"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

Saturday 15 December 2012

The Library Is Different

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Circuitous Logic": 
Your analogy to the Library is not a valid one. You cannot compare it to the Culture Centre. 
The Library is governed under the Province's Public Libraries Act. There is no similar legislation to govern how a municipality runs a culture centre, senior centre or youth centre.As a member of the Library Board, you should know this.
**************
As a  former and repeat member of the  board I do understand the analogy of   Library  to  Culture Centre. 
There are those who argue the Culture Board should be on the same footing as the Library Board. 
I am not one. 
The library is governed by the Public Library Act.
The municipality is required to provide funding .
When the library was an extension of  education, the  board had the same right as school boards to requisition  funds.
If they were refused, there was a  right of appeal.
No longer..The municipality appoints board members and  three Councillors serve on the board..
The  board  is composed entirely of members  chosen by Council.
 Council has authority over funds provided, the board has  discretion over how they will be spent.
Library is a multi- faceted service.
It comes at a price. 
 $53.98 cents  for every man woman and child in the town.  Revenue is negligible.
Some  taxpayers  believe the price is too high.  Service should not be free. Although a large percentage of the population use the library, not all do. 
Council cannot dismiss those who do not. .
Some Councillors object every year and try to pare down the total.
The same Councillors who   introduced  the  new burden and  without as much as a by-your-leave ,are prepared to add culture services .with a  budget along the lines of the library..
When the Historical Society withdrew commitment to manage the Church Street School Museum,they had the same idea. It's not clear where it came from. 
The Society  had fify-nine members and  was providing no service  at the time. 
The collection was stored and  space  for the museum had been rented out to another organisation . But they felt  within their rights to suggest  the town should provide a budget along the lines of the library.
At the time , they were receiving and continue to receive  a grant of $50,000 a year.
The museum was closed and the collection  in storage since 2003..
Yet  funds  just kept pouring out of town coffers.
There can be no argument that  library is expensive. 
But cost must be measured against value received. 
A visit to the library when it's teaming with people coming and going, mothers with two or three children,  line-ups  waiting for check-out , every computer occupied upstairs and down,
people lounging and reading in pleasant surroundings  illustrates its popularity. 
In times of high unemployment, the library is even busier, providing an essential resource .
What we see is only part of what's  provided. 
I am content  cost of service  is commensurate to value. 
I am not content for that  burden to be  increased  for  something as esoteric as culture,provided by a  governing body, independent and separate  from  council. 
In all conscience, it cannot be justified.
Last  Tuesday, two people attended the meeting to hear discussion    of the draft agreement .
When they left, the chief administrator left his seat  and followed. 
The Auroran  reports the CAO  and his staff are in full support of the draft agreement.
It is Council's responsibility to decide what new burdens  will  be placed on  taxpayers. 
Council will account to the electorate  for stewardship..
Staff will account to Council.
Council will account  to  people who pay the bills.                       .      

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Former spent her morning decorating the tree on Ken Whitehurst's front lawn. What a lovely way to say
" Thank You ." Aurora also owes her a thank-you for her very generous gift of the Culture Centre which continues to cost and cost the tax-payers' money without end.

Anonymous said...


Apparently the CAO and his staff are in full support of the draft agreement - why wouldn't they be? - they drafted it.

It is up to Council to decide whether to approve it as drafted, or make further changes to it that will improve the document.

For how long has this final draft been available to members of Council? Has there been any informal discussion among them, any areas where amendments could or should be made?

I fear that this is another snow job, staff providing an extraordinarily long document that many will not be capable of understanding the "fine" print.

I do not believe that several members of Council are competent to read and thoroughly understand that on which they are being called upon to vote.

Ignorance is no excuse. Stupidity is no excuse. Inexperience is no excuse.

This draft agreement and accompanying lease are merely very miniature versions of the F-35 fighter jet.

If the federal government can push a reset button so can Aurora Council.

The passage of the existing draft agreement and lease will, as FDR said, "be a day to live in infamy."

Anonymous said...

WhY would Morris want to thank Mr Whitehurst? He ran her re-election campaign which she lost. And then he ran the election campaign for the Liberal running here which that individual lost too/. Morris gave him that cushy job at the Centre so why should she be thanking him ? For what?

Anonymous said...

I guess that trio do not see the irony in their trying to stiff the Library while doling out cash to a couple of outfits that take out ads in the papers thanking all their patrons - except for the Town of Aurora. Who, incidentally, had provided the land upon which they based their operations. Really sad that they cannot see the contradictions.

Anonymous said...

What do you expect? There are 4 individuals at the Council table who have carried the Royal Hand-bag. They are not all Councillors.

Anonymous said...

@ 2:22 PM:

Using the multi-billion dollar fighter jet contract as a "comparator"? Invoking Pearl Harbor? Really?

Where would we be without totally ridiculous comparisons and offensive, risible hyperbole?

Anonymous said...

to 5:25 PM

Possibly to see if you are still awake and paying attention.

Although you do sound somewhat intelligent and reasonably literate.

Do you take much of this seriously?

Anonymous said...

Following the usual Snark pattern, we can now expect a comment admiring it's comment. Along the line of " What a bright remark that was."5:25 PM " Hard to conceal that there is only one negative ion. And especially so when Evelyn has posted irrefutable facts.

Anonymous said...

To 8:43 PM:
Hahaha... Little connspiracy theories abound in little Aurora.

That's why I read this blog.
I read it because of you!
You are my "smile of the day".

Especially when the world is filled with so much that genuinely concerns me.

This one's for you, my precious 8:43Pm.....
Even though your comment doesn't add any facts, you are always ready with your studied observations, of any poster who might slip through the "official" screening process, to keep Blog's message pure.

Anonymous said...


It appears the Snark is reproducing.

Snarkettes, anyone?

Anonymous said...

To: 9:22 AM

The Snark is not reproducing. Believe it or not, there is more than one person that disagrees with the Town's Official Grandmother and resident curmudgeon.

The truth hurts I know.