There was very little snow. The earth in Spring was hard packed and cracked with drought.
An early heatwave followed the dry winter and water restrictions were imposed in May.
I heard equipment at the Family Leisure Complex was flushing out thousands of gallons of clean warm water a day from the ice making equipment.
I went to Council and challenged former Mayor Jones to justify the contradiction between extravagant water use by the town and restrictions on water use by homeowners.I speculated the same foolishness was going on elsewhere in the Region and I poked and prodded and demanded an explanation.
He responded water usage was less since the construction of a new, insulated roof at the arena.
Imagine an ice arena in a heat wave in a hot box of aluminum with an uninsulated roof .
There was no denial by anyone at the table, that hundreds of thousands of gallons were used and disposed daily to make ice in a summer heat wave.
Aurora Family Leisure Complex has had a chequered history.
The first thing I noticed on completion, was the concrete floor covered with fume-laden industrial carpet in the fitness centre.
The jacuzzi pool in the swimming area was regularly closed for repairs.
The swimming pool literally fell into a hole and had to be completely re-constructed.
The gymnasium was seldom used and ended up becoming the fitness centre.
The fitness centre became a child care centre.
As noted, in 2002 , I discovered the ice making equipment was horrendously extravagant with water and the roof of the arena had to be re-built for ice even to harden.In July 2011, we learned the facility still has soft ice not suitable for hockey but perfect for figure skating.
Heavy water use is aggravated by the fact the clean warm water is being released into the sewers. So we were not only paying for water we were paying for clean, warm water to go through the sewage system,
When the Stronach Centre was being planned ,I argued for three ice surfaces in one place for economy in management and equipment and to decommission the ice surface at the complex. My argument carried no weight.
Now we are contemplating providing a youth centre.
In early July, Council had an all day session to consider various items. One was a recommendation for hundreds of thousands of dollars to refurbish the ice making equipment. A second was to replace an accessibility elevator that shifts half a floor. At a cost of $170,000.
The debate was fulsome. The decision was not to proceed with refurbishment of the ice making equipment. To do repairs as required. Until a decision is made about a youth centre.
Replace the existing elevator was nixed. The accessibility advisory committee made the recommendation because they do not think people who need it, should have to wait for someone to open it with a key.
The desk and attendant in the facility are alongside the elevator.
The decision of council was to get keys cut and distribute them to those who needed them.
During the discussion, a comment was made the ice making equipment doesn't use much water.
During the re-organisation of staff, management of facilities was transferred from the Director whose programs use the facilities to the Director of Environment and Infrastructure.
The Director currently in charge regularly must refer questions to the Director previously in charge.
It was a long day. Council had one business meeting to follow in mid July. Minutes from the day long session noted the report on the Family Leisure Complex had been received. It had not. Part of the recommendation was approved. Two major items were decided in the negative.
Further to that, a second staff report reversing Council's decision was approved.
I am one of nine council members. A lowly third down the table at that. When I have participated fully in a debate and a decision is made, I do not anticipate having to track the report to ensure the direction of Council is carried out.
It's the job of the Mayor and the Clerk of the Municipality.
When I discovered what happened , I needed to confirm my recollection . I learned the Mayor was aware of the contradictory reports but made no effort to ensure Council's direction was followed. He had waited for someone else to make the point and was surprised that didn't happen.
At the August meeting , with an agenda of over thirty items and half a dozen delegations, awards and recognitions, I brought the issue forward for correction.
It was no go. The Mayor responded. "The issue wasn't called for discussion Councillor. It's too late now."
The Chief Administrative Officer commented the all day meeting was for the purpose of allowing Council to have "input"
The explanation appeared to satisfy Council. No support came forward to reverse the misdirection that went through unnoticed by all except apparently the presiding member.
I hesitate to suggest the mix-up was anything but inadvertent. Yet the CAO's comment that Council's role is nothing more than "input" is a concern. Staff have input. Council is the decision-maker.
Over the years, I have developed a number of small maxims to guide me in certain situations.
One of them is to trust and expect the best from everyone until and unless they give me reason not to. Then the trust can never be the same again
Friday, 26 August 2011
A Message Received
I have been following the water bill discussion from council ,I
think it was last month,
I think it had something to do with being charged for waste water
and what was cat. as waste
some people are still on well so they don,t get charged because
they do not get a waterbill.
wasthis ever resolved?
I remember moving to aurora about18years ago and leaving in a
nice little house on Devins
I use to get water bills that didn't charge for sewage and the
bill came to $17.00 YES $17.00
Today I do leave in a bigger house on Hammond with a pool but
still haven't watered my lawns this year
and my bill comes to $255.40. is this really the price of
Aurora progress??
MY friend over on Boulding which his house is similar to my
first one ($17.00 water bill) told me
his bill was $199.00
Still love AURORA and always will ,great place to live.
but whats with these super inflationary water bills?
*************
The above is one of a number of e-mails received on the issue of water bill increases. I received it last week indicating continued interest and dis-satisfaction with the situation.
What I'm Saying Is...
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Water Audit Report. 2":
Are you saying that ice-rink and splash pad water usage is not accounted for?
I seem to recall that water usage was tracked for the splash-pad at the Town Park vs. the ice-rink at the Town Park.
Didn't a resident want to know how much was being used for each and the Town was able to determine it?
If that was the case, then why can't it be tracked and the usage amount be assigned to the parks and rec budget? Wouldn't that be the appropriate place to allocate that cost?
Keep at this one, Evelyn.
I think this is a priority issue.
**********
Once the majority makes a decision to accept the staff rationale for water rates, there is nothing more I can say about it.
That's why Council members need to hear from you.
I do not recall a resident inquiring about water usage for splash pads and ice surfaces. I do know neither are metered, therefore no determination could be made.
Initially, when I started asking questions, I was told the amount was minimal and the appropriate department budget were being debited.
But that didn't account for" water loss" being increased from 8% to 12% in 2010.
According to the current report , the amount " unaccounted " therefore unbilled is under 1%.
It still does not account for " water loss" of 12%.
I am therefore assuming the difference between consumption recorded by meters and amount billed by the Region has been classified as "water loss" and used to fix the rates charged to meter users.
In the latest report, 2007 was an interesting year.
Water consumption was at its highest ever.
"Water loss" was minimal.
Which confirms my understanding the Region is collecting payment for the town's forecast and not not actual consumption. And meter users are paying far more than for water they use.
The difference is made up by the figure for "water loss"and the books are handily balanced.
If nobody raises awkward questions, well, what the hell.
Are you saying that ice-rink and splash pad water usage is not accounted for?
I seem to recall that water usage was tracked for the splash-pad at the Town Park vs. the ice-rink at the Town Park.
Didn't a resident want to know how much was being used for each and the Town was able to determine it?
If that was the case, then why can't it be tracked and the usage amount be assigned to the parks and rec budget? Wouldn't that be the appropriate place to allocate that cost?
Keep at this one, Evelyn.
I think this is a priority issue.
**********
Once the majority makes a decision to accept the staff rationale for water rates, there is nothing more I can say about it.
That's why Council members need to hear from you.
I do not recall a resident inquiring about water usage for splash pads and ice surfaces. I do know neither are metered, therefore no determination could be made.
Initially, when I started asking questions, I was told the amount was minimal and the appropriate department budget were being debited.
But that didn't account for" water loss" being increased from 8% to 12% in 2010.
According to the current report , the amount " unaccounted " therefore unbilled is under 1%.
It still does not account for " water loss" of 12%.
I am therefore assuming the difference between consumption recorded by meters and amount billed by the Region has been classified as "water loss" and used to fix the rates charged to meter users.
In the latest report, 2007 was an interesting year.
Water consumption was at its highest ever.
"Water loss" was minimal.
Which confirms my understanding the Region is collecting payment for the town's forecast and not not actual consumption. And meter users are paying far more than for water they use.
The difference is made up by the figure for "water loss"and the books are handily balanced.
If nobody raises awkward questions, well, what the hell.
Thursday, 25 August 2011
Water Audit Report. 2
Item 3 In
the August 14th Council Agenda was a water audit report, twenty- six pages long.
Staff recommendation was:
"Council receive the report for information and the town be an actiove participant in the York Region/Municipality Water audit.
That the town continue to investigate and implement best practices for water management"
"The purpose of the report is to follow up on the commitment during the 2011 budget discussions that introduces the application of a methodology for auditing water usage within a municipal water supply system to aid in a full accounting of the water inventory.The report also includes an assessment of internal water uses that have been previously unaccounted regarding certain parks operations as recently identified during council discussions."
There are twenty six more pages. It was on the agenda for discussion on Tuesday night. It wasn't dealt with, along with several other matters requiring our attention.
The report was in response to earlier discussions relating to water rate increases For the second year I have challenged the methodology used to calculate water rates and to justify rate increases of almost twenty-five per cent.
I disavow the increases.
My reaction was triggered in the year 2010. An increase in "water loss" from 8% to 12%. was cited as part of the reason for increases in the rates.
For a number of years, hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions, have been invested in measures to reduce water loss. That water loss increased in 2009 from 8% to 12% was not credible..
I asked for a record of water breaks .
I was refused. I was told staff were afraid I would distort the figures.
It was the wrong answer.
It was in the term of Mormac ,Circa 2010. Council's authority was not evident. Staff on the other hand, personally vetted and under complete control of the former Mayor, were in the ascendancy.
In 2011, a second increase of almost twelve per cent was recommended. and again was adopted.
"Water loss" was still identified as a factor.
Water used by tax supported services was said to be estimated and charged to various departments.
Water is used to clean streets, fight fires, irrigate sports fields, create winter ice rinks, provide two splash pads for children in town parks and sundry other purposes.
It was determined firehalls are metered. Fires are fought from tankers . Before return to the firehall, tankers are re-filled from hydrants. Hydrants are not metered.Numbers of fires were said to be minimal. The water audit report indicates an average of 123 fires a year. Generally, two tankers attend.
Unaccounted water use is now acknowledged. That is, water not billed.to user. Previously I believe, identified as "water loss"
The town buys water wholesale, The supplier must be paid. The region is the supplier.
Hydrant keys are provided to contractors. But it seems hydrants are easily accessed by those in the know. Water can be taken without record. The practice has been observed.
An intricacy of the system is communication between town and region. The town informs of an estimate consumption. If summer is hot and dry, consumption matches estimate and books balance.
If summer is wet, consumption goes down. Apparently putting the town in deficit. Funds generated from metered use are insufficient to pay the region's bill.
The deficit is re-covered from reserves which must be replenished the following year from increased rates.
Indicating, in a wet summer, we pay the region for water not used.
They get paid for water not supplied.
From rates collected from metered water users.
Metered users pay for water they did not use.
A surcharge charged in water bills pays for maintenance of storm water ponds. A device developed to restore water quality to Lake Simcoe.
People with wells and septic systems do not receive water bills. They do not therefore contribute to restoring water quality to Lake Simcoe.They get a free pass. It's not worth much. But it represents an inequity between town property owners..
Well owners are taking water from the same source as the region but to them free.
How could it be otherwise?
But the rest of us pay for it by the metered gallon.
This year, besides relieving some homeowners of the expense of special pumping stations that allowed their homes to be built ,by putting it on the shoulders of the rest of us, a new issue has come to light:
the Water Rates Bylaw was passed by Council to take effect on May 1st.
Residents receiving a quarterly bill on May 9th, were charged the increased rates retroactively to February.
Those receiving bills in June, were charged retroactively to March, Those receiving bills in July, retroactively until April.
The Region has indicated its intention to continue water increases for the next four years. So the people annually receiving water bills on May 9th will; actually pay increased rates three months ahead of everyone else; making it every nine months instead of twelve.
There is no practical solution, it seems,to the problem of retroactively overcharging an entire segment of the community every year for annual increases in water rates. If they notice it,they just have to eat it.
With all our technology, we cannot figure out a way to avoid overcharging residents for the water they use.
How does the region justify increasing water rates to that extent every year for six years?
When I raised the issue of exorbitant increase for the second year in a row, our Regional rep. who is our Mayor, responded;
" Water is the best bargain we get for our taxes"
Frankly,I was stunned by that response. Since his knowledge of the system would still perforce be sparse and considerably less than my own,I had no idea and still do not know in what context the remark was intended.
What I do understand is my role to look out for the taxpayers' best interest.Not the Region's.
If I find the community is not being served, it will be my intention to say so.
Loud and Clear.
International Water Association Water Audit Methodology notwithstanding. it is my judgment, we have no equity or discernible logic in the fair application of rates charged for metered water use in the Town of Aurora.
the August 14th Council Agenda was a water audit report, twenty- six pages long.
Staff recommendation was:
"Council receive the report for information and the town be an actiove participant in the York Region/Municipality Water audit.
That the town continue to investigate and implement best practices for water management"
"The purpose of the report is to follow up on the commitment during the 2011 budget discussions that introduces the application of a methodology for auditing water usage within a municipal water supply system to aid in a full accounting of the water inventory.The report also includes an assessment of internal water uses that have been previously unaccounted regarding certain parks operations as recently identified during council discussions."
