Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Last Call Gentlemen Please":
I really wish I thought you were right, Evelyn. But I can't agree. There may be opportunities there but it is awfully late for reversals.
**********
It's the beauty of the democratic process. We have a right to disagree.
If we are making a decision on behalf of the community, we have na obligation to provide
an argument to support it.
Being too late to reverse a decision not yet made is not a valid argument.
It is not an argument at all.
It's a lame exc
Council can not be more confident that the current estimate of $19 million dollars is any more firm than the original of $14.5 million or the immediately previous of $24 million.
A hospital in Niagara Region has this week been approved by the Province at a cost of $26 million .
Think about that.
The current works and parks sites are still in public ownership.
The bylaw required by provincial legislation, to declare the property surplus has not been passed.
There's more to be said . And I will say it. But right now, I need to have breakfast.
Thursday, 16 January 2014
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13 comments:
Totally off-topic
Patrick Brazeau has managed to get fired from another job. Maybe an opening for your resident stalker ?
As an FYI - as I made the mistake earlier in the week in my comment to you. From the Ontario Government's news release "The province is providing the Niagara Health System with $26.2 million to plan a new hospital in South Niagara and two Urgent Care Centres". So who knows what the cost of the hospital is going to be? This is just a planning grant. Hopefully it's not going to in the vicinity of cancelled gas plants although the Niagara Region is hurting with all of the medical facilities being closed and revamped etc.
Councillor, no need to worry about ultimate cost of the new garage. And I can tell you it will be more than the published estimates.
Big engineering companies know when there is a municipal fish on the line. Qualified bidders will tell the real tale when they have had a chance to study the plans. Remember the planned renovations for city hall?
But here is the thing - the Town's financial staff, under the direction of our Mayor, are going to look for free money. It does not fall from the sky or everyone would want some. It is more like a tax that is taken from this pot and magically it appears in that pot.
Look to our Deputy Mayor for direction. He wants to make the "tough decisions" before he knows the price - yes, yes, yes at any price!
The Mayor's solution, "Our staff need to be far more intelligent in managing these projects". No Mayor, don't try to hang this on staff. You and your Deputy want this gold plated garage at all costs. This is what you are going to get.
I am very sure that no one believes that staff make the decisions. It is totally on the shoulders of councillors. I did hear Cllr Thompson declare that time was of the essence. Which is weird as he keeps postponing action on the Library lands every time the matter hits the table.
16:51
I am a bit perplexed by your targeting Councillor Abel in a majority decision. Could it be an old grudge about his early opposition to renewal of the contract with the Centre ?
The racoons are awake and hungry
19:42
I am not targeting Abel for anything to do with the centre.
I did read what he was quoted as saying in The Auroran this week and you should read it. He throws millions of dollars around like pocket change. He says,"costs are a little bit more than we had anticipated". Hence my comment that big engineering companies know when there is a municipal fish on the line.
He is on record as advocating for higher taxes - taxes well above the level of inflation. So if I am targeting him for anything it is for reckless spending or at least a proponent of reckless spending.
We are now well into the fourth and final year of this Council.
During the first year, those who have been elected for the first time are slowly feeling their way, trying to get their sea legs under them as the ship of state tosses and turns in the waves. Even those who are returned have to adjust to new faces, names and ideas. They have lost some of their former travel companions and the environment has changed.
By year two the newcomers have gained experience, sometimes at the cost of embarrassment, sometimes because they were able to convince their fellows through a reasoned argument. Everyone should be feeling more at ease, more of a team. Although this is not necessarily so, as a divide may occur that pits some against the others. Is this the result of ideology and specific objectives? We can only watch and wait to see how the drama unfolds.
Heading into the third year the Council should be at the top of its game. Sufficient time has passed and the players are by now a known quantity, both elected officials and staff. But if what we see is the top of the game, we are extremely grateful not to see the seamy underside. Muscles are being flexed and positions harden on a variety of issues, especially those that are substantial in cost; the benefits are unclear and they cannot be readily quantified. The efficiency factor is on the decline and time seems to get wasted into the very latest of the evening's hours. Tired and cranky people are not functioning at their best.
There is a backlog of items to be dealt with, and this seems to grow as the fourth and final year proceeds. An element of frustration appears and tempers get shorter. Decisions that should have been made are left to drift for the next term. The audience watches raptly, starting to wonder what of this is Council business and what is the beginning of a re-election campaign. Instead of demonstrating a degree of experience and wisdom that should have by now been formed, we see a group of children. each trying to possess the ball that can be taken home - victory.
Unfortunately this cycle is perpetual and it continues at our great cost. Even though the cast may change the play repeats, over and over.
23:04
That is a pretty grim assessment. It is fortunate that there are good Councils that exist so that we do not simply abandon all hope for one of our own.
On a positive note, the sites for the Pam-Am Games are coming in on or under budget.
10:01-According to Pam-Am...wait until an audit is done.
If you only knew the real dirt on Pan Am properties, you would cringe with shame. The money wasted already in building fields and facilities is horrifying. At least it keeps my husband working.
20:29
So many of us are aware of situations like that but we do nothing because we have given up any expectation that things could improve. A sad commentary but a truism.
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