I've sat down at the computer several times. There's no shortage of issues that call for comment. It may be the after-effect of surgery and or the combination with events at the Town Hall but I am having a hard time finding equilibrium in what I consider devastating circumstances within the town's administration.
At this point in time, no Director can act with confidence in his or her capacity. Even those who have statutory authority will be obliged to tiptoe through the tulips. Until now the town had a management team approach to decision-making. Without a CAO or even with one completely obstructed at every turn from doing his job, team management is no more.
It 's unlikely the position will be filled for several months unless someone I don't know about is waiting in the wings. In the current political environment, that's always a possibility.
Even if there is someone who can fill the bill on an interim basis, it is difficult to visualise how that person will feel free to act in a professional capacity.
Mayor Morris and Councillor MacEachern are in full control. The acolytes, Gaertner, Granger and Wilson make that possible. I have no confidence the town's affairs are in good hands.
Knowles Crescent
During the controversy over Knowles Crescent last summer, many people visited this small charming street of fifty-two homes which had in excess of a million dollars spent to upgrade to urban standards. Five or six residents received nice fat cheques, one for around $10,000 from the town just in time for Christmas, to compensate them for upgrading their driveways to the elegant standard to which they were accustomed.
Work is completed. A judgement can now be made about how Knowles Crescent residents were served by the town.
Anyone interested can take a drive round and see if they can guess which residents hit the public jackpot.
Aurora Citizen
There is one bright spot on the horizon. Since the consistent pattern of the current council's function has emerged there are signs citizens are no longer inclined to allow events to pass without comment. The website offers an opportunity to share reaction. Public opinion is the only means left to make a difference in a term that is not even half way over. If the internet can make a difference in American presidential elections, who knows it might also have an impact in Aurora.
One can but hope.
Sunday, 31 August 2008
Monday, 28 July 2008
Two Down, One to Go!
HEATHER'S NOTE:
On July 10th Evelyn posted a blog about her activity over the next few weeks. One wedding has already happened, and looking at the photos, everyone had a fabulous time. The hip joint replacement is now a thing of the past, too. Evelyn had her bionic hip installed on July 24th. Today is day four. Day one was a restful day, given the anastheic and pain killers. Days two, three and four have huge improvements every day. She's up and about, and moving very well. So far so good. I know she's looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. I'm sure she'll post all about it very soon.
On July 10th Evelyn posted a blog about her activity over the next few weeks. One wedding has already happened, and looking at the photos, everyone had a fabulous time. The hip joint replacement is now a thing of the past, too. Evelyn had her bionic hip installed on July 24th. Today is day four. Day one was a restful day, given the anastheic and pain killers. Days two, three and four have huge improvements every day. She's up and about, and moving very well. So far so good. I know she's looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. I'm sure she'll post all about it very soon.
Thursday, 10 July 2008
Two Weddings and a Hip Joint Replacement
In case you were wondering, this has been a summer of intensity. I discovered I can only focus my attention on six major matters at one time.Two grandchildren, brother and sister Myles and Vanessa decided to marry within one month. In that time, I will travel to Ottawa for the first wedding and Georgian Bay for the second. Between times surgery for a hip joint replacement is scheduled with rehabilitation therapy to follow.
Preparation for the surgery has required losing weight. It might have prevented the need for surgery
had I never gained it. Now nothing fits and I have been busy at the sewing table.Swimming is a daily exercise. It is most summers. But the function is more than simple enjoyment this year. Exercise is another prerequisite for successful surgery. Like weight reduction it makes for greater ease of movement. Now I am wondering do I really need the surgery? But x-rays do not lie. I just wish I had the proficiency to read them. Replacing essential parts of myself carries no appeal.
Anyway, the surgery will soon be over and the remaining challenge will be to dance at my grand-daughter's wedding. I did at Myles and Melissa's, I must again at Vanessa and James'.So, if you don't hear from me often in the next few weeks, you will understand why.
Adam danced up a storm .
Monday, 23 June 2008
A VISIT FROM GRACE
Aurora's Library Board invited Grace Marsh to the board's last meeting before the summer recess. Board members and staff wanted to express their appreciation for Grace's contribution. It was a nice occasion.
Grace is well and happy. She still struggles with the feeling she let her supporters down when she resigned from council. Everywhere she goes however people assure her that while they are sorry she s no longer a member of council,they understand completely why she had to do what she did.
When she worked for the town, Grace always went above and beyond her official function. She was particularly active in raising funds and rallying support for various causes and charities. She would like it known she is available for involvement in the voluntary sector wherever she might be needed.
Lending a hand where needed is a hard habit to break.
Grace is well and happy. She still struggles with the feeling she let her supporters down when she resigned from council. Everywhere she goes however people assure her that while they are sorry she s no longer a member of council,they understand completely why she had to do what she did.
When she worked for the town, Grace always went above and beyond her official function. She was particularly active in raising funds and rallying support for various causes and charities. She would like it known she is available for involvement in the voluntary sector wherever she might be needed.
Lending a hand where needed is a hard habit to break.
Friday, 20 June 2008
The No-No List Just Keeps on Growing
The list of things which must not be allowed keeps growing.
We could not allow power transmitted overheard in corridors created for the purpose. The battle aginst the Provincial Authority cost us $25,000. A local generation station is now proposed. Looks like we are still reluctant suitors.
The North-East Quadrant Ratepayers Association determined homes in their neck of the woods should not be altered without everyone having a say-so. It cost us $45,000 for a study to support the concept.
The same neighbourhood successfully argued a brand new curb installed at the Yonge corners of Maple Street should be broken out and replaced with a "roll-over". (no curb at all). It cost $35,000 .When the ground became a mucky mess, interlocking brick pavement appeared. We never knew that cost.
People in the newer north-east decided they could not abide train horns in the wee small hours of the morning. A study to determine what might be needed to encourage the cessation of the horn cost us $15,thousand. Only to discover the Region was not a willing partner.
The . Ratepayers' Association then decided drastic measures were needed to discourage traffic on their streets. They wanted the convenience of living in the centre of a growing metropolis without the downside. They live on streets with schools but they object to school buses. We took care of their problems.. The contract cost $181,719.20. $160,624.77 has been spent so far. Three traffic cushions are pending. and the community at large continues to be aghast at what was accomplished.
We spent hours haranguing staff about three wind turbines on Aurora Cable property on Ridge Road before giving up the ghost .But.not before hours of staff time had been expended. It ended with direction to the Chief Building Official being directed to provide a definition of the word "storage".An official report ensued containing three separate dictionary definitions. Then we retreated behind closed doors to continue the "debate".An EMERGENCY was declared to consider how to handle a councillor who declared the closed meeting was a contrivance to continue harassment of Aurora Cable.
A similar rigmarole took place in response to demands of a few residents of the Mosaic Town House Complex who declared the Town must order neighbour Canadian Tire to keep parking lot lights on after ten-thirty p.m. Legal costs were expended to discover a tri-party agreement with Canadian Tire existed which provided twenty-seven pages of dispute-resolution mechanisms. The complaining residents hadn't bothered to mention it when Mayor Morris et al took up the cudgels in their behalf..
Council ordered the town works department to hook up three Canadian Tire parking lot lights to the street lighting system. It never happened. Still another senseless futile and expensive exercise to no avail save political kudos mustered.
The former hydro building has produced no revenue for three years. It represents a loss of over $200,000 in assessment revenue.Almost thirty jobs were lost to the town when Power Stream vacated. Before the last election it was suggested the building should be used for a teen drop-in centre.We had just spent more than twenty million dollars on a recreation facility which serves youth in the main.
The last council gave direction to prepare a plan of subdivision on a parcel of land for sale by town directed auction.The work was done ready for the new council to hit the ground running.
Months of closed door discussion later a new decision was made. It should be sold by a real estate broker.They had the expertise.Staff didn't. We followed the process to the end and didn't sell. More resources were squandered. The Broker was substantially financially discountenanced in the partnership. Should we choose to go that route again, we might find it hard to locate a Broker willing to do business ..
We talk a lot about the environment and the need to conserve energy.We had $750.thousand grant money available which would have paid to install a geothermal heating system in our new cultural heritage centre which is an old school with eighteen feet high ceilings. We decided to install a conventional heating system instead. Capital costs were competitive. Annual maintenance was not No matter, we disregarded the obvious advantages of taking heat from the earth and opted for fossil fuel.and carbon emissions.
We spent almost a million dollars on re-construucting a lay-by street with fifty-one homes. And added $61 thousand to dress -up half a dozen driveways to their owners' satisfaction..
We are not even half way through our term of office.We have performed to the thorough satisfaction of pockets of residents here and there .What the community in general thinks may not be so favourable
We were approached to sell part of the parcel of land we had for sale to to the Regional Police department . It would have meant an injection of eight hundred high-paying jobs into our over-all economy . We turned it down.
.
There's a hew practice of retaining lawyers to ride herd on a councillor with a natural inclination to inform people about affairs that should concern them in language calculated to grab their attention.
We are currently in the process of adopting a Code of Conduct .The prospect is exciting some councillors particularly Councillor Granger. It involves retaining and paying professional fees to an Integrity Commissioner .Councillors can file complaints of wrongdoing against colleagues.
According to the Code,what I just did above will undoubtedly be considered wrongdoing by some..
We could not allow power transmitted overheard in corridors created for the purpose. The battle aginst the Provincial Authority cost us $25,000. A local generation station is now proposed. Looks like we are still reluctant suitors.
The North-East Quadrant Ratepayers Association determined homes in their neck of the woods should not be altered without everyone having a say-so. It cost us $45,000 for a study to support the concept.
The same neighbourhood successfully argued a brand new curb installed at the Yonge corners of Maple Street should be broken out and replaced with a "roll-over". (no curb at all). It cost $35,000 .When the ground became a mucky mess, interlocking brick pavement appeared. We never knew that cost.
People in the newer north-east decided they could not abide train horns in the wee small hours of the morning. A study to determine what might be needed to encourage the cessation of the horn cost us $15,thousand. Only to discover the Region was not a willing partner.