There are twenty six more pages. It was on the agenda for discussion on Tuesday night. It wasn't dealt with, along with several other matters requiring our attention.
The report was in response to earlier discussions relating to water rate increases For the second year I have challenged the methodology used to calculate water rates and to justify rate increases of almost twenty-five per cent.
I disavow the increases.
My reaction was triggered in the year 2010. An increase in "water loss" from 8% to 12%. was cited as part of the reason for increases in the rates.
For a number of years, hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions, have been invested in measures to reduce water loss. That water loss increased in 2009 from 8% to 12% was not credible..
I asked for a record of water breaks .
I was refused. I was told staff were afraid I would distort the figures.
It was the wrong answer.
It was in the term of Mormac ,Circa 2010. Council's authority was not evident. Staff on the other hand, personally vetted and under complete control of the former Mayor, were in the ascendancy.
In 2011, a second increase of almost twelve per cent was recommended. and again was adopted.
"Water loss" was still identified as a factor.
Water used by tax supported services was said to be estimated and charged to various departments.
Water is used to clean streets, fight fires, irrigate sports fields, create winter ice rinks, provide two splash pads for children in town parks and sundry other purposes.
It was determined firehalls are metered. Fires are fought from tankers . Before return to the firehall, tankers are re-filled from hydrants. Hydrants are not metered.Numbers of fires were said to be minimal. The water audit report indicates an average of 123 fires a year. Generally, two tankers attend.
Unaccounted water use is now acknowledged. That is, water not billed.to user. Previously I believe, identified as "water loss"
The town buys water wholesale, The supplier must be paid. The region is the supplier.
Hydrant keys are provided to contractors. But it seems hydrants are easily accessed by those in the know. Water can be taken without record. The practice has been observed.
An intricacy of the system is communication between town and region. The town informs of an estimate consumption. If summer is hot and dry, consumption matches estimate and books balance.
If summer is wet, consumption goes down. Apparently putting the town in deficit. Funds generated from metered use are insufficient to pay the region's bill.
The deficit is re-covered from reserves which must be replenished the following year from increased rates.
Indicating, in a wet summer, we pay the region for water not used.
They get paid for water not supplied.
From rates collected from metered water users.
Metered users pay for water they did not use.
A surcharge charged in water bills pays for maintenance of storm water ponds. A device developed to restore water quality to Lake Simcoe.
People with wells and septic systems do not receive water bills. They do not therefore contribute to restoring water quality to Lake Simcoe.They get a free pass. It's not worth much. But it represents an inequity between town property owners..
Well owners are taking water from the same source as the region but to them free.
How could it be otherwise?
But the rest of us pay for it by the metered gallon.
This year, besides relieving some homeowners of the expense of special pumping stations that allowed their homes to be built ,by putting it on the shoulders of the rest of us, a new issue has come to light:
the Water Rates Bylaw was passed by Council to take effect on May 1st.
Residents receiving a quarterly bill on May 9th, were charged the increased rates retroactively to February.
Those receiving bills in June, were charged retroactively to March, Those receiving bills in July, retroactively until April.
The Region has indicated its intention to continue water increases for the next four years. So the people annually receiving water bills on May 9th will; actually pay increased rates three months ahead of everyone else; making it every nine months instead of twelve.
There is no practical solution, it seems,to the problem of retroactively overcharging an entire segment of the community every year for annual increases in water rates. If they notice it,they just have to eat it.
With all our technology, we cannot figure out a way to avoid overcharging residents for the water they use.
How does the region justify increasing water rates to that extent every year for six years?
When I raised the issue of exorbitant increase for the second year in a row, our Regional rep. who is our Mayor, responded;
" Water is the best bargain we get for our taxes"
Frankly,I was stunned by that response. Since his knowledge of the system would still perforce be sparse and considerably less than my own,I had no idea and still do not know in what context the remark was intended.
What I do understand is my role to look out for the taxpayers' best interest.Not the Region's.
If I find the community is not being served, it will be my intention to say so.
Loud and Clear.
International Water Association Water Audit Methodology notwithstanding. it is my judgment, we have no equity or discernible logic in the fair application of rates charged for metered water use in the Town of Aurora.
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
Awards and delegations
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Water Audit Report":
How about an extra meeting, once every two months, scheduled for 3 hours, with nothing but delegates and awards, and cut them out entirely from proper council meetings?
*****************
Both have a place in the scheme of things. Awards are ceremonial events. They are a celebration of excellence.
Ceremony is a function of the Mayor's office . The Chain of Office is our only piece of regalia.
In tributes and awards, neither council nor staff have a role to play. We sit around like extras in a crowd scene.
It makes no sense to me that ceremony should be combined with town business.
The Skylight Gallery in the town hall was designed for such events. The Mayor, wearing the Chain of Office is the dignitary. Council members must be invited with a reception to follow. It provides an opportunity for meaningful exchange.
A tribute should be more than a handshake and a photo opportunity.
A day of the week should be dedicated to such events . Not necessarily every week. Only when called for.
How we do it now lends no dignity to the occasion . People are called forward, photographed with the Mayor , hurried on their way, so the next person can receive his/her tribute.
It's tacky.
If we really want to honour individuals, we should do it with style befitting the entire community's sincere intent.
Delegations have their place but as part of a protocol. If someone has a problem the appropriate department should have an opportunity to deal with it before it comes to council and public attention.
If it isn't dealt with satisfactorily at staff level, the Mayor's office is the next logical resource .
If the Mayor or a Councillor is unable to resolve the problem, an appearance at Council in a public meeting is a last resort.
Delegation should be directed to council- in- committee. A staff report in response should accompany the delegate's complaint . There should be no opportunity to come back again and again and again to re-hash the same issue. Sometimes, there is no resolution to a particular problem.
Councillors have no right to abuse procedures. Neither does a non-elected resident..
Procedures should be consistently applied. Five minutes to present is enough. Three people to speak to the issue, to triple the time is not fair. It is not equal . It is a stunt to circumvent the rules.. It should not be permitted let alone suggested , as it was repeatedly in the last term.
Decorum should be observed. Proper respect for the representative body should be maintained. A Council is not subservient, no matter what Councillor Gaertner imagines. .
The electorate chose their representatives. Their choice is paramount.They have delegated their authority to the occupants of Council chairs.
Disrespect to the elected body is disrespect to the system whereby we govern ourselves
If a Council does not collectively respect itself , disrespect is the inevitable result..
We do not respect ourselves, if we do not consistently respect the rules we adopted.
We do not respect ourselves, if we permit the rules to be inconsistently applied.
We do not respect ourselves,if we adopt rules which are not acceptable to the entire council. .Not just a majority. Acceptable rules require unanimous support.
We have no hope of collegiality without agreement with the rules we chose to govern meetings.
We do not respect ourselves if we allow the function of council to be disrespected and abused.
We owe it to the office we hold, to treat the office with respect.
For meetings to be used for purposes other than proscribed by the Municipal Act, which is attending to the town business in a timely and efficient manner, is disrespect for the function of Council and the people who made the choice as to its membership.
Making important decisions at and after the hour of midnight is total disrespect in every sense of the term.
How about an extra meeting, once every two months, scheduled for 3 hours, with nothing but delegates and awards, and cut them out entirely from proper council meetings?
*****************
Both have a place in the scheme of things. Awards are ceremonial events. They are a celebration of excellence.
Ceremony is a function of the Mayor's office . The Chain of Office is our only piece of regalia.
In tributes and awards, neither council nor staff have a role to play. We sit around like extras in a crowd scene.
It makes no sense to me that ceremony should be combined with town business.
The Skylight Gallery in the town hall was designed for such events. The Mayor, wearing the Chain of Office is the dignitary. Council members must be invited with a reception to follow. It provides an opportunity for meaningful exchange.
A tribute should be more than a handshake and a photo opportunity.
A day of the week should be dedicated to such events . Not necessarily every week. Only when called for.
How we do it now lends no dignity to the occasion . People are called forward, photographed with the Mayor , hurried on their way, so the next person can receive his/her tribute.
It's tacky.
If we really want to honour individuals, we should do it with style befitting the entire community's sincere intent.
Delegations have their place but as part of a protocol. If someone has a problem the appropriate department should have an opportunity to deal with it before it comes to council and public attention.
If it isn't dealt with satisfactorily at staff level, the Mayor's office is the next logical resource .
If the Mayor or a Councillor is unable to resolve the problem, an appearance at Council in a public meeting is a last resort.
Delegation should be directed to council- in- committee. A staff report in response should accompany the delegate's complaint . There should be no opportunity to come back again and again and again to re-hash the same issue. Sometimes, there is no resolution to a particular problem.
Councillors have no right to abuse procedures. Neither does a non-elected resident..
Procedures should be consistently applied. Five minutes to present is enough. Three people to speak to the issue, to triple the time is not fair. It is not equal . It is a stunt to circumvent the rules.. It should not be permitted let alone suggested , as it was repeatedly in the last term.
Decorum should be observed. Proper respect for the representative body should be maintained. A Council is not subservient, no matter what Councillor Gaertner imagines. .
The electorate chose their representatives. Their choice is paramount.They have delegated their authority to the occupants of Council chairs.
Disrespect to the elected body is disrespect to the system whereby we govern ourselves
If a Council does not collectively respect itself , disrespect is the inevitable result..
We do not respect ourselves, if we do not consistently respect the rules we adopted.
We do not respect ourselves, if we permit the rules to be inconsistently applied.
We do not respect ourselves,if we adopt rules which are not acceptable to the entire council. .Not just a majority. Acceptable rules require unanimous support.
We have no hope of collegiality without agreement with the rules we chose to govern meetings.
We do not respect ourselves if we allow the function of council to be disrespected and abused.
We owe it to the office we hold, to treat the office with respect.
For meetings to be used for purposes other than proscribed by the Municipal Act, which is attending to the town business in a timely and efficient manner, is disrespect for the function of Council and the people who made the choice as to its membership.
Making important decisions at and after the hour of midnight is total disrespect in every sense of the term.
Water Audit Report
Item 3 If the August 14th Council Agenda was a water audit report, twenty- six pages long.
Staff recommendation was:
"Council receive the report for information and the town be an actiove participant in the York Region/Municipality Water audit.
That the town continue to investigate and implement best practices for water management"
"The purpose of the report is to follow up on the commitment during the 2011 budget discussions that introduces the application of a methodology for auditing water usage within a municipal water supply system to aid in a full accounting of the water inventory.The report also includes an assessment of internal water uses that have been previously unaccounted regarding certain parks operations as recently identified during council discussions."
There are twenty six more pages. It was on the agenda for discussion on Tuesday night. We didn't deal with that and several other matters demanding our attention.
For one thing. we had a twenty-one page dissertation from a delegate permitted to attend for the third time to hammer away on the issue of the hazardous nature of a single piece of playground apparatus.
He went to the five minute limit of his time. The Mayor advised he had reached his limit. He continued as he saw fit.The Mayor allowed that too.
Councillor Gaertner had a question of the delegate which allowed him to take up again the thread of his argument even after he had more than exhausted his time.
Councillor Gaertner had a second question which provided further opportunity.
Rules of procedure permit questions of a delegate They do not permit back and forth exchange with a delegate. It's a ruse regularly employed by a Councillor who wishes to appear sympathetic, to assure a delegate of heart- felt support despite what the dastardly council might do.
I raised a point of order. The Mayor dismissed my point and allowed the time-wasting charade to continue.
Councillor Gaertner argues it is her job to ask questions to elicit information for the public.
The Councillor is correct.
The job of a Councillor is many faceted. One is to exercise judgment and be mindful, there are twenty-six items of town business to be dealt with and already an hour of time scheduled has been taken up, la-di-da ,by matters which are not corporate business.
They are matters brought before Council by delegates with their own agenda and no responsibility whatsoever for town business being completed in the publicly scheduled time.
In fact, two hours passed on Tuesday, with council similarly occupied. By the hour of midnight, one and a half hours after the scheduled time of adjournment, much of the agenda had not been considered had actually been deferred until the next meeting, when the entire charade will no doubt be repeated, the only change being faces at the podium.
Councillor Gaertner brought up still another item under "new business " after presumably a third motion was passed to extend the hour of adjournment to complete a specific item on the table.
The last part I heard about. I departed at midnight.
When the clock strikes twelve, I turn into a pulpy pumpkin ready to explode and splatter everywhere, if I hear one more idiotic, nonsensical, irrelevant, irrational, inane, asinine insufferably stupid comment which all are, after listening non-stop for four hours and thirty minutes with the work at hand nowhere near completion.
Shades of the past:
When the main activity of the council , during prime time, was devoted to delegations, presentations and opportunities for the Mayor and sundry others to cavort before the cameras.
After which the sundries went home happy and content and the mundane business of the corporation received short shrift from Councillors, who are paid for the single purpose of taking care of business .
And all the while highly paid directors clock up time off in lieu of all the hours spent as a captive audience for showcase shenanigans carried out under the delusion a Mayor and Council are elected for nothing more than dress-up to grace the stage and perform for cameras.
