REALLY ! ! ! !

CAO Garbe's reaction to a suggested cut of $100,000 from staff training and education budget of $200,000 prompts  a response. 

His statement that training and education is :

"what sets Aurora apart as an employer " 

"That is how we produce innovation ..how we produce results"

"How we retain our personnel and part of our attractiveness"

With due respect, Mr Garbe's contentions are not supported by recent events. 

A number of failed  "innovative" initiatives come to mind:

Town hall addition plans cancelled after $300.000 had been spent on transition plans. 

Ballooning cost of  the Joint facility due to poor site location.

Completion of AFLC addition months late and 25% over budget. 

$167,000 on design of $1million treatment facility to remove non-existent salt from melting snow. 

$25k consultant fee for advice that a Heritage Theme Park represents no business benefit to the town. 

Weeks of time and staff resources expended on a failed competitive bid for a University campus with a serious offer of $11 million enticement from the town. 

Four year added delay on disposition of surplus buildings on Library Square. 

Failed clear bag garbage initiative after weeks of time wasted and $35 K consultant fee expended. 

Customer Service Plan promoted as improved service at no extra cost. Heavier workload now calls for additional manpower. 

Termination of a twenty-six year employee for no purpose

that can be justified. 

Repeated Administrative re-organization  for less than obvious reasons resulting in less than obvious improvement. 

The list continues and provides no support for Mr Garbe's contention the Education and Training budget of $200 Ks has achieved the results claimed.