To my Anonymous correspondent - thank you for continuing the dialogue. I've reprinted you last comment here, and my response is below.
Anonymous said:
I'm sure we can agree to disagree 'til the cows come home on the merits of a Conservative vs. Liberal government. After all, that's what democracy is all about.
I must however, take issue with a couple of points. First of all, it was Martin's Liberal government that committed Canadian troops to the NATO Afghan mission. The Liberals also voted with the Harper government to extend the mission to 2011. The cost of 18B released in the Page report refers to the estimates for the period of 2002 to 2011 when our troops will be withdrawn. Apparently Jack Layton feels the Harper government has tried to fudge the numbers but that's hardly proof of a conspiracy and is more likely a case of how you read the numbers. Of course we grieve for our fallen, as do I'm sure, the citizens of 21 other coalition nations that have lost troops. The hope is that the Afghan people will be able to stand on their own but time will tell and critics should remember that the "war cost" includes estimates for reconstruction as well.
Harper did stand in favour of our involvement in Iraq which in hindsight has proven to have been unwise. On the other hand, Chrétien’s reasons for refusing to send troops to Iraq are open to debate and may very well have been based on political expediency as much as wisdom and forethought. Incidentally, the Americans have lost just over 4000 troops killed in action, not a half million. Iraqi casualty estimates, while much higher, are a subject of vigorous debate.
I certainly do wish Tim well but we are casting votes that will determine the next federal government where party politics always trumps individual MPs. We've seen what the Liberals had to offer for many years and Dion hasn't convinced me it won't be more of the same.
Harper is certainly not without faults (although I'm not so sure aversion to the media is one of them) but overall I like his style and the fact that so far he hasn't tried to bribe me with my own money.
So I guess we'll agree to disagree.
And my response:
I am prepared to concede the accuracy of most of your points. Yes the Liberals sent our children into Afghanistan. I saw that as the Martin compromise for not falling into lockstep with the Americans in Iraq.
Yes, they all voted to extend the mission. Now they are saying they wouldn't have if they had been aware of the cost. As if dollars are more important than lives.
I do not argue that every decision made in Ottawa is apolitical. How silly would that be?. But Canada is not an easy country to govern. Politics is never simple. Strong leaders are sparse on the landscape. I have often thought the best Canadians can hope for is a government that will do no serious harm.
Stephane Dion does not inspire me. I have not been inspired since Pierre Elliott Trudeau was our country's leader. I recognize he was focused on one issue. His main effort was to bring Canada's constitution home. Only history will record the significance of that great accomplishment.
Stephen Harper's election promises are not likely to be less political than the others. Why should you believe they are not designed to meet with your approval? How else could they win your support?
The only real influence we can have on the quality of government we receive is by the selection we make in our riding. No matter the party affiliation, if we have the option of sending someone we know, who has an established reputation for integrity and commitment to the well-being of our community and who shares our basic values, we can make no better contribution than to send that person to represent us in our Nation's Parliament.
If we had two candidates with that background, the choice would be difficult. We do not.
Tim Jones is our man.
Saturday, 11 October 2008
Friday, 10 October 2008
In Response to Another Comment
Anonymous said...
We should vote for Tim because we know him and he's a good guy?WTF?I also happen to think Tim is a good guy but we're trying to elect a Federal government here - not a grand marshall for the Sanata Claus parade.
Either you go for Harper's "steady as she goes" approach with lower taxes and modest spending or you drink the Liberal kool-aid - "handouts for everyone" paid for by a huge tax hit disguised as a climate plan.
The same guys that promised to scrap the GST but instead gave us the 1 billion dollar gun registry, the 1 billion dollar Jane Stewart scandal, the sponsorship scandal, the $500 million helicopter cancellation, the Kyoto agreement they signed and then ignored for 12 years, the 5 billion Kelowna Accord (native handout) they signed and ignored. We should bring that kind of government back because Tim's a good guy? NOT! (sorry Tim but there's no way Dion's getting my vote.)
And to that I offer the following:
Thank you for your comment. It gives me an opportunity to further explore and articulate my own thinking.
For me, the most important function of a Member of Parliament is caring for the needs of the riding as they relate to federal affairs. Community and individual needs are a large component of that responsibility. Easy communication with the person we elect is key.
Over many years ,Tim Jones has established a record of community involvement. He knows his way around government. He has forged a reputation as caring, hard-working and honest. From my perspective, these are first essentials of a candidate for public office. The country would benefit enormously if all parties were represented by people of similar background.
It is naive to suggest one political party has a monopoly on incompetence and crass opportunism.
The federal issue I care most about is Canada's role in foreign wars and the senseless waste of human lives.I disagree that young Canadians should be placed in harm's way to accomplish a questionable objective. I am not persuaded our politicians know better than the people of Afghanistan what is best for them in their own country.
Our current Prime Minister is on record as being in support of American President George Bush in the invasion of Iraq. The U.S. has lost half a million young Americans in a war for which there is no end in sight and is known to have been based on deliberate misinformation. How many sons and daughters of Canadians would have been added to that figure had Stephen Harper been Prime Minister?
For me, nothing takes priority over this issue. But there is also the matter of how Stephen Harper feels about us. I don't think he likes us. He clearly hates the attention of the media. I don't think he trusts the members of his own party. I believe he wants all power in his hands. We know very little about the man but what we do is not reassuring. I do not believe we can trust him.
What about the revelations Afghanistan involvement has cost billions more than previously stated ? And the figures were deliberately misrepresented to indicate a fraction of actual cost.?
What about the clear manifestations of public sorrow when caskets are brought home from that distant place? Does that count for nothing?
The government's platform indicates they plan to spend more money on prisons and wars and less on arts and culture which would allow young Canadians to develop their skills to make a meaningful contribution to the society which is theirs to create.How's that for positive vision?
You are not wrong about villainy in high places.. But if people had the opportunity to judge, as you do with Tim Jones ,it is the only way to ensure integrity within government. He is a decent, honest caring, competent, hard-working Canadian and you know that for sure.
But besides that, when Jean Chretien indicated in the Federal House, “we will not send young Canadians to die in Iraq” , he was cheered by his members. On that day, they secured my vote for as long as I have it to give.
We should vote for Tim because we know him and he's a good guy?WTF?I also happen to think Tim is a good guy but we're trying to elect a Federal government here - not a grand marshall for the Sanata Claus parade.
Either you go for Harper's "steady as she goes" approach with lower taxes and modest spending or you drink the Liberal kool-aid - "handouts for everyone" paid for by a huge tax hit disguised as a climate plan.
The same guys that promised to scrap the GST but instead gave us the 1 billion dollar gun registry, the 1 billion dollar Jane Stewart scandal, the sponsorship scandal, the $500 million helicopter cancellation, the Kyoto agreement they signed and then ignored for 12 years, the 5 billion Kelowna Accord (native handout) they signed and ignored. We should bring that kind of government back because Tim's a good guy? NOT! (sorry Tim but there's no way Dion's getting my vote.)
And to that I offer the following:
Thank you for your comment. It gives me an opportunity to further explore and articulate my own thinking.
For me, the most important function of a Member of Parliament is caring for the needs of the riding as they relate to federal affairs. Community and individual needs are a large component of that responsibility. Easy communication with the person we elect is key.
Over many years ,Tim Jones has established a record of community involvement. He knows his way around government. He has forged a reputation as caring, hard-working and honest. From my perspective, these are first essentials of a candidate for public office. The country would benefit enormously if all parties were represented by people of similar background.
It is naive to suggest one political party has a monopoly on incompetence and crass opportunism.
The federal issue I care most about is Canada's role in foreign wars and the senseless waste of human lives.I disagree that young Canadians should be placed in harm's way to accomplish a questionable objective. I am not persuaded our politicians know better than the people of Afghanistan what is best for them in their own country.
Our current Prime Minister is on record as being in support of American President George Bush in the invasion of Iraq. The U.S. has lost half a million young Americans in a war for which there is no end in sight and is known to have been based on deliberate misinformation. How many sons and daughters of Canadians would have been added to that figure had Stephen Harper been Prime Minister?
For me, nothing takes priority over this issue. But there is also the matter of how Stephen Harper feels about us. I don't think he likes us. He clearly hates the attention of the media. I don't think he trusts the members of his own party. I believe he wants all power in his hands. We know very little about the man but what we do is not reassuring. I do not believe we can trust him.
What about the revelations Afghanistan involvement has cost billions more than previously stated ? And the figures were deliberately misrepresented to indicate a fraction of actual cost.?
What about the clear manifestations of public sorrow when caskets are brought home from that distant place? Does that count for nothing?
The government's platform indicates they plan to spend more money on prisons and wars and less on arts and culture which would allow young Canadians to develop their skills to make a meaningful contribution to the society which is theirs to create.How's that for positive vision?
You are not wrong about villainy in high places.. But if people had the opportunity to judge, as you do with Tim Jones ,it is the only way to ensure integrity within government. He is a decent, honest caring, competent, hard-working Canadian and you know that for sure.
But besides that, when Jean Chretien indicated in the Federal House, “we will not send young Canadians to die in Iraq” , he was cheered by his members. On that day, they secured my vote for as long as I have it to give.
Tuesday, 7 October 2008
The Home Grown Variety
Yes I have noticed there's an election at home. How could I not? It's the third in five years. Down here, we have had four years imposed on us. Up there, a thirty-nine million dollar expenditure can be made whenever "the boss" thinks they might get better numbers.
Actually with six political "parties" competing, the numbers don't matter a whit. They give no clear indication of a Canadian political perspective.
In this riding, we have Dorian Baxter, Elvis Presley look-alike campaigning as the REAL Progressive Conservative candidate.
The Bloq Quebecois is committed to breaking up the Federation but they campaign in a Federal election. Talk about the enemy within.
The New Democratic Party is the political arm of organized labour. Unions provide the funding and they call the tune. They convene once a year, pass apolitical resolutions. Their leaders are bound by them but it doesn't matter much because the UAW president will shove them out of the way when the Liberals bow to their pressure.
Since Tommy Douglas and union funding, every NDP Leader has been pushed aside by the reigning president of UAW. Jack Layton will be no exception. Unions don't want to form a government. Sid Ryan, President of C.U.P.E. proved that when he drummed Bob Rae out of office for daring to engage in a creative solution for a serious problem.
The Green Party. What!
The Harper Party. This is the individual who said we should join our friends when the Americans invaded Iraq on bogus claims of weapons of mass destruction. More than 4,500 young American men and women have died since then and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. Men, women, children and old people have died at the hands of Americans. We could have been there with them. We may still if we give that man the power he so obviously craves.
The Liberals. Well, they're not great. They could be if the people who share Tommy Douglas principles and Green Party ideals were to join and give the Liberal party the energy and commitment needed for a successful political party. Liberals need an injection of adrenalin.
