Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Only The Shadow Knows":
22:49- “Isn't necessarily from the Town’s grant” So how is that $70,000 being used? When they can stand up on their own feet and not ask for another red cent….your “hyperbolic outrage” comment may be valid. Until then….expect any and all types of “outrage”.
*************
The Aurora Sports Hall of Fame sent out a bulletin last week. A Trillium grant of $192,000 has been received providing for a new staff person.
Their address is the Aurora Town Hall.
Remember when the erstwhile jazz festival applied for a Trillium grant. The Town had to support them to validate purpose for a trillium grant.
Maybe the Historical Society has received a Trillium grant as well.
If you know how to work the system and all parties co-opeate, the money just flows.
It may be why the Aurora Historical Society continues to exist.
No money is provided in the Town's budget to operate the museum.
We have a room in Church Street School. We have artifacts.
Funds flow freely in grants to organizations allowing them to hire staff .
But no operating funds for the town's museum.
Monday, 31 March 2014
New lessons learned
I should have added the Heritage Act is permissive legislation. Municipalities don't have to.
I once had to explain to a lawyer the difference between mandatory and permissive .After I answered his query he sarcastically asked where I received my legal training
I wish I had time to follow trends.
Mr. Bray, the Heritage Consultant states there are 31 districts designated in Ontario.
There are 444 municipalities in Ontario.
One of the districts is in Aurora and we are spending taxpayers money again to create a second.
One is underway in Kingston. A Councillor hopes it will be completed by the 2014
election. Mr. Bray is quoted in the Kingston Plan as well.
It would be useful to know why the Heritage Act was amended by the Province.
It wouldn't be surprising to find municipalities cited in the magazine Money Sense
as best places to live in Canada , as the same with Heritage Districts.
Considering financial and monitoring responsibility that goes with authority to designate.
it's easy to see how a whole new industry could be created with opportunities for an army
of heritage consultants and planners.
It brings back the question of where the pressure came from for municipal authority
to impose district designation.
Supporters of designation argue insurance protection is not affected.
Opponents have discovered something different. An insurance representative merrily
gives verbal assurance designation makes no difference. Asked for assurance in writing
draws a different response.
There are insurance companies which will not insure designated properties.
We all know about fine print .
What a catastrophic lesson to discover after a designated house is lost ,that authentic heritage
replacement cost is not covered by the policy.
Informal chats between provincial bureaucrats and representatives of the insurance industry would not count for much in the circumstance.
How much responsibility would the municipality have for leading people to believe the problem
does not exist?
The issue has been raised in public. The problem is denied .
How much legal responsibility does a consultant have ?
I once had to explain to a lawyer the difference between mandatory and permissive .After I answered his query he sarcastically asked where I received my legal training
I wish I had time to follow trends.
Mr. Bray, the Heritage Consultant states there are 31 districts designated in Ontario.
There are 444 municipalities in Ontario.
One of the districts is in Aurora and we are spending taxpayers money again to create a second.
One is underway in Kingston. A Councillor hopes it will be completed by the 2014
election. Mr. Bray is quoted in the Kingston Plan as well.
It would be useful to know why the Heritage Act was amended by the Province.
It wouldn't be surprising to find municipalities cited in the magazine Money Sense
as best places to live in Canada , as the same with Heritage Districts.
Considering financial and monitoring responsibility that goes with authority to designate.
it's easy to see how a whole new industry could be created with opportunities for an army
of heritage consultants and planners.
It brings back the question of where the pressure came from for municipal authority
to impose district designation.
Supporters of designation argue insurance protection is not affected.
Opponents have discovered something different. An insurance representative merrily
gives verbal assurance designation makes no difference. Asked for assurance in writing
draws a different response.
There are insurance companies which will not insure designated properties.
We all know about fine print .
What a catastrophic lesson to discover after a designated house is lost ,that authentic heritage
replacement cost is not covered by the policy.
Informal chats between provincial bureaucrats and representatives of the insurance industry would not count for much in the circumstance.
How much responsibility would the municipality have for leading people to believe the problem
does not exist?
The issue has been raised in public. The problem is denied .
How much legal responsibility does a consultant have ?
Sunday, 30 March 2014
Letter
Dear Editor,
Mayor Dawe uses some of the information from MoneySense magazine to paint a rosy picture of Aurora's property taxes. The use of averages, without deeper examination can give an inaccurate picture. Here are some other Aurora measures gleaned from MoneySense.
a) Aurora is rated # 24 across Canada.
b) Average income, $133,000 - 6th highest in Canada.
c) Average home value, $560,000.
d) Net household worth, $833,000.
e) Average discretionary income, $63,600.
These numbers may help individual citizens decide whether our local taxes are appropriate and affordble.
Sincerely,
Robert Cook
***********
Some of these figures are used by the treasurer when introducing increased spending.
High average income and high average post-secondary education are apparently justification for steady increases in taxation.
The service level consultant study submitted to Council in December noted high cost of service reflected high level and high quality of service.
It's a measure of how things have changed over the years.
Spending used to be measured against the ability of those least able to pay.
All the airy -fairy schemes that permeated this term of office are a reflection of Council's
assumption of wealth and disposable income in the community.
The high salaries paid to the town's top administrators don't contribute to the statistics.
They do not live in our town.
Preservation of worthless relics..????
When I was re-elected in 2003. I had been out fourteen years. I had some catching up to do.
The Heritage Act had been amended to give municipalities authority to impose heritage designation
I wondered why . Change never comes without pressure. The answer was not immediately obvious.
No time wasted in Aurora designating the north east quadrant. I thought it was a bit of a stretch
but it wasn't something I cared to argue. Owners who didn't want to be part were able to opt out.
No controversy erupted.
The situation with the south east area is different.
Request for district designation came from one opposed to re-development. Control of the neighborhood was the obvious objective.
The area includes Wellington Street and Victoria Street; properties with different long-term uses expectations and investment.
Opposition to heritage designation and all that entails quickly became evident.
Carl Bray ,the Heritage Consultant doing the "study" for the town, described opposition as a
"significant minority"
It was an interesting choice of words.
Opposition was apparently not to be taken seriously.
Subsequently opponents organized and brought their arguments directly to Council's attention.
Whereupon accusations of fear-mongering and spreading mis- information quickly spread throughout the land.
It often happens when there's no rebuttal.
The other eventuality is the politicians' dance of weave and bend and twist in the wind.
If there is insufficient intestinal fortitude to fulfill the role, it is a pathetic sight to behold.
Now the controversy commands community attention.
The town budgeted $100,000 for the "study" The contract was let for $67,000. Funds came from general tax revenue.
It's not clear to me why.
The HeritageAct authorizes a municipality to impose heritage designation.
It's not clear to me why.
Authority carries responsibility to monitor and ensure a designated district is restored and maintained in its authentic heritage character.
Heritage Designation is registered against title of every property in the district.
It's not policy...guideline ...or flexible option. It's law.
It must be enforced ...by the corporation and obeyed by private property owners.
We already have a heritage planner on the payroll. With two designated districts, monitoring and
enforcement will compel a new division within the corporation.
Inevitably, it will increase the tax burden.
Without as much as a by-your-leave or a smidgin of consultation.
Misinformation...lack of communication... there's plenty about.
There can be no doubt insurance on property will be impacted by cost to restore property
constructed a hundred years ago.
Mortgage financing is not available without insurance to cover the risk.
Marketability is reduced by restrictions on use .
The corporation does not benefit by maintaining old,inadequate,unsafe housing
on large lots, taking up more than their share of infrastructure, producing less than their share of assessment revenue to pay for fire protection, police protection and other services provided by the municipality, including violin and piano concerts by world renowned musicians and esoteric art shows.
The question of reducing numbers of councillors and a ward system drew good response.
Better than the open house on the joint facility the Mayor thought was wildly successful.
We didn't even talk about how the town could practically be divided into wards.
Now let's hear from you about all these perishing heritage designations being undertaken
at the expense of the community at large and without support of the inmates.
The Heritage Act had been amended to give municipalities authority to impose heritage designation
I wondered why . Change never comes without pressure. The answer was not immediately obvious.
No time wasted in Aurora designating the north east quadrant. I thought it was a bit of a stretch
but it wasn't something I cared to argue. Owners who didn't want to be part were able to opt out.
No controversy erupted.
The situation with the south east area is different.
Request for district designation came from one opposed to re-development. Control of the neighborhood was the obvious objective.
The area includes Wellington Street and Victoria Street; properties with different long-term uses expectations and investment.
Opposition to heritage designation and all that entails quickly became evident.
Carl Bray ,the Heritage Consultant doing the "study" for the town, described opposition as a
"significant minority"
It was an interesting choice of words.
Opposition was apparently not to be taken seriously.
Subsequently opponents organized and brought their arguments directly to Council's attention.
Whereupon accusations of fear-mongering and spreading mis- information quickly spread throughout the land.
It often happens when there's no rebuttal.
The other eventuality is the politicians' dance of weave and bend and twist in the wind.
If there is insufficient intestinal fortitude to fulfill the role, it is a pathetic sight to behold.
Now the controversy commands community attention.
The town budgeted $100,000 for the "study" The contract was let for $67,000. Funds came from general tax revenue.
It's not clear to me why.
The HeritageAct authorizes a municipality to impose heritage designation.
It's not clear to me why.
Authority carries responsibility to monitor and ensure a designated district is restored and maintained in its authentic heritage character.
Heritage Designation is registered against title of every property in the district.
It's not policy...guideline ...or flexible option. It's law.
It must be enforced ...by the corporation and obeyed by private property owners.
We already have a heritage planner on the payroll. With two designated districts, monitoring and
enforcement will compel a new division within the corporation.
Inevitably, it will increase the tax burden.
Without as much as a by-your-leave or a smidgin of consultation.
Misinformation...lack of communication... there's plenty about.
There can be no doubt insurance on property will be impacted by cost to restore property
constructed a hundred years ago.
Mortgage financing is not available without insurance to cover the risk.
Marketability is reduced by restrictions on use .
The corporation does not benefit by maintaining old,inadequate,unsafe housing
on large lots, taking up more than their share of infrastructure, producing less than their share of assessment revenue to pay for fire protection, police protection and other services provided by the municipality, including violin and piano concerts by world renowned musicians and esoteric art shows.
The question of reducing numbers of councillors and a ward system drew good response.
Better than the open house on the joint facility the Mayor thought was wildly successful.
We didn't even talk about how the town could practically be divided into wards.
Now let's hear from you about all these perishing heritage designations being undertaken
at the expense of the community at large and without support of the inmates.
Thursday, 27 March 2014
Only The Shadow Knows
Born of wealth and privilege, St.Andrew's College might have been our Alma Mater.
We would have participated in theatre arts and a debating society and become masters of the latter art.
No matter. We can learn . This media provides the opportunity.
A question under discussion is sufficient number of Council seats? 6 or 8
The task is to discover the merits and prepare oneself to argue for one or the other.
Rules are civility and timing.
The first means no invective, personal criticism of an opponent's intellect is a no-no.
"Ya. yir ma wears army boots." is not appropriate.
Itwould be definite lack of decorum . Points would be lost .
Timing in this media is not material but precision matters. Rambling cost points.
Consider what is known.
In living memory,Aurora always had eight councillors since a population of 5,000
and half its geographic area.
With the creation of Regional goverment in 1971, with a population of 11,000. authority was given to reduce the size of Council.
It was proposed and promptly rejected by the community. The feeling was one of deprivation of rights.
Fast forward to 2010. Contemplate the last term of Council.
Fury swept through the community. Three citizens were sued during the election campaign by the Mayor using tax resources, compelling them to incure massive legal cost to defend themselves.
Already a strong campaign had been mounted to replace the Mayor and five incumbents.
Twenty candidates were registered for eight seats.
Despite a massive effort the campaign was only partially successful.
Turn-out, always the key ,only increased by .5 %
The Mayor 's office was handily won by a candidate without experience of municipal government. A first in living memory.
Four Councillors of unknown quantity , were elected.
Two incumbents and a follower , all affirmed disciples of the former Mayor, were re-elected.
A fifth was squeezed out by the narrowest of margins.
A powerful campaign was only half successful
So, what did we learn?
Elections are hard. The electorate is a strongly independent entity. They do the best they can with what's available.
Half the Mormac Cabal was re-elected.
New untried members elected did not fulfill the promise of change.
Would fewer numbers have provided quality over quantity?
Would candidate selection be enhanced by a reduction in Council seats?
How say you?
Mind..... no name calling. It proves nothing .
