Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "It's not all bad":
The problem with the perception of retailers that have come and gone is
looking at them in an isolated way.
Evelyn lists Aurora Home Hardware, True Value, Canadian Tire as examples
of "local" businesses that have learned to survive. But, what she fails to
see or acknowledge, all of those examples are franchises of much
larger "corporate" operations. The local retailer is able to leverage the
buying power of the corporate entity. As a tradeoff, they sacrifice their
ability to set prices and policies. At some point, a corporate manager
reviews the viability of an outlet and if it is not profitable, they will
cut it loose in a heartbeat.
Looking at the Aurora downtown there are very few independant retail
operations. They tend to come and go with regularity as the owners try new
opportunities.
As far as the suggestion that councillors should have retail experience,
that is not a realistic expectation. If a councillor has common sense and
is willing to listen to the electorate (including the small business
operation), they can be much more effective. But, when you have councillors
that claim that they know better than anyone else, you have a recipe for
disaster.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 21 August 2014 08:46
********************
Home Hardware IGA,IDA are all Associations of independent business operators.
An advantage of being a Councillor is the opportunity to learn something about the lives of people
And business in the community.
The late Mayor John West was partner with the Aurora group that established Home Hardware in Oak Ridges. John was generous in sharing his experience
The owners of Aurora Home Hardware and customers of many years would be surprised to learn that they are not thought of as owners and responsible for the success of their business with the same
friendly faces to greet customers looking for advice.
The same can be said I'm sure of Mac Fleming's which became much more than a paint and wallpaper store over the years and took over the store abutting. Caruso's.continuing business over a hundred years is a testament to commitment.
No, I have not spoken to any of the owners. I think it can be assumed if a store opens it's doors every day, it is still in business Along with all the other signs of course.
I do not pretend to know all it takes to operate a retail store,or publish a newspaper, manage a police department ,operate a hospital, provide recreation programs ,operating a theatre or any of the myriad
activities that contribute to people's lives in a community like ours.
But I can tell you this .......a Mayor or Councillor who doesn't learn something of lives of people they serve , after four years in office, is a person who hasn't much interest in anyone but himself.
Elected office is nothing else but privilege and status to that person.
Like Michael Ignatieff ....until the night before the election....when he knew he had lost and understood why.
Thursday, 21 August 2014
Wednesday, 20 August 2014
It's not all bad
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Business does not thrive by chance":
Realistically, you can't expect small downtown stores to thrive when the town is encouraging big box stores on the outskirts. I don't fault anyone, this is called progress. The big box stores have the inventory, the displays and sometimes the price. Service at some is good and others poor. Parking in the huge paved lots is generally always available at no cost.
The once personal barber shop and hair dresser are in the franchise and mall mode too. This is also apparently progress.
Down towns all across the province see ups and downs as new retailers give it a try. The failure rate is unfortunately quite high.
I think it is all about small retailers looking for that special niche. The town cannot offer much other than clean safe streets and of course parking.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 20 August 2014 14:58
**********************
Our town is a perfect study. Malls were built north and south Each within a fifteen minutes drive.
One business moved to the mall. It lasted a few years. Other business owners retired after a bit.
Department stores in malls stopped selling some products ;yarn shops,fabric stores, hats.
Simpsons and Eaton's disappeared and a numbers of others.
Life time careers and occupations disappeared with the free trade deal. Severance packages were invested in small business and franchises. Franchises disappeared. Some were scams in the first place set up to cheat people with severance packages.
Some businesses survived the onslaught. They got better at meeting the competition.
Aurora Home Hardware. Mike Evans True Value Hardware. Canadian Tire. Mac Fleming Paint and Wallpaper and Beautiful Home Accessories obviously learned how to survive. The Hardware store in Oak Ridges started up by an Aurora group in the worst. If times and survived until the best of times.
Caruso's, the oldest of them all, still open their doors every day. Phyllis still does beautiful flower arrangements.I received one recently
A town can support business without corporate welfare.
Exorbitant fees for small changes are not helpful. SIgn Bylaws that require massive application fees and politicians to approve.
Clubs that pay no taxes competing for available trade and politicians who turn a blind eye .
Certainly a town and business can and should work together.
At the very least business should ,like residents , feel the town is more than a bunch of bafflegab.
Realistically, you can't expect small downtown stores to thrive when the town is encouraging big box stores on the outskirts. I don't fault anyone, this is called progress. The big box stores have the inventory, the displays and sometimes the price. Service at some is good and others poor. Parking in the huge paved lots is generally always available at no cost.
The once personal barber shop and hair dresser are in the franchise and mall mode too. This is also apparently progress.
Down towns all across the province see ups and downs as new retailers give it a try. The failure rate is unfortunately quite high.
I think it is all about small retailers looking for that special niche. The town cannot offer much other than clean safe streets and of course parking.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 20 August 2014 14:58
**********************
Our town is a perfect study. Malls were built north and south Each within a fifteen minutes drive.
One business moved to the mall. It lasted a few years. Other business owners retired after a bit.
Department stores in malls stopped selling some products ;yarn shops,fabric stores, hats.
Simpsons and Eaton's disappeared and a numbers of others.
Life time careers and occupations disappeared with the free trade deal. Severance packages were invested in small business and franchises. Franchises disappeared. Some were scams in the first place set up to cheat people with severance packages.
Some businesses survived the onslaught. They got better at meeting the competition.
Aurora Home Hardware. Mike Evans True Value Hardware. Canadian Tire. Mac Fleming Paint and Wallpaper and Beautiful Home Accessories obviously learned how to survive. The Hardware store in Oak Ridges started up by an Aurora group in the worst. If times and survived until the best of times.
Caruso's, the oldest of them all, still open their doors every day. Phyllis still does beautiful flower arrangements.I received one recently
A town can support business without corporate welfare.
Exorbitant fees for small changes are not helpful. SIgn Bylaws that require massive application fees and politicians to approve.
Clubs that pay no taxes competing for available trade and politicians who turn a blind eye .
Certainly a town and business can and should work together.
At the very least business should ,like residents , feel the town is more than a bunch of bafflegab.
Business does not thrive by chance
Someone commmented my reference to North Bay was from thirty years.ago. You will notice as you grow older how fast the years run into each other. North Bay may have changed.
It's been some years since indoor malls have stopped being built. Many towns never had a mall.
I drive to Collingaood a few weeks ago. Passed through many towns on, the way. Main Streets are as they always were with chains and privately operated business side by side.
Picton for one. I always look for the local bakery. In my seaside home town,there were more bakeries, sweetie shops , Italian ice cream parlours and fish and chip shops than anything else.
But the story I remember from North Bay was , how a privately operated dress shop differed
from a mall chain store.
First the store owner-operator knew. her customers personally. When she went to the seasonal and annual wholesale shows, she shopped for her customers. And when the shipment arrived customers would receive a call from the dress shop telling them ; "I have something that is you"
I don't know if that was true of every store. But it certinly sounds plausible and N extraordinary level of service. No mall chain store buyer could compete with that.
But indoor malls haven't been the norm for some years. Can't say I've noticed how many exactly.
Certainly Canada Mall had it's ups and downs , and many changes. It put the kibosh on many small
business in Aurora. Shopping in the mal was n expedition for the family. It also proved too expensive for store operators and the crowds in the heat if summer or depth of winter were not necessarily
shoppers.I have heard of business allowed to stay though they couldn't pay the rent because the mall couldn't afford to have empty stores.
That's plausible too.
But things change even in small towns as so many people younger than I are fond of telling me.
Gas and car insurance costs are heavy. Condominiums outpace single family homes. Families
are smaller or non-existent.
For forty years, the town has known, downtown would recover unless people returned to live in the centre of things.
It has been happening for the past fifteen years. North and south of the centre block.Dozens of new business thriving in new buildings built to blend .And done so well it's my hard to tell.
Some have not succeeded . Maybe because they did not study the market. Or didn't have enough financialbacking to see them through.We also know operating a smal business has never been easy at any time. They need all the help the town can provide.
We spend enough. But I am not convinced we spend it well. I don't believe the strategic plan is helpful. The Promenade Study ,while proposing millions in spending proposes also propose controls
that could only be conceived by politicians made mad by power.
A town department's function is described as "retention and expansion "
I tell you ,without a hint of a lie, I have never seen any effort whatsoever in that direction.
Unless of course we are talking about spending millions on real estate for a crazy heritage theme park
Or millions more in a giveaway to establish a university satellite within our midst.
Like all we need to do is throw money at these things and something is bound to happen.
It's been some years since indoor malls have stopped being built. Many towns never had a mall.
I drive to Collingaood a few weeks ago. Passed through many towns on, the way. Main Streets are as they always were with chains and privately operated business side by side.
Picton for one. I always look for the local bakery. In my seaside home town,there were more bakeries, sweetie shops , Italian ice cream parlours and fish and chip shops than anything else.
But the story I remember from North Bay was , how a privately operated dress shop differed
from a mall chain store.
First the store owner-operator knew. her customers personally. When she went to the seasonal and annual wholesale shows, she shopped for her customers. And when the shipment arrived customers would receive a call from the dress shop telling them ; "I have something that is you"
I don't know if that was true of every store. But it certinly sounds plausible and N extraordinary level of service. No mall chain store buyer could compete with that.
But indoor malls haven't been the norm for some years. Can't say I've noticed how many exactly.
Certainly Canada Mall had it's ups and downs , and many changes. It put the kibosh on many small
business in Aurora. Shopping in the mal was n expedition for the family. It also proved too expensive for store operators and the crowds in the heat if summer or depth of winter were not necessarily
shoppers.I have heard of business allowed to stay though they couldn't pay the rent because the mall couldn't afford to have empty stores.
That's plausible too.
But things change even in small towns as so many people younger than I are fond of telling me.
Gas and car insurance costs are heavy. Condominiums outpace single family homes. Families
are smaller or non-existent.
For forty years, the town has known, downtown would recover unless people returned to live in the centre of things.
It has been happening for the past fifteen years. North and south of the centre block.Dozens of new business thriving in new buildings built to blend .And done so well it's my hard to tell.
Some have not succeeded . Maybe because they did not study the market. Or didn't have enough financialbacking to see them through.We also know operating a smal business has never been easy at any time. They need all the help the town can provide.
We spend enough. But I am not convinced we spend it well. I don't believe the strategic plan is helpful. The Promenade Study ,while proposing millions in spending proposes also propose controls
that could only be conceived by politicians made mad by power.
A town department's function is described as "retention and expansion "
I tell you ,without a hint of a lie, I have never seen any effort whatsoever in that direction.
Unless of course we are talking about spending millions on real estate for a crazy heritage theme park
Or millions more in a giveaway to establish a university satellite within our midst.
Like all we need to do is throw money at these things and something is bound to happen.
The post for to-day
I may be at risk of spreading myself too thin. I commented on a post on Chris Watts Blog yesterday. I've done it before but not successfully.
This time I was successful. Having done it once I commented on a second post.
I have comments to my post that require me to rummage through the list of time posted to find the reference.
I just had one that required rummaging through a previous list to determine a second reference.
It's just getting too complicated.
I can't spend time doing that and writing a post each day . It has to be one or the other.
The other is just writing a post.
And that's it for to-day.
