PREMIER SPEAKS TO THE POINT

The link to the Duffy decision is at the beginning  of the Globe and Mail news story. I will get back to it. 

If readers don't turn to page 22 of this week's Auroran for the complete interview with Premier Wynne, 

they will  be half-informed on the  Province's position on the issue of development of an idle parcel of land.

MLA Ballard's input makes  it even more interesting .His concern is with provincial policies of infilling and density. Yeah right.

The Premier comes right to the point. Each  municipality is responsible for adequate green space being provided  in a Town  0fficial Plan. 

"One size does not fit all "

The chance of a  hundred acre land parcel suddenly and conveniently  becoming available to serve community needs  is utterly ludicrous . 

Just as the rationale  for 6 acres of land in the Mavrinac development was needed for a park after that

development was complete. 

Mr Ballard lives in the former golf course  neighbourhood.

 He did to his neighbours as John Gallo did to residents of the Mavrinac neighbourhood. He led them to believe it was reasonable for idle land  to serve  as an exclusive leisure domain . And to fundraise  thousands of dollars for legal fees to protect "their interest"

 

It's interesting also that Councillor Mrakas and Thompson are the only Aurora Councillors names and faces featured  in the so-called "summit" to pressure the Province to reform the OMB to disallow land-owner development appeals. 

At the moment,the most startling thing about the enthusiasm of numerous municipalities eager to 

Reform the OMB is their  illusory status as independent authorities. 

DUFFY DECISION

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS": 
DUFFY ACQUITTED ON ALL CHARGES.

HARPER'S PMO THOROUGHLY DAMNED.

READ JUDGE'S 308 PAGE RULING. 

Posted by Anonymous to  Our Town and Its Business at 21 April 2016 at 16:52

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The media  are reported to have little interest in the Duffy decision because Stephen Harper is no longer Prime Minister.

 It's not my impression of the public's attention. 

The judge's decision with reasons sounding  less judicial than accusatory are yet to be explored. 

308 pages. 

So send us the link...why don't cha

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS

So Hillary WON the New York State primary. 

Before and during the vote, the media polls had the democratic candidates neck and neck.

Sanders final  rally in Brooklyn was said to be 128,000. He had the youth vote,the men's vote, the white vote ,the women's vote.... and everything else in sight except, apparently, the winning vote. 

Over and over and over again it was  repeated  ....Voters don't like Hillary...  don't trust the Clintons...She's a poor candidate...has no passion and  runs a lack-luster campaign. 

I,054,000 New Yorkers liked Hillary well enough to support her with a vote.  

763,000 liked Sanders  well enough. 

The Senator raised $40 million in small donations in March. He has $14 million left. So...he spent $26

million to win the votes in New York.  He whipped his youthful followers into a negative frenzy .They  threw money at Hillary's cavalcade the day before the vote. Easy come ...easy go, I guess. He seems to bring it in without much effort and throw it away just as thoughtlessly. 

If he doesn't win the nomination, the media speculate, his supporters may stay home in the general election. 

Bernie said 3 million were refused the right to vote for the nominee of the Democratic Party. They were not registered Democrats. They were Independents. Like himself. It may be why he feels free to criticize the Democratic Party. Not so clear is why he thinks he should be their nominee while promising a 

Revolution. 

3 million Independents from one State is probably enough to form a new party and start a revolution. They  could call themselves United Empire Loyalists and pay  foreign mercenaries to fight for the cause. It might be more useful than throwing money at cars driving past in the street. 

The same New York pool of voters gave  the Belligerent Billionaire, the "authentic " one, he who enjoys popularity  and passion because "he tells it like it is " ...they are all   liars and crooks and murderers and rapists  and terrorists  and he won the day with half the votes Hillary did and less than Bernie 

Now that ws a feat fit for a billionaire..

In votes, Sanders, the Cuban-type, Brooklyn,Jewish revolutionary beat the Billionaire  but I don't think he was much comforted by the victory. 