And forby, how do I know you're not a candidate attacking the competition. ?
If I do it, everybody knows it's me.
If anonymous does it only The Shadow Knows.
We would have participated in theatre arts and a debating society and become masters of the latter art.
No matter. We can learn . This media provides the opportunity.
A question under discussion is sufficient number of Council seats? 6 or 8
The task is to discover the merits and prepare oneself to argue for one or the other.
Rules are civility and timing.
The first means no invective, personal criticism of an opponent's intellect is a no-no.
"Ya. yir ma wears army boots." is not appropriate.
Itwould be definite lack of decorum . Points would be lost .
Timing in this media is not material but precision matters. Rambling cost points.
Consider what is known.
In living memory,Aurora always had eight councillors since a population of 5,000
and half its geographic area.
With the creation of Regional goverment in 1971, with a population of 11,000. authority was given to reduce the size of Council.
It was proposed and promptly rejected by the community. The feeling was one of deprivation of rights.
Fast forward to 2010. Contemplate the last term of Council.
Fury swept through the community. Three citizens were sued during the election campaign by the Mayor using tax resources, compelling them to incure massive legal cost to defend themselves.
Already a strong campaign had been mounted to replace the Mayor and five incumbents.
Twenty candidates were registered for eight seats.
Despite a massive effort the campaign was only partially successful.
Turn-out, always the key ,only increased by .5 %
The Mayor 's office was handily won by a candidate without experience of municipal government. A first in living memory.
Four Councillors of unknown quantity , were elected.
Two incumbents and a follower , all affirmed disciples of the former Mayor, were re-elected.
A fifth was squeezed out by the narrowest of margins.
A powerful campaign was only half successful
So, what did we learn?
Elections are hard. The electorate is a strongly independent entity. They do the best they can with what's available.
Half the Mormac Cabal was re-elected.
New untried members elected did not fulfill the promise of change.
Would fewer numbers have provided quality over quantity?
Would candidate selection be enhanced by a reduction in Council seats?
How say you?
Mind..... no name calling. It proves nothing .
And forby, how do I know you're not a candidate attacking the competition. ?
If I do it, everybody knows it's me.
If anonymous does it only The Shadow Knows.
Wednesday, 26 March 2014
They know not what they do
Voter turnout in the last few elections.
2010 - 38.5%
2006 - 38%
2003 - 33%
2000 - 41%
1997 - 33.8%
1994 - 40%
*******
A Special Meeting of Council was held on Monday to choose wording for a question on the ballot on wards.
Council previously approved putting the question on the ballot in October's election.
Wording is as follows:
1. Are you in favor of electing all Aurora councillors, other than the Mayor, by ward vote instead of
Town -wide vote?
2. Are you in favor of reducing the number of councillors. other than the Mayor, from eight(8)
to six (6) councillors?
***************
I understand for the question to be binding, voter turnout must be 50%.
As noted above, the closest turnout in the last five elections (twenty years) was the year 2000
Turnout was 41%.
Each election cited had a mayoralty contest.
When there is none ,turnout can be and generally is as low as 20%.
Council also recently passed a resolution to allow for "re-call" if enough people signed a petition.
Premier Kathleen Wynne has announced new legislation to place municipal councils under the oversight of Ontario Ombudsman , Andre Morin.
Mr.Morin is not admired in government circles. He first came to eminence with the Special Investigative Unit, oversight of police where a death has occurred.
He was relieved of responsibility for that job.
Eyebrows raised when he was appointed Ontario Ombudsman.
Aurora's Mayor has commented publicly if he really had CEO authority, there would be changes
at the Council table.
He did not specify.
I will not speculate.
At a time ,when one hopes citizens are contemplating candidacy, what encouragement is there in all of this to take additional risk.
The Code of Conduct Act, Integrity Commissioner legislation. Conflict of Interest Act.
Ontario Water Act that could find an entire Council guilty of an inditable offence punishable by jail time.
The normal everyday process of being a candidate carries its own self-inflicted costs and penalties.
$100. registration :
Thousands of dollars costs of a campaign.
Audited financial statements at the end of it;
Hundreds of milles walked; thousnads of steps and stairs climbed.
Thousands engaged , at least half with no interest in the enterprise.
On the fateful night,watching the tally and finally, potential public rejection.
There are always more candidates than seats.
People have always done it. Some, out of conviction ,two or three times before being elected.
Most never risk it again. It is not an enviable experience.
Now we have the Honorable Kathleen Wynne's government ,eviscerating the people's right to choose
and live with their selection.
At what point does priceless liberty become, for an individual, not worth the price?
Are we perhaps there already ?
People have authority and power, who know not what they do
2010 - 38.5%
2006 - 38%
2003 - 33%
2000 - 41%
1997 - 33.8%
1994 - 40%
*******
A Special Meeting of Council was held on Monday to choose wording for a question on the ballot on wards.
Council previously approved putting the question on the ballot in October's election.
Wording is as follows:
1. Are you in favor of electing all Aurora councillors, other than the Mayor, by ward vote instead of
Town -wide vote?
2. Are you in favor of reducing the number of councillors. other than the Mayor, from eight(8)
to six (6) councillors?
***************
I understand for the question to be binding, voter turnout must be 50%.
As noted above, the closest turnout in the last five elections (twenty years) was the year 2000
Turnout was 41%.
Each election cited had a mayoralty contest.
When there is none ,turnout can be and generally is as low as 20%.
Council also recently passed a resolution to allow for "re-call" if enough people signed a petition.
Premier Kathleen Wynne has announced new legislation to place municipal councils under the oversight of Ontario Ombudsman , Andre Morin.
Mr.Morin is not admired in government circles. He first came to eminence with the Special Investigative Unit, oversight of police where a death has occurred.
He was relieved of responsibility for that job.
Eyebrows raised when he was appointed Ontario Ombudsman.
Aurora's Mayor has commented publicly if he really had CEO authority, there would be changes
at the Council table.
He did not specify.
I will not speculate.
At a time ,when one hopes citizens are contemplating candidacy, what encouragement is there in all of this to take additional risk.
The Code of Conduct Act, Integrity Commissioner legislation. Conflict of Interest Act.
Ontario Water Act that could find an entire Council guilty of an inditable offence punishable by jail time.
The normal everyday process of being a candidate carries its own self-inflicted costs and penalties.
$100. registration :
Thousands of dollars costs of a campaign.
Audited financial statements at the end of it;
Hundreds of milles walked; thousnads of steps and stairs climbed.
Thousands engaged , at least half with no interest in the enterprise.
On the fateful night,watching the tally and finally, potential public rejection.
There are always more candidates than seats.
People have always done it. Some, out of conviction ,two or three times before being elected.
Most never risk it again. It is not an enviable experience.
Now we have the Honorable Kathleen Wynne's government ,eviscerating the people's right to choose
and live with their selection.
At what point does priceless liberty become, for an individual, not worth the price?
Are we perhaps there already ?
People have authority and power, who know not what they do
Saturday, 22 March 2014
I'll be fine
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Compare prices":
U OK?
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 21 March 2014 18:58
*********************
I'm alright. I just need some time.
My sister was twenty-two months older. Our childhood was as one. I knew her as well as I knew myself.
I'm not ready to write about it. Maybe I never will.
But for now, I can't write about anything else.
I just need some time.
U OK?
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 21 March 2014 18:58
*********************
I'm alright. I just need some time.
My sister was twenty-two months older. Our childhood was as one. I knew her as well as I knew myself.
I'm not ready to write about it. Maybe I never will.
But for now, I can't write about anything else.
I just need some time.
Thursday, 20 March 2014
Compare prices
An in-camera session was held after Council meeting on Tuesday. The item to be discussed was Hallmark Cards property on Vandorf Sideroad.
It's for sale.
It's twenty nine acres. Has warehouse facilities of 29 thousand square feet.
Asking price is $17 million dollars.
Similar properties in town have been on the market a number of years.
The town is proceeding with a plan for a joint works and parks facility on 4 or 5 acres with
an estimated $3 million needed to make it into a developable site.
Estimate cost of the project, including land. is $26. million .
Where's the logic?
It's for sale.
It's twenty nine acres. Has warehouse facilities of 29 thousand square feet.
Asking price is $17 million dollars.
Similar properties in town have been on the market a number of years.
The town is proceeding with a plan for a joint works and parks facility on 4 or 5 acres with
an estimated $3 million needed to make it into a developable site.
Estimate cost of the project, including land. is $26. million .
Where's the logic?
Wednesday, 19 March 2014
The Vigil Has Ended
My sister died at five o' clock last night.
I am finding it hard to compose my thoughts.
I will be back in touch soon.
I am finding it hard to compose my thoughts.
I will be back in touch soon.
Monday, 17 March 2014
A Week of Vigil
I had to go to Ottawa yesterday. My sister Kathleen is hospitalized . She has ben placed on palliative care.
It was hard to leave and it's hard to focus. .
I was able to say goodbye . I know she is in a good place.
Kathleen's children are with her. This week will be a vigil.
Thursday and Friday the litigation resumes in a court house in Oshawa.
This my be the week my attention is distracted.
This is by way of an explanation beforehand.
It was hard to leave and it's hard to focus. .
I was able to say goodbye . I know she is in a good place.
Kathleen's children are with her. This week will be a vigil.
Thursday and Friday the litigation resumes in a court house in Oshawa.
This my be the week my attention is distracted.
This is by way of an explanation beforehand.
Saturday, 15 March 2014
What will be , will be
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Grace needs Assurance":
Let Grace decide.
The Council can still be a nasty scene. too many residuals and heaven knows what is coming out of the underbrush.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 15 March 2014 19:16
*********
Of course Grace will decide. No pressure intended , No offence either by not mentioning others.
When Grace resigned I felt the community was short-changed, It wasn't meant to be that way.
Let Grace decide.
The Council can still be a nasty scene. too many residuals and heaven knows what is coming out of the underbrush.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 15 March 2014 19:16
*********
Of course Grace will decide. No pressure intended , No offence either by not mentioning others.
When Grace resigned I felt the community was short-changed, It wasn't meant to be that way.
Grace needs Assurance
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "All...":
I would love to see Grace run but she took such a nasty hammering with the last council that I hesitate to even suggest such a thing. I felt so badly because we had voted for her & encouraged others to do so
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 15 March 2014 12:51
***************
It's because of what happened in the last term that I think Grace needs to be encouraged.
And it's about the town's needs.
Grace's Dad was a Captain in the Beaches fire department.
It's an area with a strong sense of identity. People who grew up there speak of their background with pride.
Grace has that sense of pride in public service. It's not an idle cliche. We are short on identity and commitment on Council.
There's too much cold calculation of " what's in it for me "
FYI< there's a referendum campaign in Scotland now about Separation.
Except for language, it's not unlike the roils and rumbles we hear from Quebec.
Except the Scots might be a tad more deliberate and have less to lose,
The Irish still want the Northern Territory back. Kind of like Russians and Crimea .
The Irish practiced terrorism , with funs from Americans, until the mothers decided ...when they had to bury children...they had had enough.
Doesn't really matter where in Europe, passion is never far from the surface .memories
never fade and it doesn't take much to start an argument and get the blood boiling.
The new rigeur for blog will not include occasional waspish comments.
We are advised the trolls are being fed too much .
I would love to see Grace run but she took such a nasty hammering with the last council that I hesitate to even suggest such a thing. I felt so badly because we had voted for her & encouraged others to do so
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 15 March 2014 12:51
***************
It's because of what happened in the last term that I think Grace needs to be encouraged.
And it's about the town's needs.
Grace's Dad was a Captain in the Beaches fire department.
It's an area with a strong sense of identity. People who grew up there speak of their background with pride.
Grace has that sense of pride in public service. It's not an idle cliche. We are short on identity and commitment on Council.
There's too much cold calculation of " what's in it for me "
FYI< there's a referendum campaign in Scotland now about Separation.
Except for language, it's not unlike the roils and rumbles we hear from Quebec.
Except the Scots might be a tad more deliberate and have less to lose,
The Irish still want the Northern Territory back. Kind of like Russians and Crimea .
The Irish practiced terrorism , with funs from Americans, until the mothers decided ...when they had to bury children...they had had enough.
Doesn't really matter where in Europe, passion is never far from the surface .memories
never fade and it doesn't take much to start an argument and get the blood boiling.
The new rigeur for blog will not include occasional waspish comments.
We are advised the trolls are being fed too much .
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "All Join In The Chorus":
How can we have an honest discussion without opposing views?
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 15 March 2014 11:01
****************
I didn't say I would delete opposing views.
