I haven't voted in support of a town budget for years for two reasons. I don't believe we should be taxing people to buy "culture". And I don't believe we're getting value for our money in other areas.
We spend a lot of money on consultant studies. The average price is between $60 and $70,000 dollars.
What consultants do, I think is the responsibility of Directors.
Last night ,a committee meeting was held to receive an interim report on a study of service levels. The study cost $60,000.
A power point presentation was made.
Directors were called upon to respond to the findings.
Councillors were invited to ask questions.
I did not opt to provide input into the study. Choosing instead to see what was reported .
It is highly informative .
The final report will be presented in December.
But there's no need to wait that long for my take.
Right now, I have to hang out my laundry.
Then I have to go and get gas.
General Committee to-night.
I'll be back to-morrow.
Tomorrow Tomorrow
I'll tell you tomorrow
It's only a day away
Tuesday, 1 October 2013
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14 comments:
Hey. Enjoy your day. the stew that is our Council doesn't need any more stirring . Just let the thing simmer.
Councillor Gallo has stuff about that report on his web-site BUT, unlike here & with Christopher's material, you gotta register for access. Who does he think he is ? Some international newspaper? Thought he claimed to represent all Aurorans. Obviously he ' misspoke '.....again
Financial Times October 1
Richard McGregor
" Republicans turn on each other as opinion polls reveal public anger "
Councillor Ballard, our self-declared journalist , is speaking:
" I'm pleased with the direction this by-law is going in"
Where did he get his degree?
It's too bad that the town's residents and taxpayers are not treated with the same thought and consideration as the town's trees, especially those that are located on the private properties of those same residents and taxpayers.
The concept of a FAB-LAB at Library Square is too stupid for words. How will such an enterprise benefit beautiful downtown Aurora?
If a FAB-LAB is deemed a good thing for our town it should be located well away from any residential area, off to the east, close to Leslie Street. Possibly some of the developments occurring in such a facility might be dangerous, explosive, toxic - you take your choice.
Library Square should be occupied by a three level indoor parking facility with a further four floors above. Council should solicit ideas from the public as to what endeavours should occupy this very valuable space. Let's aim for things that are financially self-sustaining. We do not want or require more money- guzzling cultural premises.
Councillor Humpfrye's tale of woe about her Dad cutting down a # of trees in the City was most illuminating. But not for the reason she gave it. I expect that property was not owned by her. Nor was she ' entitled ' to dictate the actions of the taxpayers. The fact that she claims to still not to forgiven the man for that ancient event is truly sad. It simply was not her call. ........................... [ Which is a perfect example of trying to dictate what individuals do with their own properties.]
The Library Square could be made into something both lovely and special.
If parking is a problem for the neighbourhood, this could, in part, be solved by a parking garage on two levels.
But I would keep the ground floor available for commercial use, commercial but tasteful. A fine restaurant, an art gallery, a shop selling musical instruments and offering music lessons, a book store, a store selling elegant accessories for men and women, a store selling baby and young children's clothing and necessaries, a shop selling gourmet food items, etc.
There would be four stories, possibly five, above the parking garage. They would consist of condominiums, substantial in size and and exquisite in quality. One of these floors could be given over to a health and fitness club, a facility offering yoga and other oriental arts.
This building would become a destination. Not a misbegotten Hillary House amusement park!
The town might even consider a public-private ownership structure so that it might benefit from an almost certain appreciation in real estate value. But that might be too big a leap for the present council that seems hung up on trees - pun intended.
"Possibly some of the developments occurring in such a facility might be dangerous, explosive, toxic - you take your choice."
Talk about "too stupid for words"!
Yeah, 21:59, nothing says "lovely and special" like a multi-storey parking garage - just look at the one by the GO station.
21:59
Apparently there is a ' secret ' plan floating around. We have to be careful not to follow a lead donkey into the bone yard. I'd be especially worried about any partnerships - lousy track record with the Centre.
Councillor Ballard is not much pleased with last night's meeting's results. We can expect an escalation of those same old tactics
"I haven't voted in support of a town budget for years for two reasons."
Actually there is a third. You like to be the lone wolf operating under the guise of some gladiator defending the public purse.
"What consultants do, I think is the responsibility of Directors."
Directors do not have time because councillors have them doing reports on stupid requests.
23:10
You have to have an imagination if you are an architect.
The parking garage levels would have stone and glass block exteriors, with the possibility of using different coloured glass blocks. This would permit a pattern to be created.
There would have to be a number of ventilation outlets incorporated into the exterior walls, very unobtrusively.
From the outside one would never know there was a two-level parking garage as an integral part of the building.
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