Presentations and awards got priority and delegations took huge blocks of he time allocated for town business.
Motions by Councillors waited months not weeks to be heard. It was hardly worthwhile under the circumstances.
Months ago Councillor Abel put forward a motion without notice ,to direct the director of Parks and Recreation, to do a small study and report back on "feasibility " of the idea of the town buying a block of land with Yonge Street frontage for a "Heritage Park"
That was after Council had informed the proponent of the scheme , Bill Albino and a real estate agent owner of one of the properties they should prepare a business plan before coming back and after they'd gone to the Heritage Committee angling for a recommendation from them to Council.
I asked the Director several weeks ago ,how was that feasibility report coming along ?how was he doing it ? and how much time was he spending on it ?
Turned out ,none at all, the task had been taken from him.
I think he said it had been given to the heretofore planner , now a special projects manager in the CAOs department.
I have since heard from two sources, the second being Chris Watts that $25,000 is being spent on it.
I know nothing about that. But it's possible because the CAO has authority to spend far more than that without Council approval.
All of which leads me to believe there's very little respect for the role of Council and transparency goes by the board.
Last Tuesday the Mayor reported the town had made it to the short list of some institute of excellence as one of the top hundred employers in Canada.
The application was prepared by the town's manager of communications
Who does stuff like that ?
When the town won the Prince Charles Award for something or other, I tried to find out who we were our competitors. Who did we beat out?
It was a secret.
Could be we were the only ones who nominated ourselves.
I concluded there weren't enough towns with enough staff with enough time on their hands to be messing about with stuff like that .
The prize might not mean anything at all.
Saturday, 26 October 2013
Two Questions Answered
What difference has this Council made in the term.
One comes immediately to mind; the current Council made it impossible for this or any future Mayor or group of followers to retain legal counsel and incur legal costs of hundreds of thousands of dollars for a political device,
Not the business of the corporation
It had never before been necessary to have a written policy to that effect.
When it happened here, it wasn't happening in any other municipality in the Region
I heard of one situation where a Mayor had obtained services from a lawyer. His Council called him to a meeting and warned him if he ever did it again, he would pay the bill himself.
He never did it again.
Because of a contrived resolution full disclosure of expenditure was refused though I do not doubt invoices are still on record in the town's legal department.
I have written and removed several paragraphs relevant to this issue.
Subject to legal advice received previously not to speak of matters before the court.
It has been difficult.
And yes, they are before the court.
The Fall Session of the Court begins on November 12th.
A Chief Justice has accorded priority to the case.
It has been four years arriving at this point.
One comes immediately to mind; the current Council made it impossible for this or any future Mayor or group of followers to retain legal counsel and incur legal costs of hundreds of thousands of dollars for a political device,
Not the business of the corporation
It had never before been necessary to have a written policy to that effect.
When it happened here, it wasn't happening in any other municipality in the Region
I heard of one situation where a Mayor had obtained services from a lawyer. His Council called him to a meeting and warned him if he ever did it again, he would pay the bill himself.
He never did it again.
Because of a contrived resolution full disclosure of expenditure was refused though I do not doubt invoices are still on record in the town's legal department.
I have written and removed several paragraphs relevant to this issue.
Subject to legal advice received previously not to speak of matters before the court.
It has been difficult.
And yes, they are before the court.
The Fall Session of the Court begins on November 12th.
A Chief Justice has accorded priority to the case.
It has been four years arriving at this point.
When is a Councillor an Engineer?
If I had a camera,
I would take a picture
If I had the skill I would post it here.
I do have a camera I don't have a picture. But we have words.
Pre-grading according to approved plan for 33 Longthorpe Court is completed.
The drainage problem is disclosed.
Also....prominently protruding from grade, within feet of the residence. stand two mounds. each 3 feet high,with 3 tall and wide , mature and weighty trees, perched precariously.
The macabre scene awaits inspection by town engineers;
An eleven page legal opinion from the town solicitor is already part of the public record.
Council approval for removal of trees was never within our domain.
The subdivision agreement, a legal contract, determines the process.
Engineers are available. Builders pay fees to the town for recovery of cost. Government regulations require it.
More than a year after the problem was identified resolution is not in sight..
Following town direction, an arborist report costing $4.000. was obtained and submitted.
Parks staff attended.,reviewed and approved removal of trees.
Neighbors intervened.
Repeat delegations received .
Three Council debates.
Decision deferred after second . pending more information.
Third debate ,two hours long , tree removal again discussed out of order. Question to be decded was a plan for planting trees.
"Save the trees" was the clarion call.
Require a new grading plan to accommodate the trees and the neighbors was the sequel.
The vote was five to four.
The property owner doesn't count.
November 28th ...closing date with obligation to leave one home and take legal possession of another.
Two business weeks have passed without action,
Except grading in the back yard at 33 Longthorpe Court for anyone and everyone who cares to see whaat foolishness has wrought.
I would take a picture
If I had the skill I would post it here.
I do have a camera I don't have a picture. But we have words.
Pre-grading according to approved plan for 33 Longthorpe Court is completed.
The drainage problem is disclosed.
Also....prominently protruding from grade, within feet of the residence. stand two mounds. each 3 feet high,with 3 tall and wide , mature and weighty trees, perched precariously.
The macabre scene awaits inspection by town engineers;
An eleven page legal opinion from the town solicitor is already part of the public record.
