"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

Thursday 20 February 2014

Dick Whittington ,Dick Whittington...Where have you been?

I didn't attend the Mayor's Luncheon at the Chamber of Commerce.

I did read  an  account of the speech in The Auroran

Good thing I did.

I would not have known otherwise ,we were not successful in our bid to become a University city.
despite our willingness to  find and fund millions on property to  entice the University of Windsor
to establish a presence in our town.

Neither would I have known our effort to attract Seneca College to use the old library on Victoria Street  for a Fab Lab had fizzled and vanished without a trace.

The speech  did not mention the idea  to compete with builders in a multi-million dollar auction for a  designated land parcel with allocation for ninety-two homes on forty foot lots and turn it into  soccer fields and such.

Considerable staff resources were committed to the effort without prior Council direction.

Council's role continues to shrink in the overall scheme of things.

I didn't see a reference  to spending on legal services to compel a developer to sell land to the municipality for a fraction of its value.

I  must read it again to see what else has been going on  Council and the community didn't know .

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Mayor has not,in my view, provided the leadership that is needed. You clarify this with the examples you cite.

Anonymous said...

It sure isn't that letter he said he would be ' glad ' to write. I'm going to have to forget about that...it isn't going to happen.

Anonymous said...

Good, because you do go on about it, 12:47

Anonymous said...

No mention of a hotel ?

Anonymous said...

Library Square was held up by both Cllr Thompson and Cllr Gallo to wait for the marvellous Fab Lab. No one I spoke to thought it was a good idea. The neighbours have met repeatedly to say that they want a building that can be multi-use and parking. This term will end as it began with nothing accomplished on land the town does already own.

Anonymous said...


Evelyn:

There are two matters that I wish to address.

The Joint Operations Centre according to the information I located on the town website at a cost of $19,800,000 is to be financed by debt gradually reducing by monies from development charges and the sale of the 9 Scanlon Court property. Will the proceeds of sale of any other town properties by available to reduce this debt?

When companies agree to merge or when one buys out another, the first thing that is publicized is the degree of saving that the new larger entity will be able to accomplish, reducing duplication of staff and physical facilities, etc. In other words the combined company wii be more profitable because its overheads will be reduced.

I have not managed to see anywhere a similar statement on the overheads saved as a result of the Joint Operations Centre. I appreciate that staffs are not interchangeable but the larger, purpose-built structure must surely create savings. Has such a study been done and how does one access it?

The second matter must unfortunately once again address Mr. Bill Albino. He was described by another blogger as totally dedicated to the restoration, if not the resurrection, of Hillary House. His presence now on the Aurora Historical Society Board and as an officer of AHS provides him with a platform to meddle into areas where he is neither welcome nor is it appropriate for him to do so. Fifty members hardly represent the community.

A recent blogger said that the asking prices for the two properties that would be required are apparently public knowledge. I have not seen any numbers and if they are public how do I find out what they are?

Hopefully the Hillary Heritage Park will fade from sight sooner rather than later and with it the COA's pretentious memorandum relating to a strategy to conduct purchase negotiations.

Anonymous said...

Hey Ev...How is it that you don't know how communication works in this Town? Communications is only given to a person/residents on a "need to know basis". And God forbid you ask any questions...A report would have to be created for that information, or you have to file a FOI request...or...you micht get accused of "micromanaging".

Anonymous said...

If that was a draft of an election platform, it needs more work. A lot more work.

Anonymous said...

@15:12
No. I think this is the year-end thing he was working on when the ice storm hit. It's only past mid-Feb.

Anonymous said...

14:06
They are asking for $10 million for the 3 combined properties.

Anonymous said...

18:41
Break it down for me please. I want to know where they believe there is value.

Anonymous said...

There was no breakdown given. You can view the "cost benefit study" that we paid $25000. Here's the link
then click Item #1
http://www.town.aurora.on.ca/app/wa/mediaEntry?mediaEntryId=62458