If a lived by the sea and could, I would go for a walk. And let the wind blow my mind clear.
This time I was successful. Having done it once I commented on a second post.
I have comments to my post that require me to rummage through the list of time posted to find the reference.
I just had one that required rummaging through a previous list to determine a second reference.
It's just getting too complicated.
I can't spend time doing that and writing a post each day . It has to be one or the other.
The other is just writing a post.
And that's it for to-day.
If a lived by the sea and could, I would go for a walk. And let the wind blow my mind clear.
Tuesday, 19 August 2014
North Bay in the eighties... Aurora in 2014
I came down Yonge Street again this afternoon, about 5 pm. From Wellington.
It looked even better to-day with a different view of the former hardware store. It's reverting back to two stores.
Aw Shucks blends in better than ever. The United Church parking lot has a couple of planters defining the edge. There' a friendly banner on the site saying ..... Thank You Aurora,
Can't help thinking if the site could be used. for public parking it would provide an opportunity
to discover if off street parking would make difference. Although the street certainly seemed busy without it. The planters and two cars in the parking lot make it more visible.
I looked up at the dress shop window as I passed and fervently hoped the satire is doing well and survives until the condos are occupied.
The property that was to be a Montesori school is for sale. Sale of the parcel immediately to the south fell through becasue iHeritage Designation made financing impossible.
The most spectacular site of all is the War Memorial Garden. At the south entrance to the business area it creates a great gateway. Iyt speaks volumes about the town.
Macdonald'sl one side and a fish and chip restaurant on the other are set nd back so
neither detract from the green that dominates the space.
I've always, meant to visit Gabriel's Cafe. I hear he makes a very nice sandwich. But any time I stopped he was closed.
I might drive up from the south end to-morrow and check out the east side. I need to take a closer look at the construction on Centre Street corner.
Councillor Abel made a motion directing staff to find a way to penalise owners who fail to develop
vacant sites.
There are two sites in the hollow,vacant more than fifty years. One is the old arena site. The arena burned down. The town sold the property. I think the creek crosses Yonge Street there and drainage pipes make. the site obviously a difficult to build on. It would be ironic if the town fined an owner for failing to build on a site originally sold by the town
Just north, a long-time ago owner demolished a small old frame house without. asking anyone.
He was never able to re-build because most of the site is in the flood plain. I imagine that owner would welcome a building permit rather I than a fine.
I look forward to reading the staf report on Councillor Abel's initiative.
I wonder if it will refer to town owned property on the VictorIa Street side of library square
It looked even better to-day with a different view of the former hardware store. It's reverting back to two stores.
Aw Shucks blends in better than ever. The United Church parking lot has a couple of planters defining the edge. There' a friendly banner on the site saying ..... Thank You Aurora,
Can't help thinking if the site could be used. for public parking it would provide an opportunity
to discover if off street parking would make difference. Although the street certainly seemed busy without it. The planters and two cars in the parking lot make it more visible.
I looked up at the dress shop window as I passed and fervently hoped the satire is doing well and survives until the condos are occupied.
The property that was to be a Montesori school is for sale. Sale of the parcel immediately to the south fell through becasue iHeritage Designation made financing impossible.
The most spectacular site of all is the War Memorial Garden. At the south entrance to the business area it creates a great gateway. Iyt speaks volumes about the town.
Macdonald'sl one side and a fish and chip restaurant on the other are set nd back so
neither detract from the green that dominates the space.
I've always, meant to visit Gabriel's Cafe. I hear he makes a very nice sandwich. But any time I stopped he was closed.
I might drive up from the south end to-morrow and check out the east side. I need to take a closer look at the construction on Centre Street corner.
Councillor Abel made a motion directing staff to find a way to penalise owners who fail to develop
vacant sites.
There are two sites in the hollow,vacant more than fifty years. One is the old arena site. The arena burned down. The town sold the property. I think the creek crosses Yonge Street there and drainage pipes make. the site obviously a difficult to build on. It would be ironic if the town fined an owner for failing to build on a site originally sold by the town
Just north, a long-time ago owner demolished a small old frame house without. asking anyone.
He was never able to re-build because most of the site is in the flood plain. I imagine that owner would welcome a building permit rather I than a fine.
I look forward to reading the staf report on Councillor Abel's initiative.
I wonder if it will refer to town owned property on the VictorIa Street side of library square
None So Blind. As Those Who Will Not See
Yesterday the comment was made about the flower planters on Yonge Street. I drove down in the early evening.
Noticed posts for hoardings in place around the old IGA site. That's a large space. Condos are proposed. Lots of potential for pedestrian traffic. Acess and egress on Yonge Street. Close to the
Yonge Wellington intersection. Something will have to give.
Gigantic crane over the Yonge / Centre construction site. Still happening.
New facade obviously being prepared on the true value hardware site.I hear the shed behind has
New framing inside and my accommodate a couple of boutiques.
Condos are planned on the site next to the old town hall.
The hood will be transformed.
None of it at public expense. No tapping into the Community Improvement Plan adopted recently by Council. All of it contributing new revenues to town coffers.
Like the nice dress shop down in the hollow. Reminds me of North Bay.
Once ,between SARB hearings, I had time to window shop on the Main Street. I noticed particularly four or five privately operated shoe stores just on one side of the street. The display windows were a delight with quality Canadian brands of shoes I hadn't seen for years.
Men's and Ladies and Children's wear shops abounded.
Council has referred hundreds of thousands of dollars of spending to the next budget for the purpose of " revitalizing" the downtown. Replace sidewalks with patterned concrete. Build it and they will come is the obvious logic.
Talk of "revitalizing" downtown has become a mantra that hasn't change in fifty years.
It's as if if they never really see the downtown. We know they don't live here. The town hall is off the beaten track. Maybe they avoid it because of congestion at the Yonge /Wellington intersection.
But Councillors live here? What's their excuse?
Noticed posts for hoardings in place around the old IGA site. That's a large space. Condos are proposed. Lots of potential for pedestrian traffic. Acess and egress on Yonge Street. Close to the
Yonge Wellington intersection. Something will have to give.
Gigantic crane over the Yonge / Centre construction site. Still happening.
New facade obviously being prepared on the true value hardware site.I hear the shed behind has
New framing inside and my accommodate a couple of boutiques.
Condos are planned on the site next to the old town hall.
The hood will be transformed.
None of it at public expense. No tapping into the Community Improvement Plan adopted recently by Council. All of it contributing new revenues to town coffers.
Like the nice dress shop down in the hollow. Reminds me of North Bay.
Once ,between SARB hearings, I had time to window shop on the Main Street. I noticed particularly four or five privately operated shoe stores just on one side of the street. The display windows were a delight with quality Canadian brands of shoes I hadn't seen for years.
Men's and Ladies and Children's wear shops abounded.
Council has referred hundreds of thousands of dollars of spending to the next budget for the purpose of " revitalizing" the downtown. Replace sidewalks with patterned concrete. Build it and they will come is the obvious logic.
Talk of "revitalizing" downtown has become a mantra that hasn't change in fifty years.
It's as if if they never really see the downtown. We know they don't live here. The town hall is off the beaten track. Maybe they avoid it because of congestion at the Yonge /Wellington intersection.
But Councillors live here? What's their excuse?
Don't hold your breath
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "About grants ,user fees, policies and waivers":
I like the " Forest " area being touted to purchasers without mentioning the wheeling & dealing going on to have the entire thing declared off-limits to those living there.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 18 August 2014 14:
*******************
I have a story to tell about the woodlot referred to above but first something else occurred to me about user fees.
They are set by bylaw. So...there can't be a waiver without. an amendment to the
bylaw. We have never ever processed an amendment to the use fee bylaw to provide a waiver to the fee.
Now....if user fees were adopted as a policy, that could be ignored. In fact ,if Councillors are unaware of the policy, there is no requirement to inform them or follow the policy
In the last term, there was a policy prohibiting elected members from retaining and instructing legal counsel but it happened anyway.This Council adopted a new policy without mention of the fact the policy already existed.
A couple of months ago there was an e-mail to Councilors about cash being paid in lieu of
vacation not taken. The vacation policy allows vacation to be carried forward a year but not
payment of cash in lieu. It happened anyway. The CAO responded to Council that he had approved it.
Now back to the woodlot.
There's the Oak Ridges Moraine Act. It's provincial legislation. A town planner received training about how to interpret the Act.
We have the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation and the Oak Ridges Moraine Trust and I have never been sure why. We no longer have the specially trained planner . He has been re-assigned as Special
Program Manager in the CAO's office.
The McLeod woodlot was legally transferred to the Oak Ridges Moraine Trust. It's a process
whereby a land owner can obtain the value of a property from government in the form of tax relief.You have to be loaded to be in a tax bracket sufficient to be liable for that level of tax.
A condition of the transfer was no public access allowed for ten years. It's understood all trees of value were sold and removed before the transfer.
As something or other in the Moraine Trust, Susan Walmer became officially in charge of the property. Not sure of that's a paid position or volunteer.Ms Walmer was a volunteer member of the Environmental Advisory Committee in the last term.
Also the former Mayor's campaign manager.
In the last term, at the request of the trust ,the town signed a maintenance agreement for the property. We don't own it, have no access to it and no authority to use it. But somehow or others it was deemed appropriate that we should be financial responsibility for its maintenance.
In July, after a lengthy absence, Ms. Walmer delegated to Council to inform the town of a problem. People are dumping litter in the area.
The property is fenced on three sides. Ms Walmer wants the fourth side fenced for complete security and enclosure.
Oak Ridges Trust has not yet constructed access or paths in the forest that would encourage public use when the ban expires.
The delegate gave no indication of when that might be.
The developer is not wrong about there being access to a forest. It just looks like Ms Walmer does not intend that to be any time soon.
I like the " Forest " area being touted to purchasers without mentioning the wheeling & dealing going on to have the entire thing declared off-limits to those living there.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 18 August 2014 14:
*******************
I have a story to tell about the woodlot referred to above but first something else occurred to me about user fees.
They are set by bylaw. So...there can't be a waiver without. an amendment to the
bylaw. We have never ever processed an amendment to the use fee bylaw to provide a waiver to the fee.
Now....if user fees were adopted as a policy, that could be ignored. In fact ,if Councillors are unaware of the policy, there is no requirement to inform them or follow the policy
In the last term, there was a policy prohibiting elected members from retaining and instructing legal counsel but it happened anyway.This Council adopted a new policy without mention of the fact the policy already existed.
A couple of months ago there was an e-mail to Councilors about cash being paid in lieu of
vacation not taken. The vacation policy allows vacation to be carried forward a year but not
payment of cash in lieu. It happened anyway. The CAO responded to Council that he had approved it.
Now back to the woodlot.
There's the Oak Ridges Moraine Act. It's provincial legislation. A town planner received training about how to interpret the Act.
We have the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation and the Oak Ridges Moraine Trust and I have never been sure why. We no longer have the specially trained planner . He has been re-assigned as Special
Program Manager in the CAO's office.
The McLeod woodlot was legally transferred to the Oak Ridges Moraine Trust. It's a process
whereby a land owner can obtain the value of a property from government in the form of tax relief.You have to be loaded to be in a tax bracket sufficient to be liable for that level of tax.