Council approval for removal of trees was never within our domain.
The subdivision agreement, a legal contract, determines the process.
Engineers are available. Builders pay fees to the town for recovery of cost. Government regulations require it.
More than a year after the problem was identified resolution is not in sight..
Following town direction, an arborist report costing $4.000. was obtained and submitted.
Parks staff attended.,reviewed and approved removal of trees.
Neighbors intervened.
Repeat delegations received .
Three Council debates.
Decision deferred after second . pending more information.
Third debate ,two hours long , tree removal again discussed out of order. Question to be decded was a plan for planting trees.
"Save the trees" was the clarion call.
Require a new grading plan to accommodate the trees and the neighbors was the sequel.
The vote was five to four.
The property owner doesn't count.
November 28th ...closing date with obligation to leave one home and take legal possession of another.
Two business weeks have passed without action,
Except grading in the back yard at 33 Longthorpe Court for anyone and everyone who cares to see whaat foolishness has wrought.
Friday, 25 October 2013
Fantasy World
From 10.00a.m. until now twenty comments were received In response to current posts.
I do believe I can take that to suggest active exchange from the community.
Even from the ones who comment there is no such thing. It's all a delusion.
If you have an argument with Chris, make the argument.
Don't use expect to use this blog to simply clobber him.
I do believe I can take that to suggest active exchange from the community.
Even from the ones who comment there is no such thing. It's all a delusion.
If you have an argument with Chris, make the argument.
Don't use expect to use this blog to simply clobber him.
Council's Authority Trumps ...Doesn't it?
Chris has submitted another comment / argument complete with pictures.
The historic picture shown was no doubt taken at a point in the building's history when it had lost the clapboard cladding.
I only became familiar with te structure while it sat at the roadside
A remnant of clapboard could be seen still fastened under the peak of the roof. At one point,
patches of insulbrick, a cheap product used to keep the elements off the shaved logs underneath were still visible.
It was never a log house as some have claimed. Clapboard cladding was its original finish.
The lack of cladding is what caused the log corners to rot and require replacement.
Christopher, I do not pretend to be an expert. But I accept that Van Nostrand of Vandorf is as close to an expert on historic housing in this area as any we are likely to find.
I am in the business of seeking out advice that I comprehend and accept on the basis of the evidence.
$100,000 was budgeted for the project before I came back on Council in 2003. My position was , it should not continue to be included in the town's budget.
I don't recall support from any other member of any of the three Councils responsible for ten years of budgets since.
Taxes were raised and funds were allocated for the purpose. over and over again.
It was a majority decision of Council with no public outcry of note,
The location is fine, highly visible . How the building is used determines the amenities required.
Sprinkler systems are not required in every building. Factory Theatre has no sprinkler system.
Hydro is connected.. Heat can easily be provided.
Not only is the building visible to the passing parade, it is situated at the beginning or end, however
your walk takes you , of the town trail system.
There's a bocce court, open to the public close by.
Chris, you are a self-professed aficionado of history. You must know municipal boundaries had little relevance to the community that was the Village of Machells Corners and the farms and families stretching out from the intersection where the post master was located.
Former Councillor Walt Davis told me once how it was in Aurora in his younger days.
If a person wanted to make headway on Yonge Street, he had to step off the sidewalk onto the road.
The sidewalk was jammed with groups catching up with a week's gossip.
Farmers and wives in from the country to pick up the mail and grocery shopping chatting with the
town's residents.
Settlers families on the farms grew up , found sweethearts in the villages and elsewhere and founded their own families in the town's and villages or wherever.
Walt himself, married Jessie from a farm in Pottageville.
I believe the donation to support saving the Petch House came from an Aurora ancestor of the Petch family.
The name Petch is common in Aurora. I think a Council photo on the wall of the Town Hall
has a Petch in a Council group. I think I can see his face as I write.
I didn't favor spending money on an old structure that no-one had a use for. But the majority of four Councils did.
The project has finally moved forward.
The forlorn, decrepit ,old remnant of the past no longer sits rotting at the side of a road, a testament to a council's lack of resolve.
There was resistance within the town hall. There still is. Councillor Thompson's comments bore a reflection of it.
The only question outstanding is; does Council have authority or does the town building department make the determination.
We are about to deal with that.
And it's well past time.
The historic picture shown was no doubt taken at a point in the building's history when it had lost the clapboard cladding.
I only became familiar with te structure while it sat at the roadside
A remnant of clapboard could be seen still fastened under the peak of the roof. At one point,
patches of insulbrick, a cheap product used to keep the elements off the shaved logs underneath were still visible.
It was never a log house as some have claimed. Clapboard cladding was its original finish.
The lack of cladding is what caused the log corners to rot and require replacement.
Christopher, I do not pretend to be an expert. But I accept that Van Nostrand of Vandorf is as close to an expert on historic housing in this area as any we are likely to find.
I am in the business of seeking out advice that I comprehend and accept on the basis of the evidence.
$100,000 was budgeted for the project before I came back on Council in 2003. My position was , it should not continue to be included in the town's budget.
I don't recall support from any other member of any of the three Councils responsible for ten years of budgets since.
Taxes were raised and funds were allocated for the purpose. over and over again.
It was a majority decision of Council with no public outcry of note,
The location is fine, highly visible . How the building is used determines the amenities required.
