"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 8 February 2014

What you hear,is not what you get ....

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Clock Keeps Ticking":


Could someone please explain to me how the Hillary-McIntyre Park Founding Committee and the accompanying Consultants' Study that apparently was authorized by Council at a cost of $25,000 has morphed into something that the CAO is recommending by way of a Negotiation Strategy for the Purchase of properties associated with the said Park.

Has the town passed the necessary By-Law to create a new park?

In light of the fact that a total cost figure of some $22 million has come to light and that the town is supposed to finance half of this, the remainder by fund-raising (presumably from senior levels of government), my question is what is the basis for all of this.

The Cost-Benefit Study is simply many pages of thousands of words, pictures and schematic plans, but from the standpoint of practicality it provides very little.

Unless and until the residents and taxpayers of Aurora have pledged their unqualified support for this project, including paying the bills, Council should receive the material and file it and forget it.


***********************

From the standpoint of substance, there  is none of that either 

Neither is there an explanation I can offer at this time.

I have  forwarded a  query to our new Director of  Legislative and Corporate Services, who is also the town solicitor. to explain how  Item 9 has appeared on  the Agenda for  Council on February 11th 2014.

We are  currently without a Statutary Office of Clerk of the Municipality required by provincial
legislation.

He was responsible to ensure town affairs were conducted within provincial legislative requirements and also in keeping with the town's own legislative Bylaws.

Council recently decided  the position of Director was no  longer required.  We could save money by doing without.

No Bylaw to rescind the appointment  has yet been  presented.

During this term we have seen similar scenarios to the one raised above.

Council deliberates ,opposing arguments dominate, then a resolution is presented and passed in
 the opposite direction.

One hesitates to call it trickery, yet one can hardly call it clear and succinct.

Be that as it may:

Council in  General Committee  does not make decisions.

Decisions are recommended  to Council to be formally and legally enacted.

At Council, motions are subject to further debate, or what passes for same in Aurora ,
and also to a recorded vote if  requested.

There is no confusion  left about who voted how.

No doubt  about the decision or direction to staff.

No unexpected surprises to catch an unwary Councillor unaware.

No precipitate staff report to force forward  an objective  not yet decided.

Former Mayor Timpson used to refer to his time in the Mayor's Office as the
 "Timpson Administration"

George used to carry the Chain of Office in its case wherever he went. There was speculation he wore it in pyjamas.

Perhaps we now know the tenor of the "Dawe Administration"

Now you see it.
Now you don't.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Like that feline in CATS. Whenever something was discovered that was amiss, it wasn't to be seen.
" McCafferty's not there "
{ I might have the cat's name wrong }

Anonymous said...

You state quite clearly:

"From the standpoint of substance, there is none of that either.

Neither is there an explanation I can offer at this time."

This must assume many hours of discussion and debate about a matter that is both without substance and explanation.

Is it really possible for a group of adults to waste their time while pretending to attend to the interests of the people who elected them?

If there were sufficient corners in the council chamber each councillor should have to go and sit in one for at least an hour, dunce caps optional.

Anonymous said...

13:54
I think what we've been seeing is some good theatrical performances. We’ll get to see who the Oscar will go to shortly. I already have my nominations in.

Anonymous said...

I believe Councillors Abel and Humphreys chair the Heritage Advisory committee. Need I say anymore ?

Anonymous said...

Despite all the rhetoric about the need to rush this project, I think its supporters plan to just keep going for the ' vision '. It isn't like investors are lined up for the great opportunities offered.

Anonymous said...

More about the HAC meetings will be disclosed on Tuesday.

Anonymous said...

I thought committees were supposed to reduce the work of Council ?
Those we have seem determined to throw grenades onto the table. Not just the little stuff like those 3 trees. Trails Committee comes up with really weird stuff and this heritage mess looks like it sprang for another committee. It all gets fuzzy by the time the public hear about an issue.

Anonymous said...

Off= topic
Macleans,ca
John Geddes
How Canada's health wait list times are the worst among 11 prosperous countries

Anonymous said...


I see on the Agenda for Council for February 11 By-Laws to appoint a Clerk and a Deputy Clerk.

Is it normal for a two month time lapse for a Council to fill these two positions, the first being a statutory requirement under the Municipal Act?

Anonymous said...

@10:10
That Bus Fuss came via the C of A.

Anonymous said...

Yet another ' new ' reporter in the Banner says the Heritage thing is going ahead. It also has someone quoted as saying the value is ' under-market ' That should finish the darn thing.