Now those two could join forces and  be a force to be reckoned with. They could probably easily succeed in cutting their joint vote in half by telling it like it is . They could write a  revolutionary song and set it to music from the best little whore house in Texas. 

I know of a grand piano they could borrow. 

 

THANK YOU FOR ASKING

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "JACK AND THE BEANSTALK": 
Levying a development charge against a building that does not increase the building's fire, snow removal or any other municipal service is a misguided tax grab by the municipality.  
An example. The Yonge Street Canadian Tire store was originally built - can't remember how long ago. Let's say it was 20,000 square feet (I have not idea of the size - just a number). The parking lot is 100,000 square feet. Let's say the owner paid a Development Charge that is supposed to cover municipal services - fire, police, other infrastructure.  
A couple of years later, CTC wants to expand the store. The lot has not changed in size. The building envelope is larger but no additional connections to services are required. Guess what, they get dinged for Development Charges. Their expansion did nothing to increase their burden on the Town. They will pay more for other services, hydro, water, gas, etc. but they are hard costs associated with a larger building.  
Now CTC is moving to the old Zellers/Target store... do they have to pay DCs there too??? 
What about the new tenant (if there is one) to the Yonge St CTC? Will they have to pay DCs too? Triple dipping by the Town. 
Posted by Anonymous to  Our Town and Its Business at 20 April 2016 at 15:32

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Finally....someone sufficiently interested in the ins and outs of a complex formula. 

Canadian Tire was not dinged for a second Development Charge but they did have to pay Cash-in Lieu-of-Parks Charge which went into a reserve fund of that title that kept growing and growing.

As did the story of the town's  further dealings with Canadian Tire. 

When concrete had to be poured ,Council approval had to be given to suspend the noise bylaw to allow construction noise to continue until the pour was complete. It has to be that way. Once started a pour has to be completed. 

Former Councillor Keane, soon to be candidate for Mayor,  moved refusal. Children in complex behind had to get their sleep,he said.

Keane's resolution was defeated, permission was granted but not without argument and puerile grand-standing. 

Some time later,  CanadianTire decided to douse their parking lot lights at ten-thirty p.m. A resident  of  the complex raised merry hell on the eve of the election. Promises  were made. 

Residents used  emergency access on CT property as a short-cut to homes late at night and demanded the town ORDER  the lights be kept on. The Town's Legal department spent days 

finding and researching the tri-party agreement between the tri parties. 

There was no legal obligation. There were several dispute resolution mechanisms available between the parties.  But the wrangling went on for weeks with town resources involved where they had no business. Staff did their best to maintain the town's interest to no avail. 

A  recently replaced  public works director recommended a political solution. Hook CTs parking lot lights up to the town's street lighting system. Council accepted the solution. 

Recently the  Cash-in-lieu of Parks Reserve  was looted in the amount of $2.3 million to pay for the Mavrinac land . I don't know where the legal fees  came from to pressure the developer. 

Recently, the consultant updating the Master Recreation Plan, advised Council a park was not required. Funds improperly used from Cash -in -Lieu Reserve should  be returned. The 6 acre parcel should be re-sold.

It was the first sign of professional advice since the new CAO was appointed.

 

It was ignored. Staff were directed to prepare plans for a park. No budget  for construction was cited 

or source of funds identified. 

Again...it's not corruption per se. 

But it's not squeaky clean either. 

The decision is absolutely not in the interest of the community. 

It is purely political. 

As is foot-dragging on a decision leading to an OMB hearing , likely to cost a million on a land parcel that eighty-five years ago,was  a  country golf course  and is now a central urbanized parcel of land, idle for the past several years. 

To be scrupulously fair to the elected, professional advice and guidance has not been evident for almost a decade. 

That happens when a Mayor without experience  but convinced  of the power of  office is elected.  

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "SOCK IT TO ME BABY": 

Please explain how/why development charges would be applied to a renovated Town-owned building. 