Sprinkler systems are not required in every building. Factory Theatre has no sprinkler system.
Hydro is connected.. Heat can easily be provided.
Not only is the building visible to the passing parade, it is situated at the beginning or end, however
your walk takes you , of the town trail system.
There's a bocce court, open to the public close by.
Chris, you are a self-professed aficionado of history. You must know municipal boundaries had little relevance to the community that was the Village of Machells Corners and the farms and families stretching out from the intersection where the post master was located.
Former Councillor Walt Davis told me once how it was in Aurora in his younger days.
If a person wanted to make headway on Yonge Street, he had to step off the sidewalk onto the road.
The sidewalk was jammed with groups catching up with a week's gossip.
Farmers and wives in from the country to pick up the mail and grocery shopping chatting with the
town's residents.
Settlers families on the farms grew up , found sweethearts in the villages and elsewhere and founded their own families in the town's and villages or wherever.
Walt himself, married Jessie from a farm in Pottageville.
I believe the donation to support saving the Petch House came from an Aurora ancestor of the Petch family.
The name Petch is common in Aurora. I think a Council photo on the wall of the Town Hall
has a Petch in a Council group. I think I can see his face as I write.
I didn't favor spending money on an old structure that no-one had a use for. But the majority of four Councils did.
The project has finally moved forward.
The forlorn, decrepit ,old remnant of the past no longer sits rotting at the side of a road, a testament to a council's lack of resolve.
There was resistance within the town hall. There still is. Councillor Thompson's comments bore a reflection of it.
The only question outstanding is; does Council have authority or does the town building department make the determination.
We are about to deal with that.
And it's well past time.
Questionable Practise
Councillor Thompson provided new information on Sport Aurora when he was arguing in favor of continuing the arrangement the organization has for space ,an address and a telephone number at the town hall.
The purpose of being in the town hall , the Councillor stated, is to enable receipt of grants on an on-going basis. To date, they have received $204,000. from various levels of government. Apparently for the benefit of all Aurora sports associations as argued passionately by Councillor Abel.
Listening to multiple arguments and composing an immediate response is tricky at best. At worst with time limits imposed, the debate is seldom as full and complete as it might be.
I do not know the business affairs of Sport Aurora. I have neither interest nor the right to know. Members are responsible for monitoring their organizations business affairs.
I do know sports organizations are well served in the town. Sports fields are as many and well if not better maintained than any within and outside the Region.
Sports groups are represented on the town's Recreation and Parks Advisory committee with full and regular opportunity to participate and input into decisions made by the town.
I see no area of need for a separate organization to represent the interest of sport to the town.
The need to provide a particular organization with space, an address and a telephone number
to facilitate receipt of grants from whatever government agency is in the business of giving away money escapes me completely.
I can see how the name Sport Aurora ,address Aurora Town Hall telephone contact ,Aurora Town Hall , could create the impression Sport Aurora is a division of the Town of Aurora business
administration.
I can see how that impression might make grants more easily accessible
But since the impression would be false , I question how the Town of Aurora can justify that level of participation in the affairs of Sport Aurora.
Nope! I can't see that at all.
In fact , I think it suggests an element of impropriety
If anyone at all out there is embarrassed by that comment. Tough!
The purpose of being in the town hall , the Councillor stated, is to enable receipt of grants on an on-going basis. To date, they have received $204,000. from various levels of government. Apparently for the benefit of all Aurora sports associations as argued passionately by Councillor Abel.
Listening to multiple arguments and composing an immediate response is tricky at best. At worst with time limits imposed, the debate is seldom as full and complete as it might be.
I do not know the business affairs of Sport Aurora. I have neither interest nor the right to know. Members are responsible for monitoring their organizations business affairs.
I do know sports organizations are well served in the town. Sports fields are as many and well if not better maintained than any within and outside the Region.
Sports groups are represented on the town's Recreation and Parks Advisory committee with full and regular opportunity to participate and input into decisions made by the town.
I see no area of need for a separate organization to represent the interest of sport to the town.
The need to provide a particular organization with space, an address and a telephone number
to facilitate receipt of grants from whatever government agency is in the business of giving away money escapes me completely.
I can see how the name Sport Aurora ,address Aurora Town Hall telephone contact ,Aurora Town Hall , could create the impression Sport Aurora is a division of the Town of Aurora business
administration.
I can see how that impression might make grants more easily accessible
But since the impression would be false , I question how the Town of Aurora can justify that level of participation in the affairs of Sport Aurora.
Nope! I can't see that at all.
In fact , I think it suggests an element of impropriety
If anyone at all out there is embarrassed by that comment. Tough!
Thursday, 24 October 2013
A Reversal Of Fortunate Circumstance
Christopher Watts has left a new comment on your post "A Council Divided is A Contradiction In Terms":
"A house divided cannot stand."
Actually the abomination that is Petch House 2.0 proves this statement to be false.
The Petch House couldn't be more divided, yet it stands. Unwittingly ts location and reconstruction was approved before arriving at a purpose. The result is an inside out house, with no plumbing or electrical located in a restrictive location at a cost more than double of what was received by the developer.
I think it is a testament to what this council can and has accomplished to date.
It is laughable to know the Town is not just entertaining the notion of a $10 Million heritage Disneyland but that they are spending $25,000 to do a feasibility study.
