The writing has been on the wall since Premier Wynn landed the top job. and the immeduate challenge was to pull the chestnuts out of the fire.
Tim Hudak said he was ready . Premier Wynn said she would give Andrea Horvath a week to decide.
Andrea Horvath did not need a week.
Councillors received an e-mail moments after the announcement from OGRA. The rug has been pulled.
'Tis said Politics is the second oldest profession in the world. It could be said the two are only slightly separate.
Both are about selling favors Politicians do it when they have nothing else to offer .
They do not function in a vacuum.
It's not their money and tax increases seem inviolate.
Think about the various issues Council has dealt with this term:
Litigation against three citizens was terminated. But we paid legal fees. Now the town is being sued for the remaining liability.
Chicanes to obstruct traffic were removed .. But we didn't get rid of other obstructions. The job was half finished.
A new agreement for " purchase" of culture was written. Council now has authority over how much we buy.
Each year since, we have paid more. Even though space was reduced.
Two board seats were created for Council. Two were appointed.
They don't have to be accountable. So they're not. The only change, now we have Councillors as well as board members doing things in secret.
We don't even know how board members are selected. They don't even have to be from Aurora. We don't know how people are hired or how many have been hired.
And the money continues to freely flow.
Unneccessary legal costs continue; litigation to compel a developer to sell land not needed by the town. to the town, for a fraction of its value.
The neighbors don't want it developed. Council speedily obliges.
$45,000.legal fees were contemplated against Bell Canada to compel them to dismantle a
cell tower erected legally. Nearby neighbors demanded it and again a Council majority was happy to oblige. Only exterior legal advice,at a price of course that it could not succeed , stopped that from happening.
Consultant fees are a steady drain on resources.
We spent $80.000 on a Strategic Plan. that promises " an exceptional quality of life"Council gave staff authority to implement that impossible dream.
Deveral sunshine list staff are always available to chase unlikely possibilities time emdimg with nothing to show.
Last week we heard about a hotel site plan that has changed hands again...third time I think.
The Mayor's first Chamber of Commerce luncheon the announced of thotel coming was made as well as a few miles of sidewalk because a lunch gueasr had requested it.
Hours wer spent discussing details. Too much or not enough glass....location and style of entrance fussed about....parking...landscaping ....all that stuff .
None of it happened.
The site plan has chamged again. Best Western is new owner. Everybody knows what that looks like. A big cement box with windows. Maybe it will be built. Maybe it wont. Whatever.
We will still have staff complement processing plans that may or may not materialse.
A few residents requested Distriuct Heritage Designation tp stop any re=development in the centre of town.
A consultant was signed up for a "study"
Turns out the neighborhood majority wants no part of it.
How did we get into it for $67,000 before finding that out?
I think we all know how.
Seductive glances behind fluttering fans.
We have favors to sell and an eager demanding market.
Friday 2 May 2014
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11 comments:
I remember once moving into a new home. Not here. Within a few weeks, someone turned up at the door:
" What party do you support ? "
With a kid yowling behind me, I asked,
" Who are the candidates ? "
We were never bothering again.
Evelyn:
Surely you can't be surprised by any of this.
You have been a participant in the political wars for more years than many of those running have existed.
It must be ego mixed with a hearty dose of testosterone - do unto them before they can do unto you.
I look for another minority government - flavour unknown as yet.
Our national leader is now involved in a screaming match with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
He might serve our nation better if he were to fly off to supervise the six CF-18's we have sent to buoy up our NATO allies. Oh, plus a frigate.
He is a ship looking for a sharp rock.
You forgot the promised Fab Lab & the bid for a university. And the promised parking & multi-use structure on the Library lands. A few other expensive incidentals. Otherwise you are on a roll.
More deficit spending with taxpayer $$$$$$
"And the promised parking & multi-use structure on the Library lands."
That was never promised. It was just another idea that was floated.
And how about that Heritage Park that cost us how much in a study? And that flipping Operation Centre that we also so desperately need to better serve us. The money that was spent in the "communications" dept. and we got what in return exactly? I think the only thing that put a smile on my face this term is when council passed the contract over to the Auroran even though staff’s recommendation was the Error. Although somehow I still see some Town announcements in that comic newspaper. I used to like trees…now…not so much. I don’t even want to start with this provincial gov’t. Shameful.
Good heavens. I still don't know if that passel of sweet neighbours took the town to the OMB over an unsightly vehicle parked in their space.
We got the sidewalks but had to contract it out even though town staff said they could have done the job. We contract out a lot of services, don't we?
The Town also 'purchases' the services of outfits like Green for Life, the OSPCA, and Trisan Construction (none of which are located in Aurora, by the way).
Should we feel the need to examine their leadership hierarchies? Should our Council concern itself with the specifics of the staff complements of its contracted service providers?
10:30
That occurs when necessary. After the ice storm, Green for Life got a total make-over. If an outfit fails to produce what the town requires, it will be scrutinized.
Thanks, 12:59, but deficiencies in providing contracted services is an entirely different matter. My questions still stand.
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