A condition of the transfer was no public access allowed for ten years. It's understood all trees of value were sold and removed before the transfer.
As something or other in the Moraine Trust, Susan Walmer became officially in charge of the property. Not sure of that's a paid position or volunteer.Ms Walmer was a volunteer member of the Environmental Advisory Committee in the last term.
Also the former Mayor's campaign manager.
In the last term, at the request of the trust ,the town signed a maintenance agreement for the property. We don't own it, have no access to it and no authority to use it. But somehow or others it was deemed appropriate that we should be financial responsibility for its maintenance.
In July, after a lengthy absence, Ms. Walmer delegated to Council to inform the town of a problem. People are dumping litter in the area.
The property is fenced on three sides. Ms Walmer wants the fourth side fenced for complete security and enclosure.
Oak Ridges Trust has not yet constructed access or paths in the forest that would encourage public use when the ban expires.
The delegate gave no indication of when that might be.
The developer is not wrong about there being access to a forest. It just looks like Ms Walmer does not intend that to be any time soon.
Monday, 18 August 2014
ASK and Ye shall not receive
PostedAnonymous has left a new comment on your post "We all have our rights":
When is the deadline to register as a candidate?
**********************
O.K. I have a link to the Town's website on my blog.
I thought of referring the commenter to the link.
I dislike searching the town's web site.?
Last Tuesday Council received a report about the new website ,describing it in superlative terms.
I said I wasn't comfortable with the self-congratulatory tone of the report. I preferred to let people tell us what they think of the service rather than tell them what to think of the service
I daresay some would hear that as negative. Positive,I suppose, would be vociferous participation in the cheer-leading squad.
I noted the Communications Department has a budget of $600,000. And asked if the web site would
produce any cost savings.
The reply was negative .
The advantage of the new web site was better service .
I went into the web site. In the slot where it asked: what are you searching for.?
I typed in.... deadline for candidate registration for municipal election.
Back came the non answer: No results found.
I understand the deadline is September 12th. I wanted to confirm. Didn't
want to give out the wrong information.
But from the town's website no such insight was forthcoming.p
About grants ,user fees, policies and waivers
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "We all have our rights":
Some groups get their fees waived . Others do not. I think you can expect every one of them to make the attempt to slip past. It is up to Council to make each decision and this Council lets most organizations slip by. I would like to see more consistency with reasons given about there maybe being a one-time need to help out.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 18 August 2014 08:43
****************************
But every one of them don't. They pay the fees .
Dozens of groups in Aurora volunteer in numerous areas. They know the policy. They are consulted on user fees and believe it's applied equally.
But it's not.
There is a grant policy with approved eligibility. Decisions are made at staff level.
If an application is not eligible, the applicant can bypass the process and delegate to Council.
It's a golden opportunity for political magnanimity. Dole out taxpayers dollars like a philanthropic organization. Like Warren Buffet and Bill Gates.
As long as those picking up the tab are paying little attention, it's a safe gambit . Applicants know a good thing when they see it and money fairly sails out of the town coffers.
This term has not been as bad as last . Groups and individuals came from all over for free facilities to raise a bundle at no cost.
Sometimes it almost seemed they had been invited or at least the word had gotten about.
During the futile debate on Church Street School ,Councillors received e-mails from culture cravers from farther than. Orillia and Waterloo when it looked like the new Council might retrieve the facility for its original intent.
Now ask yourself how the Culture Centre fits into the policy of grants and user fees.
Costs of construction of facilities are paid with tax resources or development charges. New homeowners pay ninety per cent of the latter by a tax hidden in the cost of their homes.
Facilities are not used by all. The policy is for people who use them to pay costs of
operation.
The greater use,the more reasonable the fees. More down time in a facility means higher user fees.
Commercial or outside users mean more reasfees for local groups.
Fee waivers increase the burden.
I don't understand waiver requests from fund-raisers. Hundreds of residents participate in fund-raiser. Thousands are raised. The user fee represents barely a fraction of the whole.It might A donation to a cause might be $42,000 rather than $44,000.
Revenue to keep user fees reasonable is reduced by that amount. From thetown's lerspective, why is that sensible.
Take that $750,000 cheque given to the Mayor for the hospital by 2C developers in Aurora.
Were they asked to pay it over and above millions of dollars of development charges ?
Did someone suggest it would be good public relations? Why do they need good public relations?
WHoever was responsible for the initiative, it was not Council.
Does the Region include hospitals in development charges. Why would they? Health care is a provincial responsibility.
Some groups get their fees waived . Others do not. I think you can expect every one of them to make the attempt to slip past. It is up to Council to make each decision and this Council lets most organizations slip by. I would like to see more consistency with reasons given about there maybe being a one-time need to help out.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 18 August 2014 08:43
****************************
But every one of them don't. They pay the fees .
Dozens of groups in Aurora volunteer in numerous areas. They know the policy. They are consulted on user fees and believe it's applied equally.
But it's not.
There is a grant policy with approved eligibility. Decisions are made at staff level.
If an application is not eligible, the applicant can bypass the process and delegate to Council.
It's a golden opportunity for political magnanimity. Dole out taxpayers dollars like a philanthropic organization. Like Warren Buffet and Bill Gates.
As long as those picking up the tab are paying little attention, it's a safe gambit . Applicants know a good thing when they see it and money fairly sails out of the town coffers.
This term has not been as bad as last . Groups and individuals came from all over for free facilities to raise a bundle at no cost.
Sometimes it almost seemed they had been invited or at least the word had gotten about.
During the futile debate on Church Street School ,Councillors received e-mails from culture cravers from farther than. Orillia and Waterloo when it looked like the new Council might retrieve the facility for its original intent.
Now ask yourself how the Culture Centre fits into the policy of grants and user fees.
Costs of construction of facilities are paid with tax resources or development charges. New homeowners pay ninety per cent of the latter by a tax hidden in the cost of their homes.
Facilities are not used by all. The policy is for people who use them to pay costs of
operation.
The greater use,the more reasonable the fees. More down time in a facility means higher user fees.
Commercial or outside users mean more reasfees for local groups.
Fee waivers increase the burden.
I don't understand waiver requests from fund-raisers. Hundreds of residents participate in fund-raiser. Thousands are raised. The user fee represents barely a fraction of the whole.It might A donation to a cause might be $42,000 rather than $44,000.
Revenue to keep user fees reasonable is reduced by that amount. From thetown's lerspective, why is that sensible.
Take that $750,000 cheque given to the Mayor for the hospital by 2C developers in Aurora.
Were they asked to pay it over and above millions of dollars of development charges ?
Did someone suggest it would be good public relations? Why do they need good public relations?
WHoever was responsible for the initiative, it was not Council.
Does the Region include hospitals in development charges. Why would they? Health care is a provincial responsibility.
Why?
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "We all have our rights":
9:03
Why are you so offensive ?
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 18 August 2014 10:04
9:03
Why are you so offensive ?
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 18 August 2014 10:04
Sunday, 17 August 2014
We all have our rights
The Chamber of Commerce serves it's members. It is not a branch of the municipal corporation.
Its affairs are private.. It was the first successful organisation after many unsuccessful attempts.
It is self-sufficient and independent and adds vigour to the community.
I know little of Chamber business but support the various events including the annual Home Show.
I bought a scooter to be able to attend the street sale. But the crowds are so dense, the scooter
creates a problem.
I am a taxpayer. I believe the Chamber should pay the fee to use the Stronach Centre for the Home show in 2015 and every year thereafter.
lf I don't want to pay for something, I claim the right to say so.
As a Councillor, I have the same right as every other taxpayer and also authority to speak for them.
Furthermore, since I have the means, it has been my practise, using whatever language I choose ,to alert taxpayers to unreasonable demands and excessive spending. So that they too can let their Councillors know what they think about it.
That's the job. I asked for it. I like it. I think it's worth doing.
Its affairs are private.. It was the first successful organisation after many unsuccessful attempts.
It is self-sufficient and independent and adds vigour to the community.
I know little of Chamber business but support the various events including the annual Home Show.
I bought a scooter to be able to attend the street sale. But the crowds are so dense, the scooter
creates a problem.
I am a taxpayer. I believe the Chamber should pay the fee to use the Stronach Centre for the Home show in 2015 and every year thereafter.
lf I don't want to pay for something, I claim the right to say so.
As a Councillor, I have the same right as every other taxpayer and also authority to speak for them.
Furthermore, since I have the means, it has been my practise, using whatever language I choose ,to alert taxpayers to unreasonable demands and excessive spending. So that they too can let their Councillors know what they think about it.
That's the job. I asked for it. I like it. I think it's worth doing.
Public Business
Yesterday was a dreary day. Not much accomplished. Thank goodness for the blog and the chit chat.
I published the hostile comment to illustrate the form. Angry reaction to a blunt and straightforward
response is not uncommon and Lord knows, I've been doing it long enough to become accustomed.
I sent an e-mail recently to the manager of the Chamber of Commerce after the request for a waiver if fees for facilities for the Annual Home Show.
I asked if any thought had been given to reaction of taxpayers. What might they think of being asked to provide free facilities to a money-making venture of a private operation.
Ask them to provide free facilities. Then ask them to pay admission to facilities provided at their expense.
The Chamber if Commerce is about promoting local business. Good will towards potential customers should be an important consideration.
Asking taxpayers to pay the fee for facilities for a highly profitable private event might not be the best way to go about that.
I never received an answer to my e-mail. Maybe the manager was insulted.
I don't understand that. My job is to represent taxpayers interest. It is not to be doling out funds paid for service, to whoever makes outrageous demands for selfish interest.
I know an election is pending. It's the norm for candidates to be kind and generous.
A waiver of the fees was suggested by a Councillor before the request was made.
For all I know, it may be where the idea originated.
I've never been inclined towards giving taxpayers money away. I would rather not collect it in the first place, than take it to dole out to whoever has the brass to demand it.
Now we have social media it's easier to convey why I think the Chamber of Commerce ought to be ashamed to request taxpayers provide free use of public facilities for a highly profitable venture.
There would be no Home Show if the town had not built facilities that could accommodate
such events. User fees do not cover capital costs.
Come to that , there would be no Chamber of Commerce either, if the town had not made accommodation possible.
Taxpayers do not owe the Chamber a free ride.
I do not expect this post to be a comfort to the Chamber of Commerce.
Anger or embarrassment ...perhaps.
But .....if the unreasonable demand had never been made, a bare-knuckle response would not be the response.
Insult. ..certainly not.
Cause and consequence .
Saturday, 16 August 2014
Is there a principle involved?
Tyler Barker has left a new comment on your post "As I Was Walking Down The Street":
I don't always agree with you but shouldn't Council be on equal footing with staff at the very least, why isn't the mayor inviting everyone isn't he the head of the town, so to speak
Posted by Tyler Barker to Our Town and Its Business at 16 August 2014 11:2
*************************
Tyler, before I answer yours, I have a query for you to answer. It is a long outstanding puzzlement.
Why are you compelled to qualify your agreement with a point I make.
I do not require agreement. I simply state my position. But the compulsion to state non-agreement concurrently with agreement has me non-plus.
Qualification denigrates agreement. It is grudgingly extended. Shame or embarrassment is implied. Or fear of being judged by association. I experience it regularly and I would like to understand .You might be the one to think about it and provide an honest answer.