Is it feasible for Aurora to construct 3 more Petch Houses. You better believe it.
****************************************
Thank you for your comment Chris
Actually your statement that Petch House 2 is an abomination proves nothing of the kind.
There was nothing unwitting about its location and reconstruction.
D'you think for one minute I was not fully aware of political reaction to my change of mind that the
structure was an asset ,not a liability.
Fat chance of that.
Since 2003, before my return to Council, the town has had $100,000 in the budget for restoration of the Petch House. Every year I argued for its removal. I was not successful. The majority decided otherwise.
Smart Centre Developers were compelled to retain the structure as per the subdivision agreement.
legislated by Town Bylaw.
Do as we say or hell will freeze over before a permit is issued for your project to proceed.
The house was one of identical twins. The second was a chapel to serve the needs of the Petch
Family.
The chapel was purchased by Van Nostrand of Vandorf, craftsman of renown in restoration of vintage structures.
Restored years since, it occupies pride of place on a site in cottage country.
The portfolio presented to Council featured the impressive twin.
The master craftsman was known to a staff member. His opinion sough, given freely, of the potential of the building.
At the time it had been but a short time languishing by the roadside on Leslie Street .
The developer was committed to moving the building again to a location of the town's direction.
How much else was committed became lost in the mist of antiquity.
It matters not. The Town never came up with a site or anyone with a use for the building.
Van Nostrand's advice was ignored.
$800.000 of the budget was expended on an engineer's report at the direction of Councillor MacEachern who had free rein by approval of the Former.
The engineer's advice indicated a cost of $440.000 to restore the building.
The account of the developer's commitment had grown significantly to foundation ,installation of water sewers and wiring and of course driveway construction.
That plan never flew. In excess of $800,000 of the budget was spent with nothing whatsoever to show for it.
When I came back on Council, I was informed of an anonymous donation of $!8,000 from a person anxious for the house to be saved.
Speculation was it came from an ancestor of the Petch family.
Several Treasurer's have come and gone. reserve funds have been reviewed and identified. At the preset time no-one in the administration has any knowledge of the funds or where they were stashed.
At length a meeting between the Town solicitor and the developer was necessary for some other purpose. I requested the solicitor be directed to obtain a clear commitment from the developer on what he was willing to contribute to the Petch House project whatever that might be.
So, there was the balance of the budget Council had steadfastly refused to surrender;
There was $50,000 developer funds which would be forfeit if not used for the purpose.
There was a donation made for the specific purpose of saving the house.
I was informed of an available site.
Van Nostrand's reported the building could no longer be moved in one piece but it was still salvageable.
An authentic facsimile could be restored located through the arched entry to the Arboretum,
off John West Way and part of the Town Hall , the Senior's Clubhouse. within the Arboretum and within budget
I had a dilemma .
It gave me pause.
But not for long..
What was the worst that could happen?
The downside was political.
The upside , a house of significant age would be preserved with substantial support from donated funds.
It would be an asset in the town's inventory.
It would be placed on a concrete pad. It could be moved .easily. Or even sold.
I decided. the risk was worth taking.
The old structure was scraped clean by parks department men in masks and coveralls.
The structure was left open to wind and sunshine to dry out.
Under supervision of the craftsman building was taken apart ,piece by piece and it trundled down the road and round the corner to a yard in the Village of Vandorf,
During the winter months ,vintage lumber as sussed for patching and replacement.
In Spring authentic design windows were manufactured in London Ontario. .
Authentic clapboard was salvaged from a protected area beneath the eaves was used to mill to exact dimension to clad the house completely.
There are no separated rooms or second floor within the house. No divisions.
It doesn't pretend to be the original Petch house. But it is a bloody fine facsimile and a tribute to a pioneer family.
Three Councils wrestled to do the right thing.
Councillor Evalina Mac Eachern did most to find a solution.
It didn't happen on her watch but that's how it often is in politics.
The house is there, pretty as a picture.
It is wired for electricity.
It's use will determine need for toilet facilities. They are close at hand in the Senior's Club House.
Nothing limits its potential but our own imagination.
I make no apologies for the final decision made by this Council .
And if $25,000 of taxpayers money is being spent on a business plan for real estate deal masquerading as an airy-fairy Dsneyland Heritage Boondoggle on Yonge Street, Council knows nothing-about it.
I heard the rumour .I asked.
The pulse of the community ??
A recent follower of the Blog tells me the Blog is the pulse of the community. If true ,I would be very pleased indeed. A lot of time and effort goes into it which I enjoy. If the enjoyment is shared that would be bonus.
I don't make the assumption though.
Visits and views climb steadily . Then we have a statutory holiday and they fall off. They climb again sometimes more slowly.
When a controversial issue takes hold ,the numbers shoot up and stay until excitement fades.
When we speak of things beyond our borders, it raises the ire of some. They jealously guard the local bailiwick.
That's alright. The blog is my small contribution to town affairs. Everyone brings something to elected office.
My commitment to the right togovern ourselves is mine.
At the moment, Council seems to have been relegated to the minor role of social convener.
It's a far cry from "meddling" in town affairs.
I think membership is as reflective of the community as it could be.
When it comes to the election , options provided, voters will judge the sum and substance
of the term's accomplishments.
We will live with that.