Once again, I hear references to how much time the best members spend engaged in activities around the town. Showing support for the groups who contribute meaningfully to the life of the community
While at the same time, giving short shrift to business only they have authority to decide.
Staff recommendation was:
"Council receive the report for information and the town be an actiove participant in the York Region/Municipality Water audit.
That the town continue to investigate and implement best practices for water management"
"The purpose of the report is to follow up on the commitment during the 2011 budget discussions that introduces the application of a methodology for auditing water usage within a municipal water supply system to aid in a full accounting of the water inventory.The report also includes an assessment of internal water uses that have been previously unaccounted regarding certain parks operations as recently identified during council discussions."
There are twenty six more pages. It was on the agenda for discussion on Tuesday night. We didn't deal with that and several other matters demanding our attention.
For one thing. we had a twenty-one page dissertation from a delegate permitted to attend for the third time to hammer away on the issue of the hazardous nature of a single piece of playground apparatus.
He went to the five minute limit of his time. The Mayor advised he had reached his limit. He continued as he saw fit.The Mayor allowed that too.
Councillor Gaertner had a question of the delegate which allowed him to take up again the thread of his argument even after he had more than exhausted his time.
Councillor Gaertner had a second question which provided further opportunity.
Rules of procedure permit questions of a delegate They do not permit back and forth exchange with a delegate. It's a ruse regularly employed by a Councillor who wishes to appear sympathetic, to assure a delegate of heart- felt support despite what the dastardly council might do.
I raised a point of order. The Mayor dismissed my point and allowed the time-wasting charade to continue.
Councillor Gaertner argues it is her job to ask questions to elicit information for the public.
The Councillor is correct.
The job of a Councillor is many faceted. One is to exercise judgment and be mindful, there are twenty-six items of town business to be dealt with and already an hour of time scheduled has been taken up, la-di-da ,by matters which are not corporate business.
They are matters brought before Council by delegates with their own agenda and no responsibility whatsoever for town business being completed in the publicly scheduled time.
In fact, two hours passed on Tuesday, with council similarly occupied. By the hour of midnight, one and a half hours after the scheduled time of adjournment, much of the agenda had not been considered had actually been deferred until the next meeting, when the entire charade will no doubt be repeated, the only change being faces at the podium.
Councillor Gaertner brought up still another item under "new business " after presumably a third motion was passed to extend the hour of adjournment to complete a specific item on the table.
The last part I heard about. I departed at midnight.
When the clock strikes twelve, I turn into a pulpy pumpkin ready to explode and splatter everywhere, if I hear one more idiotic, nonsensical, irrelevant, irrational, inane, asinine insufferably stupid comment which all are, after listening non-stop for four hours and thirty minutes with the work at hand nowhere near completion.
Shades of the past:
When the main activity of the council , during prime time, was devoted to delegations, presentations and opportunities for the Mayor and sundry others to cavort before the cameras.
After which the sundries went home happy and content and the mundane business of the corporation received short shrift from Councillors, who are paid for the single purpose of taking care of business .
And all the while highly paid directors clock up time off in lieu of all the hours spent as a captive audience for showcase shenanigans carried out under the delusion a Mayor and Council are elected for nothing more than dress-up to grace the stage and perform for cameras.
Once again, I hear references to how much time the best members spend engaged in activities around the town. Showing support for the groups who contribute meaningfully to the life of the community
While at the same time, giving short shrift to business only they have authority to decide.
Tuesday, 23 August 2011
Tremors
Sitting on my deck I felt the chair move beneath me. Sue Parish sitting on the deck with her mother
Joyce, on a visit from North Bay, also felt the movement. It lasted several seconds.
I have on at least one occasion in the past, noticed items had moved on a shelf. And later learned the earth had shifted. I have never consciously experienced an earthquake.
I did to-day.
Joyce, on a visit from North Bay, also felt the movement. It lasted several seconds.
I have on at least one occasion in the past, noticed items had moved on a shelf. And later learned the earth had shifted. I have never consciously experienced an earthquake.
I did to-day.
About Dogs
I know very little about dogs. I know they are faithful companions, protective of owners ,particularly when an infant come into the house. They growl a fearsome warning if they detect a threat.
I know, if a dog has a bone, it's sensible to keep your hand out from between the dog and its bone.
There has been a dog in my house from time to time. I have exchanged the warmth of his affection. .
But I do not want to be responsible for a dog. I believe if you take a dog into your home, you are responsible for providing all care and protection required. I have never been inclined to pick up after a dog. I have never been so affluent as to contemplate vet bills should they become necessary. I have never felt comfortable about a dog and an infant sharing the same floor space.
I know just enough about dogs to know they merit their place in our society.
This morning, in our inbox there is a reference to
s. 4(1)(b) and (c) of the Dog Owners' Liability Act against allowing the dog to behave in a manner that poses a menace to the safety of persons or domestic animals.
I ask you to contemplate that wording: what would cause a dog to behave in a manner that poses a menace to the safety of persons or domestic animals?
In the right circumstances, their nature .
The owner is not tagged with a "dangerous" monicker. The dog is.
The owner can pay multiple fines. The dog gets put down for following its instinct.
When I was Mayor, we had to have a hearing once, to determine guilt or innocence of a dog for the killing or injury of sheep.
The dog was a white husky. He was caught in the act. His owner was beside himself. The dog was incarcerated in the Humane Society's shelter on Industry Sreet.
I think we all felt pretty weird about finding a dog guilty of the crime accused.
It was about the same time the government stopped accepting farmers' claims for compensation against the killing of sheep by wolves.
But I digress. We delivered the verdict. The dog was in the slammer. That night the dog was sprung from the slammer and never heard of in these parts again.
The late and former Councillor Ron Simmons, was out always in the night distributing the Globe and Mail.
He brought in the news with a wide and wicked grin.
I was very glad never to have to participate in such an enterprise again.
Two weeks ago, when Council heard the hearing on the current situation, I was happy to be occupied elesewhere and excused .
I don't know why the print colour changed to blue and then black again. Just one of the inexplicable vagaries of technology. I guess .
I've learned to live with it because I have to.
Not like other stuff . Where another level of government can pass a law and charge the lunkheads at the municipal level with its prosecution.
I know, if a dog has a bone, it's sensible to keep your hand out from between the dog and its bone.
There has been a dog in my house from time to time. I have exchanged the warmth of his affection. .
But I do not want to be responsible for a dog. I believe if you take a dog into your home, you are responsible for providing all care and protection required. I have never been inclined to pick up after a dog. I have never been so affluent as to contemplate vet bills should they become necessary. I have never felt comfortable about a dog and an infant sharing the same floor space.
I know just enough about dogs to know they merit their place in our society.
This morning, in our inbox there is a reference to
s. 4(1)(b) and (c) of the Dog Owners' Liability Act against allowing the dog to behave in a manner that poses a menace to the safety of persons or domestic animals.
I ask you to contemplate that wording: what would cause a dog to behave in a manner that poses a menace to the safety of persons or domestic animals?
In the right circumstances, their nature .
The owner is not tagged with a "dangerous" monicker. The dog is.
The owner can pay multiple fines. The dog gets put down for following its instinct.
When I was Mayor, we had to have a hearing once, to determine guilt or innocence of a dog for the killing or injury of sheep.
The dog was a white husky. He was caught in the act. His owner was beside himself. The dog was incarcerated in the Humane Society's shelter on Industry Sreet.
I think we all felt pretty weird about finding a dog guilty of the crime accused.
It was about the same time the government stopped accepting farmers' claims for compensation against the killing of sheep by wolves.
But I digress. We delivered the verdict. The dog was in the slammer. That night the dog was sprung from the slammer and never heard of in these parts again.
The late and former Councillor Ron Simmons, was out always in the night distributing the Globe and Mail.
He brought in the news with a wide and wicked grin.
I was very glad never to have to participate in such an enterprise again.
Two weeks ago, when Council heard the hearing on the current situation, I was happy to be occupied elesewhere and excused .
I don't know why the print colour changed to blue and then black again. Just one of the inexplicable vagaries of technology. I guess .
I've learned to live with it because I have to.
Not like other stuff . Where another level of government can pass a law and charge the lunkheads at the municipal level with its prosecution.
This Just In
An e-mail from B.I.L.D. Liason.
Aurora's single family development charge, including York Region and education charges is $48,799.
It's among the highest in the Region.
It means of a new unit of housing worth three hundred thousand dollars ,one sixth of the price is a development charge levy; tax.
It does not include provincial sales tax, federal sales tax, land transfer tax, the cost of roads, water and sewer infrastructure. Trees to be planted. Lots to be sodded .Parkland to be provided.Environmentally sensitive lands to be dedicated and Ontario Municipal Board Hearings to be paid for.
Like I said before. Nobody seems to be watching.
The building industry keeps tabs and circulates the information. But they are not likely to create controversy over it. They buy tables at charity functions and fill them with politicians. They invite leaders as guest speakers to stay in their good books. Some, on the inside, pay thousands for a seat at the table of a private dinner in a residence with a leader in hopes of a fair wind in their direction.
In the building industry, time is money. They bend over backwards and twist themselves into pretzels to get their hands on permits and get on with the business they are in.They employ or do not employ thousands and almost single-handedly maintain the economy.
Bureaucrats, who produce nothing, have the power to make or break them. And they do.
In the end, new homebuyers pay the freight. They don't even know it. After they've made the purchase, they don't want to know it. They're too busy with two parents out to work to pay the mortgage and child care fees.
The politicians response to the problem is to make universal child care programs available to those working parents who can afford them. So that our children, the nation's true wealth, can be raised in institutions. to fit into a society run by institutions.
The same institutions that calculate development charges.
Deaf and blind and with no shortage of chatter and numbers about best industry practices.
Well why should they care. It's the source of their security.
Aurora's single family development charge, including York Region and education charges is $48,799.
It's among the highest in the Region.
It means of a new unit of housing worth three hundred thousand dollars ,one sixth of the price is a development charge levy; tax.
It does not include provincial sales tax, federal sales tax, land transfer tax, the cost of roads, water and sewer infrastructure. Trees to be planted. Lots to be sodded .Parkland to be provided.Environmentally sensitive lands to be dedicated and Ontario Municipal Board Hearings to be paid for.
Like I said before. Nobody seems to be watching.
The building industry keeps tabs and circulates the information. But they are not likely to create controversy over it. They buy tables at charity functions and fill them with politicians. They invite leaders as guest speakers to stay in their good books. Some, on the inside, pay thousands for a seat at the table of a private dinner in a residence with a leader in hopes of a fair wind in their direction.
In the building industry, time is money. They bend over backwards and twist themselves into pretzels to get their hands on permits and get on with the business they are in.They employ or do not employ thousands and almost single-handedly maintain the economy.
Bureaucrats, who produce nothing, have the power to make or break them. And they do.
In the end, new homebuyers pay the freight. They don't even know it. After they've made the purchase, they don't want to know it. They're too busy with two parents out to work to pay the mortgage and child care fees.
The politicians response to the problem is to make universal child care programs available to those working parents who can afford them. So that our children, the nation's true wealth, can be raised in institutions. to fit into a society run by institutions.
The same institutions that calculate development charges.
Deaf and blind and with no shortage of chatter and numbers about best industry practices.
Well why should they care. It's the source of their security.
Yesterday
An e-mail went to the Chief Building Official yesterday, recounting a story from the community.
A person with his very old, former rescue dog was in a local park. The dog is overweight and waddles rather than walks. The owner removed the leash and immediately received a ticket for $750. for allowing his dog to be off leash.
A couple of Saturdays ago, tickets were issued to patrons of the Farmers Market for parking at a school bus drop off zone. Wells Street Public school has not been a school for several years. Even when it was a school, there were no buses on a Saturday...or a Sunday either.
Last Tuesday Council received a report from the Planning Department. A small apartment building at the corner of Bell Street and Wellington is being altered to make additional one bedroom apartments out of two-bedroom apartments.
I can't see why the numbers of residents should change.
The owner will pay for building permits and cash in lieu of parks .The cost will likely not be much less that $100,000.
Five additional parking spaces must be provided. The parking lot currently drains towards the creek.
It will still drain towards the creek. But South Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority wants $3,000 to review the drainage.
I drew attention to the fee requirement .
Councillor Gaertner asked "Who will be paying the fee?"
Like.... why should it matter ?
It appears it didn't.
I heard a story about the protagonist for removing play apparatus from Confederation Park because of the hazard to life and limb of children who play there.
Apparently a video of his four year old driving a vehicle on the street has been posted. Without a helmet yet.
I heard also about a resident being issued a ticket from the town for noise made by a bird. The winged variety. When the pet owner is gardening, she brings the pet outside with her to the deck. A neighbour complained. A ticket was issued.
Council recently held a hearing to determine guilt or innocence of a dog that bit another dog.
External legal counsel was not retained. But legal services were required.
Council has received an invitation to attend the "Opening" of the new section of the Nokiida Trail.
It has to be held outside because the trail is outside.
Otherwise it would undoubtedly take priority over town business in the September Meeting. It already has most of the town business from the August meeting still to be decided.