The . Ratepayers' Association then decided drastic measures were needed to discourage traffic on their streets. They wanted the convenience of living in the centre of a growing metropolis without the downside. They live on streets with schools but they object to school buses. We took care of their problems.. The contract cost $181,719.20. $160,624.77 has been spent so far. Three traffic cushions are pending. and the community at large continues to be aghast at what was accomplished.
We spent hours haranguing staff about three wind turbines on Aurora Cable property on Ridge Road before giving up the ghost .But.not before hours of staff time had been expended. It ended with direction to the Chief Building Official being directed to provide a definition of the word "storage".An official report ensued containing three separate dictionary definitions. Then we retreated behind closed doors to continue the "debate".An EMERGENCY was declared to consider how to handle a councillor who declared the closed meeting was a contrivance to continue harassment of Aurora Cable.
A similar rigmarole took place in response to demands of a few residents of the Mosaic Town House Complex who declared the Town must order neighbour Canadian Tire to keep parking lot lights on after ten-thirty p.m. Legal costs were expended to discover a tri-party agreement with Canadian Tire existed which provided twenty-seven pages of dispute-resolution mechanisms. The complaining residents hadn't bothered to mention it when Mayor Morris et al took up the cudgels in their behalf..
Council ordered the town works department to hook up three Canadian Tire parking lot lights to the street lighting system. It never happened. Still another senseless futile and expensive exercise to no avail save political kudos mustered.
The former hydro building has produced no revenue for three years. It represents a loss of over $200,000 in assessment revenue.Almost thirty jobs were lost to the town when Power Stream vacated. Before the last election it was suggested the building should be used for a teen drop-in centre.We had just spent more than twenty million dollars on a recreation facility which serves youth in the main.
The last council gave direction to prepare a plan of subdivision on a parcel of land for sale by town directed auction.The work was done ready for the new council to hit the ground running.
Months of closed door discussion later a new decision was made. It should be sold by a real estate broker.They had the expertise.Staff didn't. We followed the process to the end and didn't sell. More resources were squandered. The Broker was substantially financially discountenanced in the partnership. Should we choose to go that route again, we might find it hard to locate a Broker willing to do business ..
We talk a lot about the environment and the need to conserve energy.We had $750.thousand grant money available which would have paid to install a geothermal heating system in our new cultural heritage centre which is an old school with eighteen feet high ceilings. We decided to install a conventional heating system instead. Capital costs were competitive. Annual maintenance was not No matter, we disregarded the obvious advantages of taking heat from the earth and opted for fossil fuel.and carbon emissions.
We spent almost a million dollars on re-construucting a lay-by street with fifty-one homes. And added $61 thousand to dress -up half a dozen driveways to their owners' satisfaction..
We are not even half way through our term of office.We have performed to the thorough satisfaction of pockets of residents here and there .What the community in general thinks may not be so favourable
We were approached to sell part of the parcel of land we had for sale to to the Regional Police department . It would have meant an injection of eight hundred high-paying jobs into our over-all economy . We turned it down.
.
There's a hew practice of retaining lawyers to ride herd on a councillor with a natural inclination to inform people about affairs that should concern them in language calculated to grab their attention.
We are currently in the process of adopting a Code of Conduct .The prospect is exciting some councillors particularly Councillor Granger. It involves retaining and paying professional fees to an Integrity Commissioner .Councillors can file complaints of wrongdoing against colleagues.
According to the Code,what I just did above will undoubtedly be considered wrongdoing by some..
Wednesday, 18 June 2008
When is Litter not Litter?
When it's excrement, that's when.
Doggie doo in litter bins is a problem reported in detail to council for years. After eons of nagging, pet-owners stoop and scoop in public spaces and take responsibility for disposal. They conspicuously carry plastic bags to alert all and sundry they are responsible pet owners and considerate neighbours.it is truly a good thing.
Some however using the parks and trail systems do not see the logic of having to carry the stuff home. "We pay high taxes," they state correctly. "Why should the town not provide us with this amenity."
There are full and practical reasons.Cost is not one.
In a recent effort to curb use of bins as puppy porta-potties, stickers were stuck warning if the practice continues, bins will be removed. The message was polite, concise and to the point.
Stickers were ignored and in some instances removed. The Mayor received complaints. Consequently., in a public meeting, staff were admonished for the "tone" of the message. That's unfortunate. The problem is too serious to be jabbed at.
Bins must be manually emptied into a truck by parks' staff. Most of the material is recyclable. Excrement weighs many times more than recyclables. At the time of collection, the stuff is saturated. Bags are torn; bins frequently so heavy they have to be handled by forklift which in turn damages surroundings.The re-cyclables are contaminated. The job is obnoxious and from a sanitary perspective, not one I would wish on my worst enemy.. People's children are doing this task.
Complaining councillors should try it. . If riding around in a shiny red firetruck show's what it's like to be a firefighter ,maybe riding around in the parks' garbage truck will accomplish the same purpose..
But that's not the worst of it.
At the site at the end of Machell Avenue a forty-eight yard container awaits.That's a big sucker. Machell is a short residential street ..The container sits until filled. .. open to the elements..."juice" seeping out and permeating the soil . The neighbours are not sanguine .
Bear in mind, most of this stuff is recyclable until contaminated by excrement.
But that's not the worst of it.
This abomination has to be shipped to Michigan. Hundreds of trucks trundle down the highway daily emitting diesel fumes and carbon into the stratosphere.and. effluent from the loads to the roads. Americans are not more fond of crap than Ontarians. They object to contaminated waste. being shipped across the border.It is against the rules.
We are breaking the rules. We are bad neighbours And that is the worst of it..
To a resident enjoying a stroll in a park or trail, it is not unreasonable to think a single deposit of poop in a plastic bag will not make a difference. Multiply it by hundreds over a period of days and it is no longer a small thing. Think about it, people.
The Green Bin is not an option. They cannot be secure in.public places.They cannot be collected from remote locations. .Turtle Island collects from roadside. A separate contractor collects the 48yard container from Machell Avenue ..
The problem is of sufficient weight, pardon the pun ,there can be no more messing about. . Pussy footing around the nastiness is not the answer.. Council must provide leadership in dealing with the issue by supporting staff instead of undermining them...
Finding fault with concise wording of a message just doesn't cut it.Pet owners have to accept the town has done due diligence to deal with the problem..
They must care of the nasties themselves. .It's one of the things you have to do to be able to enjoy the love and loyalty of an animal friend in an urban dense community.
Doggie doo in litter bins is a problem reported in detail to council for years. After eons of nagging, pet-owners stoop and scoop in public spaces and take responsibility for disposal. They conspicuously carry plastic bags to alert all and sundry they are responsible pet owners and considerate neighbours.it is truly a good thing.
Some however using the parks and trail systems do not see the logic of having to carry the stuff home. "We pay high taxes," they state correctly. "Why should the town not provide us with this amenity."
There are full and practical reasons.Cost is not one.
In a recent effort to curb use of bins as puppy porta-potties, stickers were stuck warning if the practice continues, bins will be removed. The message was polite, concise and to the point.
Stickers were ignored and in some instances removed. The Mayor received complaints. Consequently., in a public meeting, staff were admonished for the "tone" of the message. That's unfortunate. The problem is too serious to be jabbed at.
Bins must be manually emptied into a truck by parks' staff. Most of the material is recyclable. Excrement weighs many times more than recyclables. At the time of collection, the stuff is saturated. Bags are torn; bins frequently so heavy they have to be handled by forklift which in turn damages surroundings.The re-cyclables are contaminated. The job is obnoxious and from a sanitary perspective, not one I would wish on my worst enemy.. People's children are doing this task.
Complaining councillors should try it. . If riding around in a shiny red firetruck show's what it's like to be a firefighter ,maybe riding around in the parks' garbage truck will accomplish the same purpose..
But that's not the worst of it.
At the site at the end of Machell Avenue a forty-eight yard container awaits.That's a big sucker. Machell is a short residential street ..The container sits until filled. .. open to the elements..."juice" seeping out and permeating the soil . The neighbours are not sanguine .
Bear in mind, most of this stuff is recyclable until contaminated by excrement.
But that's not the worst of it.
This abomination has to be shipped to Michigan. Hundreds of trucks trundle down the highway daily emitting diesel fumes and carbon into the stratosphere.and. effluent from the loads to the roads. Americans are not more fond of crap than Ontarians. They object to contaminated waste. being shipped across the border.It is against the rules.
We are breaking the rules. We are bad neighbours And that is the worst of it..
To a resident enjoying a stroll in a park or trail, it is not unreasonable to think a single deposit of poop in a plastic bag will not make a difference. Multiply it by hundreds over a period of days and it is no longer a small thing. Think about it, people.
The Green Bin is not an option. They cannot be secure in.public places.They cannot be collected from remote locations. .Turtle Island collects from roadside. A separate contractor collects the 48yard container from Machell Avenue ..
The problem is of sufficient weight, pardon the pun ,there can be no more messing about. . Pussy footing around the nastiness is not the answer.. Council must provide leadership in dealing with the issue by supporting staff instead of undermining them...
Finding fault with concise wording of a message just doesn't cut it.Pet owners have to accept the town has done due diligence to deal with the problem..
They must care of the nasties themselves. .It's one of the things you have to do to be able to enjoy the love and loyalty of an animal friend in an urban dense community.
Thursday, 12 June 2008
Comments to the Train Horn Blog
I thought the train horn blog was a bit clumsy. Except for the by-election question, it has received the most comments.
People seem to agree regular sound becomes part of the environment and causes no disturbance.
My daughter lived in Holland Landing up the hill from a level crossing. She heard the freight train in the beginning but soon after it failed to register. Another daughter lives in Newmarket. Her experience is the same. Ambulance and police sirens are part of her environment because of the proximity of the hospital, but she doesn't hear them unless a visitor comments.
One of my correspondents speaks of growing up on an air force base and being nostalgic for the high-pitched sound of jets taking off. Even while she wrote it she found it hard to believe.
People live alongside the tracks throughout the length of Aurora. None of the crossings are distant from each other. Yet the people in the extreme north-east are the ones who are disturbed by the noise.