In the meantime ,Council shares a commitment to the best interest of the community as each perceives it
We ought to enjoy the common endeavor.
To do otherwise is such a waste of time.
I don't make the assumption though.
Visits and views climb steadily . Then we have a statutory holiday and they fall off. They climb again sometimes more slowly.
When a controversial issue takes hold ,the numbers shoot up and stay until excitement fades.
When we speak of things beyond our borders, it raises the ire of some. They jealously guard the local bailiwick.
That's alright. The blog is my small contribution to town affairs. Everyone brings something to elected office.
My commitment to the right togovern ourselves is mine.
At the moment, Council seems to have been relegated to the minor role of social convener.
It's a far cry from "meddling" in town affairs.
I think membership is as reflective of the community as it could be.
When it comes to the election , options provided, voters will judge the sum and substance
of the term's accomplishments.
We will live with that.
In the meantime ,Council shares a commitment to the best interest of the community as each perceives it
We ought to enjoy the common endeavor.
To do otherwise is such a waste of time.
A Council Divided is A Contradiction In Terms
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "What does it profit man if he gains he whole worl...":
Is it an embarrassment when none of your motions pass? Is it even more embarrassing when the only support comes from Morris's minions?
*******************
I would be profoundly ashamed and embarrassed if I did not use the opportunity to bring to the table issues I believe need to be addressed.
If no other Councillor shares my concerns, I must accept that as part of the democratic process.
The community knows the issue haas been brought forward and addressed or not as the case may be.
Every vote on Council has equal weight.
My own of course means most to me .
I am not inclined to disdain support wherever the vote in favor comes from. of an idea
If the motion passes, I express my appreciation.
If it fails I offer no complaint.
I did what people expect of me.
If this Council is seen to be divided into camps, each camp is equally responsible.
Only rank amateurs trap themselves into block voting.
A house divided cannot stand.
Is it an embarrassment when none of your motions pass? Is it even more embarrassing when the only support comes from Morris's minions?
*******************
I would be profoundly ashamed and embarrassed if I did not use the opportunity to bring to the table issues I believe need to be addressed.
If no other Councillor shares my concerns, I must accept that as part of the democratic process.
The community knows the issue haas been brought forward and addressed or not as the case may be.
Every vote on Council has equal weight.
My own of course means most to me .
I am not inclined to disdain support wherever the vote in favor comes from. of an idea
If the motion passes, I express my appreciation.
If it fails I offer no complaint.
I did what people expect of me.
If this Council is seen to be divided into camps, each camp is equally responsible.
Only rank amateurs trap themselves into block voting.
A house divided cannot stand.
What does it profit man if he gains he whole world and loses his own soul
A Motion for consideration is not an automatic process. Before it reaches the Council table it must be seconded by another Councillor.
I have a reputation for being persnickety about rules. I think it must be true.
I don't ask other Councillors to support a motion as a favor. I don't want to be obligated to support a motion because a favor is owed.
My motions come to the table without a seconder . To move forward . the idea must have sufficient merit to move to the next step.
I risk embarrassment if a motion fails to win a seconder. In some respects, it's a repudiation of the idea.
Once seconded, the motion belongs to Council.
It's like pushing a small boat out on to the pond .Once on it's way, the current will carry it forward.
Everything depends on the presiding member to ensure it does not go of course.
I moved the motion on Tuesday requesting the Mayor provide a clarification of his role.
I meant exactly that.
It was sensitive but not intended to be a public referendum on the Mayor's performance .
He made it that.
The issue was a common understanding of the role of the office of the Mayor.
Not Geoffrey Dawe as such. But whoever might hold the office.
Council needs an understanding on the Mayor's authority . No other body than Council can make the determination.
As a former Mayor ,I absolutely reject the premise Council is without authority and the Mayor's office is not the conduit for exercising Council's authority.
Councillors are accountable to the community for whatever happens in the name of the community.
In the last term a Bylaw was passed outlining the authority of the CAO in matters of human resources; Hiring,Firing , Re- deployment, Promoting,Demoting Displacement, Creating Positions, Wiping out others you name it. the Chief Administrative Officer apparently has authority to do it with no reference to the elected body and no obligation to provide information when requested.
It seems, in the Mayor's perspective , in accordance with his experience in the private sector, the CAO Bylaw provides complete autonomy in that area. He answers to no-one.
The Mayor see the title as Chief Executive Officer as a meaningless term.
The judgement of whoever holds the office of CAO ,in the Mayor's estimation ,is "sacrosanct" (his word) unassailable(mine).
As a consequence,in the area of human resources Council is not fulfilling its responsibility. We are accountable in theory. We are not in fact;
By virtue of the Mayor's refusal .
Council is denied and deprived of its rightful authority.
I have a reputation for being persnickety about rules. I think it must be true.
I don't ask other Councillors to support a motion as a favor. I don't want to be obligated to support a motion because a favor is owed.
My motions come to the table without a seconder . To move forward . the idea must have sufficient merit to move to the next step.
I risk embarrassment if a motion fails to win a seconder. In some respects, it's a repudiation of the idea.
Once seconded, the motion belongs to Council.
It's like pushing a small boat out on to the pond .Once on it's way, the current will carry it forward.
Everything depends on the presiding member to ensure it does not go of course.
I moved the motion on Tuesday requesting the Mayor provide a clarification of his role.