A difference of opinion and a mean and spiteful, venomous attack are not the same.
A rational argument is not enhanced by aspersions on character, moral or intellectual.
That's why Parliamentary Rules of Order require the person who has the floor to speak only to the question on the table.
Speaking of which, Grace Marsh should be encouraged to be a candidate in the next election.
Grace has a wealth of knowledge and integrity to bring to a Council .
We are not short of ability in Aurora. But we do need to restore confidence.
How can we have an honest discussion without opposing views?
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 15 March 2014 11:01
****************
I didn't say I would delete opposing views.
A difference of opinion and a mean and spiteful, venomous attack are not the same.
A rational argument is not enhanced by aspersions on character, moral or intellectual.
That's why Parliamentary Rules of Order require the person who has the floor to speak only to the question on the table.
Speaking of which, Grace Marsh should be encouraged to be a candidate in the next election.
Grace has a wealth of knowledge and integrity to bring to a Council .
We are not short of ability in Aurora. But we do need to restore confidence.
No Irish Need Apply
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Hallelujah I'm a Bum":
Evelyn
Please. what do you now about this " European Club " meeting at the town hall called by a woman running for Council ? does she have to pay for the use of the facilities & what might a ' European club ' be since we have solid european roots & have never heard of it
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 15 March 2014 08:58
********************
I haven't heard about the European Club.
Any one can use the Council Chamber .There's a User Fee.
I know of one woman candidate . Svetlana suggests Russian but that could cover a number of new/old Baltic States.
The candidate has been making her presence felt for some time.
A corner of Bayview and St.John's Sideroad has a designation for commercial development.
There was a delegation to demand trees not be removed. The town was being denuded .
Next request was for the Town to buy the land and turn it into a park much-needed in the new neighborhood.
After that, a delegation of support for the tree bylaw.
Also support for acquisition of the six acre school site no longer required by the separate school board for a much-needed park.
Then registration as a Candidate.
Then husband recruited and selected for Board of Historical Society under leadership f John McIntyre and William Albino.
And now formation of a European Club.
It's been a while but I don't think citizens of the tight little Island known as the United Kingdom
generally speaking identify themselves as anything but English, Norther Irish ,Scottish and Welsh .
Well, the English also self- identify as Brits. It's a peculiar affectation they have.
Some Canadians identify them as " Bloody Limeys" But the English are sublime in the certainty of superiority.
I'm not sure any citizens of Europe self-identify as Europeans
Certainly Asian people would not .
So I think, by a process of elimination, one must assume a meeting of a European Club in the Town Hall would have no political reference in the Town of Aurora.
It must be social.
If there is an invitation ,it must be seen to be exclusive.
Evelyn
Please. what do you now about this " European Club " meeting at the town hall called by a woman running for Council ? does she have to pay for the use of the facilities & what might a ' European club ' be since we have solid european roots & have never heard of it
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 15 March 2014 08:58
********************
I haven't heard about the European Club.
Any one can use the Council Chamber .There's a User Fee.
I know of one woman candidate . Svetlana suggests Russian but that could cover a number of new/old Baltic States.
The candidate has been making her presence felt for some time.
A corner of Bayview and St.John's Sideroad has a designation for commercial development.
There was a delegation to demand trees not be removed. The town was being denuded .
Next request was for the Town to buy the land and turn it into a park much-needed in the new neighborhood.
After that, a delegation of support for the tree bylaw.
Also support for acquisition of the six acre school site no longer required by the separate school board for a much-needed park.
Then registration as a Candidate.
Then husband recruited and selected for Board of Historical Society under leadership f John McIntyre and William Albino.
And now formation of a European Club.
It's been a while but I don't think citizens of the tight little Island known as the United Kingdom
generally speaking identify themselves as anything but English, Norther Irish ,Scottish and Welsh .
Well, the English also self- identify as Brits. It's a peculiar affectation they have.
Some Canadians identify them as " Bloody Limeys" But the English are sublime in the certainty of superiority.
I'm not sure any citizens of Europe self-identify as Europeans
Certainly Asian people would not .
So I think, by a process of elimination, one must assume a meeting of a European Club in the Town Hall would have no political reference in the Town of Aurora.
It must be social.
If there is an invitation ,it must be seen to be exclusive.
All Join In The Chorus
I am advised nasties flourish when they are fed . ... Ignored....they vanish.
Two scenes of awful snarling and groaning emanating from shadows and black, ghoulish shapeless forms rising from the subterranean.
I think of the movie Ghost with Deborah Winger and Whoopi Goldberg.
Two scenes of awful snarling and groaning emanating from shadows and black, ghoulish shapeless forms rising from the subterranean.
I assume the advice is , if unpublished , discouragement sets in .... they simply give up
the ghost and vanish.
Sounds like a plan.
In politics, when you do what you think is right, you can't avoid having some people mad at you some of the time.
When residents from a hood come out shouting and demanding and reminding you they vote ,they don't like to be reminded they're not alone and decisions need to reflect best interest of the whole .
They get what they want from the cringing majority some of the time but none of time do any of them look good in the process . They always need somebody to blame .
I have a broad back. From taking more whacks than pats.
When I was very young I took my revenge with the cutting phrase.
It's a peculiarly Scottish trait.
I discovered there was no real satisfaction in wounding people. Especially if they were not-equipped
to fight back.
I would be filled with shame and remorse
Half my life, I struggled with that conflict .
Then I discovered politics. I knew I had come home.
I had to learn the discipline but the fight was always legitimate.
My foot was finally on the right path .
I was a happy warrior.
Then Blog came into my life.
That discipline also has been an on-going learning process.
A community continues to grow around this new outlet in our lives.
But we do have gremlins.
I've tried to discern but there's no choice between veiled and real .
They are all just plain mean and nasty.
So....I accept the advice. No longer will blog provide sustenance to aliens
Benefit of the doubt will no longer be an option.
The knell will fall.
The finger will poke .
Friday, 14 March 2014
Hallelujah I'm a Bum
Guelph University is closing two satellite camps to cut costs.
I love it when I'm right.
Recently town staff were out soliciting potential locations to offer to Windsor University
as a satellite campus
Owners were asked if they would be willing to sell their property and if so what would be the price.
I've never heard of that method of public acquisition of property.
Among other points in an argument , I referred to York University having to cancel programs to cut costs.
Attracting a post-secondary institution is an objectives of the town's Strategic Plan . No doubt contributing to the aim of " an exceptional quality of life for all "
The consultant study was budgeted at $80,000.
There was already a Strategic Plan. An update required review it and changes wherever necessary.
Didn't need to spend money.
But high -flying objectives of excellence and exceptionality were in the wind.
Staff have pursued other objectives that came to nought.
Yesterday we heard that Staples is closing stores. Taking sales on line.
We just approved a three million, three year plan to replace plain with patterned concrete sidewalks.
That's part of the Promenade Study.
Build it and they will beat a path to the doors of stores . Not likely.
If I were a cartoonist, I would draw a picture of a straight line of ostriches ,posteriors in full view with signs hanging from their tail feathers.
I love it when I'm right.
Recently town staff were out soliciting potential locations to offer to Windsor University
as a satellite campus
Owners were asked if they would be willing to sell their property and if so what would be the price.
I've never heard of that method of public acquisition of property.
Among other points in an argument , I referred to York University having to cancel programs to cut costs.
Attracting a post-secondary institution is an objectives of the town's Strategic Plan . No doubt contributing to the aim of " an exceptional quality of life for all "
The consultant study was budgeted at $80,000.
There was already a Strategic Plan. An update required review it and changes wherever necessary.
Didn't need to spend money.
But high -flying objectives of excellence and exceptionality were in the wind.
Staff have pursued other objectives that came to nought.
Yesterday we heard that Staples is closing stores. Taking sales on line.
We just approved a three million, three year plan to replace plain with patterned concrete sidewalks.
That's part of the Promenade Study.
Build it and they will beat a path to the doors of stores . Not likely.
If I were a cartoonist, I would draw a picture of a straight line of ostriches ,posteriors in full view with signs hanging from their tail feathers.
Comment to Comment
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Save The Town Harmless":
16:24
Drones in themselves are not that heavy. It's the bomb that does them in.
So a structurally strengthened roof might not be a prerequisite. And a bit
of greenery on half of the roof would be a nice touch.
The region would, of course, not want one but six so that the component
municipalities could be the equal to the others, regardless of physical
size, population or tax rate.
The Department of National Defence could not handle this topic. It is too
small, too simple, and too inexpensive in relative terms. The Department is
only comfortable when it deals in billions spread over many years, projects
that are invariably postponed or cancelled outright, projects with which
the Prime Minister is enamoured.
I'm all for committees but Mr. Bezos does not function in that environment.
I just finished a very good biography of him. He actually is a dictator,
but he does get results.
It would be altogether too embarrassing to introduce him to the three
councillors you name, embarrassing to us - you and me - not to them.
****************
I probably should pace myself on comment moderation.
There's a ton of spam. The nasties are still with us. Some comments I don't publish for one reason or another and judging by the number of accidental deletions, my finger is slipping when it shouldn't.
A comment yesterday indicated suspicion that someone is being paid to monitor the blog.
It;s actually a fact
In the last term a public statement was made that a communications manager with a Master's Degree in English would be hired.
The person doing the job competently for almost a decade didn't have a Master's Degree. I have good reason to believe she objected to the monitoring bit.
Seemed apparent she wouldn't get the job.
She didn't.
The person hired didn't have a Master's Degree either. He's not on the job now either.
At the time of the job announcement, terms of reference referenced monitoring blogs and correcting inaccuracies.
Haven't noticed any corrections since.
Which isn't to say blogs are not being monitored,
Just that they haven't contained inaccuracies.
Or a variation of the two.
Which raises the perennial questions..... How well are our tax dollars being monitored?
A tin foil hat for the first answer.
16:24
Drones in themselves are not that heavy. It's the bomb that does them in.
So a structurally strengthened roof might not be a prerequisite. And a bit
of greenery on half of the roof would be a nice touch.
The region would, of course, not want one but six so that the component
municipalities could be the equal to the others, regardless of physical
size, population or tax rate.
The Department of National Defence could not handle this topic. It is too
small, too simple, and too inexpensive in relative terms. The Department is
only comfortable when it deals in billions spread over many years, projects
that are invariably postponed or cancelled outright, projects with which
the Prime Minister is enamoured.
I'm all for committees but Mr. Bezos does not function in that environment.
I just finished a very good biography of him. He actually is a dictator,
but he does get results.
It would be altogether too embarrassing to introduce him to the three
councillors you name, embarrassing to us - you and me - not to them.
****************
I probably should pace myself on comment moderation.
There's a ton of spam. The nasties are still with us. Some comments I don't publish for one reason or another and judging by the number of accidental deletions, my finger is slipping when it shouldn't.
A comment yesterday indicated suspicion that someone is being paid to monitor the blog.
It;s actually a fact
In the last term a public statement was made that a communications manager with a Master's Degree in English would be hired.
The person doing the job competently for almost a decade didn't have a Master's Degree. I have good reason to believe she objected to the monitoring bit.
Seemed apparent she wouldn't get the job.
She didn't.
The person hired didn't have a Master's Degree either. He's not on the job now either.
At the time of the job announcement, terms of reference referenced monitoring blogs and correcting inaccuracies.
Haven't noticed any corrections since.
Which isn't to say blogs are not being monitored,
Just that they haven't contained inaccuracies.
Or a variation of the two.
Which raises the perennial questions..... How well are our tax dollars being monitored?
A tin foil hat for the first answer.
Thursday, 13 March 2014
Another accidental deletion
A comment posted at 19.20 p.m. was accidentally deleted. Sorry
Send it again and it will be posted.
Thank you.
In another comment ,I was asked to correct the understanding that I am not paid.
There is no misunderstanding. I am not paid to publish the blog.
I comment on town business as a Councillor.
It wouldn't feel right to be selling advertising
Now...if I wasn't a councillor.....I could really let it rip.
Send it again and it will be posted.
Thank you.
In another comment ,I was asked to correct the understanding that I am not paid.
There is no misunderstanding. I am not paid to publish the blog.
I comment on town business as a Councillor.
It wouldn't feel right to be selling advertising
Now...if I wasn't a councillor.....I could really let it rip.
Fasten your seat belts...it's going to be a bumpy ride
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Musical Accompaniment Please":
But what happens when the audience doesn't want to see the end of the play the way the cast have written it ?
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 10 March 2014 16:31
******************
If a tree falls in the forest and there's no-one there to hear it...does it make a sound?
