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

Thursday 13 March 2014

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?





9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Whichever councillor jested:

" What are you going to do about it ? Storm the Bastille ? "
in response to your complaint about not learning about what was going on at the Town Hall
must be looked back with regret about his/her stupidity.

Anonymous said...


Possibly the mayor and four councillors, in this instance, could have been replaced by vote-carrying drones, the latest rage in delivering bombs by the US in Afghanistan.

What is even more interesting is that Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, is conducting a major experiment to determine the practicality of using drones to deliver small-sized purchases to customers ordering over the internet, possibly same day delivery.

A recent report guessed there may be up to 7,500 drones buzzing around in American skies within 2-3 years.

Anonymous said...

Aurora is one of the best places to live in Canada:

http://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/4408893-aurora-ranked-york-region-s-best-place-to-live/

The image chosen by Moneysense magazine to represent Aurora in the online gallery of the Top 25? None other than the Aurora Cultural Centre.

Anonymous said...

13:00 Is it possible our proposed new works yard could be a landing and staging area for the drones. The town could provide for free, just like other contractors and agents working for the town. Pity the roof could not be used because I understand there will be some sort of vegetation on the roof - call it a green roof.

It would be a first and you can bet the region will want to build one. You never know, the Department of National Defence may want to take it over just like the old hydro site.

If I was a councillor, I would have staff be in touch with Mr. Bezos ASAP. Then form a committee - Abel, Ballard and Gallo. It would be a blockbuster. Cell towers, park land and heritage sites would be yesterday's news.

Anonymous said...

13:42- Gee...I wonder how that happened? Pathetic.

Anonymous said...

It seems odd that a magazine with that name would not have delved into taxes, service charges and debt financing looming ahead.

Anonymous said...

20:05
Are you the type of person that expects on the first day of spring that flowers will pop out of the ground and the grass will be green?

Anonymous said...

9:50
There you go again trivializing someone's comment. I think that the point might have been that Aurora's taxes,the possibility of debt financing and our excessive service charges are all signs of a town paying over the norm for the same requirements as comparable towns.

Anonymous said...

Top 25, baby!