I meant exactly that.
It was sensitive but not intended to be a public referendum on the Mayor's performance .
He made it that.
The issue was a common understanding of the role of the office of the Mayor.
Not Geoffrey Dawe as such. But whoever might hold the office.
Council needs an understanding on the Mayor's authority . No other body than Council can make the determination.
As a former Mayor ,I absolutely reject the premise Council is without authority and the Mayor's office is not the conduit for exercising Council's authority.
Councillors are accountable to the community for whatever happens in the name of the community.
In the last term a Bylaw was passed outlining the authority of the CAO in matters of human resources; Hiring,Firing , Re- deployment, Promoting,Demoting Displacement, Creating Positions, Wiping out others you name it. the Chief Administrative Officer apparently has authority to do it with no reference to the elected body and no obligation to provide information when requested.
It seems, in the Mayor's perspective , in accordance with his experience in the private sector, the CAO Bylaw provides complete autonomy in that area. He answers to no-one.
The Mayor see the title as Chief Executive Officer as a meaningless term.
The judgement of whoever holds the office of CAO ,in the Mayor's estimation ,is "sacrosanct" (his word) unassailable(mine).
As a consequence,in the area of human resources Council is not fulfilling its responsibility. We are accountable in theory. We are not in fact;
By virtue of the Mayor's refusal .
Council is denied and deprived of its rightful authority.
Wednesday, 23 October 2013
One Door Closes ...Another One Opens.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Sans Souci":
the concern of the 2 senators about losing their Senate health insurance isn't winning hearts and minds. Most of the rest of us deal with the reality of OHIP, waiting lists, lack of doctors, and all the other trivial, trying necessities of existence with no special privileges.
Sans souci indeed
***********
I think our two senators have stopped worrying about lost privilege. It's likely they are concentrating on other things.
I believe it's entirely possible both were appointed for the advantage of their high public profiles nationally and corresponding benefit to the Prime Minister and his party.
Their connections and influence on the media nationwide the political advantage would have seemed invaluable.
Worth more perhaps than any ten Senator in the house.
I think there might well have been an understanding their deal had little to do with Senate function and everything to do with political advantage.
The Senators Duffy have nothing left to lose.
No more secrets to keep. No innocents to protect.
Maybe a book or two in the offing.
A musical.
T.V. series
the concern of the 2 senators about losing their Senate health insurance isn't winning hearts and minds. Most of the rest of us deal with the reality of OHIP, waiting lists, lack of doctors, and all the other trivial, trying necessities of existence with no special privileges.
Sans souci indeed
***********
I think our two senators have stopped worrying about lost privilege. It's likely they are concentrating on other things.
I believe it's entirely possible both were appointed for the advantage of their high public profiles nationally and corresponding benefit to the Prime Minister and his party.
Their connections and influence on the media nationwide the political advantage would have seemed invaluable.
Worth more perhaps than any ten Senator in the house.
I think there might well have been an understanding their deal had little to do with Senate function and everything to do with political advantage.
The Senators Duffy have nothing left to lose.
No more secrets to keep. No innocents to protect.
Maybe a book or two in the offing.
A musical.
T.V. series
Sans Souci
The only Senator ever fired was Andrew Thompson. He had been Leader of the Ontario Liberals for a while.
His departure from that job was permeated with emotion. Suggesting some personal tragedy.
He showed up a handful of times in the Senate. Then took himself and his Senate salary off to Mexico to live.
For seven years.
Sadness was no doubt assuaged with his good fortune.
Until public attention caught up to him.
No cameras allowed in the Senate.
We can't watch Senator Wallin.
His departure from that job was permeated with emotion. Suggesting some personal tragedy.
He showed up a handful of times in the Senate. Then took himself and his Senate salary off to Mexico to live.
For seven years.
Sadness was no doubt assuaged with his good fortune.
Until public attention caught up to him.
No cameras allowed in the Senate.
We can't watch Senator Wallin.
The Light Dawned
Another motion I presented last night raised the ire of the righteous ones.
I moved space provided to Sport Aurora be terminated.
It's the use of a desk along with the town hall address and telephone number
It was like the night I asked for a report on information about a bar at the firehall.
One after the other ,Councillor's rose to address the chair and excoriate me for my dastardly deed . We didn't have microphones.
I learned that night ,beer was being dispensed from a coke machine . I did not know that.
Nor was I aware the firehall was a popular watering hole for those in the know, including the postman.
There had been a food drive at the firehall on Saturday. I received a phone call that two merry men in full uniform,drunk as skunks and perfectly congenial were receiving donations.
My caller did not identify himself. He was probably a public works employee. There was some discontent there. They had asked permission to have beer in their frig to have with their lunch on hot summer days. Angus Macgregor, public works supervisor , no doubt with his own sense of mischief , forwarded the request to Council.
It was refused.
I asked for a report from the Fire Chief about beer in the firehall.
The night it came forward volunteers' wives were in the audience.
Every Council speaker defending the volunteers' contribution to the community was vigorously applauded.
Jeers and catcalls were my lot .
A coke machine appeared later on the verandah of a house on Metcalfe Street.
The same struggle was reported in other places in Canada as Volunteer Brigades were replaced by full-time fire departments
Councillor Abel was applauded last night by a single spectator.
Sport Aurora has been given space and the town hall address to process grant applications from other levels of government.