No doubt other events can be found to make sure the show is a success.
In George Orwell's book 1984.the fictional horror was about everybody being watched everywhere all of the time.
In 2011, the reality is about nobody watching. Everybody texting. No judgment exercised. No understanding of the concept.
We are living in a time, after thirty years of everyone who plays, win or lose, getting a trophy.
Finally, it seems there's hardly any point in trying. What we mostly do is talking but not about anything that matters.
A person with his very old, former rescue dog was in a local park. The dog is overweight and waddles rather than walks. The owner removed the leash and immediately received a ticket for $750. for allowing his dog to be off leash.
A couple of Saturdays ago, tickets were issued to patrons of the Farmers Market for parking at a school bus drop off zone. Wells Street Public school has not been a school for several years. Even when it was a school, there were no buses on a Saturday...or a Sunday either.
Last Tuesday Council received a report from the Planning Department. A small apartment building at the corner of Bell Street and Wellington is being altered to make additional one bedroom apartments out of two-bedroom apartments.
I can't see why the numbers of residents should change.
The owner will pay for building permits and cash in lieu of parks .The cost will likely not be much less that $100,000.
Five additional parking spaces must be provided. The parking lot currently drains towards the creek.
It will still drain towards the creek. But South Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority wants $3,000 to review the drainage.
I drew attention to the fee requirement .
Councillor Gaertner asked "Who will be paying the fee?"
Like.... why should it matter ?
It appears it didn't.
I heard a story about the protagonist for removing play apparatus from Confederation Park because of the hazard to life and limb of children who play there.
Apparently a video of his four year old driving a vehicle on the street has been posted. Without a helmet yet.
I heard also about a resident being issued a ticket from the town for noise made by a bird. The winged variety. When the pet owner is gardening, she brings the pet outside with her to the deck. A neighbour complained. A ticket was issued.
Council recently held a hearing to determine guilt or innocence of a dog that bit another dog.
External legal counsel was not retained. But legal services were required.
Council has received an invitation to attend the "Opening" of the new section of the Nokiida Trail.
It has to be held outside because the trail is outside.
Otherwise it would undoubtedly take priority over town business in the September Meeting. It already has most of the town business from the August meeting still to be decided.
No doubt other events can be found to make sure the show is a success.
In George Orwell's book 1984.the fictional horror was about everybody being watched everywhere all of the time.
In 2011, the reality is about nobody watching. Everybody texting. No judgment exercised. No understanding of the concept.
We are living in a time, after thirty years of everyone who plays, win or lose, getting a trophy.
Finally, it seems there's hardly any point in trying. What we mostly do is talking but not about anything that matters.
Monday, 22 August 2011
Getting Into Gear
Preparing for a Council meeting with weighty agenda items, is no small matter.
Staff reports must be read, understood and analysed for logic, consistency and justification.
Staff give advice, Council makes decisions.
Council is accountable for the decisions. Staff are not.
Reading reports, making notes, deciding whether or not to vote in support or argue against, is a task not be taken lightly. To arrive at the point and Council doesn't even get around to doing the work as scheduled is detrimental to the process. It's a bummer.
Last Tuesday was a classic example of complete non-productivity.
It was the single meeting held in August. More than thirty items of town business were to be dealt with.
The Mayor and Clerk are responsible for creating the agenda. Time to deal with it is finite. For a reason.
The intent is to deal with the town's business efficiently, in a timely fashion . That's what we are there for. That's why we get paid. It's why a municipal corporation is not a volunteer organisation.
Last week, we dealt with a minimal number of items.
A third delegation was granted on request from two people determined to have piece of playground apparatus removed from a playground. It did not happen. But it took time from the business agenda and accomplished nothing. Nil,nada zilch and zero. .
There was a third delegation for something called a Park's Ambassador Program. I am not sure what that is. No evidence of necessity ,or useful purpose was presented by staff, Nor was it asked for. It took time from town business that needed Council attention.
The entire staff of the aquatic program were introduced to Council. A crisis had been averted and a life saved. The story was told. Staff deserved to be recognised. Families were present. Photos were taken .It took time from town business agenda that needed Council attention.
The Skylight Gallery is a fine facility in the town hall. Lends itself well to receptions honoring those who have earned it. Such a reception provides an opportunity for refreshments to be served and interaction between those being recognised and those providing recognition.It makes the appreciation real.
A Council meeting is the time required under the Municipal Act to get the town's business done.
We must by law pass a procedure bylaw. We must inform the public of the hours within which, on a regular basis, town business will be conducted and decisions will be made.
Last Tuesday we spent 2 hours of the 3.5 hours required for town business doing everything except attend to the business items on the agenda.It's the ue rather than the exception.
Most of the agenda had to be deferred to the next meeting of Council. Almost a month hence.
I left the town hall after the hour of midnight. We had come nowhere near completion of the agenda. Published beforehand as having to be dealt with on that day and date, during the hours advertised in the procedure bylaw.
If anybody thinks Council accomplished what we were paid to accomplish at the August meeting of Council, they would be sadly disappointed.
Staff reports must be read, understood and analysed for logic, consistency and justification.
Staff give advice, Council makes decisions.
Council is accountable for the decisions. Staff are not.
Reading reports, making notes, deciding whether or not to vote in support or argue against, is a task not be taken lightly. To arrive at the point and Council doesn't even get around to doing the work as scheduled is detrimental to the process. It's a bummer.
Last Tuesday was a classic example of complete non-productivity.
It was the single meeting held in August. More than thirty items of town business were to be dealt with.
The Mayor and Clerk are responsible for creating the agenda. Time to deal with it is finite. For a reason.
The intent is to deal with the town's business efficiently, in a timely fashion . That's what we are there for. That's why we get paid. It's why a municipal corporation is not a volunteer organisation.
Last week, we dealt with a minimal number of items.
A third delegation was granted on request from two people determined to have piece of playground apparatus removed from a playground. It did not happen. But it took time from the business agenda and accomplished nothing. Nil,nada zilch and zero. .
There was a third delegation for something called a Park's Ambassador Program. I am not sure what that is. No evidence of necessity ,or useful purpose was presented by staff, Nor was it asked for. It took time from town business that needed Council attention.
The entire staff of the aquatic program were introduced to Council. A crisis had been averted and a life saved. The story was told. Staff deserved to be recognised. Families were present. Photos were taken .It took time from town business agenda that needed Council attention.
The Skylight Gallery is a fine facility in the town hall. Lends itself well to receptions honoring those who have earned it. Such a reception provides an opportunity for refreshments to be served and interaction between those being recognised and those providing recognition.It makes the appreciation real.
A Council meeting is the time required under the Municipal Act to get the town's business done.
We must by law pass a procedure bylaw. We must inform the public of the hours within which, on a regular basis, town business will be conducted and decisions will be made.
Last Tuesday we spent 2 hours of the 3.5 hours required for town business doing everything except attend to the business items on the agenda.It's the ue rather than the exception.
Most of the agenda had to be deferred to the next meeting of Council. Almost a month hence.
I left the town hall after the hour of midnight. We had come nowhere near completion of the agenda. Published beforehand as having to be dealt with on that day and date, during the hours advertised in the procedure bylaw.
If anybody thinks Council accomplished what we were paid to accomplish at the August meeting of Council, they would be sadly disappointed.
OH CANADA
LivingInAurora.ca has left a new comment on your post "I Didn't Say That..":
To the 5:09 pm Anonymous:
Nah, when comes to politics I suck big time. Yet I don't know why I stick my nose, probably because it is challenge ....
Enjoy your weekend.
Anna :)
**********************
Anna You are not sticking your nose in. You are accepting an invitation.
It is your business.
You don't have to be a candidate to have the right or inclination to talk about politics.
Traditionally it has been considered to have potential for discord. Most people tend to keep opinions to themselves.
Not everyone enjoys the roustabout nature of the subject,
That's why I think social media and the opportunity to throw one's opinions into the melee is so very valuable.
It provides an opportunity people have never, in all of history, enjoyed.
It's why tyrants and despots in the Middle East are being toppled.
It's why the insanity of medieval religious cults are losing their grip.
It's why women throughout the world will eventually achieve freedom.
Television allowed people to see freedom ,opportunities and lifestyle enjoyed in other parts of the world.
The internet allows them to exchange ideas.
To say to each other, whatever the sacrifice, "the cause is just, the dreams must be kept alive".
In Canada ,we have rights and freedoms only dreamed of by others. Yet incredibly, there are those among us, like the majority in the last Aurora Council who decided we did not.
Under a cloak of righteousness, even religion, they contrived a cockamamie code of conduct ,retained lawyers at great expense, appointed and discharged an integrity commissioner and sued citizens for exercising democratic rights, all at public expense, in a determined attempt to deny our freedom.
All of this a quarter of a century after the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom was passed into law.
Don't let anyone tell you Anna, we do not have the obligation "To Stand On Guard For Thee"
"We have seen the enemy" and" it is us"
To the 5:09 pm Anonymous:
Nah, when comes to politics I suck big time. Yet I don't know why I stick my nose, probably because it is challenge ....
Enjoy your weekend.
Anna :)
**********************
Anna You are not sticking your nose in. You are accepting an invitation.
It is your business.
You don't have to be a candidate to have the right or inclination to talk about politics.
Traditionally it has been considered to have potential for discord. Most people tend to keep opinions to themselves.
Not everyone enjoys the roustabout nature of the subject,
That's why I think social media and the opportunity to throw one's opinions into the melee is so very valuable.
It provides an opportunity people have never, in all of history, enjoyed.
It's why tyrants and despots in the Middle East are being toppled.
It's why the insanity of medieval religious cults are losing their grip.
It's why women throughout the world will eventually achieve freedom.
Television allowed people to see freedom ,opportunities and lifestyle enjoyed in other parts of the world.
The internet allows them to exchange ideas.
To say to each other, whatever the sacrifice, "the cause is just, the dreams must be kept alive".
In Canada ,we have rights and freedoms only dreamed of by others. Yet incredibly, there are those among us, like the majority in the last Aurora Council who decided we did not.
Under a cloak of righteousness, even religion, they contrived a cockamamie code of conduct ,retained lawyers at great expense, appointed and discharged an integrity commissioner and sued citizens for exercising democratic rights, all at public expense, in a determined attempt to deny our freedom.
All of this a quarter of a century after the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom was passed into law.
Don't let anyone tell you Anna, we do not have the obligation "To Stand On Guard For Thee"
"We have seen the enemy" and" it is us"
Saturday, 20 August 2011
Stop Saying That
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "I Didn't Say That..":
Yes,but the Mayor is only Tim Jones puppet.
Kettle,pot,black.
************
Nobody runs for the Office of Mayor to be someone else's puppet.
Tim Jones has moved on.
Geoff Dawe will stand or fall on his own merits.
Being elected to political office is still an honour worthy of the most earnest endeavour.
Yes,but the Mayor is only Tim Jones puppet.
Kettle,pot,black.
************
Nobody runs for the Office of Mayor to be someone else's puppet.
Tim Jones has moved on.
Geoff Dawe will stand or fall on his own merits.
Being elected to political office is still an honour worthy of the most earnest endeavour.
I Didn't Say That..
LivingInAurora.ca has left a new comment on your post "A Question Posed . Here's One Answer.":
Evelyn, you wrote: 'I find that several councillors are unable to express themselves in simple organized sentences and the thoughts or opinions they are attempting to state become blurred and unintelligible.'
Oh that is very sad to hear
**************************
I did not write that, Anna. It was an observation posted to the Blog by a reader.
We had a single council meeting in July and another in August.Two meetings a month on camera are the average.
Speaking while organising one's thoughts is not as easy as it looks.The skill must be acquired. But it is worth cultivating, if only to become more comfortable doing what people expect.
People say I do it well but I hate to watch .I hear myself repeating things and speaking in disjointed sentences.My enemies,I'm sure, make much of it.
Actually, speaking in debate is not required. No record is kept. It's not like Hansard. The Municipal Act stipulates only that a Councillor is required to vote.
In my early days, if a point had already been made, a Councillor in agreement would simply say so:
".I agree with Councillor so and so" and the discussion would move along. Everybody was conscious of the hour of adjournment and the need to complete town business .
Deferring business to the next meeting was by no means considered competent or efficient. It was a sign of incompetence of the chair. There's more to that job than wearing the Chain of Office.
Back then, we did not have cable t.v. We started public forum. But few took advantage. Delegations were seldom and certainly nobody took the microphone to demand Council bend to their demands.
There was a clear understanding, if one had a desire to participate, the thing to do was put your name on the ballot.
There was never an occasion a resident was encouraged to delegate to call a Councillor a liar. Or hurl unsubstantiated allegations and unfounded accusations at a member of Council.
I think it had to do with respect for the office we each held and the people who gave their confidence,for at least the term we served.
I have never mastered the discipline of detachment. I can live with the reality I have a single vote. That's not an option. It doesn't mean that outside of council meetings, I have to quietly accept or,perish the thought, pretend to agree with decisions having ongoing negative consequences for the community.