Posted by Anonymous to  Our Town and Its Business at 20 April 2016 at 11:10

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The Culture  Board is privately incorporated.  Unlike the Library Board, it has the right to conduct affairs behind closed doors. Financial management is the business of the board. Secrets are theirs to keep. 

The facility for the program is a major feature of the operation. 

Similar to St Andrew's College, to build or gut and renovate a building requires permission  from the town No building permit is issued by the town without a development charge being paid. 

Even an expanding retail operation  like Canadian Tire that creates employment and produces revenue for the municipality, pays Cash-in-lieu. 

If Church Street School had been sold to the board, or even title transferred  for a nominal fee , prior to financial commitment to town heritage, liability  for Development charge would have been incurred. 

To realise equity in cost- sharing between municipalities and the Province, assets must be declared 

to be rationalized.

Landlord status is frowned upon by the Province.  It fudges the figures. Municipal income is derived from taxation a  responsibility shared. with the Province. 

Municipalities are expected to divest themselves of property not required for municipal purposes and realise the asset. 

To ensure proper value is received from a sale, to follow the letter of the law, property must be offered for public sale. 

Before the sale is closed , a Bylaw  must be processed to declare the property redundant to municipal purpose. 

A contract for purchase of services is a messy and artificial arrangement. Contrived for the convenience of a politician, namely  the town's Mayor, to accommodate the hopes and dreams of a private citizen by handing over a public facility,rent and maintenance free, with hundreds of thousands of dollars to play with.  

Nothing high-minded or noble, It was and it continues to be purely political. 

The same lack of principle was involved in giving away the Hydro property which was needed and being used for municipal purposes. And would have saved the best part of $26 million dollars for 

re-location and construction of a joint works and parks  facility. 

The same absence compelled relief to St Andrew's College from payment of a Development charge. 

It happened because normal tension between the political and administrative body was not in place. 

Staff , who would  have given Council professional advice were fired or nudged out and replaced by those who understood their jobs depended on providing politically acceptable recommendations. 

It's not corruption per se. 

It's not upstanding professional performance  either. 

It's a shameful, degrading, ongoing  and horrendously expensive game of trivial pursuit. 

SOCK IT TO ME BABY

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "LITTLE BO PEEP HAS LOST HER SHEEPISH": 

The change of management last time around did not make a difference. Since then nothing much has altered - every year there is the same item to be debated last on the budget and it gets through with a flinch. The only way that things could be different would be if other groups banded together and demanded change. I do not see that happening now but the economy is a very real problem and council might be more flexible when the money just is not available for maintaining that particular " contract ".

Posted by Anonymous to  Our Town and Its Business at 18 April 2016 at 14:52

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The final  sentence illustrates misunderstanding of the tax system. 

No matter how bad the economy, money is always available to government. 

To give money or benefits to this group or that to improve chances in the next election, taxes are  increased to accommodate that purpose.

While the majority pay no attention or misunderstand the tax system, or benefit from taxes, Councils pick our pockets with impunity.  

Development charges are not found money . New property owners pay the freight with a few notable exceptions recently in Aurora. 

In the last term, St Andrew's College were privileged to obtain a building permit for a new facility  without paying development charges.

Friends of the rich and powerful, the boys in the band, made the dispensation available.

In the previous term Queen's York Rangers obtained at town cost, custom-designed new digs without paying Development charges. 

To add insult to injury, the Department of National Defence unloaded a contaminated shack occupying town property for more than a century , at a cost to taxpayers in excess of half a million dollars.

Sleight of hand in putting newly renovated facilities into the hands of an incorporated board also escaped development charges for the benefit of special interest. 

All the while, an elected Council held responsibility to protect us from such insurgency.

Development charges are a queer beast. They are not found money. The principle  is for new housing to pay for facilities required to service growth  and avoid increasing the tax burden. 

Relentless property  tax increases, despite new revenue,put the lie to the principle.

Development charges increase every five years. 

Another double whammy.

