Even when the cast changes the plots are still all the same. It happens with every municipality. Council is not running the show in any of them. Directors, producers, writers, editors. Even the electorate are part of the show. We're the casting agents.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 30 June 2016 at 16:53
*************************
I don't know what happens in every municipality but I am probably as familiar with what happens in Aurora than any person alive. I still do not claim expertise. Things shift and change. I only know what I know.
It's true the electorate chooses the caste members but only within the range available. Selection is further narrowed by limited understanding of the role.
I learned the role by listening, watching,asking and doing . Like everyone else,I needed to learn. I tried to pass on what I learned. In fact, I thought It would be my main contribution.
It's hard when there's no reception. Harder still, without back-up from administration. ..where there's more concern about keeping the job than doing the job...the Mormac Gang made that a clear
imperative. It sits easier on some than others.
I don't watch meetings any more. I read The Auroran accounts and that makes me a bystander like most.
Sometimes when I flip through channels and a Councillor is speaking, I will stop and listen.
It happened Tuesday night. The discussion was about a planning matter, a thirty metre versus ten meter buffer between estate lots and urban density housing.
Thirty meters is a huge waste of space and no-man's land in an urban setting . It is contra-indicated.
Estate lots were introduced forty odd years ago because services were not available for urban development. Estate lots accommodate a well and septic tank.
Assessment growth and revenue was essential just to keep up withirisingcosts. Estate lots were valuable but costly in terms of land use then and a hundred times more now.
The chickens are coming home to roost and there's not a soul at the Council table ,elected or appointed, who understands the background. There have been several breaks in continuity.
No respect for institutional history. I doubt anyone understands the term.
Councillor Thompson spoke on Tuesday of Council's intent to make decisions that reflect the values of community desires.
The bid to reform the Ontario Municipal Board is about having authority at the municipal level to make
planning decisions.
Councillor Thompson is a serious thinker. He is in his second term of office. He still does not understand the junior role of a municipal council.
The Province is the boss. Municipalities exist at the pleasure of the Province. It could be decided
tomorrow ,there is no justification for two municipalities,
Aurora and Newmarket ,with no dividing line between them and many shared services, to be carrying the burden of two multi -million dollar administrations makes no practical sense. Let alone demand the Province surrender authority to 440 municipalities.
No chance Lance.
We're still waiting to hear reforms the bozos are contemplating for the OMB.
We've heard all the razza- ma-razz. The meat of the proposal is yet to appear.
Maybe that's why C.Ballard has been assigned responsibility for housing and poverty in the Province.
Posts
2 comments:
Even if there is a "reform" of the OMB, I don't see municipalities doing any better with their Towns/Cities development decisions.
Ballard is going to have a challenger.
Happy Canada Day to you !
Shame about the rain on the parade but the fire guys must be pleased at the lessening of risk with the fireworks.
Post a Comment