You are partly correct in your reference. Elections are the process whereby we govern ourselves.
We , being the community, elect a Council to represent us in our authority.
We are the stakeholders... the shareholders....we have invested our resources...we make our homes here and raise our families in this place
We are in charge. We are the collective who own this place.
Staff are accountable to us through Council. They are our employees.
The principle has been frustrated during this term. The Mayor perceives accountability from staff as "micro-managing"
He does not permit the exercise of authority. Beingmore comfortable following than giving direction.
Like the last lot, with a Council group content to follow like sheep though he has but one vote like the rest of us.
The invitation from the CAO and Director for a photo on a vacant site with a contractor, and an
architect is , in my opinion, to create the illusion the project is fully endorsed by Council.If everyone attends ,all smiles, a photo tells a thousand words.
Councillors in opposition are disrespected by staff.
I believe the initiative is political and staged for the benefit of the supporters.
No doubt the Mayor will wear the town's Regalia, the Chain of Office to provide meaning to the occasion which it does not otherwise have.
Your instincts are partially right Tyler. Staff are not equal to Council in authority. They are accountable to Council.
It would be logical to conclude staff were directed to create the diversion.
In the circumstance, it would be difficult to discern staff accountability as opposed to Council authority.
I don't always agree with you but shouldn't Council be on equal footing with staff at the very least, why isn't the mayor inviting everyone isn't he the head of the town, so to speak
Posted by Tyler Barker to Our Town and Its Business at 16 August 2014 11:2
*************************
Tyler, before I answer yours, I have a query for you to answer. It is a long outstanding puzzlement.
Why are you compelled to qualify your agreement with a point I make.
I do not require agreement. I simply state my position. But the compulsion to state non-agreement concurrently with agreement has me non-plus.
Qualification denigrates agreement. It is grudgingly extended. Shame or embarrassment is implied. Or fear of being judged by association. I experience it regularly and I would like to understand .You might be the one to think about it and provide an honest answer.
You are partly correct in your reference. Elections are the process whereby we govern ourselves.
We , being the community, elect a Council to represent us in our authority.
We are the stakeholders... the shareholders....we have invested our resources...we make our homes here and raise our families in this place
We are in charge. We are the collective who own this place.
Staff are accountable to us through Council. They are our employees.
The principle has been frustrated during this term. The Mayor perceives accountability from staff as "micro-managing"
He does not permit the exercise of authority. Beingmore comfortable following than giving direction.
Like the last lot, with a Council group content to follow like sheep though he has but one vote like the rest of us.
The invitation from the CAO and Director for a photo on a vacant site with a contractor, and an
architect is , in my opinion, to create the illusion the project is fully endorsed by Council.If everyone attends ,all smiles, a photo tells a thousand words.
Councillors in opposition are disrespected by staff.
I believe the initiative is political and staged for the benefit of the supporters.
No doubt the Mayor will wear the town's Regalia, the Chain of Office to provide meaning to the occasion which it does not otherwise have.
Your instincts are partially right Tyler. Staff are not equal to Council in authority. They are accountable to Council.
It would be logical to conclude staff were directed to create the diversion.
In the circumstance, it would be difficult to discern staff accountability as opposed to Council authority.
High Taxes...Spent Extravagantly...Are Universally Resented
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "A Missed Opportunity":
How does the hydro building lease "cater to the elite"?
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 16 August 2014 08:07
********************************
The question needs to be asked of those who did the deed and those who have continued it.
The people who believe the needs of Queen's York Rangers are more important to the community than the needs of the town herself.
The ones who believe a debt of $27 million could be justified by providing the Rangers with a new home while the old one continues to occupy a key corner of our town park and is now being offered for sale to the financial benefit of the federal government.
Had we sold the Hydro property, we would have realized a substantial asset, gained annual assessment revenue, added jobs for residents and had one less property to maintain.
All of which is forfeit with a forty year lease without a termination clause
Now tell me again, the community's interest was served. And I will tell you!you are out if your tree.
And let me tell you again...when it comes to taxes ...there is no elite
There is a common understanding that government should not collect taxes except for services required, endorsed by the community and provided at an efficient level.
The higher the taxes, the lower the value, the greater the common resentment.
There is no society strata that supports nin- com-poopery
There was a time, Queen's York Rangers officers were part of our community,most of the cadets were our own children and the Mayor of Aurora was honorary colonel. The Rangers were part of the town's volunteer sector.
The Mayor no longer has that distinction. Cadets are bussed from Keswick. The Armories that cost the town so dear, no longer even bears the town's name.
How does the hydro building lease "cater to the elite"?
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 16 August 2014 08:07
********************************
The question needs to be asked of those who did the deed and those who have continued it.
The people who believe the needs of Queen's York Rangers are more important to the community than the needs of the town herself.
The ones who believe a debt of $27 million could be justified by providing the Rangers with a new home while the old one continues to occupy a key corner of our town park and is now being offered for sale to the financial benefit of the federal government.
Had we sold the Hydro property, we would have realized a substantial asset, gained annual assessment revenue, added jobs for residents and had one less property to maintain.
All of which is forfeit with a forty year lease without a termination clause
Now tell me again, the community's interest was served. And I will tell you!you are out if your tree.
And let me tell you again...when it comes to taxes ...there is no elite
There is a common understanding that government should not collect taxes except for services required, endorsed by the community and provided at an efficient level.
The higher the taxes, the lower the value, the greater the common resentment.
There is no society strata that supports nin- com-poopery
There was a time, Queen's York Rangers officers were part of our community,most of the cadets were our own children and the Mayor of Aurora was honorary colonel. The Rangers were part of the town's volunteer sector.
The Mayor no longer has that distinction. Cadets are bussed from Keswick. The Armories that cost the town so dear, no longer even bears the town's name.
A Missed Opportunity
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "As I Was Walking Down The Street":
Could the renting of the Hydro building been all a plan for the Parks and Public work dept. to get their brand new building? Interesting thought.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 16 August 2014 00:23
***********************
Every now and again,I almost come to the conclusion it's not reasonable to expect people to be interested in the nitty gritty that exist between the lines in politics. I wonder if I'm wasting mine
and everybody else's time by repeating the details every time the picture evolves further.
Then I get a comment like the one above and I know I'm not.
Leasing the hydro building had nothing to do with the works and parks department's need for new facilities.
The building and yard was perfect for the parks department? They had the artisan skills to build park furniture better than any. And all the space they needed in the yard for storage of heritage salvage. The property had the capacity for future growth. The office was being used for storage of town
archives.
With the parks department accommodated in the Hydro property,the site on Scanlon Court was big
enough for the works department to be rebuilt with space to spare for future needs.
We had retained a space needs consultant. He advised the hydro property was needed for exactly how we were using it. We paid for that advice with taxpayer's money and ignored it in the haste to accommodate the Queen's York Rangers.
There never was a need to buy and remediate a new site . Never the need for $27 million of debt.
The plan to kick the parks department out and lease the hydro building to the Rangers was the same as the one to pirate Church Street School away from the museum and give it to the "culture crowd." Both were done in the same secretive under-handed way.
Neither plan ever more than puerile politics by a gang of no-minds who believed catering to the"elite" was the yellow brick road.
They never understood the community they served.
Who would have thought the process would dredge up a second group similarly ill-equipped
But without the evil intent?
In four years no effort was made to correct the problems created and less still was accomplished save for a ton load of flim-flammery.
The photo of the Mayor last week receiving a cheque for $750,000 from land developers;It was for the hospital . Why was the Mayor receiving it? Whose feeble notion of promotion was that? Was that using Town resources for political purpose? I think so.
A second photo planned of an empty site with the CAO , the Director of Infrastructure and.
Environment Services a contractor ,an architect, a candlestick- maker and any other hangers-on who want to get into the picture; is that not also using town resources for political purpose?
A couple of months ago the Director of Legislative Services recommended a Bylaw prohibiting the use of town resources for political purpose. The idea was rejected. I could not see what town resources there were to be abused. I never would have thought of such blatancy.
Remember the radio interview I told you about with Michael Ignatieff. He had written a book about losing the election . He acknowledged not understanding until the night before the election...that it wasn't about him. ...it was about the people who were looking to him to help them with their problems.
He publicly admitted he never understood until he faced the reality he had lost the election.
He blew the opportunity that came his way.
Could the renting of the Hydro building been all a plan for the Parks and Public work dept. to get their brand new building? Interesting thought.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 16 August 2014 00:23
***********************
Every now and again,I almost come to the conclusion it's not reasonable to expect people to be interested in the nitty gritty that exist between the lines in politics. I wonder if I'm wasting mine
and everybody else's time by repeating the details every time the picture evolves further.
Then I get a comment like the one above and I know I'm not.
Leasing the hydro building had nothing to do with the works and parks department's need for new facilities.
The building and yard was perfect for the parks department? They had the artisan skills to build park furniture better than any. And all the space they needed in the yard for storage of heritage salvage. The property had the capacity for future growth. The office was being used for storage of town
archives.
With the parks department accommodated in the Hydro property,the site on Scanlon Court was big
enough for the works department to be rebuilt with space to spare for future needs.
We had retained a space needs consultant. He advised the hydro property was needed for exactly how we were using it. We paid for that advice with taxpayer's money and ignored it in the haste to accommodate the Queen's York Rangers.
There never was a need to buy and remediate a new site . Never the need for $27 million of debt.
The plan to kick the parks department out and lease the hydro building to the Rangers was the same as the one to pirate Church Street School away from the museum and give it to the "culture crowd." Both were done in the same secretive under-handed way.
Neither plan ever more than puerile politics by a gang of no-minds who believed catering to the"elite" was the yellow brick road.
They never understood the community they served.
Who would have thought the process would dredge up a second group similarly ill-equipped
But without the evil intent?
In four years no effort was made to correct the problems created and less still was accomplished save for a ton load of flim-flammery.
The photo of the Mayor last week receiving a cheque for $750,000 from land developers;It was for the hospital . Why was the Mayor receiving it? Whose feeble notion of promotion was that? Was that using Town resources for political purpose? I think so.
A second photo planned of an empty site with the CAO , the Director of Infrastructure and.
Environment Services a contractor ,an architect, a candlestick- maker and any other hangers-on who want to get into the picture; is that not also using town resources for political purpose?
A couple of months ago the Director of Legislative Services recommended a Bylaw prohibiting the use of town resources for political purpose. The idea was rejected. I could not see what town resources there were to be abused. I never would have thought of such blatancy.
Remember the radio interview I told you about with Michael Ignatieff. He had written a book about losing the election . He acknowledged not understanding until the night before the election...that it wasn't about him. ...it was about the people who were looking to him to help them with their problems.
He publicly admitted he never understood until he faced the reality he had lost the election.
He blew the opportunity that came his way.
Friday, 15 August 2014
Tender Tootsies
The previous post went up at 1.05 pm.
At 1.16 pm. Incoming explosion of profanity declares no interest in the hydro building part of the post .
Methinks he/she doth protest too much.
At 1.16 pm. Incoming explosion of profanity declares no interest in the hydro building part of the post .
Methinks he/she doth protest too much.