We have had three elections in five years. The first, despite millions spent on a nationwide leadership contest and a lacklustre campaign by Liberals, barely scored a Conservative win. The second went Liberal despite a ferocious battle against the candidate.
I believe our new-old riding of Aurora-Newmarket is a safe Liberal seat. Tim Jones has a substantial background in public service. We know him. He knows us. I believe he will serve us well.
Actually with six political "parties" competing, the numbers don't matter a whit. They give no clear indication of a Canadian political perspective.
In this riding, we have Dorian Baxter, Elvis Presley look-alike campaigning as the REAL Progressive Conservative candidate.
The Bloq Quebecois is committed to breaking up the Federation but they campaign in a Federal election. Talk about the enemy within.
The New Democratic Party is the political arm of organized labour. Unions provide the funding and they call the tune. They convene once a year, pass apolitical resolutions. Their leaders are bound by them but it doesn't matter much because the UAW president will shove them out of the way when the Liberals bow to their pressure.
Since Tommy Douglas and union funding, every NDP Leader has been pushed aside by the reigning president of UAW. Jack Layton will be no exception. Unions don't want to form a government. Sid Ryan, President of C.U.P.E. proved that when he drummed Bob Rae out of office for daring to engage in a creative solution for a serious problem.
The Green Party. What!
The Harper Party. This is the individual who said we should join our friends when the Americans invaded Iraq on bogus claims of weapons of mass destruction. More than 4,500 young American men and women have died since then and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. Men, women, children and old people have died at the hands of Americans. We could have been there with them. We may still if we give that man the power he so obviously craves.
The Liberals. Well, they're not great. They could be if the people who share Tommy Douglas principles and Green Party ideals were to join and give the Liberal party the energy and commitment needed for a successful political party. Liberals need an injection of adrenalin.
We have had three elections in five years. The first, despite millions spent on a nationwide leadership contest and a lacklustre campaign by Liberals, barely scored a Conservative win. The second went Liberal despite a ferocious battle against the candidate.
I believe our new-old riding of Aurora-Newmarket is a safe Liberal seat. Tim Jones has a substantial background in public service. We know him. He knows us. I believe he will serve us well.
Sunday, 5 October 2008
Degrees of Risk
I watch American politics. I can't help it. But it does put things at home into persepective..
In the last election I couldn't believe what Republicans did to John Kerry over the swift boat affair. War provides circumstances every day for men and women to draw down on strength they never knew they had. Bravery and selfless acts are common.
John McCain's story however has some glaring contradictions.
I had heard about his trials and tribulations as a prisoner-of-war. The media noted he had never really talked about it before this campaign. Well, I thought, maybe that's why his story endured.
He told about being shot down into a lake and thrown into a cell to die. When I'm listening, I need to imagine the scene. This picture did not jell.
Somebody had to fish the man out of the lake before they could throw him into a jail cell to die.
Why would they do that? Why would they save his life just to let him die?
There was a picture of a young McCain lying on a hospital bed in a body cast. He was surrounded by white coats. They looked like doctors. The cast was obviously not an instrument of torture. Why would they make the effort to heal his broken body, to torture him later when he was well?
Propaganda has a place during a war. But this was thirty years after.
The biggest puzzle is how obvious discrepancies in the story are never challenged. John McCain has had a successful career in politics based on his heroism, sacrifice and love of country. Even former President Bill Clinton stated "no man could give more for his country".
But what if he didn't? What if the story is a dramatized fabrication for the purpose of political exploitation? If parts of it make no sense, why should any of it be true?
What does that make of the sacrifice of thousands killed in the cruel and inhumane circumstance of war?
The ones who never came home to receive the plaudits of a grateful nation. Who have no known graves. Whose bodies were blown apart in pieces too small to gather or pitched into an ocean of flaming oil.
What about all those without a resting place? Whose families were haunted forever after by the horror of their deaths.
Of all human enterprise war is most fraught with drama and risk and incredible stupidity and waste. Wars are not won. They are lost by the side that makes the most blunders and runs out of men and ammunition first.
In politics, being rigorously honest is chancy. Reality can be tedious , irritating. and terrifying People are not always inclined to deal with it.
In war,there is plenty of talk about courage and bravery and glory.It obscures the blunders and the carnage.But claiming heroism and sacrifice where there was none and where so much was lost by so many, bespeaks a lack of character, intelligence and integrity. I think if John McCain did make a sacrifice he has been more than compensated .
If he did not, he is seeking a reward he is not entitled to receive on the backs of those whose sacrifice can never ever be compensated.
In the last election I couldn't believe what Republicans did to John Kerry over the swift boat affair. War provides circumstances every day for men and women to draw down on strength they never knew they had. Bravery and selfless acts are common.
John McCain's story however has some glaring contradictions.
I had heard about his trials and tribulations as a prisoner-of-war. The media noted he had never really talked about it before this campaign. Well, I thought, maybe that's why his story endured.
He told about being shot down into a lake and thrown into a cell to die. When I'm listening, I need to imagine the scene. This picture did not jell.
Somebody had to fish the man out of the lake before they could throw him into a jail cell to die.
Why would they do that? Why would they save his life just to let him die?
There was a picture of a young McCain lying on a hospital bed in a body cast. He was surrounded by white coats. They looked like doctors. The cast was obviously not an instrument of torture. Why would they make the effort to heal his broken body, to torture him later when he was well?
Propaganda has a place during a war. But this was thirty years after.
The biggest puzzle is how obvious discrepancies in the story are never challenged. John McCain has had a successful career in politics based on his heroism, sacrifice and love of country. Even former President Bill Clinton stated "no man could give more for his country".
But what if he didn't? What if the story is a dramatized fabrication for the purpose of political exploitation? If parts of it make no sense, why should any of it be true?
What does that make of the sacrifice of thousands killed in the cruel and inhumane circumstance of war?
The ones who never came home to receive the plaudits of a grateful nation. Who have no known graves. Whose bodies were blown apart in pieces too small to gather or pitched into an ocean of flaming oil.
What about all those without a resting place? Whose families were haunted forever after by the horror of their deaths.
Of all human enterprise war is most fraught with drama and risk and incredible stupidity and waste. Wars are not won. They are lost by the side that makes the most blunders and runs out of men and ammunition first.
In politics, being rigorously honest is chancy. Reality can be tedious , irritating. and terrifying People are not always inclined to deal with it.
In war,there is plenty of talk about courage and bravery and glory.It obscures the blunders and the carnage.But claiming heroism and sacrifice where there was none and where so much was lost by so many, bespeaks a lack of character, intelligence and integrity. I think if John McCain did make a sacrifice he has been more than compensated .
If he did not, he is seeking a reward he is not entitled to receive on the backs of those whose sacrifice can never ever be compensated.
Monday, 29 September 2008
A SHELL GAME
The York Region District Separate School Board Trustee, Elizabeth Crowe delegated to Council a couple of weeks ago. The Board were being required to pay Cash In Lieu of Parkland levy in the
amount of $414,000 . before they could receive their building permit for the new district high school on Wellington Street. Ms Crow asked for relief from the requirement.
The trustee pointed out the Board's past co-operation with the town in the use of their facilities. The new school would have substantial sports and other facilities to share. The land would only be 40% occupied by school facilities. If the Town required parkland, the Board would willingly dedicate same.
The Town said "No". The Province says "NO". The Director of Leisure Services said he would rather have the money. The Mayor said, "We need the money to buy land for baseball diamonds."
Councillor Gaertner said ."School Boards don't pay taxes."
. I heard nothing from anyone to convince me the request was not valid. I voted against the motion to deny.
The Board does share facilities willingly. The Town is very glad to have access to them.
We have reserve funds which have been collected to purchase land for baseball diamonds and have steadfastly refused to use it for that purpose.
We could add land to the Arboretum being developed by the town.A creek would be a definite asset.
Boards of Education do not pay taxes. They collect taxes. Schools users pay taxes to the Town the Region and the School Boards. How many times more should they pay ?
At the time York Region District Public School Board was contemplating closure of Dr. G.W.Williams High School, the economic advantage of the school in that location was made much of by Aurora Council when they were preparing to mount the bastions and declare war on the board on behalf of school users and surrounding businesses. Councillor Gaertner did not make any reference then that they do not pay taxes.
But perhaps the biggest shell game of all is the Provincial regulation that requires a fee on top of a building permit, for Cash in Lieu of Parkland.
When they built their new additionCanadian Tire did not create a need for parkland . Neither did State Farm Insurance . Nor Wall-Mart.. None of them created anything but assessment wealth for politicians to squander. All were required to make a cash payment in lieu of parkland.
York Region District Separate School Board provides sports facilities and other amenities paid for by separate school supporters and willingly shares with the community at large. They have not created a need for a park.
The payment required by the Town must be charged to new home owners.These future residents will also pay the town's and the region's development levy and for parks to meet their needs in the price of their new homes.
How then can a cash payment in Lieu of Parkland be legitimately collected. Just because we have the power to do it, doesn't make it right. In my judgement , it is legalised thievery.
amount of $414,000 . before they could receive their building permit for the new district high school on Wellington Street. Ms Crow asked for relief from the requirement.
The trustee pointed out the Board's past co-operation with the town in the use of their facilities. The new school would have substantial sports and other facilities to share. The land would only be 40% occupied by school facilities. If the Town required parkland, the Board would willingly dedicate same.
The Town said "No". The Province says "NO". The Director of Leisure Services said he would rather have the money. The Mayor said, "We need the money to buy land for baseball diamonds."
Councillor Gaertner said ."School Boards don't pay taxes."
. I heard nothing from anyone to convince me the request was not valid. I voted against the motion to deny.
The Board does share facilities willingly. The Town is very glad to have access to them.
We have reserve funds which have been collected to purchase land for baseball diamonds and have steadfastly refused to use it for that purpose.
We could add land to the Arboretum being developed by the town.A creek would be a definite asset.
Boards of Education do not pay taxes. They collect taxes. Schools users pay taxes to the Town the Region and the School Boards. How many times more should they pay ?
At the time York Region District Public School Board was contemplating closure of Dr. G.W.Williams High School, the economic advantage of the school in that location was made much of by Aurora Council when they were preparing to mount the bastions and declare war on the board on behalf of school users and surrounding businesses. Councillor Gaertner did not make any reference then that they do not pay taxes.
But perhaps the biggest shell game of all is the Provincial regulation that requires a fee on top of a building permit, for Cash in Lieu of Parkland.
When they built their new additionCanadian Tire did not create a need for parkland . Neither did State Farm Insurance . Nor Wall-Mart.. None of them created anything but assessment wealth for politicians to squander. All were required to make a cash payment in lieu of parkland.