It has been an interesting exchange. I really appreciate the comments.
People seem to agree regular sound becomes part of the environment and causes no disturbance.
My daughter lived in Holland Landing up the hill from a level crossing. She heard the freight train in the beginning but soon after it failed to register. Another daughter lives in Newmarket. Her experience is the same. Ambulance and police sirens are part of her environment because of the proximity of the hospital, but she doesn't hear them unless a visitor comments.
One of my correspondents speaks of growing up on an air force base and being nostalgic for the high-pitched sound of jets taking off. Even while she wrote it she found it hard to believe.
People live alongside the tracks throughout the length of Aurora. None of the crossings are distant from each other. Yet the people in the extreme north-east are the ones who are disturbed by the noise.
It has been an interesting exchange. I really appreciate the comments.
Shopping Convenience .... or Not
Some years ago when there was no Michael's Craft Store here I took a leisurely Sunday afternoon Drive to Barrie. From the minute I exited the 400 onto Bayfield I knew the trip was a fool's errand.
I crept towards the turn for Michael's. It took ages to make it. In the parking lot I waited for a vacant spot and observed the foot traffic going to and from the store. I waited ten minutes before deciding a visit to Michael's at that moment in time was not what I had in mind when I set out. There could be nothing in that store to entice me to visit under these circumstances.
Without getting out of the car, I headed back to Bayfield. But not so fast. Getting out took longer than getting in. My recollection of the visit is of mass driving chaos. I remember thinking City Council must not have any traffic planners to advise them. Furthermore I could see no possibility for improvement. I never returned to Michael's but subsequent visits to a family satellite behind the Koslov Centre convinced me there was no hope for change.
That experience and others persuaded me a signalized intersection within feet of the Bayview-Wellington intersection was not how to welcome patrons to a new retail centre in Aurora.
The 404 draws from places North and South. Aurora Sideroad or Wellington Street carries traffic from East and West. If congestion is such they never want to return to Aurora no benefit can be derived. Since the Region was created, all direct access to and from Regional roads has been restricted. Roads have had to be built to provide access off Wellington Street.
Council was faced with a dilemma last week. And a few weeks before that. And a few weeks before that. Twice the Rice Group, owners of the north-west corner site of Wellington Street and Bayview have come back to council with witnesses to argue a signalized intersection was essential for the success of their enterprise. They offered to pay all costs of undoing hundreds of thousands of dollars of elegant infrastructure already forked out by taxpayers. The third attempt to obtain a different decision was by letters indicating the signalized intersection is a condition of locating in Aurora.
Three times a majority vote has been cast to refuse the request.
There are arguments for both sides of the question. New assessment, new retail jobs, an exceptional and proven quality of service versus abandoning a vision and careful planning, destruction of infrastructure ,inconsistency in decision-making , traffic chaos and inconvenience to would-be patrons of local commerce and a hint of preferential consideration.
It was no contest.
There was irony in the situation. During the last term, the Rice Group came to council and asked for a change from Office Space to Retail Commercial. Our planners recommended against the change. The Town's Official Plan envisioned highest and best use of the site to be office space. The Town's Economic Development Officer anticipated the need and endorsed the vision.
The Rice Group was cordially received. Their request was granted with two councillors opposed; myself and Councillor Wendy Gaertner. We supported the planners and the vision.
Taxpayers in Aurora and throughout York Region spend millions of dollars every year for planning and engineering expertise. Hundreds of people toil conscientiously in their cubicles, poring over documents, examining minutiae of figures and drawings. They work for months to do all things necessary to ensure every "I" is dotted and "T" crossed. They prepare concise reports with endless details for political masters, only to have them summarily dismissed when private interest waves its magisterial arm. I am constantly amazed by what I consider to be senseless squandering of public resources. The process is redeemed only when common sense prevails. But not often enough.
Until now, the Region of York has been firm and consistent in exercising its authority over access and egress on Regional roads. From "No Way Jose ", they are now saying "We would prefer it not happen that way."
It is not a positive sign.
For the third time, Councillor McRoberts, MacEachern, Gaertner,and myself voted to refuse the request. In the last vote, Collins -Mrakas voted against the refusal but in favour of two clauses that allowed the motion to pass. And so it has come to pass. Finally. Hopefully.
Yet it's odd how some things, like the question of a by-election can be off the table after a single vote in committee and others keep coming back to be re-hashed repeatedly in the transparent hope of a different conclusion and despite Rules of Order intended to mitigate against precisely that eventuality.
I crept towards the turn for Michael's. It took ages to make it. In the parking lot I waited for a vacant spot and observed the foot traffic going to and from the store. I waited ten minutes before deciding a visit to Michael's at that moment in time was not what I had in mind when I set out. There could be nothing in that store to entice me to visit under these circumstances.
Without getting out of the car, I headed back to Bayfield. But not so fast. Getting out took longer than getting in. My recollection of the visit is of mass driving chaos. I remember thinking City Council must not have any traffic planners to advise them. Furthermore I could see no possibility for improvement. I never returned to Michael's but subsequent visits to a family satellite behind the Koslov Centre convinced me there was no hope for change.
That experience and others persuaded me a signalized intersection within feet of the Bayview-Wellington intersection was not how to welcome patrons to a new retail centre in Aurora.
The 404 draws from places North and South. Aurora Sideroad or Wellington Street carries traffic from East and West. If congestion is such they never want to return to Aurora no benefit can be derived. Since the Region was created, all direct access to and from Regional roads has been restricted. Roads have had to be built to provide access off Wellington Street.
Council was faced with a dilemma last week. And a few weeks before that. And a few weeks before that. Twice the Rice Group, owners of the north-west corner site of Wellington Street and Bayview have come back to council with witnesses to argue a signalized intersection was essential for the success of their enterprise. They offered to pay all costs of undoing hundreds of thousands of dollars of elegant infrastructure already forked out by taxpayers. The third attempt to obtain a different decision was by letters indicating the signalized intersection is a condition of locating in Aurora.
Three times a majority vote has been cast to refuse the request.
There are arguments for both sides of the question. New assessment, new retail jobs, an exceptional and proven quality of service versus abandoning a vision and careful planning, destruction of infrastructure ,inconsistency in decision-making , traffic chaos and inconvenience to would-be patrons of local commerce and a hint of preferential consideration.
It was no contest.
There was irony in the situation. During the last term, the Rice Group came to council and asked for a change from Office Space to Retail Commercial. Our planners recommended against the change. The Town's Official Plan envisioned highest and best use of the site to be office space. The Town's Economic Development Officer anticipated the need and endorsed the vision.
The Rice Group was cordially received. Their request was granted with two councillors opposed; myself and Councillor Wendy Gaertner. We supported the planners and the vision.
Taxpayers in Aurora and throughout York Region spend millions of dollars every year for planning and engineering expertise. Hundreds of people toil conscientiously in their cubicles, poring over documents, examining minutiae of figures and drawings. They work for months to do all things necessary to ensure every "I" is dotted and "T" crossed. They prepare concise reports with endless details for political masters, only to have them summarily dismissed when private interest waves its magisterial arm. I am constantly amazed by what I consider to be senseless squandering of public resources. The process is redeemed only when common sense prevails. But not often enough.
Until now, the Region of York has been firm and consistent in exercising its authority over access and egress on Regional roads. From "No Way Jose ", they are now saying "We would prefer it not happen that way."
It is not a positive sign.
For the third time, Councillor McRoberts, MacEachern, Gaertner,and myself voted to refuse the request. In the last vote, Collins -Mrakas voted against the refusal but in favour of two clauses that allowed the motion to pass. And so it has come to pass. Finally. Hopefully.
Yet it's odd how some things, like the question of a by-election can be off the table after a single vote in committee and others keep coming back to be re-hashed repeatedly in the transparent hope of a different conclusion and despite Rules of Order intended to mitigate against precisely that eventuality.
Friday, 6 June 2008
Whistle While You.....Sleep?
The following is a letter to the Editor of The Auroran:
To The Editor,
Once again I am the object of revile. I have had the temerity to suggest the cost of an undertaking might influence the answer when people are asked to respond Yes or No to a particular question. I moved the matter be referred back to staff for costs to be determined. The Mayor conscientiously forwarded a copy of the motion to Barbara Best who lobbied four years to have the 2 a.m. train whistle stopped.
Consequently, my name is mud. Four residents including Barbara Best . have taken me to task for miscreant behaviour.
I have engaged in dialogue with a resident who has been fair minded enough to respond to my points of reference without significant castigation.
The report to council shows potential costs of between $74,000 and $120,000 for measures needed to accommodate the cessation of the whistle. The figures are not firm at this time.
Residents who are in favour of silencing the whistle are confident they know everything that needs to be known to accomplish their objective. From my perspective, there are other aspects that need to be determined. Not the least of which is the 2008 budget which was struck with fanfare just a few weeks ago. So far as I am aware, there are no funds allocated for this project.
The idea of a survey to determine public support for the project was not mine. But since the public are being asked it seems sensible to me the ins and outs of the matter should be readily available.
I acknowledge my experience makes me less than eager to leap on any band wagon. I need to be convinced. I enclose my last communication with a resident who favours the 2a.m. train whistle ban.
________________________________________
Good Morning Neighbour,
Thank you for continuing the dialogue. I keep being reminded of the political maxim "The less you say the less likely you will be misunderstood." I wrote that one myself. I don't follow it of course as you have noted this morning in your reference to my tirade and yesterday my diatribe.
I did not tell you of my childhood experience of living in the vicinity of a railway station and then a signalling yard to entertain you or bore you to death so that you will never make the mistake of communicating with me again. I was illustrating a point. My experience is that if you live with excessive noise that becomes the norm. Everyone I have shared notes with on this matter has had the same experience.
Yesterday I spoke to someone closely involved in the question, who told of living in an apartment in Scarborough that backed on to a railway line. When the trains passed the entire building vibrated and windows rattled. The first time it happened, they thought it was an earthquake. After a month they no longer heard it.