I'm not sure if I have that right but it's good enough for my purpose.
No play is complete without an audience.
They are much a part of the drama as characters on the stage.
This play is like a T.V. serial.
The episode dealing with three trees ,not theirs, was prompted by neighbors. The characters on stage picked up the theme and ran with it , making absolute fools of themselves in the process with no help from anyone else.
The audience knew how it must turn out .
The question would be how many meetings ? how much bafflegab before the undignified end.
A betting pool could be set up on how long .... Not how it would turn out.
The saga of the cell tower in King Township . Eagerness to spend thousands on legal fees to compel Bell to dismantle the cell tower was a farce identical.
The six acre site on Mavrinac; the town has embarked on a legal battle to compel the owner to sell for a fraction of its value with no identifiable need because neighbors don't want to see houses where they've become accustomed to vacant space.
The Mayor and Council have been commended for heroic action in the matter with a web site to keep residents informed of the play by play right up to the election.
The proposed S.E. Heritage designation that cost $67,thousand for a consultant and turns out not to be about heritage at all.
It's about some property-owners preventing other property-owners from exercising their right of property ownership.
I could go on and on.
No sooner is one scene over than another begins.
We live in an age of shameless entitlement. I want it. Give it to me or else.
Yes sir Yes sir three bags full .
It's tiresome and tedious...repetitious and predictable...often dull with the same characters playing the same roles.
But no matter how banal the script .... the audience cannot leave before the play is ended
It's their job to bring down the curtain.
But what happens when the audience doesn't want to see the end of the play the way the cast have written it ?
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 10 March 2014 16:31
******************
If a tree falls in the forest and there's no-one there to hear it...does it make a sound?
I'm not sure if I have that right but it's good enough for my purpose.
No play is complete without an audience.
They are much a part of the drama as characters on the stage.
This play is like a T.V. serial.
The episode dealing with three trees ,not theirs, was prompted by neighbors. The characters on stage picked up the theme and ran with it , making absolute fools of themselves in the process with no help from anyone else.
The audience knew how it must turn out .
The question would be how many meetings ? how much bafflegab before the undignified end.
A betting pool could be set up on how long .... Not how it would turn out.
The saga of the cell tower in King Township . Eagerness to spend thousands on legal fees to compel Bell to dismantle the cell tower was a farce identical.
The six acre site on Mavrinac; the town has embarked on a legal battle to compel the owner to sell for a fraction of its value with no identifiable need because neighbors don't want to see houses where they've become accustomed to vacant space.
The Mayor and Council have been commended for heroic action in the matter with a web site to keep residents informed of the play by play right up to the election.
The proposed S.E. Heritage designation that cost $67,thousand for a consultant and turns out not to be about heritage at all.
It's about some property-owners preventing other property-owners from exercising their right of property ownership.
I could go on and on.
No sooner is one scene over than another begins.
We live in an age of shameless entitlement. I want it. Give it to me or else.
Yes sir Yes sir three bags full .
It's tiresome and tedious...repetitious and predictable...often dull with the same characters playing the same roles.
But no matter how banal the script .... the audience cannot leave before the play is ended
It's their job to bring down the curtain.
Save The Town Harmless
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Highest and Best Use of Time ?":
I feel it important to note that those opposing the Joint-Ops have, with the exception of Cllr Buck, refused to consider any other alternatives. And that those supporting it have, with the exclusion of Cllr Buck, refused to consider any alternatives.
It shows how solidified and inflexible both sides have been in their needs to present their desires.
We elected ALL the councillors to work together. Cllr Buck cannot bridge that gap by herself.
Have a good night. I'm going to read the Auroran and try not to get too ticked off at the ongoing stupidity of the current council- All of them with one lonely exception.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 11 March 2014 19:29
*********************
I think it's important to note there has only been one side to the question of providing better accommodation for public works and parks .
There had been no opposition.
With the exception of myself, everyone had gone along with staff recommendations until the last estimate of cost was presented.
Only then did Councillors Gallo, Ballard and Gaertner take the same position as myself .
The price was too rich. Financing was not clear. There needed to be a better understanding .
It was obvious by the orchestrated response the other five had already had their deliberations,
marshalled the arguments, the votes were lined up and the decision was mad
I noted the obvious. The decision had already been made by the Mayor and four Councillors before Council had convened.
It was not denied.
The Mayor responded with an accusation that "you" meaning myself Councillors Gallo,Ballard and Gaertner "do that too "
I am rarely dismayed.
I understand the only sure thing in politics is not a sure thing.
It's hard to describe the shock of utter futility of that moment.
I left the Council Chamber.
If there is no common understanding of the purpose of a Council , how can the purpose be realized?
If a plane has no pilot or a ship is without a captain, can passengers and crew have any confidenec of reaching a destination without coming to harm?
I feel it important to note that those opposing the Joint-Ops have, with the exception of Cllr Buck, refused to consider any other alternatives. And that those supporting it have, with the exclusion of Cllr Buck, refused to consider any alternatives.
It shows how solidified and inflexible both sides have been in their needs to present their desires.
We elected ALL the councillors to work together. Cllr Buck cannot bridge that gap by herself.
Have a good night. I'm going to read the Auroran and try not to get too ticked off at the ongoing stupidity of the current council- All of them with one lonely exception.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 11 March 2014 19:29
*********************
I think it's important to note there has only been one side to the question of providing better accommodation for public works and parks .
There had been no opposition.
With the exception of myself, everyone had gone along with staff recommendations until the last estimate of cost was presented.
Only then did Councillors Gallo, Ballard and Gaertner take the same position as myself .
The price was too rich. Financing was not clear. There needed to be a better understanding .
It was obvious by the orchestrated response the other five had already had their deliberations,
marshalled the arguments, the votes were lined up and the decision was mad
I noted the obvious. The decision had already been made by the Mayor and four Councillors before Council had convened.
It was not denied.
The Mayor responded with an accusation that "you" meaning myself Councillors Gallo,Ballard and Gaertner "do that too "
I am rarely dismayed.
I understand the only sure thing in politics is not a sure thing.
It's hard to describe the shock of utter futility of that moment.
I left the Council Chamber.
If there is no common understanding of the purpose of a Council , how can the purpose be realized?
If a plane has no pilot or a ship is without a captain, can passengers and crew have any confidenec of reaching a destination without coming to harm?
Wednesday, 12 March 2014
You...out there
I've never heard the phrase "Jewish lightning " before. I have no idea what it means . I took a chance it was harmless.
It was the former Mayor who made the scarcely veiled threat about the police searching a councillor's home .
I used it to illustrate how the current Council is much improved over the last.
You had to be a part of it to appreciate what a nightmare it was.
I have received a comment providing details about requirements for police to make a search of a person's home , It's good information for people to know.
It affirms how far the former Mayor was prepared to go to intimidate Councillors who failed to fall to her feet in fear and trembling.
If the contributor would please re-send without the reference to our current Mayor, I will publish it.
It was the former Mayor who made the scarcely veiled threat about the police searching a councillor's home .
I used it to illustrate how the current Council is much improved over the last.
You had to be a part of it to appreciate what a nightmare it was.
I have received a comment providing details about requirements for police to make a search of a person's home , It's good information for people to know.
It affirms how far the former Mayor was prepared to go to intimidate Councillors who failed to fall to her feet in fear and trembling.
If the contributor would please re-send without the reference to our current Mayor, I will publish it.
Pollyanna? .. Absolutely not.
Voters make the rules in election politics. A politician must listen to learn.
The last election was an aberration like the term of office that preceded it.
Something I read triggered a memory this morning.
The former Mayor glowered across the table in my direction and said;
"I have had a conversation with the Police Chief. The regional police have authority to search a person's home"
The comment was apropos of nothing .A less seasoned politician would have felt the threat .
Certainly an unwary listener might easily have wondered and never guessed the explanation.
The current term has been an improvement over the last but not in the context the current Mayor and Council might wish.
Voters make the rules in an election. They don't vary much. A politician would -be if he/she could-be will hear them if they listen.
If they give you time and attention , the rules are as follows;
do not ask how they intend to vote.
Do not attempt to tell them how to vote.
Tell them about yourself .
Don't tell them why they shouldn't vote for another candidate.
Not everyone who gives you the time of day intends to vote but everyone has the right and respect is due.
First impressions are physical. If you are knocking to bring a person to the door, how you project matters .
Campaigning on foot was never my forte. Less so now than ever before.
I don't make promises. I have but a voice and a single vote.
I will defend my position.
I don't attack other candidates.
We are all out there engaged in the same pursuit with the same objective.
It's easier for some than others but it's not a walk for anyone.
We all court public rejection.
I have to make a new decision about the blog.
Town issues are par for the political course and will continue to be vigorously discussed.
Hotly disputed positions are welcome.
Personal attacks are off limits.
I can't let the blog say what I would not say myself on the campaign trail.
It's open for discussion
The last election was an aberration like the term of office that preceded it.
Something I read triggered a memory this morning.
The former Mayor glowered across the table in my direction and said;
"I have had a conversation with the Police Chief. The regional police have authority to search a person's home"
The comment was apropos of nothing .A less seasoned politician would have felt the threat .
Certainly an unwary listener might easily have wondered and never guessed the explanation.
The current term has been an improvement over the last but not in the context the current Mayor and Council might wish.
Voters make the rules in an election. They don't vary much. A politician would -be if he/she could-be will hear them if they listen.
If they give you time and attention , the rules are as follows;
do not ask how they intend to vote.
Do not attempt to tell them how to vote.
Tell them about yourself .
Don't tell them why they shouldn't vote for another candidate.
Not everyone who gives you the time of day intends to vote but everyone has the right and respect is due.
First impressions are physical. If you are knocking to bring a person to the door, how you project matters .
Campaigning on foot was never my forte. Less so now than ever before.
I don't make promises. I have but a voice and a single vote.
I will defend my position.
I don't attack other candidates.
We are all out there engaged in the same pursuit with the same objective.
It's easier for some than others but it's not a walk for anyone.
We all court public rejection.
I have to make a new decision about the blog.
Town issues are par for the political course and will continue to be vigorously discussed.
Hotly disputed positions are welcome.
Personal attacks are off limits.
I can't let the blog say what I would not say myself on the campaign trail.
It's open for discussion
Not all that meets the eye
Since last Tuesday Councillors have received five lengthy e-mails extolling the unique beauty of the S.E. proposed heritage neighborhood.
Undoubtedly they are the ratepayers' who initiated the request for heritage designation.
I'm not sure how familiars the consultant, Councillors and staff may be with housing stock
in the old part of town.
I'm familiar with number of areas and properties do not conform to the idyllic picture presented.
Soon after I came to Aurora, I went looking at homes in the old part of town. Taxes were cheaper
and all amenities called for a drive from our neighborhood.
When an attractive house on Wells Street went on the market, I took the tour. The only nice thing about it was the balcony. Ceilings on the ground floor were ten feet high . Second floor bedrooms had head room was only in the centre. Basement was dirt floor and unusable .
A son lived in a house at the bottom of Tyler hill. When the creek flooded so did the basement.
Another on the east side was garage , rented out as living space.
In a flat on Walton Drive, entrance to the basement was by trap door in the floor and ladder .
Finally bought a semi on Metcalfe Street. House too old , lot too narrow for any possibility of renewal or renovation.
Another son live in a flat in a house on the east side of Larmont Street . No property. Just house.
One daughter lived in a fire trap on a corner on Centre Street for a year to save money for a down payment.
Another in a third floor flat on Catherine which only had head room in the centre space.
I've visited homes with basements flooded with raw sewage when the creek flooded .The creek meanders throughout the town .
A house on Catherine, with bulging plaster walls and ceilings detached from lathe, sloping floors
narrow stairs to the second floor sloped against an outside wall and a basement without head room dug out after the fact.
Another I re-call , three or four up from Yonge Street where the ceiling actually did collapse from age.
I've seen plenty of housing in the old town not only inadequate but downright unsafe and would never meet modern building code standards.
Housing in the old part of town is by no means universally idyllic. Much of it should be replaced
rather than protected.
Throwing a Hudson Bay blanket over it and calling it heritage will not change the reality.
Even if all property owners were persuaded it was in their interest.
Which they are not.
Undoubtedly they are the ratepayers' who initiated the request for heritage designation.
I'm not sure how familiars the consultant, Councillors and staff may be with housing stock
in the old part of town.
I'm familiar with number of areas and properties do not conform to the idyllic picture presented.