York Region District Separate School Board provides sports facilities and other amenities paid for by separate school supporters and willingly shares with the community at large. They have not created a need for a park.
The payment required by the Town must be charged to new home owners.These future residents will also pay the town's and the region's development levy and for parks to meet their needs in the price of their new homes.
How then can a cash payment in Lieu of Parkland be legitimately collected. Just because we have the power to do it, doesn't make it right. In my judgement , it is legalised thievery.
THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
In the last term of Council , the concept of Department Business Plans was introduced The objective was to create a performance measurement. Department heads prepare the plan and at year-end have a look-see if the goals were achieved. Department budgets form the basis for the plan .
When the Business plans were put forward this year, the mayor and council determined they should have a say-so. Councillors frequently refer to their part-time status. How they expect to be responsible for a department's business plan is not clear at this time. There is no councillor I am aware of with experience in the management of any town department.Still if they are determined to set the goals, they will undoubtedly be prepared to be accountable for their success or failure.
The Code of Conduct is published on the Town's website. There's a clause about harassment of staff. The Code prohibits that. Readers in the habit of watching council meetings will be aware of the hypocrisy of that clause.
Several pages of The Code deal with the complaint process. There's also a whole bunch of gobbledygook completely irrelevant to the practice of politics. Virtuous verbiage abounds and contributes mightily to its unenforcibility
The Town must appoint an Integrity Commissioner with an annual retainer.Costs of dealing with an application will be charged on an hourly basis, probably at the level of legal fees.
That information is not on the web site. The commissioner is not yet appointed . The cost of the services can not even be estimated. Yet Councillors, hot to trot with complaints have directed the Director of Corporate Affairs to" prepare the file".
By the way, it seems Rogers Cable has decided our council meetings will appear at mid-day on Wednesdays. We will be able to watch Newmarket Council meetings live on Monday evening.Our
own will not be so convenient.
When the Business plans were put forward this year, the mayor and council determined they should have a say-so. Councillors frequently refer to their part-time status. How they expect to be responsible for a department's business plan is not clear at this time. There is no councillor I am aware of with experience in the management of any town department.Still if they are determined to set the goals, they will undoubtedly be prepared to be accountable for their success or failure.
The Code of Conduct is published on the Town's website. There's a clause about harassment of staff. The Code prohibits that. Readers in the habit of watching council meetings will be aware of the hypocrisy of that clause.
Several pages of The Code deal with the complaint process. There's also a whole bunch of gobbledygook completely irrelevant to the practice of politics. Virtuous verbiage abounds and contributes mightily to its unenforcibility
The Town must appoint an Integrity Commissioner with an annual retainer.Costs of dealing with an application will be charged on an hourly basis, probably at the level of legal fees.
That information is not on the web site. The commissioner is not yet appointed . The cost of the services can not even be estimated. Yet Councillors, hot to trot with complaints have directed the Director of Corporate Affairs to" prepare the file".
By the way, it seems Rogers Cable has decided our council meetings will appear at mid-day on Wednesdays. We will be able to watch Newmarket Council meetings live on Monday evening.Our
own will not be so convenient.
Thursday, 25 September 2008
Hey, Be Nice!
HEATHER'S COMMENT:Ok people, someone named "Anonymous" has just left a particularly scurrilous comment on the last post "Anonymous Said." I've rejected the comment because it was totally uncalled for. We're aiming for intelligent conversation here folks, and debate. Evelyn and I have argued about whether or not ALL comments should be posted, and to date they have all been posted. This one though, got flushed. So, you, Mr. or Mrs. "Imagine spending time at home..." - please try again. If you can communicate your thoughts without offensive language, you're welcome to come back and comment. Merci Beaucoup!
Anonymous Said:
HEATHER'S NOTE: This comment was recently received on "The Hate Mail" post.
Anonymous said...
"The writer merely wrote what many in town think."
Or what a few want many to think. To vilify and demonize Cllr Buck is merely an attempt at misdirection. (Which, frankly, is giving far more attention (and potential power) to a single vote among nine. A "thorn in the side" gets magnified and can galvanize greater opposition)
Rather than show true, proactive leadership they instead obsess over every dissenting opinion, any perceived criticism. What we're left with is a reactive, micro-managing mayor (w/ confederates) bogged down in the vain hope of controlling the town's legislative AND administrative duties.
As much as Morris and MacEachern can't abide criticism and "misinformation" (their term) contained in this blog, The Auroran and the Aurora Citizen blog what must really compound their aggravation and frustration is the failure to control it. Indeed, the mayor was planning to hire a PR flack (sorry, "Communications Specialist" or some such) to handle media releases/publicity on behalf of the mayor (and council...well, some of them). Not for the business of the Corporation of the Town of Aurora but a political PR flack to 'manage the message'. Thankfully, I believe this proposed position didn't survive the budget process.
Being overly sensitive to criticism and exhibiting an inflexible "if you're not with us, you're against us" attitude might indicate insecurity, an overcompensation. There's definitely no collegial sense of consensus building or a team dynamic on this council. That comes from good leadership.
Things didn't devolve to this state; lines were drawn from the beginning. Even with the election won, it seemed the mayor and her main ally were still in battle mode; that there were factions in the town hall and within the town itself that required combating. That undercurrent of paranoia is unsettling.
Efforts were made to differentiate this mayor and council from previous ones. It's difficult to see improvements - and that wasn't a particularly unattainable goal. The bar wasn't set that high (with some individual exceptions).
Believe me, I was no fan of the previous mayor, far from it, in fact. That's why hopes were high. Those hopes have been dashed. It's also why many former supporters are now highly critical of Mayor Morris. This vehement criticism is born of a sense of betrayal of those raised hopes.
Signed,
Disappointed and dismayed in 'dis town
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
THE COOKS AND THE BROTH
Yesterday I removed "the hate mail" Blog. I was never quite sure I should post it.I think it's a vitriolic diatribe. A person can't engage stuff like that without descending to its level.The Town's business deserves better. There are unwritten rules in politics. Mostly quided by a personal sense of self-respect.
Heather Sisman did the work to post the "hate mail" blog. That gives her a proprietary interest. When she read the anonymous comment asking where it had gone,she thought it had disappeared by accident. So, she put it back .The beauty of the Blog is that we can do stuff like that. All we're doing is communicating. We don't have to worry about offending advertisers or meeting a payroll . We can tell it like we see it.Then we can even let our enemies take pot shots at us and reveal their true nature.
Anyway, for better or worse, the vile thing is back .
The Right to Privacy????
The Code of Conduct came up again in a report to Council last night. On a motion by Councillor MacEachern,staff had been directed to provide names of all those who had not signed the Code and were therefore "non-compliant" In effect, the "outlaws."
Several citizen members were named. Councillor Collins-Marakas expressed her concern about that and also about the phrase " non-compliant" members should be "given another chance."
They are volunteers" she pointed out in some exasperation."This suggests punitive action".
Ditrector of Corporate Affairs ,Bob Panizza pointed out "the information is provided because council asked for it". And so they did.
Councillor Wilson claimed the councillor who was not in compliance was the real concern. He may have inferred "scandal" but he mentioned no name.
Councillor Granger huffed and puffed and stated he "can't wait for the Integrity Commissioner"
It was decided the Director should write to the recalcitrant volunteers and the councillor and "give them another chance". The threat of consequence was left hanging.
LEGAL FEES INCURRED BY COUNCIL.
At the meeting's end Mayor Morris asked staff to place on the overhead a graph she had prepared to compare spending on legal services between this term and the last several . The purpose, she stated, was to correct misinformation .
I took advantage of the opening to inform the Mayor that questions being asked in the community were about legal services retained by herself, their purpose, the cost and what the community received in return..
The Mayor responded the records would show lawyers retained were by resolution of Council and I needed to produce a list of names to support my contention.
I reminded the Mayor that this year , the Director of Finance had shown a new item in council's budget for legal services. She and Councillor MacEachern had argued it should not be there. It should be included in the the legal services department budget. I made so bold last night as to suggest the reason was to hide legal bills incurred by council.That was another resolution supported by the majority.
I reminded the Mayor she had retained George Rust D'Eye at a public meeting and refused to provide a reason for that action. The purpose was never clarified. The eventual cost was $16,200. Mr. Rust D'Eye's report to Council was never made public save and except for his ideas of how to deal with a wayward councillor.
A Code of Conduct with consequences for non-compliance was one of George Rust D'Eye's ideas.The other was council could create an executive committee which could include every member save one. Thereby effectively excluding a wayward councillor from the business of the municipality . And incidentally, expunge the results of the previous municipal election.
I left the council chamber again at ten-thirty-five p.m. I no longer call points of order to the lack thereoff which lead to regular over-runs and the town's business agenda never being completed within the time allotted Leaving at the hour of adjournment is the only way to express my objection to the dismal lack of control exercised by the presiding member.
Heather Sisman did the work to post the "hate mail" blog. That gives her a proprietary interest. When she read the anonymous comment asking where it had gone,she thought it had disappeared by accident. So, she put it back .The beauty of the Blog is that we can do stuff like that. All we're doing is communicating. We don't have to worry about offending advertisers or meeting a payroll . We can tell it like we see it.Then we can even let our enemies take pot shots at us and reveal their true nature.
Anyway, for better or worse, the vile thing is back .
The Right to Privacy????
The Code of Conduct came up again in a report to Council last night. On a motion by Councillor MacEachern,staff had been directed to provide names of all those who had not signed the Code and were therefore "non-compliant" In effect, the "outlaws."
Several citizen members were named. Councillor Collins-Marakas expressed her concern about that and also about the phrase " non-compliant" members should be "given another chance."
They are volunteers" she pointed out in some exasperation."This suggests punitive action".
Ditrector of Corporate Affairs ,Bob Panizza pointed out "the information is provided because council asked for it". And so they did.
Councillor Wilson claimed the councillor who was not in compliance was the real concern. He may have inferred "scandal" but he mentioned no name.
Councillor Granger huffed and puffed and stated he "can't wait for the Integrity Commissioner"
It was decided the Director should write to the recalcitrant volunteers and the councillor and "give them another chance". The threat of consequence was left hanging.
LEGAL FEES INCURRED BY COUNCIL.
At the meeting's end Mayor Morris asked staff to place on the overhead a graph she had prepared to compare spending on legal services between this term and the last several . The purpose, she stated, was to correct misinformation .
I took advantage of the opening to inform the Mayor that questions being asked in the community were about legal services retained by herself, their purpose, the cost and what the community received in return..
The Mayor responded the records would show lawyers retained were by resolution of Council and I needed to produce a list of names to support my contention.
