Credit is Due

A silver stake was finally driven  through the heart of district heritage designation last night.

The decision  was  finally made at the general committee meeting last Tuesday.

But  it's never certain a committee decision will hold at Council.

The Mayor was absent.  Even when there he tends to contribute little.  Like as not, he will  bring something in writing to Council and the  previous decision gets  changed

On a memorable night ,early in the term,  Councillor Abel gave notice of termination to the Culture  Board.  Ensuing debate was full and complete; nothing left to do but take the vote  There was a noticeable  pause .....we waited ...  Then incredibly,  Councillors Humfreys  and Thompson , orchestrated  a motion that resulted in an entirely different decision.

The ground shifted that moment. I felt it move. Betrayal was thick. A person left the Chamber overwhelmed with nausea. He had worked hard in the  previous campaign and attended every council meeting since  full of hope and certainty.

Immediately, I moved the solicitor be directed to review the  Centre contract. The  Mayor did not want that either. "the solicitor has enough  work to do" he said. I could have sworn I heard  the whisper in his ear from where I was sitting.

The  motion passed. The contract was reviewed and improved A full and enlightening report was submitted.

It made little difference.  The Mayor and Councillor Abel  are on the board and  heaping helpings  of tax dollars continue  to be siphoned from  treasury to board coffers filling their hearts with glee.

 I might  add with full support of Councillor Gallo.

So property-owners  from the S.E, quadrant were at Council again last night, hopefully for the final   decision. The cut to end all cuts.

It was the fifth time since February. The Consultant had  reported  to Council earlier, a "significant minority" were opposed to designation in the S.E. quadrant.

It was a contradiction in terms. Being dismissed as a minority spurred the group to greater  determination.

The  S.E. quadrant is  probably home to every professional service in Aurora.

Old homes on Wellington  and down through , are owned and occupied by planning consultants, architect design consultants, real estate lawyers, real estate brokers, insurance brokers, chartered accountants,  doctors, dentists, butchers,bakers and candlestick makers.

There were experiences to speak of from owners of individually designated homes.

Residents with roots several generations deep had no difficulty comprehending the significance of a restrictive bylaw registered against title of their property.

They wanted no part of that.

Owners researched  issues, ignored accusations, refuted claims, produced  professional documentation , knocked on doors, explained the process, collected names  and delegated to Council. Again and again.

To little avail.

The consultant  and some Councillors were certain if  only  they understood ,they would not  be "afraid". Scouts were despatched to the Market to "educate"  opponents.

The Market being a hotbed of proponents.

It proved to be ineffective.

Staff - assurances about  provincial assurance about problem -free insurance and accounts of
great  joy and satisfaction  experienced in other  designated districts in Ontario had to be reversed.

Four options were presented to Council. The first was to discontinue the study.

The town awarded a contract for $67 thousand and spent $34 thousand.

The  study is discontinued.

Another one bites the dust.

Months of  frustration and stress for residents, numerous discussions and deferrals by Council and in the end $34 thousand spent with nothing  positive accomplished.

Notwithstanding all  that , Councillor Thompson on another issue, commented last night.

 "Had we done a better job  at the beginning, there would  have been a different outcome".

I don't know what that is......political hubris...denial of the obvious...inability to comprehend facts...reluctance to acknowledge error ..... or WHAT?

The right decision was made in the end. People  who refused to surrender fully appreciate it.

Why not accept the credit?