ABRACADABRA? NOW YOU SEE IT ....NOW YOU DON'T

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "POLLY PUT THE KETTLE ON": 

What did happen to the Ecco-Park Evelyn? You were still on council at the time. 

Posted by Anonymous to  Our Town and Its Business at 18 April 2016 at 19:57

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On behalf of the proponent, Frank Stronach, Steve Hinder made a presentation to Council.  

A  Natural Wilderness area, education centre, a restaurant, a gift shop everything one might wish for In a spectacularly beautiful unspoiled area , including a foundation with funds to manage and finance the project was offered to the town. 

A  trail system was included I believe. 

I applauded the offer and Inquired when might we see it become a reality 

It was forwarded to the Citizens Environmental Advisory  Committee. 

Months went by. The delegation returned .The plan was altered. Retail features had been withdrawn. 

Again no decision to accept. Instead a referral to the Citizens Environmental Advisory Committee for 

STUDY.

Once more the committee  reported and recommended against approval until the final rendition was presented for their approval. 

I believe trail location was the bugaboo. 

Also, a wilderness park elsewhere in the community , at the expense of the town, the special project of a committee member, had been in the planning stages for years.

I pointed out, if the committee report was endorsed  ,in effect the  gift was being refused unless it met an advisory committee approval 

The comittee's report was endorsed. 

The Wilderness Park, to be created for the enjoyment of the community ,as a gift ,never returned to the Council table. 

No further communication was received. 

LITTLE BO PEEP HAS LOST HER SHEEPISH

I'm Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "POLLY PUT THE KETTLE ON": 

The Historical Society "took" their leave of the original project (with a requested legal letter acknowledgement from the Town). A line has to be drawn under everything that happened prior to their abandonment of the building. Regurgitating timelines, spewing biased perspectives, repeating incorrect financial details, and uttering revisionist histories makes no difference.

Many residents are enjoying the benefits of having such a municipally-contracted facility. 

Posted by Anonymous to  Our Town and Its Business at 18 April 2016 at 11:27

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The history is simply background to a wholly unsatisfactory and irrational tax burden which continues to increase year by year.

Some choose to dismiss it as disgruntlement of two. Others just call me names.,

I believe that's a mistake. 

Entirely lacking is rationale for a public facility to be used rent free, with full maintenance and hundreds of thousands of dollars  provided from town coffers  to a corporate board that holds private meetings and has no accountability to the public for how public funds are spent. 

Aurora has an operating budget of upwards of sixty million dollars a year for professional management of corporate affairs. 

The deal with a corporate culture centre board is not an example of efficiency or openness 

There are plenty of examples lacking re-assurance.  

Elections don't improve matters. It remains to be seen if a change in management makes a difference. 

Failing that, the obvious alternate does not beckon brightly. 

POLLY PUT THE KETTLE ON

LAnonymous has left a new comment on your post "EENY, MEENY,MINEY,MO": 

18:47
No one "took" the building... when you people realize that this town will be able to move on. 

Posted by Anonymous to  Our Town and Its Business at 18 April 2016 at 07:32

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The town is moving on. Same old . Same old. Money given away hand over fists to friends of the rich and powerful. 

Councils change but nothing else. 

You  are wrong about we, the people, being content any time soon to accept stuff that makes no sense. 

Each year we are reminded. 

An earlier comment notes numbers are up  at  Church Street School programs. 

That's success.... yes.

Increased revenue, mais non?

Yet another comment indicates $400,000 or more demanded and received from the town.

 How does that make sense?

Original grant was intended as seed money to get the Heritage/Culture  program going. To be reduced annually until the operation is self-sufficient. 

The business plan recommended by a consultant was to prevent the facility from becoming a sink hole for taxpayer resources. 

Like a Saturday Night Live Skit ,that's exactly what it became from the beginning. 

Imagine what a hotel operator might make of this  little tidbit unearthed in research for a profitable location.

And all the other crazy stuff that  flows downhill from Aurora Town Hall for the past ten years.. 