I reminded the Mayor that this year , the Director of Finance had shown a new item in council's budget for legal services. She and Councillor MacEachern had argued it should not be there. It should be included in the the legal services department budget. I made so bold last night as to suggest the reason was to hide legal bills incurred by council.That was another resolution supported by the majority.
I reminded the Mayor she had retained George Rust D'Eye at a public meeting and refused to provide a reason for that action. The purpose was never clarified. The eventual cost was $16,200. Mr. Rust D'Eye's report to Council was never made public save and except for his ideas of how to deal with a wayward councillor.
A Code of Conduct with consequences for non-compliance was one of George Rust D'Eye's ideas.The other was council could create an executive committee which could include every member save one. Thereby effectively excluding a wayward councillor from the business of the municipality . And incidentally, expunge the results of the previous municipal election.
I left the council chamber again at ten-thirty-five p.m. I no longer call points of order to the lack thereoff which lead to regular over-runs and the town's business agenda never being completed within the time allotted Leaving at the hour of adjournment is the only way to express my objection to the dismal lack of control exercised by the presiding member.
Monday, 22 September 2008
A Double-Edged Sword
I missed last week's council-in-committee meeting. I watched it on DVD. Not all at once but I did watch until the end.
Councillor Wilson asked when action was going to be taken on"The Breach of the Code of Conduct".
Councillor MacEachern moved the matter be referred to the Integrity Commissioner.
The Director of Corporate Services informed them of the process they were so hot to trot in pursuit thereof.
"There is no Integrity Commissioner until Council appoints one" he said.
"There is a formal complaint process to be followed " he said
Pages 10, 11,12 and 13 of the Bylaw outline in detail the complaint process
Nowhere does it allow a complaint to be casually referred with a wave of the hand, to an Integrity Commissioner.
There was subsequently further input from the Mayor about the need for The Code to be prominently displayed on the Town's web site.
"It is" said the Director.
The process to follow in making a complaint should be clear for citizens to follow, indicated Councillor MacEachern and the Mayor.
That too, the Director indicated.
I think it is reasonable to expect that before a council votes in support of a Bylaw, they would be sufficiently familiar with its scope to understand how it shall be used.
One might also expect that a councillor eager to make an accusation against another, might have the sense to familiarise him/herself with a law which they are responsible for promulgating. If only to save themselves the embarrassment of being accused of not adhering to a responsible code of conduct.
At last week's meeting, when Councillor Wilson asked when action was going to be taken, he clearly revealed his perception that someone other than himself is responsible to initiate the process.
Councillor MacEachern also revealed her erroneous understanding that a motion to refer was all that was required to set wheels in motion.
Ignorance coupled with arrogance are a dangerous complement. Attach that to authority and the outcome is unlikely to be beneficial to any person involved
I think passing a Code of Conduct Bylaw and thereafter displaying shameful ignorance of a significant part of its content might in itself be considered a breach of any code be it Conduct , Governance or just plain ordinary decency and common sense.
Councillor Wilson asked when action was going to be taken on"The Breach of the Code of Conduct".
Councillor MacEachern moved the matter be referred to the Integrity Commissioner.
The Director of Corporate Services informed them of the process they were so hot to trot in pursuit thereof.
"There is no Integrity Commissioner until Council appoints one" he said.
"There is a formal complaint process to be followed " he said
Pages 10, 11,12 and 13 of the Bylaw outline in detail the complaint process
Nowhere does it allow a complaint to be casually referred with a wave of the hand, to an Integrity Commissioner.
There was subsequently further input from the Mayor about the need for The Code to be prominently displayed on the Town's web site.
"It is" said the Director.
The process to follow in making a complaint should be clear for citizens to follow, indicated Councillor MacEachern and the Mayor.
That too, the Director indicated.
I think it is reasonable to expect that before a council votes in support of a Bylaw, they would be sufficiently familiar with its scope to understand how it shall be used.
One might also expect that a councillor eager to make an accusation against another, might have the sense to familiarise him/herself with a law which they are responsible for promulgating. If only to save themselves the embarrassment of being accused of not adhering to a responsible code of conduct.
At last week's meeting, when Councillor Wilson asked when action was going to be taken, he clearly revealed his perception that someone other than himself is responsible to initiate the process.
Councillor MacEachern also revealed her erroneous understanding that a motion to refer was all that was required to set wheels in motion.
Ignorance coupled with arrogance are a dangerous complement. Attach that to authority and the outcome is unlikely to be beneficial to any person involved
I think passing a Code of Conduct Bylaw and thereafter displaying shameful ignorance of a significant part of its content might in itself be considered a breach of any code be it Conduct , Governance or just plain ordinary decency and common sense.
Friday, 19 September 2008
The Hate Mail
HEATHER'S NOTE: As promised, here is the hate mail that Evelyn mentioned in her last post. Please comment and let her know what you think.
Evelyn Buck: a destructive force
As a long-time resident of Aurora and concerned citizen, I am sending this to all members of council, including Councillor Buck. I wish to remain anonymous out of fear. I have watched with dismay as Councillor Buck has heaped her relentless, malicious attacks upon those who dare to disagree with her.
I was moved to write after watching Councillor Buck's deliberate manipulation of council to create an unseemly procedural conundrum following the resignation of Councillor Marsh.
Here is what I observed:
1. Councillor Buck wanted a by-election.
2. Other councillors wanted to defer the matter for two weeks to gather input from the community.
3. Councillor Buck vehemently rejected that position.
4. Her motion was defeated in a tie vote.
5. The consequence, easily anticipated and no doubt welcomed by Councillor Buck, was a vexing procedural problem with no obvious on-the-spot soultion (save repealing the procedural bylaw!)
6. Council was then forced to respond to the problem created by Councillor Buck's manipulation.
7. During the debate that followed, Councillor Buck focused on the responses of others, finally setting herself up as a problem-solver. Of course, she would agree to a deferral to allow more time for public response. How reasonable. An hour earlier, she had taken the opposite position.
8. Councillor Buck wins again.
9. The taxpayers lose. The embarrassing spectacle of a dysfunctional council continues.
10. As is her custom, Councillor Buck again focused on creating discord, criticizing her colleagues and manipulating them into emotional responses.
11. Councillor Buck came into this term with eyes open, seemingly determined to maintain the discord she had nurtured throughout the previous term.
12. Tim Jones lost the mayoral election, in part because of the perception that he could not control a dysfunctional council, and could not control Councillor Buck. Are we making progress this term? What difference will ANOTHER code of ethics make?
13. No one can control Councillor Buck because she willfully, maliciously and self-righteously seeks to create conflict rather than co-operation. What matters most to her is to win. All else is secondary.
14. While she wins, we lose.
16. Councillor Buck has contributed mightily to the resignation of one councillor. What if others conclude that they too cannot weather the constant disruption and abuse and can no longer function in this environment? Multiple council vacancies over a four-year term might have sounded implausible a year ago. For those who watch council meetings regularly on cable TV, that prospect does not seem so implausible in May 2008.
Evelyn Buck: a destructive force
As a long-time resident of Aurora and concerned citizen, I am sending this to all members of council, including Councillor Buck. I wish to remain anonymous out of fear. I have watched with dismay as Councillor Buck has heaped her relentless, malicious attacks upon those who dare to disagree with her.
I was moved to write after watching Councillor Buck's deliberate manipulation of council to create an unseemly procedural conundrum following the resignation of Councillor Marsh.
Here is what I observed:
1. Councillor Buck wanted a by-election.
2. Other councillors wanted to defer the matter for two weeks to gather input from the community.
3. Councillor Buck vehemently rejected that position.
4. Her motion was defeated in a tie vote.
5. The consequence, easily anticipated and no doubt welcomed by Councillor Buck, was a vexing procedural problem with no obvious on-the-spot soultion (save repealing the procedural bylaw!)
6. Council was then forced to respond to the problem created by Councillor Buck's manipulation.
7. During the debate that followed, Councillor Buck focused on the responses of others, finally setting herself up as a problem-solver. Of course, she would agree to a deferral to allow more time for public response. How reasonable. An hour earlier, she had taken the opposite position.
8. Councillor Buck wins again.
9. The taxpayers lose. The embarrassing spectacle of a dysfunctional council continues.
10. As is her custom, Councillor Buck again focused on creating discord, criticizing her colleagues and manipulating them into emotional responses.
11. Councillor Buck came into this term with eyes open, seemingly determined to maintain the discord she had nurtured throughout the previous term.
12. Tim Jones lost the mayoral election, in part because of the perception that he could not control a dysfunctional council, and could not control Councillor Buck. Are we making progress this term? What difference will ANOTHER code of ethics make?
13. No one can control Councillor Buck because she willfully, maliciously and self-righteously seeks to create conflict rather than co-operation. What matters most to her is to win. All else is secondary.
14. While she wins, we lose.
- $40,000 for a by-election
- $16,000 to pay a lawyer to explore council's options for dealing with her behaviour.
16. Councillor Buck has contributed mightily to the resignation of one councillor. What if others conclude that they too cannot weather the constant disruption and abuse and can no longer function in this environment? Multiple council vacancies over a four-year term might have sounded implausible a year ago. For those who watch council meetings regularly on cable TV, that prospect does not seem so implausible in May 2008.
Thursday, 18 September 2008
Remember the Hate Mail?
I have received many encouraging messages and comments to my Blog. Too many to respond to individually. I keep them and read them often and appreciate the time people have taken to let me know of their support.
There have been a few negative comments as well. The style and content are increasingly familiar and I think identify a single writer.
A few months ago an anonymous letter was delivered to all Aurora Councillors.The Councillors' room is secure. The question arose as to how the missive got in there. I received two explanations: the first was that they were handed in at the town's reception desk and distributed from there. The second came later and indicated the letters were brought across from the Mayor's office and distributed.
When I showed the letter, people agreed it was hate mail. I referred the question to the Police. The Chief explained a few salient facts; from the perspective of investigation and prosecution, "incentive to hate" applies generally to a group or organisation. Such a letter as this would be impossible to trace and prosecution would be equally unlikely. Therefore nothing useful could be done.
I've always thought a person's writing tell more about a person than a conversation. It's harder to hide in the written word.
I suspect the negative comments to my blog and hate mail have the same author. I believe it is a member of the current council and the sentiments expressed do more than anything to reveal the toxic dynamics of this council.
So, I intend to re-print the letter and the negative comments and invite readers join in the exercise of making the determination. Is the writer one and the same?
Councillor MacEachern has stated she did not write it. Councillor McRoberts expressed his regret that such a thing could happen. Councillor Collins-Mrakas offered her professional assessment of the matter. No other councillor acknowledged receipt of the letter. I know it wasn't me. Although I am sure the Mayor could find a way to suggest I am responsible. I cannot see how anyone outside the council could have written it.