When people were exercised about the proposal to put higher voltage power lines in the existing corridor, a man in a crowd of protesters demanded to know the name and address of a hydro official. He needed it he said, for when his ten year old son would be diagnosed with leukemia and he would file suit against that particular official.His neighbours cheered and applauded his comment. But I thought , “My God man! Do you hear what you are saying?”
Yesterday I had an angry email from a woman who said her children are falling asleep at their desks in school because of a lack of sleep at home. She suggested I was rambling and incoherent .
I have to say , if I believed where I lived would be the cause for a child of mine to be diagnosed with cancer, I would not be waiting for the wheels of bureaucracy to take care of the problem. I would be out of that place in a nanosecond. The same principle applies if any or all of my children were getting insufficient sleep in their own beds at night as to cause them to fall asleep in the classroom.
The safety and well-being of my children was always my responsibility. It did not rest with a nameless, faceless train driver who is responsible only for safely operating a train on a railway track.
Where we live is a personal choice we all make
You have nine people at a council table to consider your problem. In turn they each have several thousand people who are interested in how the matter is resolved.. It should not surprise or offend anyone if there is more than one viewpoint expressed at a council table. In fact, if you have several people expressing exactly the same viewpoint, you might rightly suspect their intellectual autonomy.
If I am satisfied the problem is valid and that stopping the train whistle at two o'clock in the morning is a sensible and safe solution; if the cost of the measure is not prohibitive; if there is no question of serious liability to the Town of Aurora or the Region of York for that matter, I will support the measure.
But I have to tell you I am not without experience or prejudice, as I have tried to illustrate. I have knowledge of families devastated by a collision between a car and a train. One such family lived at 24 Murray Drive. \Four children at home still in bed at seven o'clock in the morning; mother father and another person killed instantly on the level crossing on Centre Street, on their way to work.while the children slept. That memory is not an easy one to erase. Those children were classmates of my own.
You have your experience. I have mine. My decision will be based on mine with all the information that can be assembled and the strength of the argument presented. I do not react positively when someone tells me I am rambling and incoherent. My inclination is to chuck some of that right back .
James Watts was the inventor of the steam engine and the father of the Industrial Revolution Pierre Berton would have known all about him and credited him with John A Macdonald for the reality of Canada. It's for certain ,it could never have happened without trains . The Last Spike came after. I learned about James Watts in elementary school history. Most of the great inventors were Scots you know.
Evelyn Buck
To The Editor,
Once again I am the object of revile. I have had the temerity to suggest the cost of an undertaking might influence the answer when people are asked to respond Yes or No to a particular question. I moved the matter be referred back to staff for costs to be determined. The Mayor conscientiously forwarded a copy of the motion to Barbara Best who lobbied four years to have the 2 a.m. train whistle stopped.
Consequently, my name is mud. Four residents including Barbara Best . have taken me to task for miscreant behaviour.
I have engaged in dialogue with a resident who has been fair minded enough to respond to my points of reference without significant castigation.
The report to council shows potential costs of between $74,000 and $120,000 for measures needed to accommodate the cessation of the whistle. The figures are not firm at this time.
Residents who are in favour of silencing the whistle are confident they know everything that needs to be known to accomplish their objective. From my perspective, there are other aspects that need to be determined. Not the least of which is the 2008 budget which was struck with fanfare just a few weeks ago. So far as I am aware, there are no funds allocated for this project.
The idea of a survey to determine public support for the project was not mine. But since the public are being asked it seems sensible to me the ins and outs of the matter should be readily available.
I acknowledge my experience makes me less than eager to leap on any band wagon. I need to be convinced. I enclose my last communication with a resident who favours the 2a.m. train whistle ban.
________________________________________
Good Morning Neighbour,
Thank you for continuing the dialogue. I keep being reminded of the political maxim "The less you say the less likely you will be misunderstood." I wrote that one myself. I don't follow it of course as you have noted this morning in your reference to my tirade and yesterday my diatribe.
I did not tell you of my childhood experience of living in the vicinity of a railway station and then a signalling yard to entertain you or bore you to death so that you will never make the mistake of communicating with me again. I was illustrating a point. My experience is that if you live with excessive noise that becomes the norm. Everyone I have shared notes with on this matter has had the same experience.
Yesterday I spoke to someone closely involved in the question, who told of living in an apartment in Scarborough that backed on to a railway line. When the trains passed the entire building vibrated and windows rattled. The first time it happened, they thought it was an earthquake. After a month they no longer heard it.
When people were exercised about the proposal to put higher voltage power lines in the existing corridor, a man in a crowd of protesters demanded to know the name and address of a hydro official. He needed it he said, for when his ten year old son would be diagnosed with leukemia and he would file suit against that particular official.His neighbours cheered and applauded his comment. But I thought , “My God man! Do you hear what you are saying?”
Yesterday I had an angry email from a woman who said her children are falling asleep at their desks in school because of a lack of sleep at home. She suggested I was rambling and incoherent .
I have to say , if I believed where I lived would be the cause for a child of mine to be diagnosed with cancer, I would not be waiting for the wheels of bureaucracy to take care of the problem. I would be out of that place in a nanosecond. The same principle applies if any or all of my children were getting insufficient sleep in their own beds at night as to cause them to fall asleep in the classroom.
The safety and well-being of my children was always my responsibility. It did not rest with a nameless, faceless train driver who is responsible only for safely operating a train on a railway track.
Where we live is a personal choice we all make
You have nine people at a council table to consider your problem. In turn they each have several thousand people who are interested in how the matter is resolved.. It should not surprise or offend anyone if there is more than one viewpoint expressed at a council table. In fact, if you have several people expressing exactly the same viewpoint, you might rightly suspect their intellectual autonomy.
If I am satisfied the problem is valid and that stopping the train whistle at two o'clock in the morning is a sensible and safe solution; if the cost of the measure is not prohibitive; if there is no question of serious liability to the Town of Aurora or the Region of York for that matter, I will support the measure.
But I have to tell you I am not without experience or prejudice, as I have tried to illustrate. I have knowledge of families devastated by a collision between a car and a train. One such family lived at 24 Murray Drive. \Four children at home still in bed at seven o'clock in the morning; mother father and another person killed instantly on the level crossing on Centre Street, on their way to work.while the children slept. That memory is not an easy one to erase. Those children were classmates of my own.
You have your experience. I have mine. My decision will be based on mine with all the information that can be assembled and the strength of the argument presented. I do not react positively when someone tells me I am rambling and incoherent. My inclination is to chuck some of that right back .
James Watts was the inventor of the steam engine and the father of the Industrial Revolution Pierre Berton would have known all about him and credited him with John A Macdonald for the reality of Canada. It's for certain ,it could never have happened without trains . The Last Spike came after. I learned about James Watts in elementary school history. Most of the great inventors were Scots you know.
Evelyn Buck
Friday, 30 May 2008
Mush Mush
Sidney Pollock died this week. He was seventy-three years old. He directed many Oscar winning unforgettable movies. Charlie Rose, my favourite PBS host devoted almost his hour long to recorded talks he had with Mr. Pollock over the past thirty years.
The substance of their chat was as follows; The best decade for movies was the seventies. They came on the heels of the revolutions and turmoils of the sixties. They were about relationships. The measure of success is when a movie gets inside a person's head and stays for at least a week.
Are good movies being made today? Nothing is as good as it could and should be. Box office returns for the first three days after release are all that matters. What happens afterwards is of no consequence. Sidney included books, T.V. programs, plays, journalism, in his judgement. He could have included politics and the lack of depth and substance that exists there as well.
From my perspective, Barak Obama is a classic example. A suit repeating an empty slogan, the icon hungry media echoing each other's vacuous observations over and over. The U.S. is well on its way to electing another media-created character to the White House.
Charlie had an interview with Tom Brokaw, another journalist, a few weeks ago. He said the hair stood up on the back of his neck the first time he heard Obama. He found his speech electrifying. I had a similarly powerful reaction. My skin crawled when I first heard him speak on the hustings. For a different reason; I heard him echo the voice of Martin Luther King Jr. He was using the cadence of King's speech, right down to the quaver in his voice when he coined the phrase "I have a dream."
I was horrified by the cynicism, the blatant calculation of that act and the exploitation of his audience. He never repeated it. My guess is someone with better judgement than himself advised against using such clearly reprehensible tactics.
The media's comments on the gaffe were conspicuous by their absence.
Days later, Obama vehemently denied rumours he is a Muslim. He claimed he had attended the same Christian church for twenty years. Striding across the platform he declared, "I talk to Jesus!"
The crowd roared their approval. Apparently they are hoping for another President with a direct line to Jesus. One who clearly believes being a Muslim is a definite negative. Not much inclusiveness there I thought.
Again the media were strangely silent.
I pondered how much courage it must have taken for Hilary Clinton to put herself out before her fellow Americans as a candidate for the most important and difficult job in the world. No-one could have a better understanding of the brutality she would encounter in the campaign. How often she re-iterates her profound belief she is living in a great country at a time of terrible problems and whatever happens, whoever becomes the democratic candidate, she will still consider herself to have been privileged to have had the opportunity.
Hilary Clinton is clearly a person of tremendous strength, stamina, intelligence and integrity. She has worked for years to prepare herself to be accepted as a serious candidate for the full weight of the presidency.
She stands fast against thrusting members of her own party who are eager to exploit the wave to elect a star and want her to throw in the towel before the fight is over "for the good of the party". Don't worry about the country, just let's focus on the party. They are surf-boarding like the media , hoping no doubt to find a place in the firmament, following a will o' the wisp, a phenomena with no more substance than a Second Coming of Elvis Presley.
I have tried to no avail, not to be drawn into the American political scene. I thought Al Gore had a strange demeanour. John Kerry looked and sounded slight, a bit like Stockwell Day. Bill Clinton did have the elusive quality of leadership.How else could he have survived that scandal of his own making? By all accounts John F. Kennedy's private behavior was no better but he did and still does to some extent escape the scrutiny of the media. George Bush is the most catastrophic historical event in living history.
