"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

Wednesday 12 December 2012

The Road To Perdition

The new draft  agreement with the Culture Centre Board was received by Council last night.  Work has  proceeded  since February when a motion to give notice of termination was sabotaged by Mayor Dawe and Councillors Thompson and Humphryes.
The agreement will be back on the table on January 13th for approval. 
Councillors will  presumably consult with constituents and  by an affirmative vote  in January  will  signify community support  for the cockamamie scheme once and for all. 
I think that's the plan.
It's not  a done deal yet
raised a new factor   last night. I asked how much programmable space there is in Church Street School.
Above ground ,there's 11,680 square feet of building on two floors  A wide centre staircase with  landings  back and front and balcony on both sides takes probably thirty per cent out of useable space. 
About 8,000 square feet of  space  is available for programs. for programs. 
Three million dollars of capital were invested  to provide the space. 
Fiscal efficiency requires  recovery of  capital  to support  the principle of self-sufficiency.
Cost of the money I am told , would  have been  between $90 and $133,000 a year depending upo how the money was  borrowed.
Rent therefore should be  calculated on that basis.
The lease  calls for rent of $1,00  a year. 
The town pays for all maintenence $150,000. worth of free service.  
Culture is purchased from the board. for   $347,000  a year. 
Do the math. The town is handing over almist $600,000  
Total cost to  taxpayers is in the area of  $600,000 a year.
The  Seniors Centre is 14,000 square feet of programmable space.Three times as much as the school.
There are two staff  members. Plus maintenance.
Cost to the taxpayers is $270,000 a year. 
Three times as much program space for less than  half the cost.
The  draft agreement is full of sound and furysignifying greater control over Church Street School by the town'd Director of Lisure Services.
No such thing.
Constitution of the board as an arm's length, autonomous,
independent entity from the town, has not changed.
Two Councillors appointed to an  autonomous, independent Board l does not limit  board authority. 
The board will be strengthened by having  two Councillors on their team. 
Council will be reduced commensurately with  two less  votes on board related matters. 
Pecuniary interest will  compel  Council/board members  to declare a conflict.
The new  proposed agreement is only  slightly changed from  the last. The board is required to submit a budget to Council  for  annual approval for  purchase of culture.
Improvement is minimal and meaningless.
The community is not one  whit better served by the proposed agreement.
So when  you meet a Councillor, over the holidays,  and the subject is raised, ask  why  spending twice as much  money,for half as much  programming  at Church Street School   as  happens  at the Seniors Centre, makes any sense. 
Councillor Ballard is horrified by cost  to taxpayers of the Senior's Centre. At the same time, he is in wholehearted  support  of  handing over twice as much  for half as much to the Culture Centre Board . 
Ask for  an explanation of  why they think that makes sense.
Then you tell me. 
Then we can all wallow in  foolishness together. 
Ask how long it's supposed to take to stop gravy train from hurtling to perdition.  
BTW The Seniors Club has 1371 members.   
   
                        
     

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Work has proceeded since February when a motion to give notice of termination was sabotaged by Mayor Dawe and Councillors Thompson and Humphryes (sic)."

Don't you mean that the motion was defeated by a democratic majority?

Sabotage is an interesting word. You've done everything in your power to sabotage the Cultural Centre ... and failed.

Have a Very Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...


BLOOMBERG


"Canada will consider purchasing fighter aircraft other than Lockheed Martin Corp's F-35 jet, after a report showed the planes would cost C$45 billion over 42 years," Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose said.

"The next step is a full review of options. We have hit the reset button and are taking the time to do a complete assessment of all available aircraft."

I thought Public Works dealt with highways and bridges, airports and buildings.

Don't we have a Defence Minister to attend to things military?

Well, yes, but he got us into this debacle most recently, and kept us there until the Auditor-General's report scuppered the plan by showing actual projected costs.

I'm just so happy that all we have to worry about in Aurora is a paltry half million or so.

Anonymous said...

Square footage?! Really? Man, you are desperate...

Anonymous said...

As you have said, it is not nailed down yet and the rental amount is truly a joke. There is certainly some room and time left for further negotiations. Whether or not that narrow little log-jam of votes can be over-ridden depends on some spine from the rest of Council.
I was hopeful when this subject was first raised so long ago - now I am less so, but will certainly try to reduce the pain of the bloody thing.
Can you just see every new Council coming into office and asking " How did you ever got into such a financially irresponsible agreement? "

Anonymous said...

There are still no reins on that bloody horse. Those who have toted the Royal Handbag will fight for the Center while denying other outfits which do not offer them a possible board position in the future. The Youth Project will be a victim because they don't think kids count. Hence no effort to find a solution. No mention of developing the old Library land which could actually help the bottom line. The rest of the Council is in play but ALL are up for the idea of re-election.

Anonymous said...

From this week's Auroran newspaper:

"The Aurora Seniors' Centre operates at a $270,000 loss per year, according to Al Downey, Aurora's Director of Parks and Recreation Services."

So, $270,000 isn't the total cost to the taxpayer, as you state. The expenditures for maintenance and staffing must be added to that sizeable sum.

Anonymous said...

"There is certainly some room and time left for further negotiations."

So, who would be 'stalling' then?!

Anonymous said...

7:00 PM
Heaven forbid that the ungifted Patrons of Culture have to contribute to the town that provides them with the terrific building & the means to play that role. The words ' accountability ' & ' responsibility ' come to mind but you want a free meal. And I think you do know better.

Anonymous said...

Hey, 5:52 PM. We are talking about a heck of a lot of money and you zero in on " square footage " ? Nit-pick and quibble much? If you have a VALID point, please try to elucidate. You are the one who sounds desperate,
and very childish.

Anonymous said...

To 5:50....

Public works deals with the acquisition of assets....

Anonymous said...

Hey, 8:10 PM, it was Cllr Buck who zeroed in on the square footage (just another feeble attempt in her campaign of negativity and sabotage).