The  town does not present as a vibrant ,well-managed, incorruptible partner for a hotel operation

of repute.

Anything but. 

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW, WAY UP HIGH

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "THE PLOT UNRAVELS": 

The grant is for contacted services within a Town-owned building. The Town is paying for services held in a Town-provided venue.

It really shouldn't be that difficult to understand. 

Posted by Anonymous to  Our Town and Its Business at 17 April 2016 at 18:48

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Mais non mon ami, il est tres difficile a comprendre. 

At the time of the purchase of services, the town already had a  Department of Recreation and Leisure Services. Many cultural programs were duplicated. 

Except for piano recitals, the Culture Centre Board had nothing new to offer. 

Many programs were provided  by the private sector including musical evenings by one of the churches. 

The first  board purchase was a grand piano costing thousands with funds provided by the town. 

Funds were raised to pay for it after the purchase became an issue. 

Except for staff and the piano, the building was empty. 

Details are hazy but I believe the sponsor of the first performance was a member of the board and is currently Chairperson. 

I  am smiling. As I write, I watch  the twisted intrigue ending this week's episode of "The Good Wife "

EENY, MEENY,MINEY,MO

The Culture clan keep insisting the only contribution they get from the town is the annual award. 

The facts are as follows: 

The town paid $2. 3 million dollars for renovations. THe Historical Society spent several hundred  thousand dollars before.  A team of modern young artchitects designed a state of the art heritage facility . A special fire extinguisher system to protect artifacts was installed. 

KAthy  Malloy, curator  for a very short time, was successful in obtaining  $750,000 grant from Heritage Ontario that paid for the heating and a specialty air conditioning system .

Hundreds of volunteer hours were contributed to gut the interior to original walls and ceilings.

Manyattended the school for their entire elementary experience. It was a labour of love. 

When it was done the Mormac gang , including John Gallo, took it away from them and gave it to a friend. 

Millions of dollars were spent on the building in the years before the final renovation. The  bell tower was rebuilt and replaced since.  All of it for a single purpose and vision with support from the community. 

The Culture crowd were to provide a heritage program .

The building was given to them rent free. Entire maintenance provided by the town in the first year the estimated was $147.000. 

The Department of National Defence pays annual rent of $31,000 for a facility having nothing like the public investment. Initial costs have probably not been recovered yet by rent payments. 

GIving that building away to Chris Ballard's friends ,led to a cost of $26 million for a new joint facility to house town parks with works. 

It's hard to argue the town's interest has been served by any of these machinations by this council and the previous two. 

Easy to understand why the culture board is ever willing to deny the obvious. 

But the facts are there and irrefutable. 

User fees to residents using facilities operated by the town are based on cost of operating the facility. 

It includes maintenance. Soccer fields, baseball diamonds, ice arenas, fitness facilities... None are free. 

Taxpayers are not expected to lay the cost of operating the facility. 

The last comment on this issue is not valid. 

THE PLOT UNRAVELS

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "STICKS AND STONES": 

He's not excluded. He's one of the directors at that cultural centre. 

Posted by Anonymous to  Our Town and Its Business at 16 April 2016 at 18:05

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That's interesting. The Culture Centre Board chooses  directors from applicants. The former Councillor was always a staunch supporter of pirating the museum out from under. 

Two members are  directors appointed from Council to attend private meetings. Councillors Humfreys and Thom are without requirement to report to Council . Despite upwards of a million dollars of public funds transferred to  program the facility annually. 

Under the Municipal Act, Councillors are prohibited from conducting  public business behind closed doors except for specific items. 

Membership in a corporate body , in their capacity as Municipal Councillors, is not an exception within the Act.

Situation tentacles reach back into  Statutary authority of the Municipal Clerk and responsibility of the Town  Solicitor / Directof  of Corporate Affairs. 

Note the news  this week, the Culture Precinct Plan has hit the skids. To a packed public meeting in Victoria Hall, the new CAO has announced  the plan will not go forward as is and  first step is to remove it from the Parks and Recreation program. 