Soon after I came to Aurora, I went looking at homes in the old part of town. Taxes were cheaper
and all amenities called for a drive from our neighborhood.
When an attractive house on Wells Street went on the market, I took the tour. The only nice thing about it was the balcony. Ceilings on the ground floor were ten feet high . Second floor bedrooms had head room was only in the centre. Basement was dirt floor and unusable .
A son lived in a house at the bottom of Tyler hill. When the creek flooded so did the basement.
Another on the east side was garage , rented out as living space.
In a flat on Walton Drive, entrance to the basement was by trap door in the floor and ladder .
Finally bought a semi on Metcalfe Street. House too old , lot too narrow for any possibility of renewal or renovation.
Another son live in a flat in a house on the east side of Larmont Street . No property. Just house.
One daughter lived in a fire trap on a corner on Centre Street for a year to save money for a down payment.
Another in a third floor flat on Catherine which only had head room in the centre space.
I've visited homes with basements flooded with raw sewage when the creek flooded .The creek meanders throughout the town .
A house on Catherine, with bulging plaster walls and ceilings detached from lathe, sloping floors
narrow stairs to the second floor sloped against an outside wall and a basement without head room dug out after the fact.
Another I re-call , three or four up from Yonge Street where the ceiling actually did collapse from age.
I've seen plenty of housing in the old town not only inadequate but downright unsafe and would never meet modern building code standards.
Housing in the old part of town is by no means universally idyllic. Much of it should be replaced
rather than protected.
Throwing a Hudson Bay blanket over it and calling it heritage will not change the reality.
Even if all property owners were persuaded it was in their interest.
Which they are not.
Tuesday, 11 March 2014
Comment Deleted in Error
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Highest and Best Use of Time ?":
I feel it important to note that those opposing the Joint-Ops have, with the exception of Cllr Buck, refused to consider any other alternatives. And that those supporting it have, with the exclusion of Cllr Buck, refused to consider any alternatives.
It shows how solidified and inflexible both sides have been in their needs to present their desires.
We elected ALL the councillors to work together. Cllr Buck cannot bridge that gap by herself.
Have a good night. I'm going to read the Auroran and try not to get too ticked off at the ongoing stupidity of the current council- All of them with one lonely exception.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 11 March 2014 19:29
I feel it important to note that those opposing the Joint-Ops have, with the exception of Cllr Buck, refused to consider any other alternatives. And that those supporting it have, with the exclusion of Cllr Buck, refused to consider any alternatives.
It shows how solidified and inflexible both sides have been in their needs to present their desires.
We elected ALL the councillors to work together. Cllr Buck cannot bridge that gap by herself.
Have a good night. I'm going to read the Auroran and try not to get too ticked off at the ongoing stupidity of the current council- All of them with one lonely exception.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 11 March 2014 19:29
Highest and Best Use of Time ?
The previous post opened with a compliment to myself.
Thank you. I needed that.
Mayor Dawe and Councillor Abel have difficulty concealing impatience when I talk.
Rules of order state a member recognized has the floor and shall speak without interruption.
I try to organize my thoughts . I often start , as I do in a post , from experience to make my point.
The Mayor's habit now is to interrupt with the question "What does that have to do with
the issue" without giving me the chance to complete the reference.
He signals with a twirling finger to speed it up.
The actions display more about the Mayor .
Respect for the Chair and the process is ingrained after all the years The discipline is hard to shake.
But there is a negaative effect. Especially when Councillor Abel echoes the Mayor .
" That's right' he says " we don't want to hear the story"
Councillor Abel takes out his day book and puts his time to better use copying details of upcoming events to attend.
He reports each week during Public Service Announcements section of the Council Agenda.
The minutes frequently reflect a page or more .
I was not a Councillor when that agenda item was created. I've never understood the connection to corporation business Yet it takes precedence.
A decision on $26 million for a public works and parks yard and garage was made between 10.30 to 11.00 p.m.
By the way, the $26 million price tag is an estimate.
Specifications and tender documents need to be prepared and bids called.
Three months are allowed before closing. Letting a contract a highly legalistic process.
This contract is multi- faceted.
Bids are to state a price without this or that or the next thing ???
Sub contractors will be involved.
Any contractor along the line could lose his shirt if he's not careful.
Bids will undoubtedly be sufficient to ensure against that possibility.
Analysis of the bids will be complicated.
Estimates, while in our hands, more than doubled.
Final price of the final product and final timing of completion cannot yet be secure.
Problems, if they occur, could be front and centre at the time of election.
How smart is that?
Could it have been avoided ?
Would sufficient time for deliberation, with attention of all Council encouraged, at a reasonable time in the evening, have made a difference?
Could the decision have been unanimous insteaad of half of Council opposed.. Those are not good odds for a decision of this magnitude.
No great assurance to the community the decision was the right one.
We will never know the answer to the question because it was not allowed to happen.
Thank you. I needed that.
Mayor Dawe and Councillor Abel have difficulty concealing impatience when I talk.
Rules of order state a member recognized has the floor and shall speak without interruption.
I try to organize my thoughts . I often start , as I do in a post , from experience to make my point.
The Mayor's habit now is to interrupt with the question "What does that have to do with
the issue" without giving me the chance to complete the reference.
He signals with a twirling finger to speed it up.
The actions display more about the Mayor .
Respect for the Chair and the process is ingrained after all the years The discipline is hard to shake.
But there is a negaative effect. Especially when Councillor Abel echoes the Mayor .
" That's right' he says " we don't want to hear the story"
Councillor Abel takes out his day book and puts his time to better use copying details of upcoming events to attend.
He reports each week during Public Service Announcements section of the Council Agenda.
The minutes frequently reflect a page or more .
I was not a Councillor when that agenda item was created. I've never understood the connection to corporation business Yet it takes precedence.
A decision on $26 million for a public works and parks yard and garage was made between 10.30 to 11.00 p.m.
By the way, the $26 million price tag is an estimate.
Specifications and tender documents need to be prepared and bids called.
Three months are allowed before closing. Letting a contract a highly legalistic process.
This contract is multi- faceted.
Bids are to state a price without this or that or the next thing ???
Sub contractors will be involved.
Any contractor along the line could lose his shirt if he's not careful.
Bids will undoubtedly be sufficient to ensure against that possibility.
Analysis of the bids will be complicated.
Estimates, while in our hands, more than doubled.
Final price of the final product and final timing of completion cannot yet be secure.
Problems, if they occur, could be front and centre at the time of election.
How smart is that?
Could it have been avoided ?
Would sufficient time for deliberation, with attention of all Council encouraged, at a reasonable time in the evening, have made a difference?
Could the decision have been unanimous insteaad of half of Council opposed.. Those are not good odds for a decision of this magnitude.
No great assurance to the community the decision was the right one.
We will never know the answer to the question because it was not allowed to happen.
A Different Slant On Things.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Musical Accompaniment Please":
Evelyn:
As the sole member of Council who thinks before they speak, does it drive you bonkers having to sit there and listen to all the gibberish that flows out of their mouths?
It would be interesting to see a list of all the studies, plans, and consultants that gushed forth from the previous term, and then compare it with what this term has done by way of continuing studies, plans and consultants, plus actual implementation, at a cost into the multi millions in some instances, and in others at a cost of a mere multi thousands.
I have never heard of a municipal government giving money to individual businesses for the purchase of paint or awnings or a pair of brass cuspidors to be used for plantings to brighten up the sidewalk, make people stop, park their cars and then rush forward and shop like mad so that the cash registers are making rock 'n roll music.
Is a heritage designation supposed to increase property value or diminish it? Has a study been done into this?
The housing market in parts of Toronto is going absolutely crazy. Ordinary houses are the subject of multiple bids - 25 in one case - and some houses are selling for $250,000 more than list price, i.e. up into the mid $900,000 area. I don't know if heritage plays a part in this.
Too bad we can't lure some of this money to our town.
But this is just more silliness, to prove that crazies live in big cities as well as in small towns. Are we still a small town or have we graduated up a notch?
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 10 March 2014 21:2
Evelyn:
As the sole member of Council who thinks before they speak, does it drive you bonkers having to sit there and listen to all the gibberish that flows out of their mouths?
It would be interesting to see a list of all the studies, plans, and consultants that gushed forth from the previous term, and then compare it with what this term has done by way of continuing studies, plans and consultants, plus actual implementation, at a cost into the multi millions in some instances, and in others at a cost of a mere multi thousands.
I have never heard of a municipal government giving money to individual businesses for the purchase of paint or awnings or a pair of brass cuspidors to be used for plantings to brighten up the sidewalk, make people stop, park their cars and then rush forward and shop like mad so that the cash registers are making rock 'n roll music.
Is a heritage designation supposed to increase property value or diminish it? Has a study been done into this?
The housing market in parts of Toronto is going absolutely crazy. Ordinary houses are the subject of multiple bids - 25 in one case - and some houses are selling for $250,000 more than list price, i.e. up into the mid $900,000 area. I don't know if heritage plays a part in this.
Too bad we can't lure some of this money to our town.
But this is just more silliness, to prove that crazies live in big cities as well as in small towns. Are we still a small town or have we graduated up a notch?
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 10 March 2014 21:2
The Case Can Be Argued
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "A Little Bt of Background":
20:44
Of course your hair style is perfect....... if you have hair (probably don't).
Evelyn,
Why do you permit attacks to sitting members of council because of their looks? There is a huge pot/kettle thing out there.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 11 March 2014 07:
******************
Is it a political comment ? Is it personal ?
Does appearance matter in a person elected or appointed to represent the municipality?
I think it does.
Who is more responsible for maintaining respect for public office ,elected or appointed that the person privileged to hold the office.
I object to a Director at the Council chamber in shirt sleeves rolled up to the elbows or wearing a golf shirt.
It shows lack of judgement.
I object to a shirt open at the neck displaying vast expanses of skin .
Sprawling in chair or reading from a lap top to pass the time is offensive to me.
But I digress. It's a failing I have and readily admit. to being an imperfect human being.
Hair style is a personal choice. Except for when it's lost.
Image is projected by style.
If I wore short tight skirts ,plunging neckline ,stilletto heels and dyed my hair red, aside from having difficulty maintaining my balance ,I would look ridiculous, frightful, unmindful of my years, lacking in judgement and stark raving mad.
I would quickly become the talk of the town.
By contrast, Councillor Gallo's hair style is mild. That it attracts comment is not beyond the political.
I think he probably takes it in his stride.
I rest my case.
20:44
Of course your hair style is perfect....... if you have hair (probably don't).
Evelyn,
Why do you permit attacks to sitting members of council because of their looks? There is a huge pot/kettle thing out there.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 11 March 2014 07:
******************
Is it a political comment ? Is it personal ?
Does appearance matter in a person elected or appointed to represent the municipality?
I think it does.
Who is more responsible for maintaining respect for public office ,elected or appointed that the person privileged to hold the office.
I object to a Director at the Council chamber in shirt sleeves rolled up to the elbows or wearing a golf shirt.
It shows lack of judgement.
I object to a shirt open at the neck displaying vast expanses of skin .
Sprawling in chair or reading from a lap top to pass the time is offensive to me.
But I digress. It's a failing I have and readily admit. to being an imperfect human being.
Hair style is a personal choice. Except for when it's lost.
Image is projected by style.
If I wore short tight skirts ,plunging neckline ,stilletto heels and dyed my hair red, aside from having difficulty maintaining my balance ,I would look ridiculous, frightful, unmindful of my years, lacking in judgement and stark raving mad.
I would quickly become the talk of the town.
By contrast, Councillor Gallo's hair style is mild. That it attracts comment is not beyond the political.
I think he probably takes it in his stride.
I rest my case.
Monday, 10 March 2014
Music Maestro Please
An election is an evolving drama without a script.
In rge next six months we will watch it evolve. With social media we will plau a role. .
Anyone with a town address is a potential candidate.
I think Tim the Enchanter would be an excellent candidate. But I have no odea who he is.
Ka-non as well .He makes cogent points with a calm and deliberate style.
The Masyor's chair is key. New Councillors need guidance. Otherwise they are floundering andcompletely dependent on the bureaucracy.
To be fair to the incumbent, no-one has ever been elected in Aurora to the office without experience .
I don't mean management experience. I mean knowing what people expect from you and having the wherwithall to deliver.
We have watched how this term has turned out . It's been a sad and expenssive disappointment.But maybe not unexpected.
And whatever it was not ,it was better than the last
Municipal politics is not like the other two. No party platform to hide behind or tie one's hands.
We exercise judgement ,or fail in full view.