A waste of trust and confidence and time and resources mitigate seriously against satisfaction from a job well done.
Having the blog and a direct conduit with people helps to makes up for that.
When I started it in August 2007, I hoped it would stimulate interest in the town's affairs and more people would turn out to vote. It didn't.
But since I started it, several more blogs have come into being.
One thing for sure...politics will never be the same since people have had the opportunity to make their observations and contribute to the debate.
Evelyn, you wrote: 'I find that several councillors are unable to express themselves in simple organized sentences and the thoughts or opinions they are attempting to state become blurred and unintelligible.'
Oh that is very sad to hear
**************************
I did not write that, Anna. It was an observation posted to the Blog by a reader.
We had a single council meeting in July and another in August.Two meetings a month on camera are the average.
Speaking while organising one's thoughts is not as easy as it looks.The skill must be acquired. But it is worth cultivating, if only to become more comfortable doing what people expect.
People say I do it well but I hate to watch .I hear myself repeating things and speaking in disjointed sentences.My enemies,I'm sure, make much of it.
Actually, speaking in debate is not required. No record is kept. It's not like Hansard. The Municipal Act stipulates only that a Councillor is required to vote.
In my early days, if a point had already been made, a Councillor in agreement would simply say so:
".I agree with Councillor so and so" and the discussion would move along. Everybody was conscious of the hour of adjournment and the need to complete town business .
Deferring business to the next meeting was by no means considered competent or efficient. It was a sign of incompetence of the chair. There's more to that job than wearing the Chain of Office.
Back then, we did not have cable t.v. We started public forum. But few took advantage. Delegations were seldom and certainly nobody took the microphone to demand Council bend to their demands.
There was a clear understanding, if one had a desire to participate, the thing to do was put your name on the ballot.
There was never an occasion a resident was encouraged to delegate to call a Councillor a liar. Or hurl unsubstantiated allegations and unfounded accusations at a member of Council.
I think it had to do with respect for the office we each held and the people who gave their confidence,for at least the term we served.
I have never mastered the discipline of detachment. I can live with the reality I have a single vote. That's not an option. It doesn't mean that outside of council meetings, I have to quietly accept or,perish the thought, pretend to agree with decisions having ongoing negative consequences for the community.
A waste of trust and confidence and time and resources mitigate seriously against satisfaction from a job well done.
Having the blog and a direct conduit with people helps to makes up for that.
When I started it in August 2007, I hoped it would stimulate interest in the town's affairs and more people would turn out to vote. It didn't.
But since I started it, several more blogs have come into being.
One thing for sure...politics will never be the same since people have had the opportunity to make their observations and contribute to the debate.
Friday, 19 August 2011
Thank You For Asking
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "And Another Thing":
Ummm, do we not also have a deficit of industrial lands?
Giving this land up for parks would mean less commercial taxes, and less local employment.
You criticized the previous council for not selling the old hydro building for the vary same reason, yet you are so willing to give up this important source of revenue.
Keeping this for a park will surely result in tax increases.
**************
The last shall be first.
This land was purchased for recreation . The town did not borrow money to buy it for industrial development. We still need the land for recreation purposes. If we don't use it for the purpose we bought it, at a good price nine years ago, we will need to buy it at to-day's prices which will be considerably higher.
I'm not one hundred per cent sure of this point. But I think we have to publicly declare land surplus to our needs in order to be able to sell lands in town ownership. We cannot do that with any integrity. We do need it. If we have to make a public declaration . I believe that entitles any member of the public to challenge the veracity of the claim, it is surplus to our needs.
I did and still do criticize the previous and previous to that, council for not selling the former hydro building to recover the assessment revenue and jobs lost when the building was suddenly, on one month's notice , vacated by Powerstream.
The building was eventually being utilised by our parks department and for storage of town hall artifacts when the former council announced triumphantly, the lease to the Department of National Defence well nigh a year ago ,at a rent of $139,000 a year.
The parks department was able to construct parks furniture and items like gazebos due to the amenity of the hydro building. .
Now we are talking about twelve million dollars capital expenditure for space adequate for works and parks combined.
Parks could have been accommodated in the Hydro building.
Works could have taken over the parks building.
Whamo!!!! no need for twelve million dollars which .I understand it is currently being spent.
Rent for the hydro building didn't start until February 2011, I heard the former Mayor altered the lease agreement after her defeat in the election and without Council authority.Completely illegal.
We spent far more than a year's rent in improvements to the building. We have funds in capital expenditures for continued maintenance because we are the landlord . So the publicly declared rent is not precise.
In the meantime, the building has been empty and idle since the parks department vacated it in time for commencement of the lease.
Which near as I can tell, was supposed to start in September 2010 but didn't until February 2011.
The announcement was made by the Chief Administrative Officer while a campaign being fought and short weeks before the election .
I do not argue definitively the entire parcel of Leslie Street lands be used for recreation. 404 frontage obviously has a high value. Expressway frontage is not necessary for successful recreation .Profit on 404 frontage could go a long way to developing the rest as leisure lands.As well as increasing our assessment base .
Talking about the town's assessment base. I'm really glad you mentioned that. Check out the massive areas around the station devoted to commuter parking. What a chunk of town core that takes up without a penny of assessment revenue for the town. In fact, revenue was lost as a result of provincial ownership.
Certainly no jobs came from it. Traffic congestion increased to boot .I predicted that. There's little doubt in my mind we are providing parking for commuters from an area far beyond our town.
We take money from business investing in our town, as Cash in Lieu of Parks. At the time of the election we had $12 million dollars Cash in Lieu in reserve funds. It must be used for the purpose taken. It makes sense, we use it sensibly.
To your final point. Do we have a deficit in industrial lands. I do not know that. But if we do, outside of the planning process, do we have any responsibility to provide lands for industrial development.
Buy it, develop it. market it ???
I know of no such mandated responsibility.
Not like the responsibility to provide lands for leisure services.
Nor the authority to take funds from developers with every building permit issued.
The moral commitment to new homebuyers that we provide the amenities they paid for when they signed on the dotted line.
When they took out a mortgage, with a high rate of interest, sufficient to pay hidden taxes, federal sales tax, municipal development charges, and a dozen other government charges within the price of a home.
When homes are assessed at market value, include hidden taxes, requiring the payment of taxes up on taxes for ever and a day. plus ninety per cent of the cost of whatever new recreation facilities the town chooses to build when they get around to it.
There's nothing simple about overseeing a municipal corporation. Councillors must be well-informed.
With the best will in the world, an uninformed Councillor is a liability to the corporation.More than one multiplies the liability.
When a person without experience is a candidate for council ,voters make allowances for that. They give an inexperienced Councillor time to learn.They watch for signs .
A quick reaction and an illformed decision does not reflect well . It is not defensible.
A thoughtful ,well considered , articulate rationale gets marks for trying.
People don't have to accept a Councillor's logic. They do have to know the Councillor believes it
Ummm, do we not also have a deficit of industrial lands?
Giving this land up for parks would mean less commercial taxes, and less local employment.
You criticized the previous council for not selling the old hydro building for the vary same reason, yet you are so willing to give up this important source of revenue.
Keeping this for a park will surely result in tax increases.
**************
The last shall be first.
This land was purchased for recreation . The town did not borrow money to buy it for industrial development. We still need the land for recreation purposes. If we don't use it for the purpose we bought it, at a good price nine years ago, we will need to buy it at to-day's prices which will be considerably higher.
I'm not one hundred per cent sure of this point. But I think we have to publicly declare land surplus to our needs in order to be able to sell lands in town ownership. We cannot do that with any integrity. We do need it. If we have to make a public declaration . I believe that entitles any member of the public to challenge the veracity of the claim, it is surplus to our needs.
I did and still do criticize the previous and previous to that, council for not selling the former hydro building to recover the assessment revenue and jobs lost when the building was suddenly, on one month's notice , vacated by Powerstream.
The building was eventually being utilised by our parks department and for storage of town hall artifacts when the former council announced triumphantly, the lease to the Department of National Defence well nigh a year ago ,at a rent of $139,000 a year.
The parks department was able to construct parks furniture and items like gazebos due to the amenity of the hydro building. .
Now we are talking about twelve million dollars capital expenditure for space adequate for works and parks combined.
Parks could have been accommodated in the Hydro building.
Works could have taken over the parks building.
Whamo!!!! no need for twelve million dollars which .I understand it is currently being spent.
Rent for the hydro building didn't start until February 2011, I heard the former Mayor altered the lease agreement after her defeat in the election and without Council authority.Completely illegal.
We spent far more than a year's rent in improvements to the building. We have funds in capital expenditures for continued maintenance because we are the landlord . So the publicly declared rent is not precise.
In the meantime, the building has been empty and idle since the parks department vacated it in time for commencement of the lease.
Which near as I can tell, was supposed to start in September 2010 but didn't until February 2011.
The announcement was made by the Chief Administrative Officer while a campaign being fought and short weeks before the election .
I do not argue definitively the entire parcel of Leslie Street lands be used for recreation. 404 frontage obviously has a high value. Expressway frontage is not necessary for successful recreation .Profit on 404 frontage could go a long way to developing the rest as leisure lands.As well as increasing our assessment base .
Talking about the town's assessment base. I'm really glad you mentioned that. Check out the massive areas around the station devoted to commuter parking. What a chunk of town core that takes up without a penny of assessment revenue for the town. In fact, revenue was lost as a result of provincial ownership.
Certainly no jobs came from it. Traffic congestion increased to boot .I predicted that. There's little doubt in my mind we are providing parking for commuters from an area far beyond our town.
We take money from business investing in our town, as Cash in Lieu of Parks. At the time of the election we had $12 million dollars Cash in Lieu in reserve funds. It must be used for the purpose taken. It makes sense, we use it sensibly.
To your final point. Do we have a deficit in industrial lands. I do not know that. But if we do, outside of the planning process, do we have any responsibility to provide lands for industrial development.
Buy it, develop it. market it ???
I know of no such mandated responsibility.
Not like the responsibility to provide lands for leisure services.
Nor the authority to take funds from developers with every building permit issued.
The moral commitment to new homebuyers that we provide the amenities they paid for when they signed on the dotted line.
When they took out a mortgage, with a high rate of interest, sufficient to pay hidden taxes, federal sales tax, municipal development charges, and a dozen other government charges within the price of a home.
When homes are assessed at market value, include hidden taxes, requiring the payment of taxes up on taxes for ever and a day. plus ninety per cent of the cost of whatever new recreation facilities the town chooses to build when they get around to it.
There's nothing simple about overseeing a municipal corporation. Councillors must be well-informed.
With the best will in the world, an uninformed Councillor is a liability to the corporation.More than one multiplies the liability.
When a person without experience is a candidate for council ,voters make allowances for that. They give an inexperienced Councillor time to learn.They watch for signs .
A quick reaction and an illformed decision does not reflect well . It is not defensible.
A thoughtful ,well considered , articulate rationale gets marks for trying.
People don't have to accept a Councillor's logic. They do have to know the Councillor believes it
And Another Thing
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Walk-About":
Why does "recreation" have to be synonymous with "sports"? There are many different types of recreational pursuits that do not have to include organized sports with screaming coaches and parents on the sidelines - and bad language to boot.
Isn't it time to be a little more creative?
****************
Recreation is a general term that includes sports . Leisure Services is the title of the department that
manages the range of activities the town provides. I think it fairly describes the service.
Many small neighbourhood parks, where there is no parking and tournament noise at the week-ends denies residents of peaceful enjoyment of their property, could cease to be used inappropriately if the town retained ownership of the Leslie lands for the original purpose.
It would be a supplementary benefit.
Why does "recreation" have to be synonymous with "sports"? There are many different types of recreational pursuits that do not have to include organized sports with screaming coaches and parents on the sidelines - and bad language to boot.
Isn't it time to be a little more creative?
****************
Recreation is a general term that includes sports . Leisure Services is the title of the department that
manages the range of activities the town provides. I think it fairly describes the service.
Many small neighbourhood parks, where there is no parking and tournament noise at the week-ends denies residents of peaceful enjoyment of their property, could cease to be used inappropriately if the town retained ownership of the Leslie lands for the original purpose.
It would be a supplementary benefit.
Thursday, 18 August 2011
That's Exactly What I'm Doing
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Walk-About":
The groups that put on that event showed they
could work for a common cause. Enlist them .The
Mayor is no slouch when it comes to supporting
sports and God knows, Sandra Humphreys deserves a
break from the cultural parasites.
*****************
Taking a tour of the land was my suggestion. All members of Council attended and enjoyed the opportunity.It is a beautiful spot.
Mr. Downey had most to do with the land from the beginning as Leisure Services Director. Mr. Garbe provided information about how it could be serviced for development.
The fact it has been designated as employment lands creates a problem for some Councillors.It means the use has to revert to its original purpose. I don't see that as a problem. I don't think sports fields need to have lands with 404 frontage. Those lands serve development best,
It's the rest of it I want to see maintained in wide sweeping fields,Warm summer air borne like a zephyr over the slopes. Families picnicking for the day, as young members engage in competitive sport
for the sheer enjoyment of life.