The funds ,it's said , are used for the benefit of community sports organizations ten thousand participants strong.
I listened to my colleagues. I drove home in a mood of contemplation.
I was distracted for a bit with news of Senator Mike Duffy.
Then my thoughts returned to the issue at hand.
Sport Aurora , I realised , by definition is a lobbyist for sports organization in Aurora.
As if they need it.
In Toronto lobbyists have to register.
In the States , lobbyists control the government.
In Aurora, a lobbyist gets a desk, a telephone and a Town Hall address.
Courtesy of your elected body.
How cosy is that?
Or chilling depending on one's perspective ?
I moved space provided to Sport Aurora be terminated.
It's the use of a desk along with the town hall address and telephone number
It was like the night I asked for a report on information about a bar at the firehall.
One after the other ,Councillor's rose to address the chair and excoriate me for my dastardly deed . We didn't have microphones.
I learned that night ,beer was being dispensed from a coke machine . I did not know that.
Nor was I aware the firehall was a popular watering hole for those in the know, including the postman.
There had been a food drive at the firehall on Saturday. I received a phone call that two merry men in full uniform,drunk as skunks and perfectly congenial were receiving donations.
My caller did not identify himself. He was probably a public works employee. There was some discontent there. They had asked permission to have beer in their frig to have with their lunch on hot summer days. Angus Macgregor, public works supervisor , no doubt with his own sense of mischief , forwarded the request to Council.
It was refused.
I asked for a report from the Fire Chief about beer in the firehall.
The night it came forward volunteers' wives were in the audience.
Every Council speaker defending the volunteers' contribution to the community was vigorously applauded.
Jeers and catcalls were my lot .
A coke machine appeared later on the verandah of a house on Metcalfe Street.
The same struggle was reported in other places in Canada as Volunteer Brigades were replaced by full-time fire departments
Councillor Abel was applauded last night by a single spectator.
Sport Aurora has been given space and the town hall address to process grant applications from other levels of government.
The funds ,it's said , are used for the benefit of community sports organizations ten thousand participants strong.
I listened to my colleagues. I drove home in a mood of contemplation.
I was distracted for a bit with news of Senator Mike Duffy.
Then my thoughts returned to the issue at hand.
Sport Aurora , I realised , by definition is a lobbyist for sports organization in Aurora.
As if they need it.
In Toronto lobbyists have to register.
In the States , lobbyists control the government.
In Aurora, a lobbyist gets a desk, a telephone and a Town Hall address.
Courtesy of your elected body.
How cosy is that?
Or chilling depending on one's perspective ?
Just Give Us The Facts ...Ma-am
The Mayor was aggrieved last night.
Understandably .
As I was, two weeks since .
I had received information of a deeply disturbing nature.
I have to use language like that to convey the depth of my feeling.
I requested the item be added to a confidential agenda. I disclosed what I knew and sought the Mayor's assistance in determining facts of the matter.I perceive the role of the Chief Executive
Officer as conduit on privacy matters between Council and administration.
The negative response prompted the motion presented last night to direct the Mayor to report to Council how he perceives his role.
The discussion was delicate. Information from an in -camera meeting is "sacrosanct" the Mayor said. He listened to the tape and claimed he did not say what I said he said.
But he had . he said, said it previously.in public ...during the election. He gave the commitment then that he would not micro-manage.
He held up three pristine paperback books to indicate he had learned his role from learned authors. And other Mayors.
The Municipal Act does give the Mayor the title of Chief Executive Officer, he acknowledged, but it seems to mean nothing.
If he had executive authority " there would be changes " he said
It was an illuminating discussion. How the Mayor perceives his role and how not.
The vote was five to four .The deciding vote being the Mayor's, not to direct himself to report to Council how he perceives his role.
He told Council, however, he will provide a report.
There are some areas of disagreement.
I do not think of in camera meetings as "sacrosanct" It's an odd reference in political terms.
In the last ten years, a multitude of municipal officials were made redundant by amalgamation
of the boroughs that formed Metro. Metro itself was dismantled.
They took to hanging out shingles, writing books and conducting workshops anywhere and everywhere to make a living. Can't blame them.
Next week ,there's a two day workshop at the town hall on parliamentary procedure .The fee is $449.
plus tax for each person.The consultant bills himself as a parliamentarian. No indication he has ever held elected office.
In the consultant study on Service Levels one of the functions of the communications division is speech-writing for the Mayor and Councillors.
Wouldn't be surprised to learn the column in The Auroran is written by staff as well and reports from the Region and Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority .
Maybe when the Mayor writes his promised report, he will include remuneration for the job. Whatever he thinks it is.
That's the thing about elected office.
It's public. Not private.
Understandably .
As I was, two weeks since .
I had received information of a deeply disturbing nature.
I have to use language like that to convey the depth of my feeling.
I requested the item be added to a confidential agenda. I disclosed what I knew and sought the Mayor's assistance in determining facts of the matter.I perceive the role of the Chief Executive
Officer as conduit on privacy matters between Council and administration.
The negative response prompted the motion presented last night to direct the Mayor to report to Council how he perceives his role.
The discussion was delicate. Information from an in -camera meeting is "sacrosanct" the Mayor said. He listened to the tape and claimed he did not say what I said he said.