We have cable T.V. and U-tube and a web site where people like The Enchanter can dig up facts with a flick of the finger.
I love it.
The social media has taken hold. Views are expressed in plain unvarnished terms.with evergrowing intensity.
It comes as a shock to those unaccustomed.
Four years is a long time to endure if not enjoyed.
Avoidance offers no time or opportunity to discover where the public's intention might have been misread.
The tendency is to blame . But wounds are self-inflicted. Words are heard, mannerisms interpreted.
Impressions solidify.
Candidates have six months to strut the board
The audience is already in their seats, Lights are dimmed . The play evolves .
New characters enter, lines are read into thescript and the drama unfolds.
In rge next six months we will watch it evolve. With social media we will plau a role. .
Anyone with a town address is a potential candidate.
I think Tim the Enchanter would be an excellent candidate. But I have no odea who he is.
Ka-non as well .He makes cogent points with a calm and deliberate style.
The Masyor's chair is key. New Councillors need guidance. Otherwise they are floundering andcompletely dependent on the bureaucracy.
To be fair to the incumbent, no-one has ever been elected in Aurora to the office without experience .
I don't mean management experience. I mean knowing what people expect from you and having the wherwithall to deliver.
We have watched how this term has turned out . It's been a sad and expenssive disappointment.But maybe not unexpected.
And whatever it was not ,it was better than the last
Municipal politics is not like the other two. No party platform to hide behind or tie one's hands.
We exercise judgement ,or fail in full view.
We have cable T.V. and U-tube and a web site where people like The Enchanter can dig up facts with a flick of the finger.
I love it.
The social media has taken hold. Views are expressed in plain unvarnished terms.with evergrowing intensity.
It comes as a shock to those unaccustomed.
Four years is a long time to endure if not enjoyed.
Avoidance offers no time or opportunity to discover where the public's intention might have been misread.
The tendency is to blame . But wounds are self-inflicted. Words are heard, mannerisms interpreted.
Impressions solidify.
Candidates have six months to strut the board
The audience is already in their seats, Lights are dimmed . The play evolves .
New characters enter, lines are read into thescript and the drama unfolds.
A Little Bt of Background
When I came to Aurora, I still had everything to learn about politics. The U/K was a two -party system. Conservative and Labour.
In Canada ,it was Progressive Conservative and Liberal. The CCF didn't have much of a profile.
The New Domocratic Party was yet to be formed.
Major Lex Mackenzie was the P.C. MLA for the Riding. He was already a legend. His voice had never been heard in the legislative assembly/ His status in the Riding was high. No problem went unattended. He was a warm and caring man.
When he stepped down ,Bill Hodgson, a farmer from King Township succeeded him.
His family had deep roots. He had served as a Councillor in King Townahip, then Reeve ,then Warden of York County before he became MLA.
He followed in Major Lex's footsteps and took care of every problem. As Mayor I had good reason to know. He looked after the Riding. He was responsible for Newmarket Court house neing established among other things.
The average resident would never have reason to discover how much that means.
The Riding was a safe seat for the Davis government.
With little recognition for the King Township farmer whp made it happen.
Pine Ridge, the Ontario Hospital , closed as an institution .
The government proposed the property be used as a youth detention centre .A relatively innocuous
facility, we thought.
Young people in trouble would not have to be shuttled back and forth to Toronto and families
would have better access.
M.L.A. Hodgson supported the proposal.
As did I as the town's Mayor .
Furious controversy erupted . We defended the purpose.
Then plans were released . A ten foot high chain link fence topped with barbed wire, patrolled by guard dogs were the security.
Bill was in trouble. It was not what he understood. His government dropped him into it.
An election was in the offing. Nomination was scheduled at King City Composite High School.
The member was wounded. The jackals had gathered.
I took a membership in the Riding Association to be able to vote for nomination of a member who had served the people well.
George Timpson was a candidate. George had already been a Liberal candidate. He offered.They accepted. George paid for everything. He was in debt for years and still using Liberal signs many municipal elections later . He had bought too many.
George just wanted to be in politics. He didn't much care where and he saw an opportunity.
I was at the nomination meeting. I voted.
The other candidate was Frank Klees. Nothing whatsoever was known about him. Like George, he saw someone in trouble and an opportunity for himself.
I am not drawn to opportunists.
Bill Hodgson won the nomination, the election and he continued to serve.
In Canada ,it was Progressive Conservative and Liberal. The CCF didn't have much of a profile.
The New Domocratic Party was yet to be formed.
Major Lex Mackenzie was the P.C. MLA for the Riding. He was already a legend. His voice had never been heard in the legislative assembly/ His status in the Riding was high. No problem went unattended. He was a warm and caring man.
When he stepped down ,Bill Hodgson, a farmer from King Township succeeded him.
His family had deep roots. He had served as a Councillor in King Townahip, then Reeve ,then Warden of York County before he became MLA.
He followed in Major Lex's footsteps and took care of every problem. As Mayor I had good reason to know. He looked after the Riding. He was responsible for Newmarket Court house neing established among other things.
The average resident would never have reason to discover how much that means.
The Riding was a safe seat for the Davis government.
With little recognition for the King Township farmer whp made it happen.
Pine Ridge, the Ontario Hospital , closed as an institution .
The government proposed the property be used as a youth detention centre .A relatively innocuous
facility, we thought.
Young people in trouble would not have to be shuttled back and forth to Toronto and families
would have better access.
M.L.A. Hodgson supported the proposal.
As did I as the town's Mayor .
Furious controversy erupted . We defended the purpose.
Then plans were released . A ten foot high chain link fence topped with barbed wire, patrolled by guard dogs were the security.
Bill was in trouble. It was not what he understood. His government dropped him into it.
An election was in the offing. Nomination was scheduled at King City Composite High School.
The member was wounded. The jackals had gathered.
I took a membership in the Riding Association to be able to vote for nomination of a member who had served the people well.
George Timpson was a candidate. George had already been a Liberal candidate. He offered.They accepted. George paid for everything. He was in debt for years and still using Liberal signs many municipal elections later . He had bought too many.
George just wanted to be in politics. He didn't much care where and he saw an opportunity.
I was at the nomination meeting. I voted.
The other candidate was Frank Klees. Nothing whatsoever was known about him. Like George, he saw someone in trouble and an opportunity for himself.
I am not drawn to opportunists.
Bill Hodgson won the nomination, the election and he continued to serve.
Sunday, 9 March 2014
We Need To Talk Again
The Liberal Riding Nomination is the business of the Liberal Riding.
I have had a Liberal membership. I have had a Conservative membership. I have had a New Democratic membership.
I do not have any membership at the moment.
I have taken memberships in the various parties in order to vote in a Riding nomination for a candidate that I thought would best represent the needs of the riding. Always someone with a background in municipal business and a proven commitment .
I know nothing of the candidates for nomination with the exception of Councillor Ballard.
The same goes for the Conservative .NDP and Green nominations.
Councillor Ballard has put his name forward for the nomination. I believe he is a Liberal in good standing. It is the business of the Riding Association to choose a candidate .
I am not inclined to participate.
Sometimes I find myself on the same side of a vote with Councillor Ballard and sometimes I don't.
There's always another issue ahead to be argued and another vote to be cast.
A Councillor who aligns with a group, ties his own hands. is beholden and loses
independence.
It may be safe but it's not wise.
Group think is never healthy .
My first responsibility is to town affairs.
If Councillor Ballard doesn't win the nomination, he continues as a Councillor.
If he does win. he may still continue as a Councillor until an election is called.
The blog can't be used to fight the Liberal nomination battle.
Or either of the other three.
I have had a Liberal membership. I have had a Conservative membership. I have had a New Democratic membership.
I do not have any membership at the moment.
I have taken memberships in the various parties in order to vote in a Riding nomination for a candidate that I thought would best represent the needs of the riding. Always someone with a background in municipal business and a proven commitment .
I know nothing of the candidates for nomination with the exception of Councillor Ballard.
The same goes for the Conservative .NDP and Green nominations.
Councillor Ballard has put his name forward for the nomination. I believe he is a Liberal in good standing. It is the business of the Riding Association to choose a candidate .
I am not inclined to participate.
Sometimes I find myself on the same side of a vote with Councillor Ballard and sometimes I don't.
There's always another issue ahead to be argued and another vote to be cast.
A Councillor who aligns with a group, ties his own hands. is beholden and loses
independence.
It may be safe but it's not wise.
Group think is never healthy .
My first responsibility is to town affairs.
If Councillor Ballard doesn't win the nomination, he continues as a Councillor.
If he does win. he may still continue as a Councillor until an election is called.
The blog can't be used to fight the Liberal nomination battle.
Or either of the other three.
Just Give Us The Facts,
Tim the Enchanter has left a new comment on your post "It's About Service":
For those who may be interested.
Council minutes
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
5. PL12-039 – Award of Contract – Consultant Retainer for the Southeast Old Aurora Heritage Conservation District Study
Moved by Councillor Ballard Seconded by Councillor Humfryes
THAT report PL12-039 be received; and
THAT the Request for Proposal (RFP) be awarded to Bray Heritage to undertake the Southeast Old Aurora Heritage Conservation District Study to an upset limit of $67,425.00, excluding taxes; and
THAT the Mayor and Town Clerk be authorized to execute the necessary agreement with respect to the award of the contract, including any and all ancillary documents required to give effect to same.
Council Meeting Minutes
On a recorded vote the motion CARRIED.
YEAS: 7 NAYS: 1
VOTING YEAS: Councillors Abel, Ballard, Gaertner, Gallo,Humfryes,
and Thompson, and Mayor Dawe
VOTING NAYS: Councillor Buck
Oddly enough the Northeast Special Neighbourhood was on the agenda the previous month when council voted to take out the traffic chicanes.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
THAT Tender IES2012-59 – Traffic Calming Alterations – Mark Street & Walton Drive be awarded to C. Valley Paving Ltd. in the amount of $59,945.00, excluding taxes; and Council Meeting Minutes
THAT funding for this project be provided from the Roads Repair and
Replacement Reserve; and
THAT the Mayor and Town Clerk be authorized to execute the necessary Agreement, including any and all documents and ancillary agreements required to give effect to same; and
THAT staff report back to Council regarding additional information
on mitigating some of the other traffic calming measures.
CARRIED
Publish
Delete
Mark as spam
Moderate comments for this blog.
Posted by Tim the Enchanter to Our Town and Its Business at 9 March 2014 09:03
For those who may be interested.
Council minutes
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
5. PL12-039 – Award of Contract – Consultant Retainer for the Southeast Old Aurora Heritage Conservation District Study
Moved by Councillor Ballard Seconded by Councillor Humfryes
THAT report PL12-039 be received; and
THAT the Request for Proposal (RFP) be awarded to Bray Heritage to undertake the Southeast Old Aurora Heritage Conservation District Study to an upset limit of $67,425.00, excluding taxes; and
THAT the Mayor and Town Clerk be authorized to execute the necessary agreement with respect to the award of the contract, including any and all ancillary documents required to give effect to same.
Council Meeting Minutes
On a recorded vote the motion CARRIED.
YEAS: 7 NAYS: 1
VOTING YEAS: Councillors Abel, Ballard, Gaertner, Gallo,Humfryes,
and Thompson, and Mayor Dawe
VOTING NAYS: Councillor Buck
Oddly enough the Northeast Special Neighbourhood was on the agenda the previous month when council voted to take out the traffic chicanes.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
THAT Tender IES2012-59 – Traffic Calming Alterations – Mark Street & Walton Drive be awarded to C. Valley Paving Ltd. in the amount of $59,945.00, excluding taxes; and Council Meeting Minutes
THAT funding for this project be provided from the Roads Repair and
Replacement Reserve; and
THAT the Mayor and Town Clerk be authorized to execute the necessary Agreement, including any and all documents and ancillary agreements required to give effect to same; and
THAT staff report back to Council regarding additional information
on mitigating some of the other traffic calming measures.
CARRIED
Publish
Delete
Mark as spam
Moderate comments for this blog.
Posted by Tim the Enchanter to Our Town and Its Business at 9 March 2014 09:03
Saturday, 8 March 2014
Da Vinci's City Hall
Da Vinci's City Hall is playing on channel 55 on T.V. Now. at 7 p.m.
It's taken a few weeks to get into it. There's no humor whatsoever . It's dark. Literally.
The Mayor's role is played by ,in my view.by an unlikely personality.
But the theme is politics behind the politics.The politics of the police and firefighters competing for power with the politician.
It's a theme long overdue for the spotlight.
