the Mayor got a second opportunity to press his argument against spending $1.1 million dollars on a third park in Mavricland. Problem is, the vote is taken. The Mayor persuaded no-one.His influence is. Nil to Zero.
There is no more substance to his argument than there is to the arguments of the seven who voted
In support of the park.
The Mayor sent this project on its trajectory before the last election when he voted for legal action to compel the developer to surrender the 6 acre site to the town.The town had no legal justification
to force that sale. No law that would have allowed expropriation for a park.
That may have been the moment the former solicitor realised Aurora had no need for a legal department and he did not invest in a career in law to be employed by a town without respect for law or logic.
Municipal decisions are determined, in the main, by various acts of Provincial law.
The Planning Act requires a developer to dedicate 5% of a developable parcel for a park.The
municipality cannot ask for more.
School boards may requisition sites for schools but they must pay raw land price.
Municipalities must calculate development charges covering needs in a five year period .
Master Recreation Plans must be reviewed every five years for identified needs to justify Development Charges.
It means home buyers pay for the park in their neighbourhood. The town pays ten per cent to
Make it a community affair.
Amenities in new home developments shall not increase the tax burden for existing residents.
There is method in the madness.
Legal fees were incurred to compel the Mavrinac developer to surrender a six acre site not required by the separate school board.
Legal costs have not been disclosed.
$2.3 million was paid for the land. $1.1 million is estimated to build a third park within a klick of two other fine facilities.
Nothing supports the project. Neither law, logic nor equity between taxpayers.
The decision was purely political. Votes from the Mavrinac neighbourhood were the prize. They still
are.
As I recall,Councillor Michael Thompson quietly witheld his support to acquire the land. He now argues for the expenditure.
No-one asks about the source of funding.
What's funny is that it was Gallo who started this shit show. But it was Dawe who benefitted.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteIt's only money.
OUR MONEY!
THESE IDIOTS HAVE GOT TO STOP SQUANDERING IT!
The Mayor cannot turn back the clock. Council have voted to fund Mavrinac from the very beginning.
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame that the park-to-be will be such a localized affair but everyone has signed off on it except for Cllr
Pirri who wanted it to be more inclusive.
The Mayor truly illustrates that he has only the one vote - he sure isn't driving the bus.
Mavrinac will get their park & then they will start shouting about the traffic it generates. This despite the fact that the place will have few from other parts of the town. The public gardens could have easily fit in.
ReplyDeleteOh, wait ! They are already complaining about the traffic and want their speed bumps.
I'm still waiting for the icecream store!
ReplyDeleteRound up some people, storm the chamber, make it sound like it's an abomination that we don't have one, and it will be done.
DeleteSmoke & Mirrors coming to the Town of Aurora !!
ReplyDeleteCouncil has " reluctantly " decided to examine the Centre's budget in order to hold them to the same standard as everyone else.
The gnashing of capped teeth and rending of expensive garments will begin.
I did not vote for Cllr Kim but he is kicking some butt there !
More theatrical performances ahead. Examine their budget means finding that their underfunded and providing them more money for all the great work that they do in providing us a great quality of life. It's all BS.
DeleteThe Historical Society is going to have to tighten its budget this year. Given that the membership there are mostly the same as those helming that Cultural Group, the flak should be fun to watch.
ReplyDeleteThey should just hand over this building to the Feds. It's clear that this Town is incapable of managing it. The feds dumped the armory on us. How we ended up paying for that piece of sh*t is mind boggling. Whoever was part of that thumbs up deal should have left the stage.
DeleteThe SCC must become the ASM =Aurora Sharing Museum
ReplyDeleteAUM =Aurora Unselfish Museum
AFM=Aurora Friendly Museum
AIM=Aurora Inclusive Museum
Please feel free to play along.
The winner gets to chainsaw the piano.....kidding.