The letter must be re-typed to produce it in my Blog. I have little facility with typing and organising so Heather Sisman will do it at the week-end.
There have been a few negative comments as well. The style and content are increasingly familiar and I think identify a single writer.
A few months ago an anonymous letter was delivered to all Aurora Councillors.The Councillors' room is secure. The question arose as to how the missive got in there. I received two explanations: the first was that they were handed in at the town's reception desk and distributed from there. The second came later and indicated the letters were brought across from the Mayor's office and distributed.
When I showed the letter, people agreed it was hate mail. I referred the question to the Police. The Chief explained a few salient facts; from the perspective of investigation and prosecution, "incentive to hate" applies generally to a group or organisation. Such a letter as this would be impossible to trace and prosecution would be equally unlikely. Therefore nothing useful could be done.
I've always thought a person's writing tell more about a person than a conversation. It's harder to hide in the written word.
I suspect the negative comments to my blog and hate mail have the same author. I believe it is a member of the current council and the sentiments expressed do more than anything to reveal the toxic dynamics of this council.
So, I intend to re-print the letter and the negative comments and invite readers join in the exercise of making the determination. Is the writer one and the same?
Councillor MacEachern has stated she did not write it. Councillor McRoberts expressed his regret that such a thing could happen. Councillor Collins-Mrakas offered her professional assessment of the matter. No other councillor acknowledged receipt of the letter. I know it wasn't me. Although I am sure the Mayor could find a way to suggest I am responsible. I cannot see how anyone outside the council could have written it.
The letter must be re-typed to produce it in my Blog. I have little facility with typing and organising so Heather Sisman will do it at the week-end.
Monday, 15 September 2008
"Aurora staff crisis leads to blogging" from the Era-Banner
This was in the Era-Banner on Sunday September 14.
http://yorkregion.com/printarticle/81255
Aurora staff crisis leads to blogging
Simone Joseph
Published on Sep 13, 2008
Aurora Councillor Evelyn Buck was reprimanded this week for blogging private council discussions on her website.
It is not appropriate to publicly reveal information from closed session matters, Mayor Phyllis Morris said during a council meeting Tuesday night.
Ms Morris was criticizing Ms Buck’s Sept. 8 blog in which Ms Buck mentions the town’s chief building official had reported a staff shortage and work overload problem in the building department.
The department is so busy, the town needs to start paying workers overtime or risk builders starting projects without permits and not receiving timely inspections, one official said in the private meeting.
This information discussed in closed-door meetings is not appropriate material for Ms Buck’s blog, Councillor Evelina MacEachern agreed, adding the report was clearly colour-coded as a personnel matter to be discussed in private.
Ms Buck, however, defended her decision to include the information in the blog, saying it had to be dealt with.
“It is a town problem, a council problem. It needs to be dealt with now,” Ms Buck said.
“I don’t see that that matter needed to be discussed in private. It is a crisis in the building department that needs to be dealt with.”
Portions of the discussion should be shared in public, Councillor Alison Collins-Mrakas said, adding staffing issues should be discussed in public.
Ms Buck has said she would not deliberately alienate councillors in her blog but said she is fed up with council in-fighting where six or seven councillors vote together and cannot be swayed.
“There is no hope. I have given up on this council,” Ms Buck said in a phone interview Wednesday.
The blog, which she set up with the creation of her website during the 2006 municipal election, has been a helpful means of communication with the public, she said.
“That became my outlet — the answer to my frustration. I am doing with my blog what I promised people I would do. I am keeping them informed,” Ms Buck said.
“It is a godsend. Readers are zooming up, people are encouraging me to keep going.”
Portions of Ms Buck’s blog are critical of Aurora council.
“A chill hangs over town hall. Any staff member who dares to exercise authority is quite likely to find himself hauled before a quasi tribunal and cross-examined like a felon.
“Behind closed doors of course,” she wrote in her blog Sept. 10.
But her blog was not the only medium criticized. The mayor also questioned the accuracy of Ms Buck’s letter to the editor in the Sept. 9 Auroran newspaper.
In the letter, Ms Buck criticized a recommendation the town accept maintenance and operating costs of three lights in a Canadian Tire parking lot that would serve residents in a nearby condominium community.
“One is tempted to wonder why the report comes forward now, just days after the CAO was escorted from the premises of Aurora town hall.
“Was it one of the mayor’s orders she could not persuade him to obey?” she wrote.
During the council meeting, the mayor addressed Ms Buck’s accusation. “Did I order anyone to obey?” she asked.
“Let us get some facts in the paper in future,” the mayor said.
http://yorkregion.com/printarticle/81255
Aurora staff crisis leads to blogging
Simone Joseph
Published on Sep 13, 2008
Aurora Councillor Evelyn Buck was reprimanded this week for blogging private council discussions on her website.
It is not appropriate to publicly reveal information from closed session matters, Mayor Phyllis Morris said during a council meeting Tuesday night.
Ms Morris was criticizing Ms Buck’s Sept. 8 blog in which Ms Buck mentions the town’s chief building official had reported a staff shortage and work overload problem in the building department.
The department is so busy, the town needs to start paying workers overtime or risk builders starting projects without permits and not receiving timely inspections, one official said in the private meeting.
This information discussed in closed-door meetings is not appropriate material for Ms Buck’s blog, Councillor Evelina MacEachern agreed, adding the report was clearly colour-coded as a personnel matter to be discussed in private.
Ms Buck, however, defended her decision to include the information in the blog, saying it had to be dealt with.
“It is a town problem, a council problem. It needs to be dealt with now,” Ms Buck said.
“I don’t see that that matter needed to be discussed in private. It is a crisis in the building department that needs to be dealt with.”
Portions of the discussion should be shared in public, Councillor Alison Collins-Mrakas said, adding staffing issues should be discussed in public.
Ms Buck has said she would not deliberately alienate councillors in her blog but said she is fed up with council in-fighting where six or seven councillors vote together and cannot be swayed.
“There is no hope. I have given up on this council,” Ms Buck said in a phone interview Wednesday.
The blog, which she set up with the creation of her website during the 2006 municipal election, has been a helpful means of communication with the public, she said.
“That became my outlet — the answer to my frustration. I am doing with my blog what I promised people I would do. I am keeping them informed,” Ms Buck said.
“It is a godsend. Readers are zooming up, people are encouraging me to keep going.”
Portions of Ms Buck’s blog are critical of Aurora council.
“A chill hangs over town hall. Any staff member who dares to exercise authority is quite likely to find himself hauled before a quasi tribunal and cross-examined like a felon.
“Behind closed doors of course,” she wrote in her blog Sept. 10.
But her blog was not the only medium criticized. The mayor also questioned the accuracy of Ms Buck’s letter to the editor in the Sept. 9 Auroran newspaper.
In the letter, Ms Buck criticized a recommendation the town accept maintenance and operating costs of three lights in a Canadian Tire parking lot that would serve residents in a nearby condominium community.
“One is tempted to wonder why the report comes forward now, just days after the CAO was escorted from the premises of Aurora town hall.
“Was it one of the mayor’s orders she could not persuade him to obey?” she wrote.
During the council meeting, the mayor addressed Ms Buck’s accusation. “Did I order anyone to obey?” she asked.
“Let us get some facts in the paper in future,” the mayor said.
Sunday, 14 September 2008
Pragmatism
I am surprised when people, particularly politicians find it easy to tout ethics and moral conduct. In the last term of council, Councillor Morris gave notice several times that she intended to update the Code of Ethics. I indicated I looked forward to the debate. If it was forced upon me, I would welcome the opportunity to discuss what I considered to be unethical conduct.I had more than enough examples.
No motion ever came forward. Just as well.
I recently recalled the night when Minor Baseball parents came to state their case and ask for help. When I related to a friend what happened that night, he expressed admiration for Mayor Morris' skill at "handling" the situation.
Well there you go, I thought. He thought it was an admirable talent and I thought it illustrated a lack of integrity and complete disrespect for the people we are sworn to serve.
I have long since come to terms with the fact that my standards are not shared by everyone nor even appreciated by many. That's why the idea of imposing what I believe to be right is not only abhorrent but quite unlikely to be effective. But my standards are mine and I will defend them.
I recently had a lengthy discussion with a veteran municipal public servant about the intent of the Municipal Act governing issues discussed behind closed doors.
I learned early it is foolish to imagine one understands government regulations simply by reading. The intent of an act is only understood by its consistent province wide application. How it withstands a court challenge demonstrates its merit..
It is the job of the Municipal Clerk to keep him or herself informed in these matters. Ontario is a large Province. The Municipal Family is not. Communication is essential and ongoing. If a municipality encounters a problem, chances are it has happened elsewhere and a solution has been found...or not. The family is an essential resource.
Until last term, I always believed it was the Town Clerk's Statutory responsibility to keep the municipality functioning within Provincial Law. I said so to former CAO, Larry Allison. He vehemently assured me I was wrong. Council can ignore the clerk. He is subject to their authority. They were elected.
It was because of my sense of what that council was about that I made the query. I was not comforted by his response.
My recent conversation was about the rule governing confidentiality. If a member believes the rule is being abused and bad things are happening under its cover, how can the member be bound by that rule?
It was a rhetorical question. I already knew the answer. A councillor who deplores actions by the majority has an obligation to separate him or herself. Democracy means the majority rules. It means the right to be wrong. For the public to form a judgement, they have a right to hear all the arguments.
The Code of Conduct approved by this council is badly written, unenforceable and clearly viewed by the majority as a club with which to beat the minority into silence.
I have not signed it.
Let's see how it stands up to a challenge.
No motion ever came forward. Just as well.
I recently recalled the night when Minor Baseball parents came to state their case and ask for help. When I related to a friend what happened that night, he expressed admiration for Mayor Morris' skill at "handling" the situation.
Well there you go, I thought. He thought it was an admirable talent and I thought it illustrated a lack of integrity and complete disrespect for the people we are sworn to serve.
I have long since come to terms with the fact that my standards are not shared by everyone nor even appreciated by many. That's why the idea of imposing what I believe to be right is not only abhorrent but quite unlikely to be effective. But my standards are mine and I will defend them.
I recently had a lengthy discussion with a veteran municipal public servant about the intent of the Municipal Act governing issues discussed behind closed doors.
I learned early it is foolish to imagine one understands government regulations simply by reading. The intent of an act is only understood by its consistent province wide application. How it withstands a court challenge demonstrates its merit..
It is the job of the Municipal Clerk to keep him or herself informed in these matters. Ontario is a large Province. The Municipal Family is not. Communication is essential and ongoing. If a municipality encounters a problem, chances are it has happened elsewhere and a solution has been found...or not. The family is an essential resource.