As I Was Walking Down The Street
Yesterday I met a young woman in Costco who grew up in Aurora and is now raising her family in East Gwillimbury. I was in the line-up at the cash register. She spoke to my daughter Heather and. asked her to tell me how much she enjoyed watching Aurora Council on T.V.
"You make good points" she said.
It was nice. Every politician needs re-assurance we still speak for the people who elected us and even some who don't live within our borders.
To be sure ,my family keeps me grounded and the circle here, small as it is, keeps us in touch. You, know what I'm thinking and I hear back.
I also receive comments from those who do not appreciate frankness but. take advantage of the opportunity I provide to let me know.
Here's a thing. .. just off the press .....An e-mail from the Mayor's administrative assistant and two more from the Mayor with the same message
An invitation for a photo opportunity has been extended from Mr. Simanovskis, Director of Infrastructure and EnvironmentL Services and CAO Neil Garbe ...
Wait a minute.....I have to go back and see how it's worded,
It is for a photo on the empty site of the future Joint Operations Centre with the Contractor, the Architects The Director , the CAO and whoever else wants to attend.
That is verry verry interesting.
An invitation from staff to celebrate a decision made by a bare majority of Council to spend $27 million of your money on a garage and works yard.
An invitation from staff to Council.
Yesterday a question was posed here about staff being accountable to Council.
I hadn't gotten around to answering it.
Maybe this juxtaposition does it for me.
In a matter of days, registrations will close and all will be candidates on An equal footing.
At least two candidates are vying for the Mayor's office.
One supported the project. One didn't
Now staff arrange a celebrity photo for themselves,the Contractor and the Architects and invite others to attend. Maybe they will have bagpipes and dance a jig for the audience.
Is that political? Or not? If not what is the purpose?
What other reason can there possibly be for a photograph of an empty site and the main beneficiaries?
I've been in photos of a sod-turning. But this isn't that.
This is a photo of Director, Chief Administrative Officer,Contractor and Architects .
And whoever else may chance accep the invitation.
THE STAFF INVITATION.
The Mayor, wearing the Chain of Office will stand to one side as a guest of the Principals in the grand scheme of things .
As a coincidence , at this time in 2010 , the town was informed of a lease signed with
the Department of National Defense for Queen's York Rangers to take over the hydro building.
The parks department had previously been evicted despite a consultant study of space needs indicating theMunicipality needed the building and the site.
The Chief Administrator was commended on that occasion also for successful negotiation of the lease.
That decision triggered the need for the new site for the works department.
In the election that followed ,weeks later, the incumbent Mayor and others were defeated.
After the defeat an amendment was made to the lease with the Mayor's signature but without Council approval.
Now here we are four years later almost on the anniversary of that previous decision
"You make good points" she said.
It was nice. Every politician needs re-assurance we still speak for the people who elected us and even some who don't live within our borders.
To be sure ,my family keeps me grounded and the circle here, small as it is, keeps us in touch. You, know what I'm thinking and I hear back.
I also receive comments from those who do not appreciate frankness but. take advantage of the opportunity I provide to let me know.
Here's a thing. .. just off the press .....An e-mail from the Mayor's administrative assistant and two more from the Mayor with the same message
An invitation for a photo opportunity has been extended from Mr. Simanovskis, Director of Infrastructure and EnvironmentL Services and CAO Neil Garbe ...
Wait a minute.....I have to go back and see how it's worded,
It is for a photo on the empty site of the future Joint Operations Centre with the Contractor, the Architects The Director , the CAO and whoever else wants to attend.
That is verry verry interesting.
An invitation from staff to celebrate a decision made by a bare majority of Council to spend $27 million of your money on a garage and works yard.
An invitation from staff to Council.
Yesterday a question was posed here about staff being accountable to Council.
I hadn't gotten around to answering it.
Maybe this juxtaposition does it for me.
In a matter of days, registrations will close and all will be candidates on An equal footing.
At least two candidates are vying for the Mayor's office.
One supported the project. One didn't
Now staff arrange a celebrity photo for themselves,the Contractor and the Architects and invite others to attend. Maybe they will have bagpipes and dance a jig for the audience.
Is that political? Or not? If not what is the purpose?
What other reason can there possibly be for a photograph of an empty site and the main beneficiaries?
I've been in photos of a sod-turning. But this isn't that.
This is a photo of Director, Chief Administrative Officer,Contractor and Architects .
And whoever else may chance accep the invitation.
THE STAFF INVITATION.
The Mayor, wearing the Chain of Office will stand to one side as a guest of the Principals in the grand scheme of things .
As a coincidence , at this time in 2010 , the town was informed of a lease signed with
the Department of National Defense for Queen's York Rangers to take over the hydro building.
The parks department had previously been evicted despite a consultant study of space needs indicating theMunicipality needed the building and the site.
The Chief Administrator was commended on that occasion also for successful negotiation of the lease.
That decision triggered the need for the new site for the works department.
In the election that followed ,weeks later, the incumbent Mayor and others were defeated.
After the defeat an amendment was made to the lease with the Mayor's signature but without Council approval.
Now here we are four years later almost on the anniversary of that previous decision
Thursday, 14 August 2014
FYI
I can't allow staff to be criticized on the blog. It's not fair. They can't defend themselves.
I' ve deleted comments that offend that principle. If any have slipped through ,let me know.
Anybody notice Thunder Bay had a temperature of 9% to-day. Northern Ontario does not use salt.
Leksand , Sweden does not use salt .
Temperatures are much lower than Southern Ontario .
Salt is not effective. In Sweden ,small sleighs on cutters are pushed ahead like a stroller to navigate on icy streets.
We've had a lively exchange this week and that's great. Connsidering how many people are out of town.
I' ve deleted comments that offend that principle. If any have slipped through ,let me know.
Anybody notice Thunder Bay had a temperature of 9% to-day. Northern Ontario does not use salt.
Leksand , Sweden does not use salt .
Temperatures are much lower than Southern Ontario .
Salt is not effective. In Sweden ,small sleighs on cutters are pushed ahead like a stroller to navigate on icy streets.
We've had a lively exchange this week and that's great. Connsidering how many people are out of town.
History Keeps Repeating Itself
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "It's Hard To Keep Track":
"Many staff hours were spent re-writing an agreement that was entirely contrary to the municipality's interest."
BUT... the staff are not there to determine what is the Town's interest or not. The staff would have spent many hours doing something else instead. This is piece of fluff to help you make a point about something that happened a long time ago and is not on the table now.
Something that councillors - present and future should remember. Talking about how much time staff spends doing their job is moot. Staf are paid to work 5 days a week / 7.5 or 8 hours a day. With exceptions for vacations and holidays, they show up to work and do "something". That something can be writing documents for a project that is misguided or a project that is the best thing for the Town. The fact is, their time is paid for - EVEN IF THEY DO NOTHING ALL DAY. To say that $x was spent doing documents for the hydro building is an insult to my intellegence.
The only time that staff costs should be brough up is in the case of overtime. Overtime should be used when there is a specific deadline and the job can't be done to meet it.
However, there used to be a joke about municipal workers. "Why don't municpal workers look out the window in the mornings? Because if they did, they would have nothing to do in the afternoons".
Stick to the real facts and stop trying to pad your argument with fluff.
***************************
Tuesday night was gruelling The meeting went from 6 pm until 11.15 pm .
But that was not all.
The issues were significant. Preparation to debate mega millions in spending
is tense .The greater the price tag,the greater the tension.
But that was not all.
The comment I have chosen to feature above reflects a point of view which I do not share but is
not unusual.
On one notable occasion former Councillor Kean used it when outgoing Councillor MacEachern moved for a re-count after the 2003 election.
I had come in ahead of incumbent Councillor David Griffith by about forty-nine votes.After a fourteen year absence.
Former Councillor MacEachern had trouble accepting the result. After my registration, she
had withdrawn as a candidate because she had better things to do like spend time with her children.
Despite an estimate of $21,000. Councillor Kean argued the re-count was not a cost to taxpayers because staff were being paid anyway.
The Councillor was certain of his logic and aggressive in its presentation. Just like the commenter
above. More than once he complained the Council meeting were eating into his drinking time At the
Legion.
"Many staff hours were spent re-writing an agreement that was entirely contrary to the municipality's interest."
BUT... the staff are not there to determine what is the Town's interest or not. The staff would have spent many hours doing something else instead. This is piece of fluff to help you make a point about something that happened a long time ago and is not on the table now.
Something that councillors - present and future should remember. Talking about how much time staff spends doing their job is moot. Staf are paid to work 5 days a week / 7.5 or 8 hours a day. With exceptions for vacations and holidays, they show up to work and do "something". That something can be writing documents for a project that is misguided or a project that is the best thing for the Town. The fact is, their time is paid for - EVEN IF THEY DO NOTHING ALL DAY. To say that $x was spent doing documents for the hydro building is an insult to my intellegence.
The only time that staff costs should be brough up is in the case of overtime. Overtime should be used when there is a specific deadline and the job can't be done to meet it.
However, there used to be a joke about municipal workers. "Why don't municpal workers look out the window in the mornings? Because if they did, they would have nothing to do in the afternoons".
Stick to the real facts and stop trying to pad your argument with fluff.
***************************
Tuesday night was gruelling The meeting went from 6 pm until 11.15 pm .
But that was not all.
The issues were significant. Preparation to debate mega millions in spending
is tense .The greater the price tag,the greater the tension.
But that was not all.
The comment I have chosen to feature above reflects a point of view which I do not share but is
not unusual.
On one notable occasion former Councillor Kean used it when outgoing Councillor MacEachern moved for a re-count after the 2003 election.
I had come in ahead of incumbent Councillor David Griffith by about forty-nine votes.After a fourteen year absence.
Former Councillor MacEachern had trouble accepting the result. After my registration, she
had withdrawn as a candidate because she had better things to do like spend time with her children.
Despite an estimate of $21,000. Councillor Kean argued the re-count was not a cost to taxpayers because staff were being paid anyway.
The Councillor was certain of his logic and aggressive in its presentation. Just like the commenter
above. More than once he complained the Council meeting were eating into his drinking time At the
Legion.
Wednesday, 13 August 2014
Guest post
KA-NON has left a new comment on your post "Pedantic...Maybe. Precise...Hardly":
@12:17 - My understanding is that, upon scrutiny, Wikipedia is roughly as accurate as the best collections of encylopedias have ever been (i.e. Britannica). They've studied this, apparently.
see the link below
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4530930.stm
Having said that, the real point to be made is that the specific link that Cllr. Pirri presents does not effectively challenge Evelyn's point. It merely changes the temperature of it.
Below is a Wikipedia excerpt, on the solubility of salt in water. FYI NaCl is the chemical formula for Salt.
"When dissolved in water, the sodium chloride framework disintegrates as the Na+ and Cl− ions become surrounded by the polar water molecules. These solutions consist of metal aquo complex with the formula [Na(H2O)8]+, with the Na-O distance of 250 pm. The chloride ions are also strongly solvated, each being surrounded by an average of 6 molecules of water.[4] Solutions of sodium chloride have very different properties from pure water. The freezing point is −21.12 °C (−6.02 °F) for 23.31 wt% of salt, and the boiling point of saturated salt solution is near 108.7 °C (227.7 °F).[5] From cold solutions, salt crystallises as the dihydrate NaCl·2H2O."