If what is between the ears is more important than what is between the legs, Hilary on the other hand has everything to offer. Watching her continued denigration by America's media is exactly as Sidney Pollock described. Like myna birds they repeat each other's mindless babble. Their criticism of Hilary is without doubt the most brutal I have observed in the past forty years and it came from both sexes.
At one debate, the moderator a familiar and respected national journalist informed her how much she is hated and asked her to respond. No such question was posed to Barak Obama.
Hilary garners enthusiastic support all across the land but the fact escapes the attention of the media. Not all of them of course. It's never all of them. But the people making thoughtful and reasoned comments are drowned out by the cacophony of the talking heads of the chattering classes.
Nothing is as good as it could and should be. It is a triumph of mediocrity. Everything mulched to a tasteless, odourless, colourless mush. "All the easier to feed you with my dear", as the Big Bad Wolf said to Little Red Riding Hood.
The substance of their chat was as follows; The best decade for movies was the seventies. They came on the heels of the revolutions and turmoils of the sixties. They were about relationships. The measure of success is when a movie gets inside a person's head and stays for at least a week.
Are good movies being made today? Nothing is as good as it could and should be. Box office returns for the first three days after release are all that matters. What happens afterwards is of no consequence. Sidney included books, T.V. programs, plays, journalism, in his judgement. He could have included politics and the lack of depth and substance that exists there as well.
From my perspective, Barak Obama is a classic example. A suit repeating an empty slogan, the icon hungry media echoing each other's vacuous observations over and over. The U.S. is well on its way to electing another media-created character to the White House.
Charlie had an interview with Tom Brokaw, another journalist, a few weeks ago. He said the hair stood up on the back of his neck the first time he heard Obama. He found his speech electrifying. I had a similarly powerful reaction. My skin crawled when I first heard him speak on the hustings. For a different reason; I heard him echo the voice of Martin Luther King Jr. He was using the cadence of King's speech, right down to the quaver in his voice when he coined the phrase "I have a dream."
I was horrified by the cynicism, the blatant calculation of that act and the exploitation of his audience. He never repeated it. My guess is someone with better judgement than himself advised against using such clearly reprehensible tactics.
The media's comments on the gaffe were conspicuous by their absence.
Days later, Obama vehemently denied rumours he is a Muslim. He claimed he had attended the same Christian church for twenty years. Striding across the platform he declared, "I talk to Jesus!"
The crowd roared their approval. Apparently they are hoping for another President with a direct line to Jesus. One who clearly believes being a Muslim is a definite negative. Not much inclusiveness there I thought.
Again the media were strangely silent.
I pondered how much courage it must have taken for Hilary Clinton to put herself out before her fellow Americans as a candidate for the most important and difficult job in the world. No-one could have a better understanding of the brutality she would encounter in the campaign. How often she re-iterates her profound belief she is living in a great country at a time of terrible problems and whatever happens, whoever becomes the democratic candidate, she will still consider herself to have been privileged to have had the opportunity.
Hilary Clinton is clearly a person of tremendous strength, stamina, intelligence and integrity. She has worked for years to prepare herself to be accepted as a serious candidate for the full weight of the presidency.
She stands fast against thrusting members of her own party who are eager to exploit the wave to elect a star and want her to throw in the towel before the fight is over "for the good of the party". Don't worry about the country, just let's focus on the party. They are surf-boarding like the media , hoping no doubt to find a place in the firmament, following a will o' the wisp, a phenomena with no more substance than a Second Coming of Elvis Presley.
I have tried to no avail, not to be drawn into the American political scene. I thought Al Gore had a strange demeanour. John Kerry looked and sounded slight, a bit like Stockwell Day. Bill Clinton did have the elusive quality of leadership.How else could he have survived that scandal of his own making? By all accounts John F. Kennedy's private behavior was no better but he did and still does to some extent escape the scrutiny of the media. George Bush is the most catastrophic historical event in living history.
If what is between the ears is more important than what is between the legs, Hilary on the other hand has everything to offer. Watching her continued denigration by America's media is exactly as Sidney Pollock described. Like myna birds they repeat each other's mindless babble. Their criticism of Hilary is without doubt the most brutal I have observed in the past forty years and it came from both sexes.
At one debate, the moderator a familiar and respected national journalist informed her how much she is hated and asked her to respond. No such question was posed to Barak Obama.
Hilary garners enthusiastic support all across the land but the fact escapes the attention of the media. Not all of them of course. It's never all of them. But the people making thoughtful and reasoned comments are drowned out by the cacophony of the talking heads of the chattering classes.
Nothing is as good as it could and should be. It is a triumph of mediocrity. Everything mulched to a tasteless, odourless, colourless mush. "All the easier to feed you with my dear", as the Big Bad Wolf said to Little Red Riding Hood.
Tuesday, 27 May 2008
Spotlight on Hate.
I talked to the Chief of Police about the hate mail. It was circulated to Councillors and the Director of Corporate Services.
At last reference, I thought there was little the police could do about it. Then I learned it had been forwarded to the Director of Corporate Services. It was also shown to an RCMP officer who agreed it was a serious matter. So I talked to Armand LaBarge, the Chief of Police.
He told me it wasn't threatening. I knew that. Only about two cases are prosecuted in a year and they are usually directed against a group or an organization. Identifying the culprit would be difficult. Sufficient evidence for a charge that could be prosecuted would be unlikely. Like I said, there was little the police could do about it.
I turned to my own resources and without trying very hard, established certain facts. Material that arrives at the town hall, by mail, across the reception desk or through the mail slot into the building, is taken to the department of corporate services. It is date-stamped as received.
It is distributed by staff to the various parties addressed. Bob Panizza, Director of Corporate Services, received a copy from the Mayor's office.
The original came to me in an unmarked envelope in my agenda package. Everything from my mail box in the councillors' room comes that way. The letter indicated it would be circulated to all councillors. It did not bear the town stamp.
The councillors room is secure. No one has access except the Director's staff and councillors. Since it was not received or distributed by staff, it is reasonable to assume it was distributed by a person with access to the Councillors room. It would therefore have to have been a member of Council.
I would bet my last dollar it was neither Councillors Bob McRoberts nor Alison Collins-Mrakas. I doubt it was the Mayor or several other councillors. So it comes down to the individual who does the hate thing regularly although always by e-mail and never before anonymously.
The writer claimed refuge in anonymity out of fear she said. The only potential for fear would be recognition of the capacity for hatred that renders a person completely incapable of rational thought.
And Oh yes! we have a Code of Conduct coming through. Had the writer identified herself, the letter would certainly have contravened the Code, been a cause for complaint and investigation by an Integrity Commissioner, at the expense of the taxpayers, whose interests we are all supposed to be representing.
One of the accusations made against me in the letter is that I am the cause of all the legal costs generated during this term. The $16,200 George Rust-D'Eye legal bill was to "explore" options for council to "deal with my behaviour".
Success in life is measured on a personal scale. My own is simple. To rise in the morning at peace with myself. To have a zest for living. Envying no one. A worthwhile task at hand to accomplish and the wherewithall to make a contribution to one's community. Life doesn't get any better than that in my book.
All the rest is piffle. Costly piffle but piffle nevertheless.
At last reference, I thought there was little the police could do about it. Then I learned it had been forwarded to the Director of Corporate Services. It was also shown to an RCMP officer who agreed it was a serious matter. So I talked to Armand LaBarge, the Chief of Police.
He told me it wasn't threatening. I knew that. Only about two cases are prosecuted in a year and they are usually directed against a group or an organization. Identifying the culprit would be difficult. Sufficient evidence for a charge that could be prosecuted would be unlikely. Like I said, there was little the police could do about it.
I turned to my own resources and without trying very hard, established certain facts. Material that arrives at the town hall, by mail, across the reception desk or through the mail slot into the building, is taken to the department of corporate services. It is date-stamped as received.
It is distributed by staff to the various parties addressed. Bob Panizza, Director of Corporate Services, received a copy from the Mayor's office.
The original came to me in an unmarked envelope in my agenda package. Everything from my mail box in the councillors' room comes that way. The letter indicated it would be circulated to all councillors. It did not bear the town stamp.
The councillors room is secure. No one has access except the Director's staff and councillors. Since it was not received or distributed by staff, it is reasonable to assume it was distributed by a person with access to the Councillors room. It would therefore have to have been a member of Council.
I would bet my last dollar it was neither Councillors Bob McRoberts nor Alison Collins-Mrakas. I doubt it was the Mayor or several other councillors. So it comes down to the individual who does the hate thing regularly although always by e-mail and never before anonymously.
The writer claimed refuge in anonymity out of fear she said. The only potential for fear would be recognition of the capacity for hatred that renders a person completely incapable of rational thought.
And Oh yes! we have a Code of Conduct coming through. Had the writer identified herself, the letter would certainly have contravened the Code, been a cause for complaint and investigation by an Integrity Commissioner, at the expense of the taxpayers, whose interests we are all supposed to be representing.
One of the accusations made against me in the letter is that I am the cause of all the legal costs generated during this term. The $16,200 George Rust-D'Eye legal bill was to "explore" options for council to "deal with my behaviour".
Success in life is measured on a personal scale. My own is simple. To rise in the morning at peace with myself. To have a zest for living. Envying no one. A worthwhile task at hand to accomplish and the wherewithall to make a contribution to one's community. Life doesn't get any better than that in my book.
All the rest is piffle. Costly piffle but piffle nevertheless.
Friday, 23 May 2008
Still Cogitating
I have never at any time contemplated resignation. I am seldom inclined to back away from the fray. Being elected has always been my sanction to rattle the bars and shake loose the iron grip of the common denominator that politics contrives. The triumph of the mundane. The need to be safe and offend no-one. The elevation of a backyard clothesline to international status as our main claim to fame.
It is six months since I concluded little of what I had to offer would make a difference at this council table . My only option was to take my message directly to the community. It was a calculated risk.
When she was struggling with the realization of the seeming futility of being a member of this council, I urged Grace Marsh not to underestimate the attention and support in the community for a competent position sincerely and capably presented. What feels like failure is not perceived that way outside the council.