Until last term, I always believed it was the Town Clerk's Statutory responsibility to keep the municipality functioning within Provincial Law. I said so to former CAO, Larry Allison. He vehemently assured me I was wrong. Council can ignore the clerk. He is subject to their authority. They were elected.
It was because of my sense of what that council was about that I made the query. I was not comforted by his response.
My recent conversation was about the rule governing confidentiality. If a member believes the rule is being abused and bad things are happening under its cover, how can the member be bound by that rule?
It was a rhetorical question. I already knew the answer. A councillor who deplores actions by the majority has an obligation to separate him or herself. Democracy means the majority rules. It means the right to be wrong. For the public to form a judgement, they have a right to hear all the arguments.
The Code of Conduct approved by this council is badly written, unenforceable and clearly viewed by the majority as a club with which to beat the minority into silence.
I have not signed it.
Let's see how it stands up to a challenge.
Thursday, 11 September 2008
RUMINATIONS
One of the advantages of Blog is the orderly presentation of my arguments . I often only discover their full strength at the time of writing. Sometimes I discover a weakness as well.
At council the other night colleagues were outraged. They believed I was implying they were doing things improperly behind closed doors.Councillor MacEachern ranted freely for several minutes , uninterrupted by the Mayor, and ended with the ominous statement that after two years of my conduct ,she had had enough.
Councillor Granger had his say as well. Can't remember a word of that though. Councillor Gaertner felt compelled to repeat the Municipal Act requires a council to discuss certain matters behind closed doors.
The Mayor contented herself, as is her wont, by having a staff person recite her version of the rules to refute my contention. She regularly makes reference to my habit of communicating outside "the proper forum"
On Tuesday night , when the question was put to approve the agenda, I exercised my obligation as a member of council to try to persuade council against dealing improperly with certain property matters behind closed doors. In the proper forum. Had they been permitted to hear my arguments they might have agreed . We will never know .
We do know however that with Mayor Morris presiding only those views which agree with her own will be permitted without being refuted by staff. Rules will continue to be perverted as we go along. Wherever else orderly debate on our town's affairs is happening, it will not be in the council chamber.
Not so long as the presiding member can figuratively flick her whip , direct staff to enjoin the debate and provide the version of government Acts and Regulations which supports her position.
In a few weeks,Bob Panizza will leave Aurora Town Hall at the end of a lifetime career in municipal public service. He no doubt hopes to do so without an escort.
At council the other night colleagues were outraged. They believed I was implying they were doing things improperly behind closed doors.Councillor MacEachern ranted freely for several minutes , uninterrupted by the Mayor, and ended with the ominous statement that after two years of my conduct ,she had had enough.
Councillor Granger had his say as well. Can't remember a word of that though. Councillor Gaertner felt compelled to repeat the Municipal Act requires a council to discuss certain matters behind closed doors.
The Mayor contented herself, as is her wont, by having a staff person recite her version of the rules to refute my contention. She regularly makes reference to my habit of communicating outside "the proper forum"
On Tuesday night , when the question was put to approve the agenda, I exercised my obligation as a member of council to try to persuade council against dealing improperly with certain property matters behind closed doors. In the proper forum. Had they been permitted to hear my arguments they might have agreed . We will never know .
We do know however that with Mayor Morris presiding only those views which agree with her own will be permitted without being refuted by staff. Rules will continue to be perverted as we go along. Wherever else orderly debate on our town's affairs is happening, it will not be in the council chamber.
Not so long as the presiding member can figuratively flick her whip , direct staff to enjoin the debate and provide the version of government Acts and Regulations which supports her position.
In a few weeks,Bob Panizza will leave Aurora Town Hall at the end of a lifetime career in municipal public service. He no doubt hopes to do so without an escort.
PROTECTION OR BETRAYAL.?
I noticed my voice was not heard on Tuesday when I objected to the Closed session agenda. Something weird seemed to be happening with my microphone. No matter. I can repeat my points of contention here.
In my judgment,three items on the agenda were improperly placed. I have already commented on the situation in the Building Department in a previous Blog. There is a crisis. It should have been dealt with during council in committee the week before. Instead it was deferred .A crucial decision was not made in a timely fashion.
The second two items pertained to property .The Mayor disclosed on Tuesday she had reviewed the agenda with Mr.Panizza,and "agreed" these items should be handled in closed session.
I respectfully disagreed
The first item dealt with a request from a resident to square off their rear lot line by a purchase from the abutting land owner. The abutting owner is the town. The land is park land .
By dealing with the matter behind closed doors, it is entirely conceivable a decision to sell park land could be made in secret. The owners , the people of Aurora , could have land sold out from under them without knowing a thing about it.
The second property in question was recommended for purchase by two citizen members of a sub-committee of a citizens advisory committee.Similarly. The town could be in the business of buying property for a purpose about which there has never been a public debate or a policy struck.
Never an opportunity for input from the community prior to a decision being made. All done in secrecy .Behind closed doors.
By my standards, that is not " saving the town harmless" or protection of the corporation's interest. That is a betrayal of the community we serve. Such is not the purpose of the Ontario Municipal Act as claimed by several on Tuesday evening.
As Chief Magistrate of the Corporation, the Mayor's desperate and determined effort to silence my arguments is beyond comprehension.
In opposing the motion to approve the agenda of the closed session and attempting to provide reasons for my opposition, I was conducting myself entirely within the Rules of Order.
The Mayor's threat to close down the meeting by calling a recess to stop me from being heard was not. Quite the opposite in fact. It displayed an inordinate anxiety to keep the public in the dark.
The Mayor also noted on Tuesday that any citizen can file a complaint of a Breach of the Code of Conduct against a Councillor. Even without an appointed Integrity Commissioner. But she is wrong about that as well.
We shall await further developments.
Watch this space.
In my judgment,three items on the agenda were improperly placed. I have already commented on the situation in the Building Department in a previous Blog. There is a crisis. It should have been dealt with during council in committee the week before. Instead it was deferred .A crucial decision was not made in a timely fashion.
The second two items pertained to property .The Mayor disclosed on Tuesday she had reviewed the agenda with Mr.Panizza,and "agreed" these items should be handled in closed session.
I respectfully disagreed
The first item dealt with a request from a resident to square off their rear lot line by a purchase from the abutting land owner. The abutting owner is the town. The land is park land .
By dealing with the matter behind closed doors, it is entirely conceivable a decision to sell park land could be made in secret. The owners , the people of Aurora , could have land sold out from under them without knowing a thing about it.
The second property in question was recommended for purchase by two citizen members of a sub-committee of a citizens advisory committee.Similarly. The town could be in the business of buying property for a purpose about which there has never been a public debate or a policy struck.
Never an opportunity for input from the community prior to a decision being made. All done in secrecy .Behind closed doors.
By my standards, that is not " saving the town harmless" or protection of the corporation's interest. That is a betrayal of the community we serve. Such is not the purpose of the Ontario Municipal Act as claimed by several on Tuesday evening.
As Chief Magistrate of the Corporation, the Mayor's desperate and determined effort to silence my arguments is beyond comprehension.
In opposing the motion to approve the agenda of the closed session and attempting to provide reasons for my opposition, I was conducting myself entirely within the Rules of Order.
The Mayor's threat to close down the meeting by calling a recess to stop me from being heard was not. Quite the opposite in fact. It displayed an inordinate anxiety to keep the public in the dark.
The Mayor also noted on Tuesday that any citizen can file a complaint of a Breach of the Code of Conduct against a Councillor. Even without an appointed Integrity Commissioner. But she is wrong about that as well.
We shall await further developments.
Watch this space.
Wednesday, 10 September 2008
Correction
I watched the opening of last night's council meeting on television this evening. I needed to know if I heard the Mayor's comment correctly.
What she said to Councillor MacEachern was "I am going to call a recess in a minute."
Different word, same intent. It is the kind of misunderstanding that happens in a hostile environment.
I do not take kindly to any suggestion that I am not entitled to say what I have to say in a letter to the editor, a blog, comments on a website or taking a position at a council meeting.
I do not acknowledge any person's authority to question my right to speak my mind by virtue of having been elected to office.
Pish Tosh!
What she said to Councillor MacEachern was "I am going to call a recess in a minute."
Different word, same intent. It is the kind of misunderstanding that happens in a hostile environment.
I do not take kindly to any suggestion that I am not entitled to say what I have to say in a letter to the editor, a blog, comments on a website or taking a position at a council meeting.
I do not acknowledge any person's authority to question my right to speak my mind by virtue of having been elected to office.
Pish Tosh!
Fox in the Henhouse
Council was lively last night. Lots of clucking and plumage ruffling.At one point I could swear I heard the Mayor indicate to Councillor MacEachern she intended to" call the police in a minute".
Four residents from the Mosaics complex came to commend the Mayor and council for that crazy agreement with Canadian Tire .There are sixty families apparently in the complex .If they were all taken in by that assinine scheme, there is not much that can be done for them.
Councillor MacEachern did her usual amazingingly convoluted interpretation of the facts. She stated the fault lay with town staff in the planning stage of the development because they did not make the easement a public right of way. In Councillor MacEachern's book, town staff are always to blame.
Good planning dictates that a residential development will always have a second access for emergency purposes. In the event of a traffic accident blocking the single entrance to a development, access must be provided for fire and ambulance. Such is the easement running down the side and owned by Canadian Tire. It is intended for the safety of the residents but not the way they have perceived it.
That they used it as a direct path home from the bus stop is understandable. That they had a right to demand Canadian Tire keep parking lots lights burning after business hours was not. They had a tri-party agreement with Canadian Tire with many pages of dispute resolution mechanisms. It was apparently something they did not choose to utilise. Why bother when St. George at the town hall is ever ready to slay a dragon and has unrestricted access to the town treasury.
The scenario reminded me of budget night when parents of the Minor Baseball Association came to council. They had learned that once again a staff recommendation had been rejected for the purchase of land suitable to provide desperately needed accommodation for their growing numbers .Money for the purchase was on hand.It had been collected from developers for precisely this purpose.It could not be used for any other purpose.
To take it and not use it is beyond comprehension. . Furthermore, that money is taken from new home purchasers in the price paid for their homes. They paid in advance for the facilities which would be needed by their residence in Aurora.
But Evalina and the Mayor were determined . Staff advice would again be ignored. The money would not be utilised. Repeated explanations about why it had to be utilised for the purpose it was collected fell on deaf ears
Didn't matter how many different ways the Treasurer explained it, they just couldn't get it.
But the night the baseball parents came, the Mayor gave a breathtaking performance of bafflegab . She ended with a flourish and directed The Director of Leisure Services to start a plan the following day.
The parents laughed . They cheered and applauded .They left the chamber convinced the Mayor had heard their plea, was on their side and their problem was solved.
Alas it was not so.