The link for the above
this excerpt is below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_chloride
So, at a temperature ABOVE -21.12 celcius, the salt melts the snow and is then dissolved in the resulting water, which would have otherwise been frozen at 0 degrees. That is indeed the whole point - melt the snow and ice so that tires can grip the road underneath. The snow/salt water solution then flows where gravity takes it, meaning, the salt does not take up residence in the snow.
At temperatures BELOW -21.12 degrees celcius, I believe that the salt would remain among the snow and ice. So on those days, the snow that is picked up would have salt in its midst.
This link
http://www.worldweatheronline.com/Newmarket-weather-averages/Ontario/CA.aspx
provides the average daily temperatures throughout the year for Newmarket (closest to Aurora on the site). The coldest months, on average, are January and February, with an average daily temperature of -9 degrees celcius. Now of course, we all know that there are some cold days that are below -21 degrees - but not many. Less than a handful each year, I would bet. Remember, we are NOT talking wind-chill - just temp.
So, notwithstanding Cllr. Pirri's freezing point depression point, for all practical purposes, it seems that Evelyn's theory is correct. That is, the salt melts the snow and ice (yay - fewer traffic accidents!) and the resultant liquid solution goes where Newton knew it would.
One more thing. In places that DO have sustained temperatures below -21.12 celcius, they don't use salt on the roads. They use dirt as a grit to provide traction ON TOP OF the ice. Now you know why.
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Posted by KA-NON to Our Town and Its Business at 13 August 2014 13:04
@12:17 - My understanding is that, upon scrutiny, Wikipedia is roughly as accurate as the best collections of encylopedias have ever been (i.e. Britannica). They've studied this, apparently.
see the link below
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4530930.stm
Having said that, the real point to be made is that the specific link that Cllr. Pirri presents does not effectively challenge Evelyn's point. It merely changes the temperature of it.
Below is a Wikipedia excerpt, on the solubility of salt in water. FYI NaCl is the chemical formula for Salt.
"When dissolved in water, the sodium chloride framework disintegrates as the Na+ and Cl− ions become surrounded by the polar water molecules. These solutions consist of metal aquo complex with the formula [Na(H2O)8]+, with the Na-O distance of 250 pm. The chloride ions are also strongly solvated, each being surrounded by an average of 6 molecules of water.[4] Solutions of sodium chloride have very different properties from pure water. The freezing point is −21.12 °C (−6.02 °F) for 23.31 wt% of salt, and the boiling point of saturated salt solution is near 108.7 °C (227.7 °F).[5] From cold solutions, salt crystallises as the dihydrate NaCl·2H2O."
The link for the above
this excerpt is below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_chloride
So, at a temperature ABOVE -21.12 celcius, the salt melts the snow and is then dissolved in the resulting water, which would have otherwise been frozen at 0 degrees. That is indeed the whole point - melt the snow and ice so that tires can grip the road underneath. The snow/salt water solution then flows where gravity takes it, meaning, the salt does not take up residence in the snow.
At temperatures BELOW -21.12 degrees celcius, I believe that the salt would remain among the snow and ice. So on those days, the snow that is picked up would have salt in its midst.
This link
http://www.worldweatheronline.com/Newmarket-weather-averages/Ontario/CA.aspx
provides the average daily temperatures throughout the year for Newmarket (closest to Aurora on the site). The coldest months, on average, are January and February, with an average daily temperature of -9 degrees celcius. Now of course, we all know that there are some cold days that are below -21 degrees - but not many. Less than a handful each year, I would bet. Remember, we are NOT talking wind-chill - just temp.
So, notwithstanding Cllr. Pirri's freezing point depression point, for all practical purposes, it seems that Evelyn's theory is correct. That is, the salt melts the snow and ice (yay - fewer traffic accidents!) and the resultant liquid solution goes where Newton knew it would.
One more thing. In places that DO have sustained temperatures below -21.12 celcius, they don't use salt on the roads. They use dirt as a grit to provide traction ON TOP OF the ice. Now you know why.
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Posted by KA-NON to Our Town and Its Business at 13 August 2014 13:04
It's Hard To Keep Track
In the heat of the debate on the Multi-million dollar works and parks yard last night I made refernce
to priorities of some Councillors. I did say was million, dollars a my year goes to the Culture Centre .
it is actually not quite that amount.
The 2014 approved grant amount to the Cultural Board is $377,000 and the operational budget for the building for 2014 is $175,022.
That tally is $552,022. No rent is charged. Revenue from facilities rental is forfeited. According Tao asset management that represents a charge against the municipality.
Queen's York Rangers pay $131,000 annual rent for the former hydro facility.
Church Street school represents considerably more investment that the former industrial office building. But rent for the, hydro facility as a base , annual charge to the municipality to support culture centre activities is $683,022.
It's not a million. Neither is it an inconsiderable amount.
Many staff hours were spent re-writing an agreement that was entirely contrary to the municipality's interest.
The new agreement gave Council the authority to determine funding. They did exactly what was required in the old agreement.
It gave Council two seats on the board. The Mayor and Councillor Abel were appointed.
To no advantage. The Board continues to meet in secret but now with two elected officials in attendance instead of one.
The public are no better informed than previously. Public money is spent in secret.
My point in last night's debate was about town priorities and where the need for new facilities for parks and works fitted in.
Culture Heritage Park with a potential price tag of 11 millions ,hundreds if not thousands of staff hours and a $25,000 consultant study later public opposition came to bear and the project was
abandoned.
More staff weeks and potential $11 million gift of land to attract a University satellite campus on our border .
Time spent on study and deferral of decision on library square properties for a fab lab that
never came to be and sundry other esoteric schemes and themes.
Town hall expansion cancelled with $300,000 spent and staff time wasted.
Heritage District Designation Study abandoned after community opposition and $35,000 spent for no good purpose. Now $135,000 spent on a snow melt treatment facility design never necessary in the first place.
Now on the eve of the election a decision to spend $27 million on a parks and works facilities that could have been provided at a fraction of the cost.
If readers have been making a mental tally of all the funds expended for no useful outcome, I commend you, I certainly find it hard to keep up to the ongoing excess.
That tally is $552,022. No rent is charged. Revenue from facilities rental is forfeited. According Tao asset management that represents a charge against the municipality.
Queen's York Rangers pay $131,000 annual rent for the former hydro facility.
Church Street school represents considerably more investment that the former industrial office building. But rent for the, hydro facility as a base , annual charge to the municipality to support culture centre activities is $683,022.
It's not a million. Neither is it an inconsiderable amount.
Many staff hours were spent re-writing an agreement that was entirely contrary to the municipality's interest.
The new agreement gave Council the authority to determine funding. They did exactly what was required in the old agreement.
It gave Council two seats on the board. The Mayor and Councillor Abel were appointed.
To no advantage. The Board continues to meet in secret but now with two elected officials in attendance instead of one.
The public are no better informed than previously. Public money is spent in secret.
My point in last night's debate was about town priorities and where the need for new facilities for parks and works fitted in.
Culture Heritage Park with a potential price tag of 11 millions ,hundreds if not thousands of staff hours and a $25,000 consultant study later public opposition came to bear and the project was
abandoned.
More staff weeks and potential $11 million gift of land to attract a University satellite campus on our border .
Time spent on study and deferral of decision on library square properties for a fab lab that
never came to be and sundry other esoteric schemes and themes.
Town hall expansion cancelled with $300,000 spent and staff time wasted.
Heritage District Designation Study abandoned after community opposition and $35,000 spent for no good purpose. Now $135,000 spent on a snow melt treatment facility design never necessary in the first place.
Now on the eve of the election a decision to spend $27 million on a parks and works facilities that could have been provided at a fraction of the cost.
If readers have been making a mental tally of all the funds expended for no useful outcome, I commend you, I certainly find it hard to keep up to the ongoing excess.
Pedantic...Maybe. Precise...Hardly
Evelyn
Here is some information that speaks to freezing point depression which provides an overview of what happens when you place salt in water.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freezing-point_depression
*************************
The vote to award a contract for a treatment facility for melting snow was tied and therefore it failed.
The debate was fulsome. Councillor Pirri had the last word. He stated I had presented arguments which were " false". He provided no documentation so support his accusation. But the Chair allowed it to stand.
The Councilor forwarded the above after the meeting to illustrate his point.
I have opened the link.
I am often criticized for straying from the question. Rightfully so. I acknowledge having a great deal to say upon just about any subject Nd having trouble sticking to the point. In my own defense, I must say, I love the language I speak .It may well be a facet of my years my experience ,things I have seen or a combination of all of the above.
But you know, I would have dearly liked to hear Councillor Pirri ,the youngest of us all, attempt to use in a Council debate ,scientific jargon from a Wikipedia link to support his vote to support a million dollar facility to treat melting snow without a lick of salt in it.
Tuesday, 12 August 2014
Smidgeon....a small smudge
I think a smidgeon is a small smudge. A scintilla I would define as a pin point.
Richmond Hill and one other municipality, Markham I think, has undertaken a "snow treatment" facility. it me seems anything they do is the product of genius and we must do it too. O
We do separate oil and grit from run off in storm water ponds we require developers to build in new subdivisions. iIt's. a theory. I' ve never seen a study to prove it is effective. I have asked. The ponds are intended to counteract the effect of covering so much of the land with asphalt , roads and driveways and parking lots and roof tiles.
Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority visits regularly to advise Lake waters continue to degrade.
Even as the Region is planning to build a trunk sewer from Aurora to re-direct sewage from Aurora and Newmrket and permit urban sprawl all the way to the lake.
We spend a million a year re-lining pipes tho stop infiltration of ground water and reduce volume and that's to provide more scapacity for more development, even while the provincial government preaches high density to stop urban sprawl and save Ontario food lands.
The Mayor submits regular reports from the Authority ,of which he is a RegionL member. I can't say I have ever seen a reference to the plan to build a sewage treatment facility at Lake Simcoe.
I can't say it wasn' t there . It just wasn't conspicuous
Richmond Hill and one other municipality, Markham I think, has undertaken a "snow treatment" facility. it me seems anything they do is the product of genius and we must do it too. O
We do separate oil and grit from run off in storm water ponds we require developers to build in new subdivisions. iIt's. a theory. I' ve never seen a study to prove it is effective. I have asked. The ponds are intended to counteract the effect of covering so much of the land with asphalt , roads and driveways and parking lots and roof tiles.
Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority visits regularly to advise Lake waters continue to degrade.
Even as the Region is planning to build a trunk sewer from Aurora to re-direct sewage from Aurora and Newmrket and permit urban sprawl all the way to the lake.
We spend a million a year re-lining pipes tho stop infiltration of ground water and reduce volume and that's to provide more scapacity for more development, even while the provincial government preaches high density to stop urban sprawl and save Ontario food lands.
The Mayor submits regular reports from the Authority ,of which he is a RegionL member. I can't say I have ever seen a reference to the plan to build a sewage treatment facility at Lake Simcoe.