We need the land. We can justify its use.We bought it for the purpose. I think Council would be only too glad to hear you feel that way too. Nobody needed to have an arm twisted to come out and see it at its best.It will serve many generations of young Aurorans .
It will provide breathing space amongst all those tightly clustered residential areas, employment lands and traffic arteries..
A green and verdant land.
The groups that put on that event showed they
could work for a common cause. Enlist them .The
Mayor is no slouch when it comes to supporting
sports and God knows, Sandra Humphreys deserves a
break from the cultural parasites.
*****************
Taking a tour of the land was my suggestion. All members of Council attended and enjoyed the opportunity.It is a beautiful spot.
Mr. Downey had most to do with the land from the beginning as Leisure Services Director. Mr. Garbe provided information about how it could be serviced for development.
The fact it has been designated as employment lands creates a problem for some Councillors.It means the use has to revert to its original purpose. I don't see that as a problem. I don't think sports fields need to have lands with 404 frontage. Those lands serve development best,
It's the rest of it I want to see maintained in wide sweeping fields,Warm summer air borne like a zephyr over the slopes. Families picnicking for the day, as young members engage in competitive sport
for the sheer enjoyment of life.
We need the land. We can justify its use.We bought it for the purpose. I think Council would be only too glad to hear you feel that way too. Nobody needed to have an arm twisted to come out and see it at its best.It will serve many generations of young Aurorans .
It will provide breathing space amongst all those tightly clustered residential areas, employment lands and traffic arteries..
A green and verdant land.
A Question Posed . Here's One Answer.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Walk-About":
This is such a simple question with an obvious answer.
If Council spends as much time on the land issue relative to value as it did on the park apparatus the matter will still be in discussion during the term of the next council.
I find that several councillors are unable to express themselves in simple organized sentences and the thoughts or opinions they are attempting to state become blurred and unintelligible.
Possibly they should consider writing out in advance exactly what they would like to say and then stick to the script.
It must be frustrating to sit around the table, paying close attention to one's fellow councillors, and at the conclusion of their remarks, not understand what they have just said.
This is very often the case with motions where no one seems to have a clue what the mover said or meant and the exercise needs to be repeated, often more than once.
Finally, there should be a procedural change restricting a delegate to two appearances on a given issue. Last Tuesday was a complete waste of time on the part of several delegates and contributed to Council's inability to deal with the Agenda.
This is such a simple question with an obvious answer.
If Council spends as much time on the land issue relative to value as it did on the park apparatus the matter will still be in discussion during the term of the next council.
I find that several councillors are unable to express themselves in simple organized sentences and the thoughts or opinions they are attempting to state become blurred and unintelligible.
Possibly they should consider writing out in advance exactly what they would like to say and then stick to the script.
It must be frustrating to sit around the table, paying close attention to one's fellow councillors, and at the conclusion of their remarks, not understand what they have just said.
This is very often the case with motions where no one seems to have a clue what the mover said or meant and the exercise needs to be repeated, often more than once.
Finally, there should be a procedural change restricting a delegate to two appearances on a given issue. Last Tuesday was a complete waste of time on the part of several delegates and contributed to Council's inability to deal with the Agenda.
Walk-About
On Tuesday,Council took a tour of lands we own on Leslie Street where Petch House was perched .
The property was purchased in 2002. It was known future sites were needed for a second fire hall a recreation complex , a pumping station of sorts for York Region and sports fields .
The parcel became available at the right price and CAO of the day, Larry Allyson recommended the purchase to Council.
Subsequently. the farm of Stew Burnett became available. Services ran past the property. It meant two million dollars required to service the Leslie Street lands would not be required immediately , so the town bought the Burnett farm as well and eventually facilities were located on Wellington Street instead.
The Leslie Street lands were placed in the hands of a real estate corporation in the last term.
When the Petch House was being dismantled, I was over there a few times and ventured further onto the property. It looked fine to me. The Master Recreation Plan prepared by the consultant had recommended the town re-think the idea of selling the lands for industrial purposes.
But former Councillor Evalina Mac Eachern and the former Mayor's friend, Ken Whitehouse, nixed that idea and the property was subsequently designated employment.
Now we are said to be in a deficit situation for recreation lands in the amount of 121 hectares.It's far in excess of that allowed to be acquired by the Planning Act and proportionately more than the town has ever acquired before.
We are contemplating 2011 prices to fill that need.
We currently own 79 acres of beautiful lands . We made a good deal for them in 2002. Funds were borrowed and re-paid from tax revenues. We now need to use those lands.
As the master recreation consultant advised ,I think we need to re-think the idea of selling all of the land for employment. They are needed for the community.
The land is not surplus to our needs. I believe it is never too late for a Council to re-think a decision to put community needs first.
I am not seeing any signs Council shares my belief.
When two parents came to council and presented a horrendous view of a piece of playground equipment and demanded its removal, I didn't see it then either.
They were permitted to return two more times. Each time to repeat, without challenge, the contention the town had equipment in our playgrounds that were a threat to the life and limb of our children.
After the first exhibition, other parents with opinions and experiences of their own came forward to argue the contrary.
E-mails galore flew fast and furious. Links were provided to learned articles in renowned publications such as the New York Times, fulminating against the modern practice of making playgrounds so innocuous as to be totally without interest, purpose or use for the developing child.
We do not do that in Aurora . We choose equipment with care and intelligence. And thanks to community interest and input on the issue, we will continue to follow that practice.
But Oh My Lord, what a load of malarkey we listened to in the meantime. Over and over and over again. Town business went unattended, and a serious item was being decided once again after midnight.
So now we have another issue for the community to deal with.
Will we sell land we bought for community needs for less than we can replace it?
Or will we invite the community's input to the decision to be made?
I think no to the first and yes to the second.
I need support from the community. I don't have a sense of it from Council.
Just as happened in support of stimulating and challenging activities in town playgrounds, we should not allow all 79 acres of perfectly suitable lands needed for the purpose of sport and recreation, be sold out from under us at bargain basement prices.
What say you?
The property was purchased in 2002. It was known future sites were needed for a second fire hall a recreation complex , a pumping station of sorts for York Region and sports fields .
The parcel became available at the right price and CAO of the day, Larry Allyson recommended the purchase to Council.
Subsequently. the farm of Stew Burnett became available. Services ran past the property. It meant two million dollars required to service the Leslie Street lands would not be required immediately , so the town bought the Burnett farm as well and eventually facilities were located on Wellington Street instead.
The Leslie Street lands were placed in the hands of a real estate corporation in the last term.
When the Petch House was being dismantled, I was over there a few times and ventured further onto the property. It looked fine to me. The Master Recreation Plan prepared by the consultant had recommended the town re-think the idea of selling the lands for industrial purposes.
But former Councillor Evalina Mac Eachern and the former Mayor's friend, Ken Whitehouse, nixed that idea and the property was subsequently designated employment.
Now we are said to be in a deficit situation for recreation lands in the amount of 121 hectares.It's far in excess of that allowed to be acquired by the Planning Act and proportionately more than the town has ever acquired before.
We are contemplating 2011 prices to fill that need.
We currently own 79 acres of beautiful lands . We made a good deal for them in 2002. Funds were borrowed and re-paid from tax revenues. We now need to use those lands.
As the master recreation consultant advised ,I think we need to re-think the idea of selling all of the land for employment. They are needed for the community.
The land is not surplus to our needs. I believe it is never too late for a Council to re-think a decision to put community needs first.
I am not seeing any signs Council shares my belief.
When two parents came to council and presented a horrendous view of a piece of playground equipment and demanded its removal, I didn't see it then either.
They were permitted to return two more times. Each time to repeat, without challenge, the contention the town had equipment in our playgrounds that were a threat to the life and limb of our children.
After the first exhibition, other parents with opinions and experiences of their own came forward to argue the contrary.
E-mails galore flew fast and furious. Links were provided to learned articles in renowned publications such as the New York Times, fulminating against the modern practice of making playgrounds so innocuous as to be totally without interest, purpose or use for the developing child.
We do not do that in Aurora . We choose equipment with care and intelligence. And thanks to community interest and input on the issue, we will continue to follow that practice.
But Oh My Lord, what a load of malarkey we listened to in the meantime. Over and over and over again. Town business went unattended, and a serious item was being decided once again after midnight.
So now we have another issue for the community to deal with.
Will we sell land we bought for community needs for less than we can replace it?
Or will we invite the community's input to the decision to be made?
I think no to the first and yes to the second.
I need support from the community. I don't have a sense of it from Council.
Just as happened in support of stimulating and challenging activities in town playgrounds, we should not allow all 79 acres of perfectly suitable lands needed for the purpose of sport and recreation, be sold out from under us at bargain basement prices.
What say you?
Saturday, 13 August 2011
Language Confusion
Measuring leverage
A good deal of confusion arises in discussions among people who use different definitions of leverage. The term is used differently in investments and corporate finance, and has multiple definitions in each field.[7]************
I read the story about the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation being out of funds twice. It appeared in the local newspaper. I had commented before on the town's receipt of a letter requesting support for the Foundation to receive $11 million from the Province to keep them alive.
It seems they received $15 million from the Province in 2002 .They "leveraged " that to $50 million but now they are down to the last million. Having spent all the rest.
They are using the last million to catalogue their successes from spending money.
A naturalist in Richmond Hill praises their work. Minister of Provincial Community Safety and Correctional Services ",Jim Bradley describes their many accomplishments as laudable and said; everyone admires the work of the foundation."
I thought that was a bit odd. As a Councillor in a town situated in the heart of the Oak Ridges Moraine, I had no idea the Foundation existed. In fact, I drew the ire of a volunteer member of the Oak Ridges Moraine Trust by referring to the campaign to persuade the Province to continue to funnel millions to the Foundation. I did not know, there are two outfits committed to the preservation, acquisition of land and well-being of the Oak Ridges Moraine.
The story gets weirder and weirder. The Foundation wants another $11 million from the Province. One of its aims is to secure properties within the Moraine.
But that's what the Oak Ridges Moraine Trust is doing. It's set-up is to receive properties in the Oak Ridges Moraine,in consideration of appraised value exchanged as a tax benefit.
The Trust has ownership and control but no money to pay overdue taxes or maintain the lands. They came to the municipality to request we pay maintenance and taxes in return for Nothing.Nada, Zilch and Zero.
The McLeod lands were transferred with an agreement that permitted no public access for ten years thereafter and harvested
the good wood in advance.
When the ten years expire, Oak Ridges Moraine Trust will decide what, if any. public access will be permitted.
Heritage Ontario has the same function as OMRT. They accept land in return for its value as tax benefit. That organisation owns Sheppard's Bush and High Tor, the farm previously owned by the estate of Ann Bartley Smith.
They have no financial resources to manage lands. So they don't. They get to own it and do nothing with it. We don't get to own it, do nothing with it but take care of it thanks to the Mormac regime. The land sits for years . No use to anybody
Sheppard's Bush is the exception. The Conservation authority gets to manage that, But they don't have resources. So we do
it. But at least we get use from it. I think we need to ask Heritage Ontario to review that arrangement. Cut out the middleman.
Now, thanks to the Province, we have three agencies all in the same business.All with a payroll and a public profile. One having spent $50 million dollars in the last eight years and looking for another $11 million from the next Provincial budget
Two of them with ownership and control of lands within the municipality but no resources to manage them The town with no ownership or control but all of the financial liability.
WTF
Friday, 12 August 2011
The Secret
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Twins Are Away Again":
How did you protect your computer ? My sister
lost the best part of a text book she was writing
to her 2/3 year old.
**************
They never saw me use the computer. Had no idea where it was .So the plan must be, if you don't want them to know about it or touch it, keep it a dark and deadly secret.
Or as another alternative, abandon all projects and personal ambitions for at least a year, until they understand what the words "don't touch" mean. At two, they think it means they have to and as much touching as possible before somebody comes along to stop them.
My technique for enjoying summer was to feed them breakfast in the morning and take off immediately for a beach someplace.Don't stay around to wash dishes or make beds or tidy up. Do not return until bedtime. When they dropped into bed, exhausted from the days play and clean from the day's swimming, they would sleep soundly through the night and awaken fresh and eager to do it all again.
Which we did.
When we lived in Toronto, Kew Beach was the favourite. We were first there in the morning and last to leave at night. We moved with the sun. . As one part of the beach fell into shade, we shifted until the last of the the sun was shining on the lake.
When it finally left the sand, we would too.Collect our gear and trudge up Waverly Rd with a packed bundle- buggy, baby on top ,to catch a street car, then a bus back to where we came from.
It cost less than a dollar a day for fares. Everything else we took with us. Frozen lemonade costing no more than ten cents a can. A jug. We took water from the fountain. Fresh rolls from the bakery. On lean days, boiled eggs and fresh fruit from a family market on Queen Street.On flush days, freshly baked pies and Chelsea buns from Mascot Bakery at the corner of Wellesley and Yonge Street.
We never had money for pop or ice cream from the beach kiosk. But we might have enough for penny candy at the candy store on the corner of Queen and Waverley Rd.They could choose from the variety of boxes at eye level.
