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

Monday 13 January 2014

A conundrum.

I can't  publish comments  that reflect  negatively on staff.

 I  don't want to edit comments.

Comments that add to reader understanding of  municipal business  are  particularly welcome.

I have a problem when I receive an informative comment that reflects negatively on staff.

Would you  please send the 2012 list of salaries over $100.000. again without editorial comment

It would really be appreciated

Thank you ,whoever you are.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...


The following are 2012 salaries of senior Aurora staff under the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act, 1996

Director of Parks & Recreation Services $149,526
Director of Corporate & Financial Services $160,695
CAO $191,017
Director of Customer & Legislative Services (Clerk) $162,074
Director of Legal Services/Town Solicitor $142,013
Director of Planning & Development Services $164,005
Director of Infrastructure & Environmental Services $160,695
Director of Building & Bylaw Services $149,526

I appreciate your reluctance to comment in a negative fashion concerning staff.

But I, and possibly some other readers, might feel that some of the above positions are being overpaid or underpaid.

How do we express that while permitting you personally to avoid making negative staff comments?

Anonymous said...

On a positive note…I personally think that the Director of Planning Marco Ramunno isn’t paid enough. Don’t know how he does his job without a bottle of medication on his desk or in council chambers.

Anonymous said...

One not paid nearly enough; another too much

Anonymous said...

13:36 & 16:09.....

By what bar can you say that someone is being paid too much or too little?

Where do you work? What do you make? What is your title? How many hours do you work?

When you consider that none of these people work less than an 8 hour day. Council meeting days, they work all day and then sit and watch a bunch of children ham it up in front of the TV cameras for another 4 or 5 hours.

Unless you are an in-sider doing the same job, you are not qualified to say that anyone is over paid.

Anonymous said...


16.38

On Council meeting days they get free entertainment from the bunch of children hamming it up in front of the TV camera.

Others would say that this is punishment, and one shouldn't have to suffer the evening away.

There is no factual way of determining overpay or underpay.

I tend to judge this issue on the basis of how the Directors respond to questions directed to them during Council/GC meetings.

Al Downey, in particular, seems fully abreast of matters affecting his department and is not afraid to say he does not know but will find out.

Anonymous said...

16:38
Cut the constant whinge-ing. Contribute something positive; have some fun.

Anonymous said...

Christopher Jan 12th

Anonymous said...

Part of it is - How are they paid in comparison to other similar sized towns around the GTA and in Ontario in general? How are we competing to hold on to well qualified staff? Is this the norm in York Region, in Ontario? Is it higher because we're in the GTA, or close proximity of the GTA depending on how you define it? How do I get one of these jobs? (I don't think the private sector pays anywhere near these amounts). So kudos to them if they can (and they have) get it. But if for some reason they don't continue with the public sector I'm sure they would be in for big surprise.

Anonymous said...

I’m not bashing the admin..but we have a lot of people making a lot of money for their “expertise” and more working within the dept’s, and we keep using outside consultants or farm out more “expert advice” for information or studies. It just seems that every time council requests a report or information from staff for anything it costs the town money because the answers can’t be found or done in house. That’s just my perception.

Anonymous said...

17:09:

I am having fun. I guess my fun is different than yours.

Anonymous said...

17:11:

I am sorry, can't read that site any more. Not funny bullying.

Positive Funster said...

Yes, 17:09, when one thinks of positivity and fun, this blog comes to mind.

Anonymous said...

@ 10:24
You can read what you wish & leave out the rest. I actually hope he runs for election - he knows more than most about what goes on in Aurora. Look what we have now. The contenders for the top job depress the heck out of me.

Anonymous said...

18:35... God help us he he did that. Sarcasm is best metered out in small doses, he has no meter.