I can't say it wasn' t there . It just wasn't conspicuous
Sorry. About That
Hodgepodge for a hundred, Alex has left a new comment on your post "A Challenge for the Little Grey Cells":
What a disjointed and discombobulated mess of a post
Posted by Hodgepodge for a hundred, Alex to Our Town and Its Business at 12 August 2014 11:34
***********************
I apologise . The last post was third draft. Every time I had a discussion and verified facts. I started again
My iPad became throughly irritated and started acting up as it is doing now. I can't get down far enough to the last draft to remove the previous draft.
I haven't finished reading my agenda . I have to get to that .And I have to be at the town hall for the first of three meetings starting at six pm.
The contract for the Joint Operating facility is also up for award? It's $18 million. Maybe other Councillors will have question I want to ask.
Council appointed the Mayor and Councillor Thompson to. monitor the project ongoing. We never did get a report.
It's like the appointment of the Mayor and Councillor Abel to the Culture Centre Board We
never heard from them since. Meetings are secret so I guess as board members ,they are bound to secrecy.
I need to close my eyes now for thirty minutes.
What a disjointed and discombobulated mess of a post
Posted by Hodgepodge for a hundred, Alex to Our Town and Its Business at 12 August 2014 11:34
***********************
I apologise . The last post was third draft. Every time I had a discussion and verified facts. I started again
My iPad became throughly irritated and started acting up as it is doing now. I can't get down far enough to the last draft to remove the previous draft.
I haven't finished reading my agenda . I have to get to that .And I have to be at the town hall for the first of three meetings starting at six pm.
The contract for the Joint Operating facility is also up for award? It's $18 million. Maybe other Councillors will have question I want to ask.
Council appointed the Mayor and Councillor Thompson to. monitor the project ongoing. We never did get a report.
It's like the appointment of the Mayor and Councillor Abel to the Culture Centre Board We
never heard from them since. Meetings are secret so I guess as board members ,they are bound to secrecy.
I need to close my eyes now for thirty minutes.
A Challenge for the Little Grey Cells
Report IES14-036. on tonight's agenda is the history of a plan for a snow treatment facility started with a budget of $250,000 under a "Salt Management Plan" initiative in 2007.
It was soon after the Environmental Advisory Committee was appointed and the last Council
set it's path to Fame and Glory by saving the world for future generations.
An environmental engineer was added to the payroll; "to identify environmental initiatives"
Every year at budget time, I asked what initiatives had been identified .
The budget for the "snow disposal" project was doubled in 2009 to $500,000.
A consultant was retained for "site selection"and "environmental assessment " of a suitable location for "future snow storage."
The site currently being used as a snow dump was identified as preferred.
Hardly surprising. It had ben provided to works by manager of parks, the man who knows most about potential sites in the town. Who would likely be the source the consultant consulted in his
search for a suitable location and environmental suitability.
Lambert Willson Park permeable surface parking lot on the side of the Arboretum Ravine was
already The Valhalla of snow dumps.
"Snow Storage" became "Snow Disposal" and a design for a "Treatment Facility " had been
completed ,I thought at a cost of $168.000, but currently reported at $135,000.
The report does not indicate date of Council approval of a design for a "Treatment Facility"
The last and final rationale offered for the treatment facility was "the dump is on the wellhead protection area"
But it had previously been given an environmental pass by the consultant.
I do not generally challenge engineering advice. But as I drove home that night from the committee meeting,the thought came in a blinding flash..... salt can't be removed from water.
I'm a slow thinker I guess . Later still it occurred that snow and salt do not co-exist.
If you have snow,you do not have salt. If you have salt, you do not have snow.
Further discussion elicited the info salt wasn't the offender. Pathogens were.
Pathogens are dog excrement and windshield washer.
The budget had increased twice by now. To $750,000 and then $850,000.
In September 2011 the project was again deferred for a more detailed report from staff.
I was not a Councillor when the ravine was taken by the town. It was obviously environmentally sensitive and not suitable for development
The contract to be awarded to-night is for a road and parking lot to be paved with asphalt, storm system installed beneath the parking lot with facility to separate oil and grit from melting snow.
The project was approved by Council to be included in the 2014 budget without the report directed to be provided without further details.
Snow falls all over in winter. Probably ninety-five per cent is plowed onto boulevards. And there it sits frozen,until temperatures rise . Then it melts and disappears Without the help of salt.
Aurora's aquifer is deep. Separated from the surface by a massive impermeable shield . Water in the aquifer has been carbon dated. It is fresh,clear and cold and thousandof years old. Oil and grit have
never in known history reached it's depth.
And to-night your council will be asked to spend almost $800,000. As an environmental initiative, to pave paradise and put up a parking lot.
It was soon after the Environmental Advisory Committee was appointed and the last Council
set it's path to Fame and Glory by saving the world for future generations.
An environmental engineer was added to the payroll; "to identify environmental initiatives"
Every year at budget time, I asked what initiatives had been identified .
The budget for the "snow disposal" project was doubled in 2009 to $500,000.
A consultant was retained for "site selection"and "environmental assessment " of a suitable location for "future snow storage."
The site currently being used as a snow dump was identified as preferred.
Hardly surprising. It had ben provided to works by manager of parks, the man who knows most about potential sites in the town. Who would likely be the source the consultant consulted in his
search for a suitable location and environmental suitability.
Lambert Willson Park permeable surface parking lot on the side of the Arboretum Ravine was
already The Valhalla of snow dumps.
"Snow Storage" became "Snow Disposal" and a design for a "Treatment Facility " had been
completed ,I thought at a cost of $168.000, but currently reported at $135,000.
The report does not indicate date of Council approval of a design for a "Treatment Facility"
The last and final rationale offered for the treatment facility was "the dump is on the wellhead protection area"
But it had previously been given an environmental pass by the consultant.
I do not generally challenge engineering advice. But as I drove home that night from the committee meeting,the thought came in a blinding flash..... salt can't be removed from water.
I'm a slow thinker I guess . Later still it occurred that snow and salt do not co-exist.
If you have snow,you do not have salt. If you have salt, you do not have snow.
Further discussion elicited the info salt wasn't the offender. Pathogens were.
Pathogens are dog excrement and windshield washer.
The budget had increased twice by now. To $750,000 and then $850,000.
In September 2011 the project was again deferred for a more detailed report from staff.
I was not a Councillor when the ravine was taken by the town. It was obviously environmentally sensitive and not suitable for development
The contract to be awarded to-night is for a road and parking lot to be paved with asphalt, storm system installed beneath the parking lot with facility to separate oil and grit from melting snow.
The project was approved by Council to be included in the 2014 budget without the report directed to be provided without further details.
Snow falls all over in winter. Probably ninety-five per cent is plowed onto boulevards. And there it sits frozen,until temperatures rise . Then it melts and disappears Without the help of salt.
Aurora's aquifer is deep. Separated from the surface by a massive impermeable shield . Water in the aquifer has been carbon dated. It is fresh,clear and cold and thousandof years old. Oil and grit have
never in known history reached it's depth.
And to-night your council will be asked to spend almost $800,000. As an environmental initiative, to pave paradise and put up a parking lot.
Sunday, 10 August 2014
The Dirty Litlle Secret
I have a Notice of Motion on next week's agenda. Also a request to waive procedure to allow the question to be dealt with at the meeting.
This issue was recently on the table, received and not dealt with.
The administration provided a recommendation .
Last time it was an ad hoc committee
Both are strategies to suggest Council is not making the decision to increase remuneration for the job they do.
But of course, Council does.
Only Councillors know the demands on time and effort. I've never seen a committee recommendation
that acknowledged let alone reflected reality.
Nothing has changed in ten years in a Councillors status and remuneration in ten years.
A cost-living- adjustment is made each year which merely maintains keeps same compensation.
The Town grows, administration mushrooms, work multiplies ,financial responsibility increases
proportionately but a Councillor must squeeze it all in and be paid compensation that bears no resemblance to responsibility.
The issue is not just about compensation.
Part-time hours do not provide enough time for work to be efficiently accomplished.they don't even come close.
Town business gets short shrift from the elected body.
This week is a typical example.
The agenda was available late Friday before close of business. I started reading Friday evening.
Business meeting starts on Tuesday evening at 6 pm.
A bite to eat is provided at 5.30pm.
A meeting of the Audit committee starts at 6, Council at 7 and an in-camera meetings tso deal with acquisition of property never publicly discussed.
Hour of adjournment is 10.30 pm.
If no-one talks everything could be done within an hour.
I am frequently reminded by one of those who come to the meeting with decisions decided and minds closed.
The contract for the Salt Management, Snow storage,Snow Disposal, Snow treatment facility is on
the agenda for approval . It is three quarters of a million dollars.
The joint operations facility , contract is also to be awarded.
It's more than $17 million without optional items and excluding taxes. Optionals are half a million. Taxes I'm not sure of nor why they are never included in the contract price.
Actual spending in 2013 is also on the agenda along with eleven other agenda items including a meeting of the audit committee and an in- camera meeting on an acquisition of property that the public has had no say.
Keep in mind. the job is supposed to be part-time. The only full-time salary is paid to the office of Mayor.
Town offices are closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Heritage Advisory committee meets on Monday evening.
That leaves Saturday and Sunday to read, comprehend and determine a position in preparation for the meeting on Tuesday evening.
Yesterday, great grand-children came for the last time before returning to Gig Harbour in Washington State on the other side of the continent. I spent the day on the deck with family around me.
To-day I am doing laundry while hydro is at it's lowest rate and hanging it on the line to dry.
I've responded lengthily to a lengthy e-mail from a resident, providing information.
I need to do some shopping.
I shall read the rest if the agenda and between now and Tuesday prepare to argue a position on a number of separate issues.
Rules of order provide two minutes to speak no matter the significance of the issue.
I need also to prepare an argument for dealing with the issue of Council Remuneration and adequacy of part -time Council status to deal with the work and availability required to attend properly to the business of the corporation . Even though it may not be permitted.
I will likely write another couple of posts .
And attend to any other problems that comes to my attention from the community.
No...I do not work part-time.
No....I am not paid for the hours I work.
If I can't throw light on what the job requires, I don't know who else can.
I do believe it should be discussed and decided before allowing candidates for office to make a four year commitment to unknown demands.
This issue was recently on the table, received and not dealt with.
The administration provided a recommendation .
Last time it was an ad hoc committee
Both are strategies to suggest Council is not making the decision to increase remuneration for the job they do.
But of course, Council does.
Only Councillors know the demands on time and effort. I've never seen a committee recommendation
that acknowledged let alone reflected reality.
Nothing has changed in ten years in a Councillors status and remuneration in ten years.
A cost-living- adjustment is made each year which merely maintains keeps same compensation.
The Town grows, administration mushrooms, work multiplies ,financial responsibility increases
proportionately but a Councillor must squeeze it all in and be paid compensation that bears no resemblance to responsibility.
The issue is not just about compensation.
Part-time hours do not provide enough time for work to be efficiently accomplished.they don't even come close.
Town business gets short shrift from the elected body.
This week is a typical example.
The agenda was available late Friday before close of business. I started reading Friday evening.
Business meeting starts on Tuesday evening at 6 pm.
A bite to eat is provided at 5.30pm.
A meeting of the Audit committee starts at 6, Council at 7 and an in-camera meetings tso deal with acquisition of property never publicly discussed.
Hour of adjournment is 10.30 pm.
If no-one talks everything could be done within an hour.
