Here's A Thought

I think the  tedious,lugubrious process of election by Council in which candidates ,all but one, are publicly rejected, and humiliated , is a sham.

A Canard... A Charade... A Cabal.....A Cruel trick perpetrated upon those who accept the town's invitation and in good faith put their names forward to be considered for the vacancy.

I believe : 'tis a foul and pestilential deception calculated to lull the masses into believing  ,all is  bright and beautiful, open and transparent.
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Altogether now ...repeat after me.
Witches All
  Double, double toil and trouble; 
    Fire burn, and caldron bubble. 

       2 WITCH.  Fillet of a fenny snake,
    In the caldron boil and bake;
    Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
    Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
    Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
    Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing,—
    For a charm of powerful trouble,
    Like a hell-broth boil and bubble. 

 ALL.  Double, double toil and trouble; 
    Fire burn, and caldron bubble.  

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I do not accept staff advice that council cannot make an appointment to fill the vacant Council seat without going through the lugubrious process of  publicly rejecting and humiliating all but one candidate in the phoney -baloney contrived election.

Richmond Hill used the format in December, we were told.

RIchmond  Hill could have held a  by-election in December.

After the election by politicians , controversy ensued.  The winner ,it was said,  was  the Mayor's candidate of choice.

I believe that was probable and more than likely.

 I  aalso believe we are about to see it repeated in Aurora.

Staff advise we have until August 23rd to fill the vacancy.

An "election " followed by an  Appointment Bylaw is planned for July 29th.

All wrapped up neat and tidy. No matter how many candidates are on the roster.

We are in summer recess. One meeting a month.

Why the hurry to fill a seat that will seldom be occupied?


Ah  yes  you might well ask. And therein lies a clue.

The  Joint  Operation Centre  contract award  will be on the Agenda of the August meeting.

Why is that important?

Because  the estimate is  almost $ 27 million.

The financing  plan does not  have  unanimous approval.

If bids are substantially  higher than estimates, someone on the yea side might get cold feet.

We are on the eve of  an election.

Not  optimum time to be  dealing with a price tag of this magnitude.

Never a good time to approve a horrendous expenditure without full or close to full support of council.

Former Councillor Ballard  was on the nay side

A Yea  vote in the  erstwhile Nay seat, improves the  odds of project approval and  public acceptance.

And might also provide support to a wavering Councillor. Safety in numbers and all that jazz.

So how might success be achieved?

Certainly not by leaving that vote to chance .

Marilee Harris is a candidate for the vacant seat. As a member of the Economic Development
Committee, the lady lays claim to  the magic formula of the Strategic Plan,  the document that cost $80 thousand and promises untold wealth and an "exceptional quality of life for all"

Sort of like Jack and The Beanstalk

Ms Harris is quoted as professing interest in what there is to learn in the waning hours of the current term.

By September 12th  all ranks will be in election mode. Until October 27th , not much happening  at the  Old Town Hall.

My bet says Ms Harris already has the votes  lined up for appointment to the idle seat.

A person who has never held public office.  Has never  competed in an election. May  not even be known by many, may cast the deciding vote  that plunges the municipality into  mega millions of dollars of debt.