The positive aspect of the recent decision on how to fill the gap left by Grace was the powerful expression of the community's reaction and the clarity of their understanding of the issues at hand.
"Much has changed since the last election", they said. The "unfortunate circumstances" of the resignation were repeatedly referenced. Their appreciation of what had been lost, how that came about and how it should be remedied was ably articulated. We want to choose the successor, they demanded.
Though the matter has been decided and the seat filled, I suspect the last has not been heard of the issue.
CHAPTER TWO:
On the same night we made the fateful decision on how to fill the vacancy, we passed a resolution to approve a Code of Conduct. It was not the night to launch a second powerful argument. A bylaw must still be prepared and presented to council for adoption.
Councillor Collins-Mrakas has concerns about wording in The Code. Alison has a substantial body of skills. She holds a Masters Degree in Science and a second in Law; the latter from Osgoode Hall. She teaches Ethics in Public Service, Mediation and Research . She presents papers, lectures and mediates in dispute resolution. Her favourite occupation is research.
In the same way Grace was a huge asset in financial matters, Alison is too in her particular field. Some wording of The Code is flawed she proffers. No matter. It's like spitting into the wind.
There is no requirement in the Municipal Act for Councils to adopt a Code of Conduct. Once it is adopted, it must be enforced. For that we must retain an Integrity Commissioner. There is a complaint procedure and penalties are provided for breach of Da Code.
The penalties range from a reprimand to a three month suspension of remuneration. A councillor's seat must be declared vacant after a consistent three month absence.
After a municipal conference in Ottawa, the Mayor informed council of a conversation she had with George Rust-D'Eye . They were discussing new regulations to increase transparency in municipal governance. Mr. Rust-D'Eye according to the Mayor, stated the problem with the regulations is they have no teeth. There are no consequences or penalties.
Several municipalities have adopted Codes. There seem to be unanticipated consequences. The Town of Meaford is under siege from their Integrity Commissioner. One veteran councillor has already resigned stating he did not run for office to submit to accusations of financial mismanagement.
The Town of East Gwillimbury adopted a Code. It resulted in their Mayor and a Councillor being "investigated " for failure to heed direction from the Chief Administrative Officer. Apparently it was the cao's complaint that brought on the investigation. The price, without legal costs has been published at $11,200. The findings and remedy for the offence was for the Mayor and Councillor to pay $75,000 for tidying up what they thought was a mess .
The Mayor and Councillor had been advised to retain legal council. They did. It was never apparent what role he had in the proceedings. They were also advised they would have a conflict of interest if they attended meetings at which the issue was being discussed. They didn't. The community was outraged. East Gwillimbury's five member council was decimated and divided.
The extent of the penalty caused council. minus the Mayor and his accomplice, to committ to raising the funds in the community to pay off the penalty. It would not pf course compensate the taxpayers for the $11,200.cost plus the legal costs for the "investigation"
. In Aurora ,our legal costs for an "investigation" was $16.200 So far as can be determined there
were no interviews conducted except perhaps with the Mayor .There was a press conference and a media release at which legal counsel on hand. George Rust D'Eye was counsel for East Gwillimbury and Aurora in both matters although East Gwillimbury did have a Code of Conduct adopted by by-law. Aurora did not.
In the course of "the investigation" many interviews were conducted to determine the facts of an enterprise already publicly acknowledged. Hundreds of pages of documentation were generated. So much that when the decision was made to release the report to the public, the sheer volume of paper was referenced as a deterrent . Mr. George Rust-D'Eye was the solicitor retained by East Gwillimbury to "investigate" the capricious act of the Mayor and their most experienced councillor.
The City of Toronto has an Integrity Commissioner. He has an Administrative Assistant. The commissioner's retainer at last mention is $104,000 a year.The administrative assistant 's retainer is in addition. The issues investigated appear to be complaints by councillors against councillors. Once he found a councillor had offended against The Code during an election. He recommended the Councillor should apologize. She did not.
Council was not of a mind to enforce the issue. It might have had something to do with the draconian penalties for failure to obey. It might also have been they could see how easy it would be for any one of them to be in that same circumstance.
I've mentioned these things to colleagues. Like I said, it's like spitting into the wind.
It is six months since I concluded little of what I had to offer would make a difference at this council table . My only option was to take my message directly to the community. It was a calculated risk.
When she was struggling with the realization of the seeming futility of being a member of this council, I urged Grace Marsh not to underestimate the attention and support in the community for a competent position sincerely and capably presented. What feels like failure is not perceived that way outside the council.
The positive aspect of the recent decision on how to fill the gap left by Grace was the powerful expression of the community's reaction and the clarity of their understanding of the issues at hand.
"Much has changed since the last election", they said. The "unfortunate circumstances" of the resignation were repeatedly referenced. Their appreciation of what had been lost, how that came about and how it should be remedied was ably articulated. We want to choose the successor, they demanded.
Though the matter has been decided and the seat filled, I suspect the last has not been heard of the issue.
CHAPTER TWO:
On the same night we made the fateful decision on how to fill the vacancy, we passed a resolution to approve a Code of Conduct. It was not the night to launch a second powerful argument. A bylaw must still be prepared and presented to council for adoption.
Councillor Collins-Mrakas has concerns about wording in The Code. Alison has a substantial body of skills. She holds a Masters Degree in Science and a second in Law; the latter from Osgoode Hall. She teaches Ethics in Public Service, Mediation and Research . She presents papers, lectures and mediates in dispute resolution. Her favourite occupation is research.
In the same way Grace was a huge asset in financial matters, Alison is too in her particular field. Some wording of The Code is flawed she proffers. No matter. It's like spitting into the wind.
There is no requirement in the Municipal Act for Councils to adopt a Code of Conduct. Once it is adopted, it must be enforced. For that we must retain an Integrity Commissioner. There is a complaint procedure and penalties are provided for breach of Da Code.
The penalties range from a reprimand to a three month suspension of remuneration. A councillor's seat must be declared vacant after a consistent three month absence.
After a municipal conference in Ottawa, the Mayor informed council of a conversation she had with George Rust-D'Eye . They were discussing new regulations to increase transparency in municipal governance. Mr. Rust-D'Eye according to the Mayor, stated the problem with the regulations is they have no teeth. There are no consequences or penalties.
Several municipalities have adopted Codes. There seem to be unanticipated consequences. The Town of Meaford is under siege from their Integrity Commissioner. One veteran councillor has already resigned stating he did not run for office to submit to accusations of financial mismanagement.
The Town of East Gwillimbury adopted a Code. It resulted in their Mayor and a Councillor being "investigated " for failure to heed direction from the Chief Administrative Officer. Apparently it was the cao's complaint that brought on the investigation. The price, without legal costs has been published at $11,200. The findings and remedy for the offence was for the Mayor and Councillor to pay $75,000 for tidying up what they thought was a mess .
The Mayor and Councillor had been advised to retain legal council. They did. It was never apparent what role he had in the proceedings. They were also advised they would have a conflict of interest if they attended meetings at which the issue was being discussed. They didn't. The community was outraged. East Gwillimbury's five member council was decimated and divided.
The extent of the penalty caused council. minus the Mayor and his accomplice, to committ to raising the funds in the community to pay off the penalty. It would not pf course compensate the taxpayers for the $11,200.cost plus the legal costs for the "investigation"
. In Aurora ,our legal costs for an "investigation" was $16.200 So far as can be determined there
were no interviews conducted except perhaps with the Mayor .There was a press conference and a media release at which legal counsel on hand. George Rust D'Eye was counsel for East Gwillimbury and Aurora in both matters although East Gwillimbury did have a Code of Conduct adopted by by-law. Aurora did not.
In the course of "the investigation" many interviews were conducted to determine the facts of an enterprise already publicly acknowledged. Hundreds of pages of documentation were generated. So much that when the decision was made to release the report to the public, the sheer volume of paper was referenced as a deterrent . Mr. George Rust-D'Eye was the solicitor retained by East Gwillimbury to "investigate" the capricious act of the Mayor and their most experienced councillor.
The City of Toronto has an Integrity Commissioner. He has an Administrative Assistant. The commissioner's retainer at last mention is $104,000 a year.The administrative assistant 's retainer is in addition. The issues investigated appear to be complaints by councillors against councillors. Once he found a councillor had offended against The Code during an election. He recommended the Councillor should apologize. She did not.
Council was not of a mind to enforce the issue. It might have had something to do with the draconian penalties for failure to obey. It might also have been they could see how easy it would be for any one of them to be in that same circumstance.
I've mentioned these things to colleagues. Like I said, it's like spitting into the wind.
CORRECTION - Alison says she would not describe what she does as teaching ethics though she does provide lectures, etc. She provides oversight of and advice regarding and lectures on research ethics at the University. She also sits on the University Tribunal mediating and/or adjudicating student non-academic offences..
Alison thought I might be exaggerating her skills. I do not think so. In the course of an election, it is often hard to absorb all the information candidates are presentng about themselves. Until I asked, I had no idea of the breadth of her experience. I knew she was coming at things from a different direction to myself but we eventually arrive at the same point in logic.
We do not always vote the same way but that's not the requirement of a councillor. Bringing forward whatever resources one has, independently exercising one's mind and being personally accountable is what it's about.
Alison Collins-Mrakas like Grace Marsh, is an invaluable asset.
Friday, 16 May 2008
Reflections
Tuesday's Council Meeting was particularly vexing. Despite my experience with this council I was hopeful the people would be heard. I have found it wise not to comment on the heels of a bad outcome. I am always haunted by the thought there might have been something else I could have contributed to make a difference.
After I've contemplated for a few days, I generally come to the conclusion that sadly there was never a possibility of a different outcome. Then I look for a positive side. Incredibly, I can always find it.
This time, there were speakers from the community to address the question of how to fill the vacancy created by Grace's resignation. They all had the same message. There should be a by-election. The people should choose the successor. The applause from the audience left no doubt of strong support for that position. But it was all for nought.
The stage was set to meet whatever challenges might be presented to Mayor Morris' agenda. Where previously a two-thirds majority of eight had been set at five, now it was six. That made it possible for two to vote for a reconsideration without allowing it to pass.
