"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

Monday 25 April 2016

GUEST POST

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "IT INTERESTS ME": 

I saw a recent letter from the province ... "Thank you Aurora councillors. We will immediately change the mandate and structure of the OMB so you can be awarded full authority over a $100,000,000 property. We will fix it so the owners will not realize a penny. If you like, we can put in a clause that an owner of a golf course must maintain it for the next 50 years in its original state at no cost to you."

"Good luck with your summit on golf course redevelopment and congratulations to you and your Mayor for your leadership. We all know how hard you work passing these motions."

Yours truly,
Minister of ....


cc. Chris
Posted by Anonymous to  Our Town and Its Business at 25 April 2016 at 16:17

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As  a newly elected Councillor(1967) it was my understanding responsibility of the Clerk-Treasurer was to inform Council of the Municipal Act, the Regulations and how they are interpreted.

I thought that was the purpose of Statutary Officer; statute being the operative word and the rest being the requirement  to function within the law. 

Our first CAO was the former Clerk-Administrator. 

The position of CAO was created on advice of a consultant to overcome a problem with certain shortcomings within the administration. 

Needless to say, the problem did not correct. 

As the procession of CAOs, Mayors and clerks grew , things became somewhat more obscure. 

A CAO ,who is not Statutary Officer, has no responsibility to inform Council of the law.

A municipal clerk who must be a Statutary officer and has the responsibility but is subject to authority of a CAO ,who has neither the responsibility nor the credentials, is in a line of authority less than likely to succeed. 

Jobs at different levels became dependent upon preference of this one or that. 

Never a good thing for an official with responsibility to exercise authority but not free to do so. 

Apart from expense , it doesn't work. 

Judging by numbers of endorsements, Aurora's resolution advocating Reform of the Ontario Municipal Board along the lines they favour, the Province may be compelled instead to contemplate the need for Reform of Ontario Municipal Administrations. 

They could start with a joint review of the British North American Act; especially the missing part that provides power to municipalities. 

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Maybe we could adopt the Admiralty Flag too.
It is all huff & puff. The OMB is not going to change itself. But I do think that Mr B might be vulnerable if the conservatives can get their act together.

Be Honest said...

Substitute "hope" for "think," 11:02.

Anonymous said...

We have never heard a peep on what happened with Mr Leach. There one day and gone the next. I think we were told a Municipal Clerk was no longer needed under a staff re-organization suggested by a consultant.

Anonymous said...

I'm sure he is enjoying retirement. If I was him, I would have considered what the Town did a gift. I would have had enough of working with all the characters.

Anonymous said...

Mr Leach was tired of being used. I think he went willingly & with a lovely settlement.

Anonymous said...

The Highlands' situation gives Ms Walpersons an opportunity to direct others. I am guessing there is not one waiting in the wings to challenge for council to keep her occupied.