Perchance, there will be a hint of how it got in there in the first place.

The  CAO's office might be interesting while he tries to makes sense of the muddle ...or not. 

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I won't  be able to visit the Home Show. I need the scooter for travel. 

My children are busy with family affairs at the week-end. I don't make demands. The  go-go scooter is 

In the car trunk all the time but has to be taken out and put together for me to use it and taken apart and loaded up again when the tour is over. 

.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF GRANNIE

Went to Vaughan Mills today. Heather called Stephanie. She and Robyn were coming by to pick me up and get ready. 

Vaughan Mills is twelve years old. I've  often thought I ought to check that place out but never really had a reason to go. I like Malls.They are beautiful,clean bright,colourful,full of light but best of all are 

the crowds of people. Especially young ones ...little children. 

The food court has a great variety of choices. Seems the only thing missing is a Jewish delicatessen.

I had New York Fries with curds,bacon bits ,green onions and a light dressing. I enjoyed it but next time, if there is one,I will look for corned -beef-on-rye with a kosher pickle already.

There was nothing I needed to buy...a good thing in my circumstances. Heather needs party shoes for Keenan's wedding coming up in July. 

It was nice looking at all the lovely things at amazing prices. Colour and  styles would have suited me very well when I was Robyn and Stephanie's age. Robyn doesn't have a sister but lots of girl cousins and aunts . There's fifteen years between R and S. There's lots of fun and chat and laughter between them . My grandchildren are all good friends. No matter how long since they've been together, they just pick up where they left off. I like to think they feel good about being part of something larger than themselves.,

It may be a measure of success. It's certainly very gratifying.   

They bought lunch and we each had three Lyndt chocolates, different flavors. 

Heather found pretty, thin strapped ,silver,sparkly shoes and we came home happy. 

Lorna is sharing photos of old Arran and Ayrshire on Facebook. I love to look deep into the narrow 

winding streets and laneways with buildings and bridges and churches thousands of years old,still stalwart and serving their purpose.

But it's always raining, skies are always dreary, there  are puddles in the street and people wrapped in raincoats,hoods and hats, hurrying about their business to get back home out of the chill. 

STICKS AND STONES

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "NINE OR MORE BLIND MICE ...SHE CUT OFF THEIR TALES...": 

"Reboot their asses right our (sic) of the town hall."

Could that be because your were an unsuccessful council candidate in the last election? 

Posted by Anonymous to  Our Town and Its Business at 14 April 2016 at 11:10

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What are the chances? 

It's  not worth the time to check precisely but there may have been fifteen unsuccessfulcandidates from thousands of potential voters. 

After a year and a half, the likelihood is slim to nil  the criticism came from a poor loser. 

On the other hand, chances are the comment came an elected Councillor. 

I know a few who obsess about nothing  except the previous election and the next and in between nothing at all about WHY  they were elected.

What is the function of a Councillor?

Is it service to the community or service to self? 

We hear how important it is for Council to fight to uphold the Town's Official Plan and questionable subdivision agreements. 

Resources were expended  for legal costs and  inappropriately taken from a reserve fund, 

to acquire 6 acres of land which were never identified as needed  for municipal purposes. 

Mavrinac homeowners would have to acknowledge the issue was contrived for the election. 

Votes were won and lost on a battle to stop the land from being developed.Maybd  as few as forty-nine.  

The acquisition has been totally repudiated by  expert advice. 

Still we have seven Councillors rejecting advice bought and paid for, and voting to create a park.

Ye Gods!  How low can you go in accountability? 

Another asset  is moved from black to the red side of the ledger. 

How is the municipal interest served ? How insulting to the taxpayers?

Millions  spent on professional administration,theoretically to ensure efficient management of the corporation, only to watch, on camera, blatantly undermined by the those elected to ensure the corporation is efficiently managed. 

How is it anything but shameless pandering and shoring up votes like sandbags? 