External counsel shared the table with Town staff ready to speak to every possible challenge that might be raised. His purpose in being there became apparent as the evening progressed. He offered a personal comment in contribution to the Mayor's side of the debate.
Finally. a letter was included in the agenda from John Gallo saying he would accept an appointment if it was offered. That option was finalized without debate.
The positive aspect was participation by residents in the events and how they must have felt when their input was described as "lobbyists" by the redoubtable Councillor Granger. The Mayor dismissed the multitude of emails received as "form letter emails."
The recognition of how Grace Marsh felt before she made the decision to resign. would be clear and startling at that point. Add the image of the horrendous scene on the stairs to the second floor of the town hall the night before Grace's resignation and the picture is complete.
There can be no lingering doubts as to the nature of governance in the Town of Aurora during the 2007-2010 Term of Office.
In the body of the agenda, we passed a resolution to adopt a Code of Conduct. It purports to assure the community of respect, integrity, decorum, openness and transparency and consultation with the people before epic decisions are made. There are penalties for failure to uphold the Code.
That is the subject for another Blog and a potential source of formal, sober and impartial judgement in the near future.
After I've contemplated for a few days, I generally come to the conclusion that sadly there was never a possibility of a different outcome. Then I look for a positive side. Incredibly, I can always find it.
This time, there were speakers from the community to address the question of how to fill the vacancy created by Grace's resignation. They all had the same message. There should be a by-election. The people should choose the successor. The applause from the audience left no doubt of strong support for that position. But it was all for nought.
The stage was set to meet whatever challenges might be presented to Mayor Morris' agenda. Where previously a two-thirds majority of eight had been set at five, now it was six. That made it possible for two to vote for a reconsideration without allowing it to pass.
External counsel shared the table with Town staff ready to speak to every possible challenge that might be raised. His purpose in being there became apparent as the evening progressed. He offered a personal comment in contribution to the Mayor's side of the debate.
Finally. a letter was included in the agenda from John Gallo saying he would accept an appointment if it was offered. That option was finalized without debate.
The positive aspect was participation by residents in the events and how they must have felt when their input was described as "lobbyists" by the redoubtable Councillor Granger. The Mayor dismissed the multitude of emails received as "form letter emails."
The recognition of how Grace Marsh felt before she made the decision to resign. would be clear and startling at that point. Add the image of the horrendous scene on the stairs to the second floor of the town hall the night before Grace's resignation and the picture is complete.
There can be no lingering doubts as to the nature of governance in the Town of Aurora during the 2007-2010 Term of Office.
In the body of the agenda, we passed a resolution to adopt a Code of Conduct. It purports to assure the community of respect, integrity, decorum, openness and transparency and consultation with the people before epic decisions are made. There are penalties for failure to uphold the Code.
That is the subject for another Blog and a potential source of formal, sober and impartial judgement in the near future.
One More Time, and the Last
I stated in my previous response to a comment, the attention of the Chairman of the Police Services Board was drawn to the election activities in 2003 of the York Region Police Association. The exercise was not repeated in the election of 2006. There was no breach of the Code of Discipline therefore and no cause for complaint. That's how the system is supposed to work.
I am aware of the responsibilities of an elected official and the significance of comments. If I have something of substance to say,I say it. I need no prompting nor am I likely to be provoked into
making unjust or unfounded accusations.
You have my answer. Enough already. If you have a beef against the police ...do it yourself.
I am aware of the responsibilities of an elected official and the significance of comments. If I have something of substance to say,I say it. I need no prompting nor am I likely to be provoked into
making unjust or unfounded accusations.
You have my answer. Enough already. If you have a beef against the police ...do it yourself.
Thursday, 15 May 2008
Response to a comment
A comment this morning asks if I mean to suggest the York Regional Police are breaking a law
by campaigning for financial advantage to the police in Municipal elections.
The Police Act governs police services. Within is the Code of Discipline A Charge or complaint can be filed under the Code. It's an internal matter and dealt with by the department brass.
The Police Association is not the Police Department. Its legitimate purpose is to represent the interests including financial, of members of the force up to management rank.
The attention of the Police Services Board Chairman was drawn to involvement of the Association in the municipal election of 2003. In the last election they were not involved. But the same questions as before were asked by Lawmen of York. It's not a big stretch to imagine who they represent. I know of no law that prohibits anyone from creating a website to accomplish a particular objective.
If there was a breach of the Code though it would not represent breaking the law in the sense of the question or my comment.
The Association of Professional Firefighters do not have the same restrictions on political activity But their campaigning efforts are also likely to have little effect on election results. There is only a suggestion of influence. As I remember their questionnaire came from Ajax or somewhere equally remote.
I do not assume firefighters or police officers are any different to any other citizen in how they jealously guard their right to make their own choices in any election. Their association executive needs to be elected ,the efforts they make to get re-elected would undoubtedly rest on the impression they create of benefitting the membership.
In the last election we had several other organizations involved. The Green Party circulated a questionnaire for candidates. A regional environment group was another. They no doubt circulated to the membership names of candidates who gave acceptable answers to their cause. Neither advertised their choice.
Aurora Sports groups formed a coalition also in time for the election They sponsored an All Candidates Meeting and circulated a questionnaire. Ron Weese, President of Aurora Minor Soccer Association and organizer of the coalition published his recommended choices on a web site.
The Coalition of Ratepayers was also organized in time for the election by Sue Walmer, understood to be heavily involved in Phyllis Morris successful campaign for the mayor's office. A questionnaire was circulated and an all candidates meeting held in the Council Chambers. Questions said to be random were asked at the meeting. But that became suspect with at least one question which could not possibly be answered by other than someone who had served on a council with Tim Jones.It accused Tim of something done in camera for which there is no record.
No slate of candidates was published by the Coalition of Ratepayers that I noticed. It has become clear since however by five members of council who consistently cast the same vote.
None of the election activity is questionable. All of it was within our democratic rights. None of it was hidden. Yet it was not necessarily understood by everyone.
Thank you for the question and the opportunity to expand on how an election can be won or lost and how elected representatives can be accountable to interests separate to the general well-being of the community.
by campaigning for financial advantage to the police in Municipal elections.
The Police Act governs police services. Within is the Code of Discipline A Charge or complaint can be filed under the Code. It's an internal matter and dealt with by the department brass.
The Police Association is not the Police Department. Its legitimate purpose is to represent the interests including financial, of members of the force up to management rank.
The attention of the Police Services Board Chairman was drawn to involvement of the Association in the municipal election of 2003. In the last election they were not involved. But the same questions as before were asked by Lawmen of York. It's not a big stretch to imagine who they represent. I know of no law that prohibits anyone from creating a website to accomplish a particular objective.
If there was a breach of the Code though it would not represent breaking the law in the sense of the question or my comment.
The Association of Professional Firefighters do not have the same restrictions on political activity But their campaigning efforts are also likely to have little effect on election results. There is only a suggestion of influence. As I remember their questionnaire came from Ajax or somewhere equally remote.
I do not assume firefighters or police officers are any different to any other citizen in how they jealously guard their right to make their own choices in any election. Their association executive needs to be elected ,the efforts they make to get re-elected would undoubtedly rest on the impression they create of benefitting the membership.
In the last election we had several other organizations involved. The Green Party circulated a questionnaire for candidates. A regional environment group was another. They no doubt circulated to the membership names of candidates who gave acceptable answers to their cause. Neither advertised their choice.
Aurora Sports groups formed a coalition also in time for the election They sponsored an All Candidates Meeting and circulated a questionnaire. Ron Weese, President of Aurora Minor Soccer Association and organizer of the coalition published his recommended choices on a web site.
The Coalition of Ratepayers was also organized in time for the election by Sue Walmer, understood to be heavily involved in Phyllis Morris successful campaign for the mayor's office. A questionnaire was circulated and an all candidates meeting held in the Council Chambers. Questions said to be random were asked at the meeting. But that became suspect with at least one question which could not possibly be answered by other than someone who had served on a council with Tim Jones.It accused Tim of something done in camera for which there is no record.
No slate of candidates was published by the Coalition of Ratepayers that I noticed. It has become clear since however by five members of council who consistently cast the same vote.
None of the election activity is questionable. All of it was within our democratic rights. None of it was hidden. Yet it was not necessarily understood by everyone.
Thank you for the question and the opportunity to expand on how an election can be won or lost and how elected representatives can be accountable to interests separate to the general well-being of the community.
Wednesday, 14 May 2008
Best Wishes
I heard from Grace yesterday. She thanks everyone for their understanding and support. She is enjoying love, life, laughter and healing relaxation with family and friends and sends her best wishes.
Minus the Blog and readers, my life would be glum this morning. I don't remember ever feeling this way about a Town Hall situation before. But there is comfort in knowing I am not alone. I remember telling Grace when she was feeling down she should never underestimate the people. They are always there. They are paying attention. They are understanding and appreciating all you do. They proved it last night.
The Council chamber was full. Speaker after speaker expressed their dissatisfaction and vehemently insisted on their right to elect a replacement councillor to fill Grace's seat. Their powerful representation went unheeded.
So you may ask how did we arrive at this point? It's not complicated. I think we have to walk this path to arrive at something better. Our politics have been changing over the past number of years. Our town has grown. New elements have taken root and been able to flourish.
Campaign practices range widely in a free and democratic society. Some have taken hold which would not have passed without notice in the Town a few years ago.
In 1999, two week-ends before the election, a white RV was seen touring the town. I saw it on the second week-end and heard about it after the first. It was on John West Way festooned with banners naming candidates not to support. That was a first. Our politics are robust. But never so blatant and with such intensity.
I saw the vehicle in Tim Horton's parking lot. I have regretted not getting out of my car and asking the driver to whose campaign he belonged to. There were other banners naming a slate of candidates to support.
Phyllis Morris did not win the Mayor's chair that year. John West was re-elected at the head of the poll. The negative tactics may have had a positive effect.
Organizations have been involved before. The Regional Police and the Firefighters Associations put on their own separate little stints. Candidates would receive a phone call. There would be a series of questions always ending with the same two. How do you rate the importance of this public service and would you vote to provide whatever we need to do the job.