Incidentally during budget discussions the Director frequently referred to suitable land that was available for purchase and would unlikely continue to be available. It was not suggested then, as was done in council last night, that proposed property acquisition needed to be discussed behind closed doors to protect the town's interest.
Last night the Mayor called upon the Director of Corporate Service to offer that explanation to justify two property matters on the closed session agenda.
I am no longer confident that advice from staff is untrammelled. A chill hangs over the town hall. Any staff member who dares to exercise authority is quite likely to find himself hauled before a quasi tribunal and cross-examined like a felon. Behind closed doors of course.
Four residents from the Mosaics complex came to commend the Mayor and council for that crazy agreement with Canadian Tire .There are sixty families apparently in the complex .If they were all taken in by that assinine scheme, there is not much that can be done for them.
Councillor MacEachern did her usual amazingingly convoluted interpretation of the facts. She stated the fault lay with town staff in the planning stage of the development because they did not make the easement a public right of way. In Councillor MacEachern's book, town staff are always to blame.
Good planning dictates that a residential development will always have a second access for emergency purposes. In the event of a traffic accident blocking the single entrance to a development, access must be provided for fire and ambulance. Such is the easement running down the side and owned by Canadian Tire. It is intended for the safety of the residents but not the way they have perceived it.
That they used it as a direct path home from the bus stop is understandable. That they had a right to demand Canadian Tire keep parking lots lights burning after business hours was not. They had a tri-party agreement with Canadian Tire with many pages of dispute resolution mechanisms. It was apparently something they did not choose to utilise. Why bother when St. George at the town hall is ever ready to slay a dragon and has unrestricted access to the town treasury.
The scenario reminded me of budget night when parents of the Minor Baseball Association came to council. They had learned that once again a staff recommendation had been rejected for the purchase of land suitable to provide desperately needed accommodation for their growing numbers .Money for the purchase was on hand.It had been collected from developers for precisely this purpose.It could not be used for any other purpose.
To take it and not use it is beyond comprehension. . Furthermore, that money is taken from new home purchasers in the price paid for their homes. They paid in advance for the facilities which would be needed by their residence in Aurora.
But Evalina and the Mayor were determined . Staff advice would again be ignored. The money would not be utilised. Repeated explanations about why it had to be utilised for the purpose it was collected fell on deaf ears
Didn't matter how many different ways the Treasurer explained it, they just couldn't get it.
But the night the baseball parents came, the Mayor gave a breathtaking performance of bafflegab . She ended with a flourish and directed The Director of Leisure Services to start a plan the following day.
The parents laughed . They cheered and applauded .They left the chamber convinced the Mayor had heard their plea, was on their side and their problem was solved.
Alas it was not so.
Incidentally during budget discussions the Director frequently referred to suitable land that was available for purchase and would unlikely continue to be available. It was not suggested then, as was done in council last night, that proposed property acquisition needed to be discussed behind closed doors to protect the town's interest.
Last night the Mayor called upon the Director of Corporate Service to offer that explanation to justify two property matters on the closed session agenda.
I am no longer confident that advice from staff is untrammelled. A chill hangs over the town hall. Any staff member who dares to exercise authority is quite likely to find himself hauled before a quasi tribunal and cross-examined like a felon. Behind closed doors of course.
Monday, 8 September 2008
Make Sense of This if You Can.
Several staff reports were presented at the General Committee Meeting last Tuesday. Chief Building Official Techa Van Leeuwen reported a critical situation in the Building Department. For several reasons, nobody's fault, there is a staff shortage and a huge work overload. Time off in lieu is not a practical option under the circumstances. Therefore the request was for paid overtime. If staff do not put in the overtime the possibility is that builders will start their projects without permits and will not therefore receive timely inspections.
If the town is at fault, prosecutions would be unfair and unlikely to succeed. The only option is to ask staff to work overtime without providing the option of time off in lieu.
Also presented was a recommendation that an Amended Sign Bylaw be presented at this week's council meeting for Smart Centre. Hours of work has been undertaken with forty-three variances to govern signage on stores in the Smart Centre. The variances are in accordance with policies including the Urban Design Guidelines adopted by the Municipality.
Mayor Morris indicated she had visited the development. She noted that many businesses had illegal signs. "Some have Banners" she said in horror. When was the department going to take action she demanded.
Ms. Van Leeuwen indicated the work completed in cooperation with Smart Centres and Amending Bylaw would take care of the problem. With variances approved the businesses could get on with providing permanent signage.
Councillor McRoberts moved the recommendation to present the Bylaw. The Mayor argued it be deferred to give councillors more time to analyze it.
The Councillor noted it was clear the motion would pass but in the interest of getting unanimous support he would withdraw the motion and support the deferral.
Once again,with Councillor McRobert's assistance, staff were reminded who is in charge.
Businesses at the Centre will be obliged to continue with illegal banners as an option for several more weeks. Council time spent debating an obvious and clear-cut decision was wasted and will be repeated three weeks from now for no sensible reason whatsoever.
There must be days when Techa Van Leeuwen wonders why she tries so hard.
***********
The Town Treasurer had completed his work and put forward a schedule of meetings to complete the town's budget in a sensible time frame. One can only imagine how much consultation there was between the various town departments to have their budgets completed and vetted prior to presentation for Council's consideration.
The normal process is for Directors to meet with the CAO and Mr. Gutteridge to have their budgets analyzed and justified. This year there is no CAO. Therefore no team management approach to the town's business.
Council spent one hour and thirty-five minutes taking Mr. Gutteridge's report apart and replacing the entire thing with a new schedule. Three Monday meetings were replaced with one entire Saturday. Councillor MacEachern led the discussion and proposed the alternatives. It will not be the first time Mr. Gutteridge has wondered about his function in the scheme of things.
Councillor MacEachern of course has no such doubts about her professional competence to manage the town's finances or any other town department. Neither it seems does the majority of elected members around the table.
If the town is at fault, prosecutions would be unfair and unlikely to succeed. The only option is to ask staff to work overtime without providing the option of time off in lieu.
Also presented was a recommendation that an Amended Sign Bylaw be presented at this week's council meeting for Smart Centre. Hours of work has been undertaken with forty-three variances to govern signage on stores in the Smart Centre. The variances are in accordance with policies including the Urban Design Guidelines adopted by the Municipality.
Mayor Morris indicated she had visited the development. She noted that many businesses had illegal signs. "Some have Banners" she said in horror. When was the department going to take action she demanded.
Ms. Van Leeuwen indicated the work completed in cooperation with Smart Centres and Amending Bylaw would take care of the problem. With variances approved the businesses could get on with providing permanent signage.
Councillor McRoberts moved the recommendation to present the Bylaw. The Mayor argued it be deferred to give councillors more time to analyze it.
The Councillor noted it was clear the motion would pass but in the interest of getting unanimous support he would withdraw the motion and support the deferral.
Once again,with Councillor McRobert's assistance, staff were reminded who is in charge.
Businesses at the Centre will be obliged to continue with illegal banners as an option for several more weeks. Council time spent debating an obvious and clear-cut decision was wasted and will be repeated three weeks from now for no sensible reason whatsoever.
There must be days when Techa Van Leeuwen wonders why she tries so hard.
***********
The Town Treasurer had completed his work and put forward a schedule of meetings to complete the town's budget in a sensible time frame. One can only imagine how much consultation there was between the various town departments to have their budgets completed and vetted prior to presentation for Council's consideration.
The normal process is for Directors to meet with the CAO and Mr. Gutteridge to have their budgets analyzed and justified. This year there is no CAO. Therefore no team management approach to the town's business.
Council spent one hour and thirty-five minutes taking Mr. Gutteridge's report apart and replacing the entire thing with a new schedule. Three Monday meetings were replaced with one entire Saturday. Councillor MacEachern led the discussion and proposed the alternatives. It will not be the first time Mr. Gutteridge has wondered about his function in the scheme of things.
Councillor MacEachern of course has no such doubts about her professional competence to manage the town's finances or any other town department. Neither it seems does the majority of elected members around the table.
Sunday, 7 September 2008
An Afterthought
I had a thought while drying the dishes. The parade of lawyers retained and instructed by the Mayor referred to in the previous post have not solely been employed to make a case against me myself alone.
Former Mayor Tim Jones was the first target. There were two lawyers, months of consultations and written opinions not shared with council and finally attendance at a closed session.
During the by-election debate, a lawyer was brought to the council table to steer councillors to the right decision. He was there to provide substance to a weak and contrived argument and to convince the community that all was in order.
Lawyers have been involved behind the scenes in an activity which was both demeaning and degrading to everyone who participated; except for those whose objective was being served.
After my surgery, I gave a lot of thought to how I could continue to participate as a member of this council. Grace Marsh's resignation was a personal blow. I seriously pondered my own stamina. As part of the consistent minority and under the persistent vacuous performance of Mayor Morris, how could I make a valid contribution?
The answer has evolved; the action against John Rogers; the effect on other staff members; the ongoing and transparent determination that one way or another I must be silenced and all criticism squelched has stiffened my resolve.
For forty years I have relied on my own common sense and skills of persuasion to exert my influence on each successive council. Sometimes I was successful. Other times not. I never sensed any lack of respect. Successes outnumbered failures and that was the most I expected from involvement in the democratic process.
If I have had any influence on this council, it is not obvious to me. There is no satisfaction in being a powerless witness to actions which violently offend my sense of fairness and integrity. Discipline acquired over the years does not serve me well in these circumstances.
There is only one option to validate my principles. Whatever I can do to inform people of what may not always be obvious when they watch council on television.I will fill in the blanks.
I will acquire the play by play skills of Don Cherry in the game of politics as she is played in the Town of Aurora in the year of 2008-9-10.
Watch this spa ce.
Former Mayor Tim Jones was the first target. There were two lawyers, months of consultations and written opinions not shared with council and finally attendance at a closed session.
During the by-election debate, a lawyer was brought to the council table to steer councillors to the right decision. He was there to provide substance to a weak and contrived argument and to convince the community that all was in order.
Lawyers have been involved behind the scenes in an activity which was both demeaning and degrading to everyone who participated; except for those whose objective was being served.
After my surgery, I gave a lot of thought to how I could continue to participate as a member of this council. Grace Marsh's resignation was a personal blow. I seriously pondered my own stamina. As part of the consistent minority and under the persistent vacuous performance of Mayor Morris, how could I make a valid contribution?
The answer has evolved; the action against John Rogers; the effect on other staff members; the ongoing and transparent determination that one way or another I must be silenced and all criticism squelched has stiffened my resolve.
For forty years I have relied on my own common sense and skills of persuasion to exert my influence on each successive council. Sometimes I was successful. Other times not. I never sensed any lack of respect. Successes outnumbered failures and that was the most I expected from involvement in the democratic process.