One year, after we came to Aurora, we camped the entire summer at Preston Lake. We knew Bruce's Mill before it became crowded, Sibbald's Point too. The ponds at Seneca and Scanlon Creek became familiar hang-outs.
The kids were brown as berries throughout the summer. The main challenge for the younger was to learn from the older to swim underwater. Wet smooth hair and brown skins made them look like little beavers when their heads emerged on the surface.
I did not have twins. But I had numbers. Raising a family leaves little time for anything else.
So it might as well be enjoyed
How did you protect your computer ? My sister
lost the best part of a text book she was writing
to her 2/3 year old.
**************
They never saw me use the computer. Had no idea where it was .So the plan must be, if you don't want them to know about it or touch it, keep it a dark and deadly secret.
Or as another alternative, abandon all projects and personal ambitions for at least a year, until they understand what the words "don't touch" mean. At two, they think it means they have to and as much touching as possible before somebody comes along to stop them.
My technique for enjoying summer was to feed them breakfast in the morning and take off immediately for a beach someplace.Don't stay around to wash dishes or make beds or tidy up. Do not return until bedtime. When they dropped into bed, exhausted from the days play and clean from the day's swimming, they would sleep soundly through the night and awaken fresh and eager to do it all again.
Which we did.
When we lived in Toronto, Kew Beach was the favourite. We were first there in the morning and last to leave at night. We moved with the sun. . As one part of the beach fell into shade, we shifted until the last of the the sun was shining on the lake.
When it finally left the sand, we would too.Collect our gear and trudge up Waverly Rd with a packed bundle- buggy, baby on top ,to catch a street car, then a bus back to where we came from.
It cost less than a dollar a day for fares. Everything else we took with us. Frozen lemonade costing no more than ten cents a can. A jug. We took water from the fountain. Fresh rolls from the bakery. On lean days, boiled eggs and fresh fruit from a family market on Queen Street.On flush days, freshly baked pies and Chelsea buns from Mascot Bakery at the corner of Wellesley and Yonge Street.
We never had money for pop or ice cream from the beach kiosk. But we might have enough for penny candy at the candy store on the corner of Queen and Waverley Rd.They could choose from the variety of boxes at eye level.
One year, after we came to Aurora, we camped the entire summer at Preston Lake. We knew Bruce's Mill before it became crowded, Sibbald's Point too. The ponds at Seneca and Scanlon Creek became familiar hang-outs.
The kids were brown as berries throughout the summer. The main challenge for the younger was to learn from the older to swim underwater. Wet smooth hair and brown skins made them look like little beavers when their heads emerged on the surface.
I did not have twins. But I had numbers. Raising a family leaves little time for anything else.
So it might as well be enjoyed
Thursday, 11 August 2011
The Twins Are Away Again
They were here two days and two nights. Not long enough to leave echoes behind. Long enough to remind what it's like living with very small children who can move about.
There's a picket missing from the railing at the top of the basement stairs. The first night they were here, I didn't sleep because of that missing picket. I wanted to get up and do something about it but I figured they would waken up if I did. So I didn't.
I mentioned it to Vanessa. She picked up the coffee table that had been taken out of the sitting room to make room for their play-pen cribs and put the legs through the picket spaces and Voila, the problem was fixed.
Heather came down in the morning with a length of stick. She hadn't been able to sleep thinking about they might be able to open the sliding door and get out to the pool.
Theresa whose room is downstairs under the sitting room couldn't sleep because she heard unexplainable noises all night long.
Reid found every button on every appliance ,including the washing machine which makes noises when buttons are pushed. At one point an alarm chimed loudly in my bedroom. I had never heard it before. It's the alarm to locate the mobile phone if misplaced.. I didn't even know that button existed and I've had the phones for years.
Claire can step more than two feet high in a single step. Running as fast as she can, and it's fast, is sheer delight. Jumping over and over and turning somersaults is also how she entertains herself .
While Reid quietly presses every button in sight on the television .
He can count to ten . I heard him count backwards from five while pushing buttons on the telephone. . Vanessa says he counts to ten in French and Spanish . I believe it.
Theresa brought a decorated board from the Market with the name Aurora.painted on it. Without prompting, he read and pointed correctly to every letter on the board.
It reminded me of something I read .. Children learn more in the first three years than they do in their entire lives.
I'm not sure how that could be measured . But it also reminded me of something else I thought when my own were going to school. Considering how much they had learned by themselves before going to school, it occurred to me , the time came when they needed new opportunities. to learn. They needed to go to school .
Then, more than once, it occurred to me one of the lessons they learned in school was about failure.
School taught them to doubt themselves and lose confidence.
Whatever they felt or thought about it, when the time came,I was glad when they had done with school.
Watching the twins, marveling at what they have already learned, no doubt with the help of television,between or during spurts of energy, in the short span of their lives, I wondered what their school experience will be like.
How will they adapt to sitting quietly at a desk listening and learning at the pace of twenty-four other children their age.
Inevitably they will learn. Intelligence never falters.
What about the way forward;.how many clunkers will they encounter along the way? Will they recognise them when they see them,.skip on over . jog right on past or be identified with attention deficits?
I read something else years ago . When people were living in caves and dressing in skins , they had the same intelligence as modern man. It surprised me. Then it surprised me that it surprised me.
Of course they had the same intelligence. How else would we have advanced from being hunters and gatherers.
So the twins will do just fine. Nothing will hold them back....for long
There's a picket missing from the railing at the top of the basement stairs. The first night they were here, I didn't sleep because of that missing picket. I wanted to get up and do something about it but I figured they would waken up if I did. So I didn't.
I mentioned it to Vanessa. She picked up the coffee table that had been taken out of the sitting room to make room for their play-pen cribs and put the legs through the picket spaces and Voila, the problem was fixed.
Heather came down in the morning with a length of stick. She hadn't been able to sleep thinking about they might be able to open the sliding door and get out to the pool.
Theresa whose room is downstairs under the sitting room couldn't sleep because she heard unexplainable noises all night long.
Reid found every button on every appliance ,including the washing machine which makes noises when buttons are pushed. At one point an alarm chimed loudly in my bedroom. I had never heard it before. It's the alarm to locate the mobile phone if misplaced.. I didn't even know that button existed and I've had the phones for years.
Claire can step more than two feet high in a single step. Running as fast as she can, and it's fast, is sheer delight. Jumping over and over and turning somersaults is also how she entertains herself .
While Reid quietly presses every button in sight on the television .
He can count to ten . I heard him count backwards from five while pushing buttons on the telephone. . Vanessa says he counts to ten in French and Spanish . I believe it.
Theresa brought a decorated board from the Market with the name Aurora.painted on it. Without prompting, he read and pointed correctly to every letter on the board.
It reminded me of something I read .. Children learn more in the first three years than they do in their entire lives.
I'm not sure how that could be measured . But it also reminded me of something else I thought when my own were going to school. Considering how much they had learned by themselves before going to school, it occurred to me , the time came when they needed new opportunities. to learn. They needed to go to school .
Then, more than once, it occurred to me one of the lessons they learned in school was about failure.
School taught them to doubt themselves and lose confidence.
Whatever they felt or thought about it, when the time came,I was glad when they had done with school.
Watching the twins, marveling at what they have already learned, no doubt with the help of television,between or during spurts of energy, in the short span of their lives, I wondered what their school experience will be like.
How will they adapt to sitting quietly at a desk listening and learning at the pace of twenty-four other children their age.
Inevitably they will learn. Intelligence never falters.
What about the way forward;.how many clunkers will they encounter along the way? Will they recognise them when they see them,.skip on over . jog right on past or be identified with attention deficits?
I read something else years ago . When people were living in caves and dressing in skins , they had the same intelligence as modern man. It surprised me. Then it surprised me that it surprised me.
Of course they had the same intelligence. How else would we have advanced from being hunters and gatherers.
So the twins will do just fine. Nothing will hold them back....for long
Monday, 8 August 2011
Yesterday
I didn't even open up the computer. My great grand-baby twins were here for a visit. They were two years old in March. In the middle of the terrible year.
The first part of the day was taken up with going around the house and putting things up high before they got here. Really high because two means climbing up to get at everything they see. Or just to see what they might not be seeing. Some stuff had to be dumped into a box and hidden under the bed.
But they were hardly in the house. The pool captivated them. Their home is in Tacoma, Washington. On the Pugeot Sound. Ocean is a word in Reid's vocabulary. They just came from a month at the family cottage with lakefront on Georgian Bay. They are already familiar with the fun water provides.
Reid is a noisy boy . He shouts and raises his arms in exultation with everything he accomplishes. Every time he does it. He throws the ball, he shouts. He catches the ball. he shouts. He kicks the ball. he shouts.
On the far side of the pool are field stones. Quick as a flash, he picked one up and threw it into the pool. He did not shout. He was intent on doing what he intended before anybody might stop him. He managed it once more before the day was done.
Claire also shouts. But she concentrates on making sure she is ahead of Reid in all things.
At one point, great-aunt Theresa and mother Vanessa were both in the pool arms waiting for each twin to jump. Much as she enjoyed jumping she had to stop. She had to get in front of Reid to stop him from jumping into anybody's arms while also protecting her own space.It was fascinating to watch her determination and the speed of movement.
Reid doesn't appear to pay a lot of attention to what Claire is doing but never at any time is Claire not conscious of Reid.
She is smaller than her brother. He looks like a normal two year old. But he weighs like a tank.I had to lift him to join her on my knee when I was singing the jingle about head and shoulders knees and toes.
It was tricky for both to be part of the action but a thumb on each nose at the end brought gales of giggles and a demand to do it again. Which I did. Despite my youngest son's broad hint that Granny should stop now.
There's nothing tedious about listening to the uninhibited laughter of a two year old and I had two on my lap.
It was a great day. They had cheesies and chips galore.Mum tempted them with strawberries and banana. They nibbled on that too. But chips and cheesies were best. Little fists took handfuls . Cheeks bulged.. Well......it was better than candy or cookies.
They are not going home until mid September. They are coming back to stay for a few days at Heather's house. They will be here at the pool every day.
They are only two and a half.
But there's a chance a memory will stick .
The first part of the day was taken up with going around the house and putting things up high before they got here. Really high because two means climbing up to get at everything they see. Or just to see what they might not be seeing. Some stuff had to be dumped into a box and hidden under the bed.
But they were hardly in the house. The pool captivated them. Their home is in Tacoma, Washington. On the Pugeot Sound. Ocean is a word in Reid's vocabulary. They just came from a month at the family cottage with lakefront on Georgian Bay. They are already familiar with the fun water provides.
Reid is a noisy boy . He shouts and raises his arms in exultation with everything he accomplishes. Every time he does it. He throws the ball, he shouts. He catches the ball. he shouts. He kicks the ball. he shouts.
On the far side of the pool are field stones. Quick as a flash, he picked one up and threw it into the pool. He did not shout. He was intent on doing what he intended before anybody might stop him. He managed it once more before the day was done.
Claire also shouts. But she concentrates on making sure she is ahead of Reid in all things.
At one point, great-aunt Theresa and mother Vanessa were both in the pool arms waiting for each twin to jump. Much as she enjoyed jumping she had to stop. She had to get in front of Reid to stop him from jumping into anybody's arms while also protecting her own space.It was fascinating to watch her determination and the speed of movement.
Reid doesn't appear to pay a lot of attention to what Claire is doing but never at any time is Claire not conscious of Reid.
She is smaller than her brother. He looks like a normal two year old. But he weighs like a tank.I had to lift him to join her on my knee when I was singing the jingle about head and shoulders knees and toes.
It was tricky for both to be part of the action but a thumb on each nose at the end brought gales of giggles and a demand to do it again. Which I did. Despite my youngest son's broad hint that Granny should stop now.
There's nothing tedious about listening to the uninhibited laughter of a two year old and I had two on my lap.
It was a great day. They had cheesies and chips galore.Mum tempted them with strawberries and banana. They nibbled on that too. But chips and cheesies were best. Little fists took handfuls . Cheeks bulged.. Well......it was better than candy or cookies.
They are not going home until mid September. They are coming back to stay for a few days at Heather's house. They will be here at the pool every day.
They are only two and a half.
But there's a chance a memory will stick .
Saturday, 6 August 2011
Did I not Say Already
Time Keeper has left a new comment on your post "Petch House Safe And Sound":
The answer could be in the town accepting the anonymous donation.
They had no way of returning it and felt bound to complete the resurrection of the rotting copse that is the Petch house.
************
We had the $8,000. anonymous donation. I expect someone knows the donor. An amount like that doesn't change hands that easily.
We also had $50,000. from Whitwell Development.
We had an assurance the structure could be cleaned and restored, despite it's deplorable condition after eight years of mouldering by the wayside.
It would have cost a fraction had it been moved eight years ago.
Money was wasted on a consultant .
A use and a location for the cabin was identified that never was before. Because the obvious person wasn't asked.
The saga is nothing to be proud of but I believe we 're doing it right now.
To the credit of the new Mayor and Council.