There was a time when Police Chief Bill Blair wold have been immediately suspended for his comments about the City's Mayor.
If not by the Toronto Police Commission ,certainly by the Ontario Police Commission.
The Police Discipline Code absolutely prohibits the police from involving themselves in
politics.If the Police Chief cannot be expected to exercise discipline how can it be expected from
the ranks
It's taken a few weeks to get into it. There's no humor whatsoever . It's dark. Literally.
The Mayor's role is played by ,in my view.by an unlikely personality.
But the theme is politics behind the politics.The politics of the police and firefighters competing for power with the politician.
It's a theme long overdue for the spotlight.
There was a time when Police Chief Bill Blair wold have been immediately suspended for his comments about the City's Mayor.
If not by the Toronto Police Commission ,certainly by the Ontario Police Commission.
The Police Discipline Code absolutely prohibits the police from involving themselves in
politics.If the Police Chief cannot be expected to exercise discipline how can it be expected from
the ranks
AMO''s Position on The Wynne Poition
TO THE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION OF THE CLERK AND COUNCIL
Wynne Government Embraces Provincial Oversight of Municipal Government
Today, Ontario’s Premier, Kathleen Wynne, stated that her government intends to create new municipal accountability measures and assert greater Provincial oversight over municipal government.
Municipalities would be required to either create new processes to review complaints about service delivery, or choose to have service complaints investigated by the Office of Ontario’s Ombudsman, Andre Marin. Furthermore, municipal service complaint processes and investigations carried out by anyone other than the Provincial Ombudsman, could be subjected to “review” by his office.
We will share further details about these proposals as they become available.
AMO fully supports efficient and credible oversight of municipal services and governance. Public trust, accountability, transparency and integrity strengthen municipal government. However, AMO rejects the Wynne Government’s vision of how best to achieve it.
The Ontario Government would layer Provincial oversight and new administrative processes on municipal government. It represents duplication and inefficiency, and importantly, it suggests that Wynne’s Government does not trust in the capacity of municipal government to expose and address questions about performance and integrity.
No one knows what it would cost municipal government to fulfill these new responsibilities. But new costs are inevitable, the administrative burden is likely to be substantial, and municipalities and their citizens should expect more red tape.
Assigning oversight authority to the Office of the Ontario Ombudsman, a provincial appointee who is based at Queen’s Park and who reports to Ontario’s Legislature, has the effect of transferring local municipal accountability to the Province. AMO is curious to see whether the opposition Conservatives and New Democrats will support that, or reject the invitation to micromanage municipal government.
Municipalities are committed to accountability and transparency. Public trust is one of our greatest assets. A municipal government that lacks public trust has every reason to earn it, and good government is best served when local municipalities meet that goal independently.
Over the past decade, the Ontario Government and municipal governments have respected one another as willing, able and capable partners. AMO wants the Wynne Government, and opposition leaders, to be clear about their vision for future provincial and municipal relations, and the capacity of municipal government. Our vision has not changed: municipalities are looking for leadership that partners with municipal government, respects them, and believes in them.
PLEASE NOTE
AMO Breaking News will be broadcast to the member municipality's council, administrator, clerk, and treasurer. Recipients of the AMO broadcasts are free to redistribute the AMO broadcasts to other municipal staff as required. We have decided to not add other staff to these broadcast lists in order to ensure accuracy and efficiency in the management of our various broadcast lists.
DISCLAIMER
These are final versions of AMO documents. AMO assumes no responsibility for any discrepancies that may have been transmitted with the electronic version. The printed versions of the documents stand as the official record.
It's About Service
Someone noted in a comment this morning that an opponent to the Heritage Designation is a friend of mine.
It's absolutely true. Our friendship extends back forty years. Since before they bought their property.
Before we had a planning department.
When she came to see me in the Mayor's office to find out if their intention for the property would be acceptable to the town.
It certainly was.
More than one generation of pre-schoolers received warm nurturing care ,including two of my grandchildren , while parents worked to provide.
More than one single parent received desperately needed support, during the worst time of their lives.
when it could be accessed nowhere else.
I saw two old, shabby, idle,useless buildings lovingly restored and brought back to use to add
substantially to the town's assessment base.
They asked for nothing.
Invested everything.
Enriched the community by their efforts. And were good neighbors into the bargain.
Yes indeed , I am proud to call them friend.
As are all property-owners who invest of themselves in the community and make the greater contribution to the well-being of the community.
They make no demands .
They expect nothing but to be allowed to get on with their business without interference or certainly in the case of Heritage Designation , actually being deprived of their property rights.
If they ask I will advise . If they seek answers, I will provide them.
If they need my support against an uninvested bureaucracy, they shall have it.
I do not run for office to surrender my rights and become subservient.
I run to protect my rights and serve the rights of others.
If that means head on collision with the entitlement class, I will do that with gusto.
If it means persuading people to their best interest ,I will take that on as well.
It's a job worth doing and worth doing well.
It's absolutely true. Our friendship extends back forty years. Since before they bought their property.
Before we had a planning department.
When she came to see me in the Mayor's office to find out if their intention for the property would be acceptable to the town.
It certainly was.
More than one generation of pre-schoolers received warm nurturing care ,including two of my grandchildren , while parents worked to provide.
More than one single parent received desperately needed support, during the worst time of their lives.
when it could be accessed nowhere else.
I saw two old, shabby, idle,useless buildings lovingly restored and brought back to use to add
substantially to the town's assessment base.
They asked for nothing.
Invested everything.
Enriched the community by their efforts. And were good neighbors into the bargain.
Yes indeed , I am proud to call them friend.
As are all property-owners who invest of themselves in the community and make the greater contribution to the well-being of the community.
They make no demands .
They expect nothing but to be allowed to get on with their business without interference or certainly in the case of Heritage Designation , actually being deprived of their property rights.
If they ask I will advise . If they seek answers, I will provide them.
If they need my support against an uninvested bureaucracy, they shall have it.
I do not run for office to surrender my rights and become subservient.
I run to protect my rights and serve the rights of others.
If that means head on collision with the entitlement class, I will do that with gusto.
If it means persuading people to their best interest ,I will take that on as well.
It's a job worth doing and worth doing well.
No Refunds Allowed
Someone was asking if the Town would get it's money back if the SE Heritage Designation Plan does not proceed.
I think not.
The consultant did what the Town required ; prepare a plan to designate the south east quadrant heritage .
Ostensibly, the study was undertaken at the request of a S.E. quadrant Ratepayers Association using the acronym H E A T.
Much is made about communication with property owners to explain the concept and overcome opposition but that's not the real objective.
The aim is to designate the S.E. quadrant no matter how property-owners react.
Politically expedience downplays opposition ....Full Speed Ahead and Damn the Torpedoes.
The consultant reported " a significant minority opposed"
It seems the significance of the minority may have been underestimated.
The plan has gone awry.
Owners on the north and south side of Wellington Street ,south to Mosely are not in favor. They are
not inclined to be acquiescent or easily persuaded by airy-fairy concepts.
More than that, they are not about to legally convey shared control of their properties to a
municipal bureaucracy........ Not in a million years.
Last week, the Honorable Kathleen Wynne ,Premier of Ontario,announced her government's
intention to create yet another layer of supervision over Ontario Municipalities .
The same government gave municipalities power to impose heritage designations on
private property with or without owner agreement.
The same wrote Conflict of Interest legislation that doesn't stand up in court , places onus on a private citizen to foot the bill and suffer abuse in the process.
The same wrote Code of Conduct legislation that allows its use for exactly the
opposite intent.
The same that wrote the Clean Water Act that could see an entire Council, including the Mayor, jailed for potential failure in the system.
Nothing like that at the Provincial level for squandering $1.2 billion in return for a couple of
seats for the government in the legislative assemby.
The same government introduced four year terms for municipal Councils that seriously eroded
authority of the local electorate to exercise judgement on performance control .
It's that Generation X thing again. The ones that got everything easy ,donned the mantle of entitlement then, hasn't taken it off since and learned not a bit of sense in the process.
We worked hard, gave them every opportunity, asked for nothing for ourselves and this is the tanks we get.
Oh Woe.
I think not.
The consultant did what the Town required ; prepare a plan to designate the south east quadrant heritage .
Ostensibly, the study was undertaken at the request of a S.E. quadrant Ratepayers Association using the acronym H E A T.
Much is made about communication with property owners to explain the concept and overcome opposition but that's not the real objective.
The aim is to designate the S.E. quadrant no matter how property-owners react.
Politically expedience downplays opposition ....Full Speed Ahead and Damn the Torpedoes.
The consultant reported " a significant minority opposed"
It seems the significance of the minority may have been underestimated.
The plan has gone awry.
Owners on the north and south side of Wellington Street ,south to Mosely are not in favor. They are
not inclined to be acquiescent or easily persuaded by airy-fairy concepts.
More than that, they are not about to legally convey shared control of their properties to a
municipal bureaucracy........ Not in a million years.
Last week, the Honorable Kathleen Wynne ,Premier of Ontario,announced her government's
intention to create yet another layer of supervision over Ontario Municipalities .
The same government gave municipalities power to impose heritage designations on
private property with or without owner agreement.
The same wrote Conflict of Interest legislation that doesn't stand up in court , places onus on a private citizen to foot the bill and suffer abuse in the process.
The same wrote Code of Conduct legislation that allows its use for exactly the
opposite intent.
The same that wrote the Clean Water Act that could see an entire Council, including the Mayor, jailed for potential failure in the system.
Nothing like that at the Provincial level for squandering $1.2 billion in return for a couple of
seats for the government in the legislative assemby.
The same government introduced four year terms for municipal Councils that seriously eroded
authority of the local electorate to exercise judgement on performance control .
It's that Generation X thing again. The ones that got everything easy ,donned the mantle of entitlement then, hasn't taken it off since and learned not a bit of sense in the process.
We worked hard, gave them every opportunity, asked for nothing for ourselves and this is the tanks we get.
Oh Woe.
Guest Post by Tim the Enchanter
Tim the Enchanter has left a new comment on your post "A Different Perspective":
"I see well cared for houses that are all different. No cookie cutter houses."
That's quite the welcome to our newer neighbours in east Aurora.
I wonder how much in Development Charges we collected from those homes?
Enough to pay for a "special" neighbourhood?
"people travel from all over to learn our history"
Bray reports that heavy traffic is a concern and that residents feel the area needs traffic calming measures.
Parking isn't considered to be a problem but if it does become an issue the Town could build a parking structure behind the shops on Yonge south of Wellington.
I assume they intend that all Aurora taxpayers pay for that.
It says the intent of the Promenade Plan is to provide options to automobile use.
I guess that means we aren't supposed to drive there.
On tourism the report basically says Town Park, the Library and the Cultural Centre can accommodate any events necessary.
It does mention however that the Jazz Festival was considered too noisy by many residents and apparently baseball was too disruptive as well.
Walking tours are fine and driving tours are okay too as long as the vehicles aren't too big, noisy or smoky.
" we have so much history to offer the "world"! You have to think big!"
So the key selling points of the district are history and tourism but without large festivals, sporting activities, more traffic, additional parking or tour buses?
So much for "thinking big".
I think it is quite clear that the author's idea of urban heaven doesn't include the "world" or even the rest of Aurora unfortunate enough to live outside the meandering red line on the "plan".
And isn't that really the objective of the Heritage District?
An urban oasis, legally frozen in time right in the middle of a modern suburban commuter community but mere steps away from all the mod cons big box sprawl can offer.
The best of both worlds.
Can't afford to live in an exclusive gated community?
Simply get the Town to draw lines on a map and voila!
(just remember to keep mentioning the importance of heritage - they like that sort of thing.)
Joanne Russo, representing members of the local community...... advised that she had met with other residents in the area who were unaware of the proposed designation, and requested for herself, and on their behalf, additional time to familiarize and educate themselves regarding heritage planning and designation.
That seems reasonable to me.
Perhaps not everyone is a fan of the proposal.
But that's OK - there's no rush is there?
Put together an information package with all the details and rules and make sure every ratepayer in the district gets one.
owning a heritage property or running a business in a heritage zone presents unique challenges and financial considerations so it's only fair to take a few months to answer questions and make sure everyone understands what it all will mean.
Then collect signatures and get a hard count of support.
If you are successful don't forget to bill each heritage district ratepayer their share of the implementation costs.
You see, I've already lost money on another "special" neighbourhood when I was billed twice for their traffic calming chicanes.
Once when they demanded they be installed and again when they demanded they be taken out.
Not this time.