Why should this or any Council be spared the outrage of taxpayers among us who are not fooled by facile phrases strung together like daisy chains to obscure abject self-abasement and political degeneration? 

We are all degraded by unintelligent public  performance ?

I have consciously made an effort to detach the blog from town business since I failed to win a seat on the last council. Visits declined and that was to be expected. 

In  two days since I have touched on the HIghlands development proposal , numbers of visits doubled. 

It seems people want to hear about town business even if they do not agree with my take. 

In turn,I refuse to believe  the  neighbourly majority of the Highlands and  Mavrinac properties  fail to understand  the determined effort to keep land parcels out of development are anything but a detriment to the  efficient management of our town's business.

Having the resources to retain lawyers to oppose development does not mean it's in your interest to 

do so. 

Think ABAHT IT.

NINE OR MORE BLIND MICE ...SHE CUT OFF THEIR TALES WITH A CARVING KNIFE

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "WHAT PRICE A MAN'S SOUL ?": 

There must be a great story around the solicitor. Takes guts or insanity to just turf the whole thing. 

Posted by Anonymous to  Our Town and Its Business at 13 April 2016 at 03:26

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In the most recent story about the golf course, Susan Walmer emerged as organizer par excellence.  Households  abutting the golf-course are asked to contribute $600. to the fund for legal standing at 

the OMB Hearing.

A comment since indicates the fund-raising net is cast wider still .

Susan was a close associate of the former Mayor and heavily involved in the last OMB hearing that 

OPPOSED a proposed golf course out on Leslie Street. The process was hugely extended with several court challenges to an OMB decision that a joint environmental board hearing was not required. 

Ms Walmer not only associated with the Mayor, she had direct access to town external legal counsel. Staff reported cost of the proceedings in their entirety was $680.000. I never believed that total. 

But now the thing is, last heard ,Walmer was manager of an Oak Ridges Moraine Trust outfit. One of two empowered to accept land from land-owners, in return for its value in tax rebates.The land 

comes under control of the Trust which decides access the community may or may not have and under what conditions. 

A parcel known as the McLeod property came under Trust jurisdiction during the Mormac years.

It seems that's  how Walmer's job was created.  

After ten years ,the property was to be accessible to the community. In return, the town signed a maintenance agreement. It was one sweet deal for the Trust and a significant financial  drain to 

the town. Tax revenue was lost and a new burden of maintenance assumed.  Last heard was a demand for a fence to be built to "secure"  the area.

Now here's the evil thought that enters my head this morning.

The golf course is 100 acres.The development proposed is for fifty,leaving fifty green and giving away land to abutting homeowners who have encroached. Density would have to double to fully realize the asset. Roads would be minimized. 

Developers don't  give up anything. Profits must be maintained  for business to be viable.

The point I'm getting to is, who will own and control the fifty green acres that causes the other fifty to be densely developed with inadequate road designs. 

An early decision of this Council was for no new hires to keep taxes in check. 

Since then ,they kept acquiring properties ,including Mavrinac 6 acres. Not always with an acknowledged purpose in mind.

Private land converted to public comes out of the black side of the municipal ledger and goes into the red. It's a double whammy. 

Does Susan Walmer, Manager of the Oak Ridge Trust outfit, plan to gain from hiring a legal team with other people's money, to hold over the head of a developer at an OMB hearing ,to delay and perhaps spoil the chance of developing half of the former golf course. 

Who will instruct the lawyers ? How will they be instructed? To what end ?

It will not be clear. 

The town will spend money defending a non-decision. I don't know how one does that.

What role for the greenhorn Council and dispassionate Mayor to play in the drama?

Has Susan drawn them a picture? Written them a script? 

The developer might ask for costs. 

Residents will pay twice. In taxes and contribution to the legal fund. 

Will the Moraine Trust be standing at the door,collection plate extended waiting for a deed?

Where is the town's former legal counsel? Why did he leave us?

If the story is kosher,why have we not heard?