We may not do everything the way we all agree is right. But if we move forward an inch we'll be ahead of the last lot.
Wait till you see the old cabin spruced up and in its new pride of place.
Then tell us what you think
The answer could be in the town accepting the anonymous donation.
They had no way of returning it and felt bound to complete the resurrection of the rotting copse that is the Petch house.
************
We had the $8,000. anonymous donation. I expect someone knows the donor. An amount like that doesn't change hands that easily.
We also had $50,000. from Whitwell Development.
We had an assurance the structure could be cleaned and restored, despite it's deplorable condition after eight years of mouldering by the wayside.
It would have cost a fraction had it been moved eight years ago.
Money was wasted on a consultant .
A use and a location for the cabin was identified that never was before. Because the obvious person wasn't asked.
The saga is nothing to be proud of but I believe we 're doing it right now.
To the credit of the new Mayor and Council.
We may not do everything the way we all agree is right. But if we move forward an inch we'll be ahead of the last lot.
Wait till you see the old cabin spruced up and in its new pride of place.
Then tell us what you think
Friday, 5 August 2011
It Bears Repeating
The Green Thing
The Green Thing
In the line at the store, the cashier told an older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.
The woman apologized to him and explained, "We didn't have the green thing back in my day."The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment."
He was right -- our generation didn't have the green thing in its day.
Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.
But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.
We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks.
But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.
Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that old lady is right; we didn't have the green thing back in our day.
Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana.
In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us.
When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.
Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.
But she's right; we didn't have the green thing back then.
We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water.We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.
But we didn't have the green thing back then.
Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service.We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.
But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?Please forward this on to another selfish old person who needs a lesson in conservation from a smartass young person.
The Green Thing
Thursday, 4 August 2011
Petch House Safe And Sound
on its re-construction site. In the hands of a local artisan. It came down smoothly in a matter of days. Not weeks, not months and without need of multiple visits by engineers and architects and building inspectors and whatever other bureaucrats could be mustered as necessary to the task.
After a report, at no expense, had been provided saying the structure could no longer be moved in one piece,former Councillor MacEachern directed staff to retain an engineer and obtain another opinion. Several thousand tax dollars later and more staff and council time wasted, a report was received advising the structure could not be moved in one piece.
Specifications for dismantling and re-construction were prepared by staff which could not be followed. Bids were called and received and the lowest was close to half a million dollars.
Still without a site or a purpose. And with tax funds spent to no useful purpose.
A few weeks ago the new council accepted a plan from parks staff.
Since then, the ancient rotting structure was opened up to light and air and drying winds.Then scraped clean of eight years of animal defecation and putrefaction and mould and damp and infestation.
Its condition and plans for restoration were examined by an engineer familiar with the craft and given a stamp of approval.
Ceiling and attic floor was removed.
Last week, I was there for the start of the dormer and roof removal.By week-end it was mostly off. By the end of Tuesday, the roof was all gone and trim around doors and windows removed.
Yesterday morning, Wednesday,I drove past. The walls had started to be dismantled. When I drove past again before five o'clock in the afternoon, walls were all gone and transported to the site for re-construction.
There's a picture of the logs,neatly and precisely arranged in Peter Van Nostrand's yard, awaiting repairs.
Material is available from Harry Fry's barn, in the town works yard,improperly stored,with no plans contemplated for restoration or use.
The lesson from it all; a foundation needs to be formed of citizens committed to the town's heritage.We need more than advocates for the principle of preservation.
We need something other than the political body and the bureaucracy to make things happen.
Credit must be given to property owners who live and conduct business in heritage homes and spend their resources on restoration and maintenance. Their pride of ownership is the town's greatest asset.
If we are to save buildings like the Hartman House, we need an organised group with a firm commitment to developing and sourcing ways and means, independent of the political body to make that happen.
After a report, at no expense, had been provided saying the structure could no longer be moved in one piece,former Councillor MacEachern directed staff to retain an engineer and obtain another opinion. Several thousand tax dollars later and more staff and council time wasted, a report was received advising the structure could not be moved in one piece.
Specifications for dismantling and re-construction were prepared by staff which could not be followed. Bids were called and received and the lowest was close to half a million dollars.
Still without a site or a purpose. And with tax funds spent to no useful purpose.
A few weeks ago the new council accepted a plan from parks staff.
Since then, the ancient rotting structure was opened up to light and air and drying winds.Then scraped clean of eight years of animal defecation and putrefaction and mould and damp and infestation.
Its condition and plans for restoration were examined by an engineer familiar with the craft and given a stamp of approval.
Ceiling and attic floor was removed.
Last week, I was there for the start of the dormer and roof removal.By week-end it was mostly off. By the end of Tuesday, the roof was all gone and trim around doors and windows removed.
Yesterday morning, Wednesday,I drove past. The walls had started to be dismantled. When I drove past again before five o'clock in the afternoon, walls were all gone and transported to the site for re-construction.
There's a picture of the logs,neatly and precisely arranged in Peter Van Nostrand's yard, awaiting repairs.
Material is available from Harry Fry's barn, in the town works yard,improperly stored,with no plans contemplated for restoration or use.
The lesson from it all; a foundation needs to be formed of citizens committed to the town's heritage.We need more than advocates for the principle of preservation.
We need something other than the political body and the bureaucracy to make things happen.
Credit must be given to property owners who live and conduct business in heritage homes and spend their resources on restoration and maintenance. Their pride of ownership is the town's greatest asset.
If we are to save buildings like the Hartman House, we need an organised group with a firm commitment to developing and sourcing ways and means, independent of the political body to make that happen.
Monday, 1 August 2011
I Gotta Take A Break
Now I'm reading a mountain of stuff that isn't mine. It's more tedious than reading mine. It has to be done though and some of it is enlightening.
But re-living the 2006/10 term of Council, is worse than living it was. People watching it at home told me how awful it was. Looking back on it now gives me the perspective of distance.
I just read Chris Watts post about the demolition of a church in Picton. I have a different outlook on that from Chris.
A whoopee was expressed in a comment last week about a disagreement between Chris and myself about the Petch House.
What is that about? Why should a different opinion have to mean hostility and antagonism? Why can it not just mean a difference of opinion. Why does a line have to be drawn, cudgels raised and personal invective fly.
Why should a respectful discourse about options and alternatives not be more stimulating and interesting than the collective minds of sheep.
And a little salt in the language does not go amiss.
Chris compares a church on Main Street Picton, to a modest cabin in the hills of Whitchurch Township and finds the cabin of lesser significance.
It's like comparing apples to oranges. Picton County and all along the Ontario lake front to Kingston and beyond is chock- a- block with United Loyalist history.It's a feast for a history buff. A complete delight and an almost undisturbed journey into the ambience of the past.
Once when I was B&B ing it, while my family were camping, I stayed with a couple who came from West Toronto.They were involved in Picton's Little Theatre and trying to get the former movie house on Main Street donated to the municipality for a theatre. I believe they were successful.
Their's was an interesting story. They had a seasonal campsite for years.They saw a house they liked for sale. They loved the place and having no idea of how they would make a living, they put in an offer for the house and got it.
They took whatever opportunities there were; drove school buses,wrote bits and pieces for the newspaper, took paying guests and whatever else they could come up with to make a dollar. I stayed there twice.
Another time, I stayed at a farmhouse owned by a farming family of several generations.
When I was on the Social Assistance Review Board,I visited most places in the Province at least once. I amused myself on long drives contemplating where, if I won a lottery, could move anywhere and take all my family with me, where would it be? Prince Edward County was the stuff of dreams.
I would not presume to opine whether the church featured in Chris's blog should have been saved. But generally I think if a municipality has a different idea for the fate of a building, from it's lawful owner, the municipality should be prepared to pay a fair price for the building in order to exercise rights of ownership.The new Heritage Act notwithstanding.
It becomes a question of a municipality's role; appropriate use of tax resources collected for the purpose of providing services to property.
Is ownership and preservation of every old building in the community a service and the responsibility of the municipality to provide? I don't think so.
I represent people who have a hard enough time holding on to and maintaining the property they own. Often, it's all they have to show for a lifetime of hard work. It is at one and the same time, security of shelter and independence in old age.
The Petch House is not on my pedestal.
It's a project I put forward because non-tax resources are available to partly pay for its restoration. A good location and a practical use for 500 square feet of additional space has been identified.
Council gave staff the opportunity to undertake the task and do it for the least and tightly controlled expenditure. I am grateful and completely optimistic. I look forward to the project demonstrating to council, the simplest and most obvious route is likely always the best.
I think an opportunity for a council to be creative and add something of interest to the life of the community at minimal expense is golden.
This year, we expect to place two pre-fabricated public washroom facilities in two separate parks at a cost of $200,000. It's a one source supply and cheap at the price with a discount of $10,000 because we are buying two.
We expect the Petch House project to come in at considerably less than one of those public washrooms.
It will not be a three hole privy, I am pleased to say. The inside of the cabin is not in the same stage of rot as the outside. Craftsmanship is the key to restoration.
Not engineers. Not architects. Not building inspectors.
Psshaw!!!!
The Hartman House was a more interesting building. It had historical connections.We lost it.
The small school house on Wellington that came from somewhere else, had an adaptive re-use processed. It proved to be impractical and has now apparently reverted to residential use. It sits almost on top of the railway, within feet of; horrendous road traffic and exhaust fumes. It's the least likely location for a home.
How long will it last?
I have to go back to my reading.
But re-living the 2006/10 term of Council, is worse than living it was. People watching it at home told me how awful it was. Looking back on it now gives me the perspective of distance.
I just read Chris Watts post about the demolition of a church in Picton. I have a different outlook on that from Chris.
A whoopee was expressed in a comment last week about a disagreement between Chris and myself about the Petch House.
What is that about? Why should a different opinion have to mean hostility and antagonism? Why can it not just mean a difference of opinion. Why does a line have to be drawn, cudgels raised and personal invective fly.
Why should a respectful discourse about options and alternatives not be more stimulating and interesting than the collective minds of sheep.
And a little salt in the language does not go amiss.
Chris compares a church on Main Street Picton, to a modest cabin in the hills of Whitchurch Township and finds the cabin of lesser significance.
It's like comparing apples to oranges. Picton County and all along the Ontario lake front to Kingston and beyond is chock- a- block with United Loyalist history.It's a feast for a history buff. A complete delight and an almost undisturbed journey into the ambience of the past.
Once when I was B&B ing it, while my family were camping, I stayed with a couple who came from West Toronto.They were involved in Picton's Little Theatre and trying to get the former movie house on Main Street donated to the municipality for a theatre. I believe they were successful.
Their's was an interesting story. They had a seasonal campsite for years.They saw a house they liked for sale. They loved the place and having no idea of how they would make a living, they put in an offer for the house and got it.
They took whatever opportunities there were; drove school buses,wrote bits and pieces for the newspaper, took paying guests and whatever else they could come up with to make a dollar. I stayed there twice.
Another time, I stayed at a farmhouse owned by a farming family of several generations.
When I was on the Social Assistance Review Board,I visited most places in the Province at least once. I amused myself on long drives contemplating where, if I won a lottery, could move anywhere and take all my family with me, where would it be? Prince Edward County was the stuff of dreams.
I would not presume to opine whether the church featured in Chris's blog should have been saved. But generally I think if a municipality has a different idea for the fate of a building, from it's lawful owner, the municipality should be prepared to pay a fair price for the building in order to exercise rights of ownership.The new Heritage Act notwithstanding.
It becomes a question of a municipality's role; appropriate use of tax resources collected for the purpose of providing services to property.
Is ownership and preservation of every old building in the community a service and the responsibility of the municipality to provide? I don't think so.
I represent people who have a hard enough time holding on to and maintaining the property they own. Often, it's all they have to show for a lifetime of hard work. It is at one and the same time, security of shelter and independence in old age.
The Petch House is not on my pedestal.
It's a project I put forward because non-tax resources are available to partly pay for its restoration. A good location and a practical use for 500 square feet of additional space has been identified.
Council gave staff the opportunity to undertake the task and do it for the least and tightly controlled expenditure. I am grateful and completely optimistic. I look forward to the project demonstrating to council, the simplest and most obvious route is likely always the best.
I think an opportunity for a council to be creative and add something of interest to the life of the community at minimal expense is golden.
This year, we expect to place two pre-fabricated public washroom facilities in two separate parks at a cost of $200,000. It's a one source supply and cheap at the price with a discount of $10,000 because we are buying two.
We expect the Petch House project to come in at considerably less than one of those public washrooms.
It will not be a three hole privy, I am pleased to say. The inside of the cabin is not in the same stage of rot as the outside. Craftsmanship is the key to restoration.
Not engineers. Not architects. Not building inspectors.
Psshaw!!!!
The Hartman House was a more interesting building. It had historical connections.We lost it.
The small school house on Wellington that came from somewhere else, had an adaptive re-use processed. It proved to be impractical and has now apparently reverted to residential use. It sits almost on top of the railway, within feet of; horrendous road traffic and exhaust fumes. It's the least likely location for a home.
How long will it last?
I have to go back to my reading.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
