On Friday Councillors were informed by E-mail that staff will be presenting a bylaw for the purchase of Aurora Armouries to be enacted at Tuesday's Council meeting.
A memo will be included on the public agenda describing the purchase and the proposed price.
I found the communication odd. Town business is not conducted by E-mail.
Bylaws are municipal legislation.
Legislation is not an administrative responsibility.
Just short weeks ago staff were directed by council resolution to determine possibilities. No need has been established. No sensible alternatives.
Then ...Whamo.... the deed is done.
On September 9th....Three days before all bets are off and Council is up for election.
So much to tell...so little time to tell it.
What's the rush, you may ask?
Yes you may. It doesn't mean the answer will be provided.
I find this very odd yet not suprising.I was approached by individuals asking for assistance with the writing of a large grant.It was for celebration of the end of the Second World War.The armories was mentioned with no plans for its use but it was the building of interest.I thought I should tell the public.I am sure of the end use and declined.
ReplyDeleteWe have seen in the past how well the town receives last-minute cram jobs. I had hoped to have seen the last of such ventures. Apparently not.
ReplyDeleteReal estate dealing have not been one of council's strong suits. There is no bidding war involved here- hence no need to rush.
ReplyDeleteHurray! A new winter home for the farmers' market.
ReplyDeleteTo 9:48 I have spoken to several members of council past and present about a market there.Members of the DND who knew my father liked the idea.My Dad passed away because of his job with them.He loved taking care of the armories and many in Canada.I hope the town makes this a transperant effort.I like the idea of a new inclusive market year round in that very location.
DeleteI have been thinking about this and came to the conclusion that Council cannot move forward on the initiative. There have been too many referrals/deferrals when individual councillors refused to make decisions because they felt the new council should have the responsibility. And this is a big one IMO.
ReplyDelete10:14-Council can move and pass forward this initiative. if they know that they have all the votes on council to do so! Oh sure we’ve seen months/years of referrals and deferrals on many proposals, but those were all theatrical performances to show the electorate how they are being responsible in the decisions that they’re making. Ramming through this armoury buy is an easy one for them to justify to the electorate. I've seen enough of these performances to know who I will be voting for in this election.
ReplyDeleteWhy, 9:48 ?
ReplyDeleteIn Europe, the producers just pull their trucks into the Town Square & sell on the spot. All the towns have to do is clear the snow which they do anyway because there is parking all year.
Are you suggesting Aurora provide & pay for utilities too ?
12:48- They do for the cultural center. Precedent has been set.
ReplyDeleteAre we in Europe, 12:48? A Canadian winter necessitates an indoor venue for the farmers' market.
ReplyDeletePresumably, they'll rent the drill shed on the particular dates.
16:06
ReplyDeleteSure. A Canadian winter MUST be worse than those in the Swiss & French Alps. Or even in the north of England ? Where did you study geography ?
16:06. Rent? What's that??
ReplyDeleteI can assure you, 17:21, not at the same place you studied logic...or punctuation.
ReplyDelete17:49
ReplyDeleteDoes the CC pay rent, utilities or maintenance? Do the Rangers lease of the Hydro building pay for the maintenance and utilities of the building? When acquiring or purchasing an asset you would think that “logic” would dictate how and at what cost these assets would be maintained without debt and increasing taxes. In the last 4 years this council has failed miserably at both.
@14:06
ReplyDeletePrecedents mean nothing. Have a chicane for dinner.
18:41 – Organizations are asking the Town on a daily basis for all types of fees to be waived. The Chamber just asked the Town to waive the fees for 5yrs at the ACC for their annual Home Show. 14:06 has a point. Call it whatever you like…fees, lease, rent., or the new term “seed money”, but precedent for all this has been set more so in the last 4 yrs and our taxes just keep going up.
ReplyDelete22:54
ReplyDeleteBut when a neighbourhood group wishes to have a picnic in the Town Park & asks that the fee be waived, they are turned down.
You canot keep making different rules for different group depending on how much noise they can generate.
It's like that councillors' discretionary fund. Still comes out of the same pot but it sounds better.
ReplyDelete8:28- There sure are different rules depending on how much noise people can generate.
ReplyDelete