Thursday, 14 August 2014

FYI

I can't allow staff to be criticized on the blog. It's not fair. They  can't defend themselves.

I' ve  deleted  comments that offend that principle. If any have slipped through ,let me know.

Anybody notice  Thunder Bay had a temperature of 9% to-day. Northern Ontario does not use salt.

Leksand , Sweden does not use salt .

Temperatures  are much lower than Southern Ontario .

Salt is not  effective.  In Sweden ,small sleighs on cutters are pushed ahead like a stroller to navigate on icy streets.

We've had a lively exchange  this week and that's great. Connsidering how many people are out of town.
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13 comments:

  1. Anonymous14 August 2014 at 19:02

    Thank you, Evelyn. It has been a good run.
    I think staff do a super job of fielding the questions that rain on their heads.
    The weather is supposed to improve. Try to take some time for yourself.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous14 August 2014 at 20:14

    I understand to some degree why criticizing staff is not fair. But instances like the mess the Aurora’s website 4 year build took and the screw up with the under budgeted operational center and the budget that was used to redo the admin building which went to tender could not even come close to the budgeted amount. These are all huge $ mishaps and not that I want to hear that heads rolled, but I do hope that there is some accountability.

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  3. Anonymous14 August 2014 at 20:57


    Presumably staff is accountable to taxpayers through Council.

    Is this correct?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous14 August 2014 at 21:25

    I heard several times Tuesday night that there's been no changes or updating in 25+yrs to the facilities that hold the parks and public works. Again this is an example of not being able to maintain or improve existing assets, yet we continue to explore and acquire new assets. If we can't maintain the assets that we have now. How are we going to maintain a building that is going to cost us $17+ million? We are going to enter enter into one of those debt financing cokamamie schemes for a garage. There is a way to maintain future service levels...council just doesn't have the courage to even look into those options.

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  5. Anonymous15 August 2014 at 08:40

    20:14
    We seem to be leaning too much the wrong way in order to off-set the mass upheaval in staff last term where long-time, high- qualified staff departed whether because they were forced out or decided to leave. A medium ground would have been better but probably impossible for a novice council to achieve.

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  6. Anonymous15 August 2014 at 15:11

    I know some don't like the comparison of governments and business, but in regards to money and financing there has to be a direct comparison. In business, if it doesn't come in the front door (your clients, revenue, sales, etc) it doesn't go out the back (manufacturing, shipments, delivery of purchased goods). It seems to be that this new facility has been pushed out the back door before a proper purchase order has been received to know where or what is paying the invoices. Decisions like this sink and make businesses fail. Being that it's an end of term decision, council is throwing it to the next council to work out their decision. But that's OK, Aurora is rich... raise the taxes, get more development charges. It's OK... we'll work it out later. Why does it have to have to cost so much? Isn't it basically a work shed, it should be a utilitarian facility - it needs to be functional not pretty.

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  7. Anonymous15 August 2014 at 15:32

    8:40
    You forgot to say "overpaid" after "long-time, high- qualified"

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous15 August 2014 at 19:13

    15:32
    I will allow the introduction of " well-paid " with the proviso that you note they all received even better jobs in more friendly surroundings.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous16 August 2014 at 08:04

    19:13
    No., there is a constant reference to the "sunshine list" which intimates overpaid.

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  10. Anonymous16 August 2014 at 09:56

    True, 08:04. Now, we're getting constant complaints regarding the pay of councillors. I think it's called envy.

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  11. Anonymous16 August 2014 at 10:23

    9:56
    How would a feeling that councillors are under-paid be a sign of envy ? Sounds like a recognition of the economy to me.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous16 August 2014 at 11:29

    21:25- Ya know I don't think anyone has run a campaign with a platform of being courageous. But then again platforms get changed at the strike of 12 the night most candidates get elected.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous17 August 2014 at 20:16

    11:29
    How can you not know of any candidate who has run on a campaign of being courageous ? Have you spent your voting years under a rock ?

    ReplyDelete

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