The Police Act prohibits involvement in politics for members of a police force. It doesn't mean they can't exercise their rights. Just that they can't do it as policemen. In the last election they went underground and called themselves Lawmen of York Region.
In these days of contract negotiations, it is a ridiculous exercise. The intended result would be to advise members of the association which candidates deserved their support.
It was so guileless, it was funny. All a candidate needed to do was give the correct answers. I could never make myself do it. It was entirely unlikely anyone would ever know I had sold out the store. Those who did would likely see nothing wrong. I never thought the Associations had the power to significantly influence their membership.
Maybe I had scrupulosity of an amateur. Maybe a wild-eyed radical. A hopeless idealist. Whatever it was I could not play the silly game.
So I forfeit the popular vote. I reach instead for the vote that will allow me to be the person I am. Because all of these years there has been a place for someone like me. It's the secret knowledge that binds me to this place and the politics of our time.
Minus the Blog and readers, my life would be glum this morning. I don't remember ever feeling this way about a Town Hall situation before. But there is comfort in knowing I am not alone. I remember telling Grace when she was feeling down she should never underestimate the people. They are always there. They are paying attention. They are understanding and appreciating all you do. They proved it last night.
The Council chamber was full. Speaker after speaker expressed their dissatisfaction and vehemently insisted on their right to elect a replacement councillor to fill Grace's seat. Their powerful representation went unheeded.
So you may ask how did we arrive at this point? It's not complicated. I think we have to walk this path to arrive at something better. Our politics have been changing over the past number of years. Our town has grown. New elements have taken root and been able to flourish.
Campaign practices range widely in a free and democratic society. Some have taken hold which would not have passed without notice in the Town a few years ago.
In 1999, two week-ends before the election, a white RV was seen touring the town. I saw it on the second week-end and heard about it after the first. It was on John West Way festooned with banners naming candidates not to support. That was a first. Our politics are robust. But never so blatant and with such intensity.
I saw the vehicle in Tim Horton's parking lot. I have regretted not getting out of my car and asking the driver to whose campaign he belonged to. There were other banners naming a slate of candidates to support.
Phyllis Morris did not win the Mayor's chair that year. John West was re-elected at the head of the poll. The negative tactics may have had a positive effect.
Organizations have been involved before. The Regional Police and the Firefighters Associations put on their own separate little stints. Candidates would receive a phone call. There would be a series of questions always ending with the same two. How do you rate the importance of this public service and would you vote to provide whatever we need to do the job.
The Police Act prohibits involvement in politics for members of a police force. It doesn't mean they can't exercise their rights. Just that they can't do it as policemen. In the last election they went underground and called themselves Lawmen of York Region.
In these days of contract negotiations, it is a ridiculous exercise. The intended result would be to advise members of the association which candidates deserved their support.
It was so guileless, it was funny. All a candidate needed to do was give the correct answers. I could never make myself do it. It was entirely unlikely anyone would ever know I had sold out the store. Those who did would likely see nothing wrong. I never thought the Associations had the power to significantly influence their membership.
Maybe I had scrupulosity of an amateur. Maybe a wild-eyed radical. A hopeless idealist. Whatever it was I could not play the silly game.
So I forfeit the popular vote. I reach instead for the vote that will allow me to be the person I am. Because all of these years there has been a place for someone like me. It's the secret knowledge that binds me to this place and the politics of our time.
Tuesday, 13 May 2008
5.05 p.m. COUNTDOWN
5.05 p.m. Further Bulletin
Four more emails in favour of a by-election.
Two for an appointment.
Councillor Gaertner has broken ranks a couple of times in committee .
Then something happened between committee and council and she changed her vote.. What the people say does have an influence. I know she means it when she says it.
Four more emails in favour of a by-election.
Two for an appointment.
Councillor Gaertner has broken ranks a couple of times in committee .
Then something happened between committee and council and she changed her vote.. What the people say does have an influence. I know she means it when she says it.
Bulletin Update
Email requests are still coming in. Four more this morning requesting a by-election. None for appointment. One saying council members are all Timmy supporters and "your boy will be under scrutiny in the next election". I think that could be support for a by-election.
Councillor Gaertner has been consistent during the last term and this. She believes Council must listen to the people, despite all else and do what "they " want. I believe she is sincere and will hold to her principles. If that happens and her cohorts dont have the opportunity to persuade her differently, then we will have a by-election.
Today is the day.
Councillor Gaertner has been consistent during the last term and this. She believes Council must listen to the people, despite all else and do what "they " want. I believe she is sincere and will hold to her principles. If that happens and her cohorts dont have the opportunity to persuade her differently, then we will have a by-election.
Today is the day.
Sunday, 11 May 2008
WACKY PROCEDURES
Next Tuesday an external legal consultant will attend council to advise on complexities created by our procedure bylaw. I voted against the last revision. The lawyer has given two written opinions already. The first was simple and to the point. It was one full page and a couple of lines. It confirmed my contention that the town's bylaw could not supersede provincial legislation.
That legislation calls for a decision to be made about how a vacancy will be filled within sixty days of the declaration of the vacancy. A special meeting of council was called last Monday to attend to the matter. I moved the seat be declared vacant and filled by by-election.
It was requested the question be called in two parts. The first part was adopted. The second part won a vote of four to three; a majority. The Mayor voted and created a tie.
The Mayor stated she had been afraid of that and noted the matter could not now be reconsidered for six months. The clerk confirmed that contention. I argued the position was not tenable. Provincial law cannot be superseded by local bylaw. I added that a tie vote is not a decision. A decision is still pending, and under Provincial law, must be made within sixty days. It cannot wait for six months.
At that point the clerk stated he needed an outside legal opinion on the matter
Notwithstanding that advice, it was moved and seconded that the seat be filled by appointment. The motion was accepted by the Mayor. The form for appointment was on the table before each councillor. The vote was five to three.
At that point Councillor Gaertner moved the matter be deferred until the legal advice was obtained. Councillor Gaertner is on record as stating her conviction that council must listen to the people and do what they want. That motion passed.
Before the start of last Tuesday's council-in-committee meeting, Councillor McRoberts informed me he intended to put forward a Notice of Motion for the question of filling the vacancy to be reconsidered. I advised against it. A commitment had been made to the public that the matter would be dealt with at the next Council meeting. The mayor had indicated all emails received from the public would be part of the agenda. It was intended the people would be heard before a decision is made.
Councillor McRoberts said the Clerk had informed him it had to be done this way.
It was not part of the agenda. We had no motion in writing before us. It was a notice of motion. Nevertheless, Chairperson Evelina MacEachern put the notice of motion to a vote and it received five votes to three.
Votes in committee of council are not final. They must be ratified by the formal meeting of council. The following day the Mayor informed the media the question of a by-election was off the table. She repeated that assertion at a breakfast meeting of the Chamber of Commerce the following day. She sted she had received twenty emails supporting a by-election and twenty for an appointment.
My inbox has more than eighty emails to council (and still counting!!) requesting a by-election as the only democratic way of filling the vacancy. Five are in in favour of appointment plus one anonymous.
Subsequent to a challenge by Councillor Collins-Mrakas to the Mayor's perception, the lawyer who had already given an opinion, was asked to "revise" his opinion and we subsequently received a four-page dissertation. As I understand it, council is still required to deal with the question. A vote in committee rejecting reconsideration is not a final outcome.
The lawyer will be present on Tuesday to further clarify his advice if need be.
That legislation calls for a decision to be made about how a vacancy will be filled within sixty days of the declaration of the vacancy. A special meeting of council was called last Monday to attend to the matter. I moved the seat be declared vacant and filled by by-election.
It was requested the question be called in two parts. The first part was adopted. The second part won a vote of four to three; a majority. The Mayor voted and created a tie.
The Mayor stated she had been afraid of that and noted the matter could not now be reconsidered for six months. The clerk confirmed that contention. I argued the position was not tenable. Provincial law cannot be superseded by local bylaw. I added that a tie vote is not a decision. A decision is still pending, and under Provincial law, must be made within sixty days. It cannot wait for six months.
At that point the clerk stated he needed an outside legal opinion on the matter
Notwithstanding that advice, it was moved and seconded that the seat be filled by appointment. The motion was accepted by the Mayor. The form for appointment was on the table before each councillor. The vote was five to three.
At that point Councillor Gaertner moved the matter be deferred until the legal advice was obtained. Councillor Gaertner is on record as stating her conviction that council must listen to the people and do what they want. That motion passed.
Before the start of last Tuesday's council-in-committee meeting, Councillor McRoberts informed me he intended to put forward a Notice of Motion for the question of filling the vacancy to be reconsidered. I advised against it. A commitment had been made to the public that the matter would be dealt with at the next Council meeting. The mayor had indicated all emails received from the public would be part of the agenda. It was intended the people would be heard before a decision is made.
Councillor McRoberts said the Clerk had informed him it had to be done this way.
It was not part of the agenda. We had no motion in writing before us. It was a notice of motion. Nevertheless, Chairperson Evelina MacEachern put the notice of motion to a vote and it received five votes to three.
Votes in committee of council are not final. They must be ratified by the formal meeting of council. The following day the Mayor informed the media the question of a by-election was off the table. She repeated that assertion at a breakfast meeting of the Chamber of Commerce the following day. She sted she had received twenty emails supporting a by-election and twenty for an appointment.
My inbox has more than eighty emails to council (and still counting!!) requesting a by-election as the only democratic way of filling the vacancy. Five are in in favour of appointment plus one anonymous.
Subsequent to a challenge by Councillor Collins-Mrakas to the Mayor's perception, the lawyer who had already given an opinion, was asked to "revise" his opinion and we subsequently received a four-page dissertation. As I understand it, council is still required to deal with the question. A vote in committee rejecting reconsideration is not a final outcome.
The lawyer will be present on Tuesday to further clarify his advice if need be.
Saturday, 10 May 2008
Bulletin!
Bulletin: so far 85 emails in my inbox in favour of a by-election. 5 in favour of an appointment. One anonymous.
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