But he had . he said, said it previously.in public ...during the election. He gave the commitment then that he would not micro-manage.
He held up three pristine paperback books to indicate he had learned his role from learned authors. And other Mayors.
The Municipal Act does give the Mayor the title of Chief Executive Officer, he acknowledged, but it seems to mean nothing.
If he had executive authority " there would be changes " he said
It was an illuminating discussion. How the Mayor perceives his role and how not.
The vote was five to four .The deciding vote being the Mayor's, not to direct himself to report to Council how he perceives his role.
He told Council, however, he will provide a report.
There are some areas of disagreement.
I do not think of in camera meetings as "sacrosanct" It's an odd reference in political terms.
In the last ten years, a multitude of municipal officials were made redundant by amalgamation
of the boroughs that formed Metro. Metro itself was dismantled.
They took to hanging out shingles, writing books and conducting workshops anywhere and everywhere to make a living. Can't blame them.
Next week ,there's a two day workshop at the town hall on parliamentary procedure .The fee is $449.
plus tax for each person.The consultant bills himself as a parliamentarian. No indication he has ever held elected office.
In the consultant study on Service Levels one of the functions of the communications division is speech-writing for the Mayor and Councillors.
Wouldn't be surprised to learn the column in The Auroran is written by staff as well and reports from the Region and Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority .
Maybe when the Mayor writes his promised report, he will include remuneration for the job. Whatever he thinks it is.
That's the thing about elected office.
It's public. Not private.
Tuesday, 22 October 2013
Follow the Yellow Brick Road
I have discovered something else that I think I already knew. Immersing myself in a book means
my mind is not busy with my own thoughts.
I didn't write a post yesterday. I responded to a number of e-mails as they came in though and late in the day I had to wonder.
I'd like to respond to a few points made re the school site on Mavrinac.
First the neighborhood didn't come to Council up-in-arms about the need for a park if a school
was not going to be built on the site.
A Councillor went to them and alerted them to the situation and advised them , in his judgement, the site should be a park.
Homeowners gathered in the Council Chamber on Wednesday in response to the Councillor's invitation.
Some speakers shared notes at the meeting about what they understood to be the case when they bought their homes.
Not everyone was talking. Some listened.
When one person ,seemingly impatient to know, I would peg him in the Councillor campaign organization, posed the question to Councillors present,where they stood on the issue...Councillor Abel,Ballard and Gaertner were more than willing to assure the crowd they were on side.
I couldn't hear what Councillor Thompson said. The Mayor did not make a commitment.
The Former, equipped with lap-top but carrying hard copies, referred to a clause in the contract
that pinned down the price of the site and proved there was no need for an in camera discussion.
The fact is...the developer owns the site serviced at his expense, with roads, sidewalks,
boulevards, trees. lighting, storm and sanitary sewers, water mains, parks and schools as required by school board and town , Everything required to create human habitat.
I fancy it will take more than a clause in a contract to transfer title to the municipality.
The question of the much larger high school site in the vicinity never came up in the discussion.
Yet it must.
To the residents, it is a far more significant factor.
The homeowners are not reacting differently than most would in the same situation.
In my judgement, they are no better served than the rest of the community by receiving only enough information to raise their concerns
You know, if this was a challenger's strategy to make inroads for the next election it would be instantly recognized and rated. It would not be dismissed.it would be qualified.
But it wasn't a declared challenger.
It was by an incumbent using town stationery and town facilities to give credence to his
actions.
It's the difference between the way it was and the virus.
my mind is not busy with my own thoughts.
I didn't write a post yesterday. I responded to a number of e-mails as they came in though and late in the day I had to wonder.
I'd like to respond to a few points made re the school site on Mavrinac.
First the neighborhood didn't come to Council up-in-arms about the need for a park if a school
was not going to be built on the site.
A Councillor went to them and alerted them to the situation and advised them , in his judgement, the site should be a park.
Homeowners gathered in the Council Chamber on Wednesday in response to the Councillor's invitation.
Some speakers shared notes at the meeting about what they understood to be the case when they bought their homes.
Not everyone was talking. Some listened.
When one person ,seemingly impatient to know, I would peg him in the Councillor campaign organization, posed the question to Councillors present,where they stood on the issue...Councillor Abel,Ballard and Gaertner were more than willing to assure the crowd they were on side.
I couldn't hear what Councillor Thompson said. The Mayor did not make a commitment.
The Former, equipped with lap-top but carrying hard copies, referred to a clause in the contract
that pinned down the price of the site and proved there was no need for an in camera discussion.
The fact is...the developer owns the site serviced at his expense, with roads, sidewalks,
boulevards, trees. lighting, storm and sanitary sewers, water mains, parks and schools as required by school board and town , Everything required to create human habitat.
I fancy it will take more than a clause in a contract to transfer title to the municipality.
The question of the much larger high school site in the vicinity never came up in the discussion.
Yet it must.
To the residents, it is a far more significant factor.
The homeowners are not reacting differently than most would in the same situation.
In my judgement, they are no better served than the rest of the community by receiving only enough information to raise their concerns
You know, if this was a challenger's strategy to make inroads for the next election it would be instantly recognized and rated. It would not be dismissed.it would be qualified.
But it wasn't a declared challenger.
It was by an incumbent using town stationery and town facilities to give credence to his
actions.
It's the difference between the way it was and the virus.
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