You want "jewels" - you pay for them
Posted by Tim the Enchanter to Our Town and Its Business at 7 March 2014 22:49
"I see well cared for houses that are all different. No cookie cutter houses."
That's quite the welcome to our newer neighbours in east Aurora.
I wonder how much in Development Charges we collected from those homes?
Enough to pay for a "special" neighbourhood?
"people travel from all over to learn our history"
Bray reports that heavy traffic is a concern and that residents feel the area needs traffic calming measures.
Parking isn't considered to be a problem but if it does become an issue the Town could build a parking structure behind the shops on Yonge south of Wellington.
I assume they intend that all Aurora taxpayers pay for that.
It says the intent of the Promenade Plan is to provide options to automobile use.
I guess that means we aren't supposed to drive there.
On tourism the report basically says Town Park, the Library and the Cultural Centre can accommodate any events necessary.
It does mention however that the Jazz Festival was considered too noisy by many residents and apparently baseball was too disruptive as well.
Walking tours are fine and driving tours are okay too as long as the vehicles aren't too big, noisy or smoky.
" we have so much history to offer the "world"! You have to think big!"
So the key selling points of the district are history and tourism but without large festivals, sporting activities, more traffic, additional parking or tour buses?
So much for "thinking big".
I think it is quite clear that the author's idea of urban heaven doesn't include the "world" or even the rest of Aurora unfortunate enough to live outside the meandering red line on the "plan".
And isn't that really the objective of the Heritage District?
An urban oasis, legally frozen in time right in the middle of a modern suburban commuter community but mere steps away from all the mod cons big box sprawl can offer.
The best of both worlds.
Can't afford to live in an exclusive gated community?
Simply get the Town to draw lines on a map and voila!
(just remember to keep mentioning the importance of heritage - they like that sort of thing.)
Joanne Russo, representing members of the local community...... advised that she had met with other residents in the area who were unaware of the proposed designation, and requested for herself, and on their behalf, additional time to familiarize and educate themselves regarding heritage planning and designation.
That seems reasonable to me.
Perhaps not everyone is a fan of the proposal.
But that's OK - there's no rush is there?
Put together an information package with all the details and rules and make sure every ratepayer in the district gets one.
owning a heritage property or running a business in a heritage zone presents unique challenges and financial considerations so it's only fair to take a few months to answer questions and make sure everyone understands what it all will mean.
Then collect signatures and get a hard count of support.
If you are successful don't forget to bill each heritage district ratepayer their share of the implementation costs.
You see, I've already lost money on another "special" neighbourhood when I was billed twice for their traffic calming chicanes.
Once when they demanded they be installed and again when they demanded they be taken out.
Not this time.
You want "jewels" - you pay for them
Posted by Tim the Enchanter to Our Town and Its Business at 7 March 2014 22:49
Friday, 7 March 2014
Will you walk into my parlor,said te spider to the fly
If it's not already clear I should indicate I do take poetic licence on occasion simply to elaborate on a theme.
I make no apology .
I want the blog to be read and speculation has a place . As it would in any casual conversation
about politics.
So.....when I say I think the Mayot's campaign organisation has determined a strategy ,of course I do not know that as a fact. Obviously I am not a member of the Mayor's campaign organisation and I don't know who is.
How would I know that?
I do know those who benefited from funds handed out liberally and favourable decisions for special interest groups during the term are likely to be ,at least loosely, campaign supporters of the Mayor.
Also a pattern of comments received lately disclose an effort afoot to discredit the blog as nothing more than an opinion piece full of lies and inuendo.
Well...you know .. a body needs to defend herself.,,, using whatever means available.
All's fair in love and politics.
Over the years, I have collected a few scars. It should surprise no-one that I'm willing to inflict a few
The Mayor misuses his authority on a regular basis in Council.
I have too much respect for the office and the institution to get down and dirty during a Council meeting.
I have advised him calmly, "if you do not allow me to say what I have to say here, I have other options."
And Indeed I have.
I make no apology .
I want the blog to be read and speculation has a place . As it would in any casual conversation
about politics.
So.....when I say I think the Mayot's campaign organisation has determined a strategy ,of course I do not know that as a fact. Obviously I am not a member of the Mayor's campaign organisation and I don't know who is.
How would I know that?
I do know those who benefited from funds handed out liberally and favourable decisions for special interest groups during the term are likely to be ,at least loosely, campaign supporters of the Mayor.
Also a pattern of comments received lately disclose an effort afoot to discredit the blog as nothing more than an opinion piece full of lies and inuendo.
Well...you know .. a body needs to defend herself.,,, using whatever means available.
All's fair in love and politics.
Over the years, I have collected a few scars. It should surprise no-one that I'm willing to inflict a few
The Mayor misuses his authority on a regular basis in Council.
I have too much respect for the office and the institution to get down and dirty during a Council meeting.
I have advised him calmly, "if you do not allow me to say what I have to say here, I have other options."
And Indeed I have.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Sticks and Stones":
I would be carefeul about insinuations ..... they can lead to law suits
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 7 March 2014 11:13
*********************
Yes and law suits can lead to decisions that the law suit was nothing more than an attempt to stifle
the public criticism of a politician
When did we surrender our rights?
I would be carefeul about insinuations ..... they can lead to law suits
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 7 March 2014 11:13
*********************
Yes and law suits can lead to decisions that the law suit was nothing more than an attempt to stifle
the public criticism of a politician
When did we surrender our rights?
Sticks and Stones
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Take a Gander at this":
I hope that Evelyn publishes this.
Christopher Watts is a commentator. He does not always present a balanced vision of the reality. He tends to colour his comments on the "humourous" side for effect. Before anyone begins to consider that he is some sort of saviour for Aurora, just remember that you cannot beleive everything that you read on the internet, especially from self-appointed commentators.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 7 March 2014 08:34
**************************
I publish the above because it's a fresh pattern. and I want to talk about it.
I think the Mayor's campaign organisation has already held a strategy meeting. They've determined critical blogs are a potential hindrance to re-election . They must be dealt with and the best way is to discredit them.
That's where thinking stopped and all they've come up with so far is to throw rocks.
Christopher Watts is a rare bird. He is a keen observer, a satyrist and he is passionate..
The only qualification needed to comment on town affairs is his address.
He is not subject to an anonymous arbiter of "balance "
He's not trying to make people laugh.
He's trying to stir in them the same anger he feels.
He is fastidious about supporting his arguments with scholarly references . He supplies the source for the quotes he attributes.
There's no light touch in his work . It zings and sizzles.
There's nothing gentle in his style. He is ferocious. Last time I looked , I spied no law against
righteous rage.
If his total lack of tolerance for stupidity in places of power is difficult to handle , don't try.
Others will make up their own minds about whether they will or they won't.
Advice is redundant.
Warning readers not to believe what they read on the internet while offering fatuous , spurious mis-statements on the internet , is hardly conducive to establishing credibility.
Since the same arguments have recently been made against my own blog I am not sympathetic.
I hope that Evelyn publishes this.
Christopher Watts is a commentator. He does not always present a balanced vision of the reality. He tends to colour his comments on the "humourous" side for effect. Before anyone begins to consider that he is some sort of saviour for Aurora, just remember that you cannot beleive everything that you read on the internet, especially from self-appointed commentators.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 7 March 2014 08:34
**************************
I publish the above because it's a fresh pattern. and I want to talk about it.
I think the Mayor's campaign organisation has already held a strategy meeting. They've determined critical blogs are a potential hindrance to re-election . They must be dealt with and the best way is to discredit them.
That's where thinking stopped and all they've come up with so far is to throw rocks.
Christopher Watts is a rare bird. He is a keen observer, a satyrist and he is passionate..
The only qualification needed to comment on town affairs is his address.
He is not subject to an anonymous arbiter of "balance "
He's not trying to make people laugh.
He's trying to stir in them the same anger he feels.
He is fastidious about supporting his arguments with scholarly references . He supplies the source for the quotes he attributes.
There's no light touch in his work . It zings and sizzles.
There's nothing gentle in his style. He is ferocious. Last time I looked , I spied no law against
righteous rage.
If his total lack of tolerance for stupidity in places of power is difficult to handle , don't try.
Others will make up their own minds about whether they will or they won't.
Advice is redundant.
Warning readers not to believe what they read on the internet while offering fatuous , spurious mis-statements on the internet , is hardly conducive to establishing credibility.
Since the same arguments have recently been made against my own blog I am not sympathetic.
Thursday, 6 March 2014
A Different Perspective
I have owned this house for over 10 years. It has a town plaque & is also designated. I am very proud of this house & my neighborhood.
I attended the council meeting yesterday, Tuesday March 4, 2014. This letter expresses my thoughts of my neighborhood.
Many people in this beautiful neighborhood have given so much of their time and effort over quite a few years in order to help preserve it through designation and it would be a dishonor to its heritage not to continue the study.
Many people in this beautiful neighborhood have given so much of their time and effort over quite a few years in order to help preserve it through designation and it would be a dishonor to its heritage not to continue the study.
What is very rare about our neighborhood is everyone who enters has the opportunity to leave all their cares behind and just enjoy the quiet beauty of a time where life appeared to be simpler. I see well cared for houses that are all different. No cookie cutter houses. There are beautiful gardens, friendly neighbors always happy to discuss any topic, especially their house, with anyone who passes by. You don't go for short walks in this neighborhood! You get a good education on who built it, brick types, insulation used, unique features and more. It's a peaceful stroll through a caring community loaded with character that will bring a smile to your face and allow you to be swept away!
My neighborhood has the Town Park, the Cultural Centre, the Farmer's Market and many beautiful older buildings. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have Aurora known for these landmarks and have people travel from all over to learn our history? It is our south east district that holds these wonders and we do have the potential to do just that. The north east district is designated but it does not have enough of its own buildings to do what the south east has the potential to do. However, if we combine the two districts, we have so much history to offer the "world"! You have to think big!
Mr. Bray has all the documentation to show the benefits of designating this neighborhood. Town staff, committees and many neighbors have worked long hours for the purpose of designation. It is positive movement in the right direction.
If we hesitate because of fear, we miss the opportunity for growth of not only the south east district but of Aurora. If we change our perspective, review all the facts from all sides and make a well informed decision, we have the opportunity to grow and flourish.
Please consider all the well documented research that has been undertaken for the south east district and the potential this neighborhood has to change lives in a positive way. Designation benefits all who see the vision of a treasured jewel in the town I call my home, Aurora.Bits and Pieces
"Something Fishy in Aurora was one of the first commenters to this blog. I haven't received a comment under that name for a long long time.
I'm glad to know you are still there and came to my assistance when I needed you.
Thank you.
****
Yesterday morning a person named Yulia called me for help. An application had been made in January to sponsor her grandmother who is here on a visit from Ukraine.
The caller was anxious because she had not had a response.
I told her I was not in a position to help but I would call her back with particulars about M.P. Lois Brown's riding office and I would speak to the Riding Assistaant.
I spoke to Mary Anne and determined office hours address and explained the problem.
I could not get back to Yulia because my call would not go through on the number I'd been give.
I don't know how Yulia got my name. If it was through the blog , call me again and I will relay what I have.
*******
The point about the job advertised by the Historical Society indicates the new executive have no intention of doing executives of volunteer organizations normally do....that is ...the work necessary to realize the mission. mission .
It would nor normally be my business , nor would I be concerned.... except there is no doubt in my mind the taxpayers of the town are funding the position. We have been inveigled by our Council into
funding the operation of Hillary House. While we provide no resources to operate the museum or
take proper care of the museum collection.
Transparency is lacking.
I'm glad to know you are still there and came to my assistance when I needed you.
Thank you.
****
Yesterday morning a person named Yulia called me for help. An application had been made in January to sponsor her grandmother who is here on a visit from Ukraine.
The caller was anxious because she had not had a response.
I told her I was not in a position to help but I would call her back with particulars about M.P. Lois Brown's riding office and I would speak to the Riding Assistaant.
I spoke to Mary Anne and determined office hours address and explained the problem.
I could not get back to Yulia because my call would not go through on the number I'd been give.
I don't know how Yulia got my name. If it was through the blog , call me again and I will relay what I have.
*******
The point about the job advertised by the Historical Society indicates the new executive have no intention of doing executives of volunteer organizations normally do....that is ...the work necessary to realize the mission. mission .
It would nor normally be my business , nor would I be concerned.... except there is no doubt in my mind the taxpayers of the town are funding the position. We have been inveigled by our Council into
funding the operation of Hillary House. While we provide no resources to operate the museum or
take proper care of the museum collection.
Transparency is lacking.
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