If I have had any influence on this council, it is not obvious to me. There is no satisfaction in being a powerless witness to actions which violently offend my sense of fairness and integrity. Discipline acquired over the years does not serve me well in these circumstances.
There is only one option to validate my principles. Whatever I can do to inform people of what may not always be obvious when they watch council on television.I will fill in the blanks.
I will acquire the play by play skills of Don Cherry in the game of politics as she is played in the Town of Aurora in the year of 2008-9-10.
Watch this spa ce.
Consequences
Councillor MacEachern has cut , pasted and circulated my last Blog and Comment in the Aurora Citizen to council colleagues "for their interest".
Town staff have also been asked to indicate which councillors and citizen committee members have failed return the copy of the Code forwarded to them for their signatures.
The Code was created following the advice of George Rust D'Eye, the lawyer retained by the Mayor in the wake of the "EMERGENCY" from a supposed "Leak" from a closed meeting
Readers may remember the Mayor refused in public to provide the reason for retaining the services of Mr. Rust D'Eye. The implication was clear however. The lawyer was retained following The Auroran news story that Council had refused to sell land we had for sale, at the appraised value to York Regional Police Department for the location of the new Regional Headquarters. The story was accurate but there was no attribution.
Other than his advice not to attend meetings between himself and council because of conflict of interest regulations and to retain legal counsel, I had no direct conversation with Mr. Rust D'Eye. I ignored his advice of course having full confidence in my own integrity. I was never asked if I leaked the story nor I understand were questions were asked of The Auroran as to how they obtained their information.
Eventually however he did submit a report which he immediately advised could not be made public and submitted a bill in excess of $16,200 .
He had two recommendations for council about to deal with a councillor who refuses to observe the rules of confidentiality. The recommendations eventually saw the light of day after one of them was enacted. The first bit of advice was for council to create an executive committee which could conceivably include every councillor save one.
The second was to create a Code of Conduct which would carry penalties for anyone who failed to abide by it.
One of the penalties would be suspension for three months the remuneration of a councillor who was found to be in breach of the Code.An Integrity Commissioner must be appointed and of course paid a retainer.
It's an interesting concept.. The exercise evolved from the Mayor's outrage that the community did learn of the decision to refuse to sell land which would have meant the location of the Regional Police Headquarters in Aurora. . No evidence of a leak was ever provided. Police plans to re-located to Aurora were apparently widely known. The council in-camera decision was made in early September. The news did not get out until November.
In forty years of municipal service I have never been accused of breaching confidentiality of an in-camera meeting. Nor was I this time .
So now look what we have gone and done. An new and lugubrious and expensive bureaucratic process has been created to to deal with a problem which was never proven.
Following the public announcement that John Roger's was no longer employed by the Town of Aurora an e-mail was circulated to councillors which had been sent by the Mayor to the lawyer who had participated in the process. The Mayor requested advice about how councillors might respond to media enquiries while mindful of the Code of Conduct. No response from the lawyer was ever circulated. But the message was clear. If any councillor gives any information to the media,that will represent a breach of The Code.
Councillor MacEachern's circulation to council colleagues of my last Blog and Comment to The Aurora Citizen is clearly a move towards citing the Code, No doubt the wires are sizzling while the block put their heads together to formulate their next step .
In the twenty-one months of this term, a parade of lawyers have been retained and instructed by the Mayor to come up with a case for wrong doing against myself for daring to be forthright'
It remains to be seen if their latest strategy will be any more effective than the rest.
It's unlikely to cost less.
Town staff have also been asked to indicate which councillors and citizen committee members have failed return the copy of the Code forwarded to them for their signatures.
The Code was created following the advice of George Rust D'Eye, the lawyer retained by the Mayor in the wake of the "EMERGENCY" from a supposed "Leak" from a closed meeting
Readers may remember the Mayor refused in public to provide the reason for retaining the services of Mr. Rust D'Eye. The implication was clear however. The lawyer was retained following The Auroran news story that Council had refused to sell land we had for sale, at the appraised value to York Regional Police Department for the location of the new Regional Headquarters. The story was accurate but there was no attribution.
Other than his advice not to attend meetings between himself and council because of conflict of interest regulations and to retain legal counsel, I had no direct conversation with Mr. Rust D'Eye. I ignored his advice of course having full confidence in my own integrity. I was never asked if I leaked the story nor I understand were questions were asked of The Auroran as to how they obtained their information.
Eventually however he did submit a report which he immediately advised could not be made public and submitted a bill in excess of $16,200 .
He had two recommendations for council about to deal with a councillor who refuses to observe the rules of confidentiality. The recommendations eventually saw the light of day after one of them was enacted. The first bit of advice was for council to create an executive committee which could conceivably include every councillor save one.
The second was to create a Code of Conduct which would carry penalties for anyone who failed to abide by it.
One of the penalties would be suspension for three months the remuneration of a councillor who was found to be in breach of the Code.An Integrity Commissioner must be appointed and of course paid a retainer.
It's an interesting concept.. The exercise evolved from the Mayor's outrage that the community did learn of the decision to refuse to sell land which would have meant the location of the Regional Police Headquarters in Aurora. . No evidence of a leak was ever provided. Police plans to re-located to Aurora were apparently widely known. The council in-camera decision was made in early September. The news did not get out until November.
In forty years of municipal service I have never been accused of breaching confidentiality of an in-camera meeting. Nor was I this time .
So now look what we have gone and done. An new and lugubrious and expensive bureaucratic process has been created to to deal with a problem which was never proven.
Following the public announcement that John Roger's was no longer employed by the Town of Aurora an e-mail was circulated to councillors which had been sent by the Mayor to the lawyer who had participated in the process. The Mayor requested advice about how councillors might respond to media enquiries while mindful of the Code of Conduct. No response from the lawyer was ever circulated. But the message was clear. If any councillor gives any information to the media,that will represent a breach of The Code.
Councillor MacEachern's circulation to council colleagues of my last Blog and Comment to The Aurora Citizen is clearly a move towards citing the Code, No doubt the wires are sizzling while the block put their heads together to formulate their next step .
In the twenty-one months of this term, a parade of lawyers have been retained and instructed by the Mayor to come up with a case for wrong doing against myself for daring to be forthright'
It remains to be seen if their latest strategy will be any more effective than the rest.
It's unlikely to cost less.
Friday, 5 September 2008
Weird Agreement
An item on this week's council agenda illustrates how council valiantly strives to deal with problems hanging fire.
It recommends staff negotiate an agreement between Canadian Tire and the Mosaic Corporation to provide lighting on a long dark lane belonging to Canadian Tire.
The issue was brought to the previous council's attention by a very angry resident of the town house complex on the eve of the last election. It was one of the first items the Mayor chose to deal with following the election. It occupied many hours of council discussion. Staff spent many expensive hours searching property titles and plan s only to discover many pages of dispute resolution mechanisms in a tri-party agreement governing the total development and that the lane was never intended to be anything more than an emergency access.
CAO John Rogers and S. Pohjola advised the town had no role in the matter. Mayor Morris bravely proclaimed she intended to provide aid to any citizen who asked for her help. There was a majority decision of council to hook Canadian Tire parking lot lights to the Town's street system. Aurora taxpayers were to foot the bill. It was represented as $300 annual cost for energy.
That was eighteen months ago. There have been no lights after ten-thirty pm since. This week's report recommends that staff be directed to prepare an agreement between Canadian Tire and The Mosaic Corporation. The parties are to pay fifty-fifty of the cost to hook the lights to the street system. The town will undertake to pay the annual cost of hydro and maintenance of the lights. They are currently burning at Canadian Tire's expense until 10.30 p.m. every night.
If there has been a meeting of minds between Canadian Tire and the residents sufficient to agree to such an arrangement, would it not make more sense for the latter to pay the annual cost of hydro and forget about spending almost ten thousand dollars to hook the lights to the town system? At an estimated annual cost of $300, the hook-up cost would pay for thirty three years of hydro. Where is the logic?
One is tempted to wonder why the report comes forward now, just days after the CAO was escorted from the premises of Aurora Town Hall? Was it one of the Mayor's orders he could not be persuaded to accept?
We currently have no legal staff. How can an agreement between private parties be facilitated by public resources? Are we to pay several thousand more to retain outside legal counsel to prepare the agreement and attend upon the parties? Where is the logic?
Ah Well! No doubt there will be taxpayers who think it's another admirable effort to resolve a problem and others like myself who think it's patently insane and political opportunism at it's worst.
In my judgement, it is misuse of public resources and most certainly does not meet the interest of the people we are sworn to serve.
It recommends staff negotiate an agreement between Canadian Tire and the Mosaic Corporation to provide lighting on a long dark lane belonging to Canadian Tire.
The issue was brought to the previous council's attention by a very angry resident of the town house complex on the eve of the last election. It was one of the first items the Mayor chose to deal with following the election. It occupied many hours of council discussion. Staff spent many expensive hours searching property titles and plan s only to discover many pages of dispute resolution mechanisms in a tri-party agreement governing the total development and that the lane was never intended to be anything more than an emergency access.
CAO John Rogers and S. Pohjola advised the town had no role in the matter. Mayor Morris bravely proclaimed she intended to provide aid to any citizen who asked for her help. There was a majority decision of council to hook Canadian Tire parking lot lights to the Town's street system. Aurora taxpayers were to foot the bill. It was represented as $300 annual cost for energy.
That was eighteen months ago. There have been no lights after ten-thirty pm since. This week's report recommends that staff be directed to prepare an agreement between Canadian Tire and The Mosaic Corporation. The parties are to pay fifty-fifty of the cost to hook the lights to the street system. The town will undertake to pay the annual cost of hydro and maintenance of the lights. They are currently burning at Canadian Tire's expense until 10.30 p.m. every night.
If there has been a meeting of minds between Canadian Tire and the residents sufficient to agree to such an arrangement, would it not make more sense for the latter to pay the annual cost of hydro and forget about spending almost ten thousand dollars to hook the lights to the town system? At an estimated annual cost of $300, the hook-up cost would pay for thirty three years of hydro. Where is the logic?
One is tempted to wonder why the report comes forward now, just days after the CAO was escorted from the premises of Aurora Town Hall? Was it one of the Mayor's orders he could not be persuaded to accept?
We currently have no legal staff. How can an agreement between private parties be facilitated by public resources? Are we to pay several thousand more to retain outside legal counsel to prepare the agreement and attend upon the parties? Where is the logic?
Ah Well! No doubt there will be taxpayers who think it's another admirable effort to resolve a problem and others like myself who think it's patently insane and political opportunism at it's worst.
In my judgement, it is misuse of public resources and most certainly does not meet the interest of the people we are sworn to serve.
Sunday, 31 August 2008
A Blank Sheet
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.
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.
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
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