"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 25 June 2015

LORD HIGH ADMIRAL OF THE KING 'S NAVEE

Anna has references in  the Community in Focus post on the Joint Facility project. One  in particular.
needs to be expanded. 

Anna remarks how  big a chunk of the  Arboretum  has been taken  for the town project. . 

Therein lies an irony. 

The town acquired the site from Joseph Lebovic at  a "good price". 

At one time, the developer inquired about possibility of changing the designation from industrial  to residential. Difficulty of access and rear of the parcel being  ravine were cited.  

The town disposed of the current works/parks site without offering it in a public sale. Whether an appropriate price was obtained cannot be determined.  

Mr Lebovic was happy to sell to the town. 

As noted by Anna, the  ravine is the Arboretum. Because it had to be protected. 

But not  from the town apparently. 

Problems of access  on a hazardous bend on a heavily travelled  artery intended  as an industrial bypass for Yonge Street were acknowledged. The solution  suggested was to double the points of 
access and egress. 

"Remediation" of the site contributes substantially to cost of the project. 

A shelf had to be built on the side of their ravine to create a  building site. "Remediation not available  to private developers. 

As noted in Anna's  post,  reason given by the director for extra cost of hiring a project manager  is "soil problems"  "discovered" on the site .soil problems are discovered when a site is being excavated And only if  soil tests were not completed beforehand. 

It seems when a shelf is being constructed on the side of a ravine slope ,the problem might be more of  a landslide rather than an excavation. 



Almost a year  into the project it has been realized by staff that  architects, engineers and staff all  had their normal work loads to accomplish. Adequate supervision of the project could not  be provided at the same time. 

Well ...DUH !

Readers may re-call compelling urgency to approve this  project. 

call went out to invite candidates to fill  the vacant seat on Council to secure a majority. 

An exercise was undertaken with presentations from a number of candidates for a seat that did not have to be filled for three months. 

Two candidates said they would not accept compensation  for the task. Considering the timing the offer was reasonable. 

Don Constable , personal friend of Councillors was appointed. 

. When the  joint facility project was decided. Mr. Constable voted in favour  because " there was an urgent need". 

There never was an  argument about need..

Disagreement was about suitability of  location and  exorbitant cost. 

It seems full extent may not yet be known 

But revealing over-runs to correct" unanticipated soil problems " no longer  rest with he who was 
originally responsible. .

 Or the CAO who delegated responsibility. 

The latter has already flown the coop. 

The  former, no longer the Grand Pooh Bah. 

On hand  am I to answer questions needed to further clarify the idiosyncrasies 







8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Apparently the supervisor has done such a good job that the contract will likely be re-newed - by those whose responsibility he is taking along with the possibility of being wrong.

Anonymous said...

It is going to be interesting to watch that project. It clearly is the child of the former council and there is no way they can dodge responsibility although it does look as though they are trying to do so. The departing CAO assured them that all things were possible = and then jumped ship without the slightest attempt to train a successor.
Man, he sure did pack his bags with dispatch !

Anonymous said...

Lets not forget SHE hired him and he hid some complaints from citizens.

Anonymous said...

That CAO position in Richmond Hill has been in the making for quite a while. This has been known by many in this Town for a long time. This was no surprise to anyone. Someone is already in the background to replace him. The only experince needed for this job is political training.

Anonymous said...

That appointment with Mr. Constable was a theatrical performance, as all political appointments are in all levels of government. Our judges are appointed, for crying out loud if that hasn't raised any alarm bells to citizens a councillor appointment in a Town is no biggy. People engaged in this Town know exactly why Mr. Constable was appointed. The others never had a chance.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

@21:03
No one thought they did. The process was just nasty, needlessly so. And you do appear to be giving out Mayor more credit for planning than he merits.

Anonymous said...

The man behind the curtain again.A friend of the appointed I bet.