I am frequently reminded by one of those who come to the meeting with decisions decided and minds closed.
The contract for the Salt Management, Snow storage,Snow Disposal, Snow treatment facility is on
the agenda for approval . It is three quarters of a million dollars.
The joint operations facility , contract is also to be awarded.
It's more than $17 million without optional items and excluding taxes. Optionals are half a million. Taxes I'm not sure of nor why they are never included in the contract price.
Actual spending in 2013 is also on the agenda along with eleven other agenda items including a meeting of the audit committee and an in- camera meeting on an acquisition of property that the public has had no say.
Keep in mind. the job is supposed to be part-time. The only full-time salary is paid to the office of Mayor.
Town offices are closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Heritage Advisory committee meets on Monday evening.
That leaves Saturday and Sunday to read, comprehend and determine a position in preparation for the meeting on Tuesday evening.
Yesterday, great grand-children came for the last time before returning to Gig Harbour in Washington State on the other side of the continent. I spent the day on the deck with family around me.
To-day I am doing laundry while hydro is at it's lowest rate and hanging it on the line to dry.
I've responded lengthily to a lengthy e-mail from a resident, providing information.
I need to do some shopping.
I shall read the rest if the agenda and between now and Tuesday prepare to argue a position on a number of separate issues.
Rules of order provide two minutes to speak no matter the significance of the issue.
I need also to prepare an argument for dealing with the issue of Council Remuneration and adequacy of part -time Council status to deal with the work and availability required to attend properly to the business of the corporation . Even though it may not be permitted.
I will likely write another couple of posts .
And attend to any other problems that comes to my attention from the community.
No...I do not work part-time.
No....I am not paid for the hours I work.
If I can't throw light on what the job requires, I don't know who else can.
I do believe it should be discussed and decided before allowing candidates for office to make a four year commitment to unknown demands.
Thursday, 7 August 2014
Questions without answers
I spent the morning leisurely cleaning my stove top.I was guest at Heather and Andy's camp site. I didn't do any cooking but I have done it for so long I still come home with a new appreciation for the comforts of home.
I don't use steel wool pads to clean the enamel. It won't stand up to scouring like original enamel.
A stove could be a hundred years old and show no signs of wear.
I scrape the burned material lightly with the fine point of a sharp knife.It's slow but contemplative.
I like such tasks.My mind can wander enjoyably without lighting on any item in particular.
I thought about the stream of photos Mayor Tony Van Bynen of Newmarket is posting on Facebook.
Jackie Playter, his best supporter is doing the same. The Mayor is prolific in congratulatory messages to this group and that and very complimentary to his current Council.
Something less but similar is going on in The Auroran with letters to the editor full of dire warnings
about who to vote for in the upcoming election.
I delete more than I publish in my blog. This morning I published a comment from one who cannot recommend anyone from the current Council.
Well, I thought. There's gratitude for you. Using my own blog to cast me down. Probably thinks I'm
too stupid to realize the clever trick perpetrated against me.
The impact of internet is interesting. It makes a shambles of the requirement to declare election expenses.
In a conversation with the clerk a few weeks ago, I was informed signs left over from a previous campaign is an election expense and must be declared.
Really ,I thought. I already knew donated use of chairs for a gathering had to be priced and declared.
There would be no actual expenditure but a value had to be calculated and declared nevertheless.
Now then.... if a loaned chair or collected, stored and re-used signs. which are not actually expenditures have to have a price attached for an audited declaration of finances,what about a campaign conducted on the internet that cost nothing but time?
What's to hinder a disappointed candidate or friend of such from filing a complaint under the Elections Act against a winner for spending more than allowed or declared ?
The biggest lament on the blog these days is lack of credible candidates, particularly for Mayor.
The biggest irony is number of complainers versus numbers willing to throw a hat into the ring.
The field is wide open . Any eligible voter is entitled to be a candidate.
The question that needs to be answered therefore is why the choice is limited?
Why would the job not hold more appeal?
We live in a compact, small community blessed with many natural resources.
Decisions are not complex.
Challenge is not overwhelming.
It is simply to maintain and if necessary, improve services that must be provided.
And continue to provide a pleasing environment within ordinary means.
Once one battles one's way through the bafflegab, what's so hard about that
I don't use steel wool pads to clean the enamel. It won't stand up to scouring like original enamel.
A stove could be a hundred years old and show no signs of wear.
I scrape the burned material lightly with the fine point of a sharp knife.It's slow but contemplative.
I like such tasks.My mind can wander enjoyably without lighting on any item in particular.
I thought about the stream of photos Mayor Tony Van Bynen of Newmarket is posting on Facebook.
Jackie Playter, his best supporter is doing the same. The Mayor is prolific in congratulatory messages to this group and that and very complimentary to his current Council.
Something less but similar is going on in The Auroran with letters to the editor full of dire warnings
about who to vote for in the upcoming election.
I delete more than I publish in my blog. This morning I published a comment from one who cannot recommend anyone from the current Council.
Well, I thought. There's gratitude for you. Using my own blog to cast me down. Probably thinks I'm
too stupid to realize the clever trick perpetrated against me.
The impact of internet is interesting. It makes a shambles of the requirement to declare election expenses.
In a conversation with the clerk a few weeks ago, I was informed signs left over from a previous campaign is an election expense and must be declared.
Really ,I thought. I already knew donated use of chairs for a gathering had to be priced and declared.
There would be no actual expenditure but a value had to be calculated and declared nevertheless.
Now then.... if a loaned chair or collected, stored and re-used signs. which are not actually expenditures have to have a price attached for an audited declaration of finances,what about a campaign conducted on the internet that cost nothing but time?
What's to hinder a disappointed candidate or friend of such from filing a complaint under the Elections Act against a winner for spending more than allowed or declared ?
The biggest lament on the blog these days is lack of credible candidates, particularly for Mayor.
The biggest irony is number of complainers versus numbers willing to throw a hat into the ring.
The field is wide open . Any eligible voter is entitled to be a candidate.
The question that needs to be answered therefore is why the choice is limited?
Why would the job not hold more appeal?
We live in a compact, small community blessed with many natural resources.
Decisions are not complex.
Challenge is not overwhelming.
It is simply to maintain and if necessary, improve services that must be provided.
And continue to provide a pleasing environment within ordinary means.
Once one battles one's way through the bafflegab, what's so hard about that
Wednesday, 6 August 2014
Things are not always what they seem
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "A Guest Post ........Liturgy of Mediocrity":
Being at each other’s throats has always been going on. The difference is the media is all over these old theatrical performances, and money can be made. Some of these performances are internal political maneuvers. This is nothing new. Consider all this new media like a hearing aids. The noise has always been there, it’s not muffled anymore and we now hear it louder and clearer than before.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 6 August 2014 07:59
***************
Humour me this morning. Let's focus on our town.Not Brampton.Toronto,Richmond Hill or any other place. Just Aurora.
We listen to the lament of a lack of public interest in government. We deplore the low turn-out at the polls and. Of course we all know who to blame and how it should be done.
Think about this. The sign on the highway says we are 56,000 people.
Planning data calculates two adults and 1.5 children per house. This is not research. Figures are not exact. We are amusing ourselves remember. After all, who has one and a half children?
Suppose voters number thirty-five thousand .
Now take away those who are not Canadian citizens and therefore
not entitled to vote.
Then take away those in the age bracket of eighteen to twenty-four with the right to vote but not likely to do so.
They're still living at home and don't pay taxes. They're rotten kids who never listen to their parents. And by now their parents are sick and tired of nagging and just wish the kids would find their own place and leave. And besides that parents don't feel the damned house is theirs anymore.
That's an entire group just naturally without interest in municipal elections.
It does not reflect lack of interest by people who work hard to make a living and pay all the bills.
Children of voting age may be away at school may or may not be inclined to come home to cast a ballot.That could be a thousand maybe.
Tenants are on the list. Rent reflects a factor for municipal taxes but the tenants don't pay it directly. They can fold their tents and steal away at any time. They have no investment in the community.
New homeowners who come from the city may take a couple of years to feel like they belong.
If they don't have children and work in the city, chances are they may never think of the town
as home.
Absentee landlords are on the list. Business operators who don't live in the town.
The voters list is only a number. It does not necessarily reflect numbers of those who might be expected to vote.
Voter turn-out , fairly stable in a Mayoralty contest ,is not therefore a reflection of lack of interest
among those with a stake in the community.
It's due to a list not entirely relevant
If I were a Councillor in a town like Markham with my own office and staff paid for by the municipality I could use that resource to delve into such issues.
I could come to Council very much better armed to challenge bureaucracy and red tape.
Instead if what we have now;
A seamless tent that draws no line between administration and governance.
The community is not well served.
Being at each other’s throats has always been going on. The difference is the media is all over these old theatrical performances, and money can be made. Some of these performances are internal political maneuvers. This is nothing new. Consider all this new media like a hearing aids. The noise has always been there, it’s not muffled anymore and we now hear it louder and clearer than before.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 6 August 2014 07:59
***************
Humour me this morning. Let's focus on our town.Not Brampton.Toronto,Richmond Hill or any other place. Just Aurora.
We listen to the lament of a lack of public interest in government. We deplore the low turn-out at the polls and. Of course we all know who to blame and how it should be done.
Think about this. The sign on the highway says we are 56,000 people.
Planning data calculates two adults and 1.5 children per house. This is not research. Figures are not exact. We are amusing ourselves remember. After all, who has one and a half children?
Suppose voters number thirty-five thousand .
Now take away those who are not Canadian citizens and therefore
not entitled to vote.
Then take away those in the age bracket of eighteen to twenty-four with the right to vote but not likely to do so.
They're still living at home and don't pay taxes. They're rotten kids who never listen to their parents. And by now their parents are sick and tired of nagging and just wish the kids would find their own place and leave. And besides that parents don't feel the damned house is theirs anymore.
That's an entire group just naturally without interest in municipal elections.
It does not reflect lack of interest by people who work hard to make a living and pay all the bills.
Children of voting age may be away at school may or may not be inclined to come home to cast a ballot.That could be a thousand maybe.
Tenants are on the list. Rent reflects a factor for municipal taxes but the tenants don't pay it directly. They can fold their tents and steal away at any time. They have no investment in the community.
New homeowners who come from the city may take a couple of years to feel like they belong.
If they don't have children and work in the city, chances are they may never think of the town
as home.
Absentee landlords are on the list. Business operators who don't live in the town.
The voters list is only a number. It does not necessarily reflect numbers of those who might be expected to vote.
Voter turn-out , fairly stable in a Mayoralty contest ,is not therefore a reflection of lack of interest
among those with a stake in the community.
It's due to a list not entirely relevant
If I were a Councillor in a town like Markham with my own office and staff paid for by the municipality I could use that resource to delve into such issues.
I could come to Council very much better armed to challenge bureaucracy and red tape.
Instead if what we have now;
A seamless tent that draws no line between administration and governance.
The community is not well served.
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
A Guest Post ........Liturgy of Mediocrity
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "When you sink that low...nobody wins": "For such a minor task to be undertaken without a smidgen of grace is not politics.
That is a total absence of political skill.
A shameful lack of intestinal fortitude.....an insult to public intelligence......and we are all degraded by it."
My intelligence is not insulted and I don't feel degraded.
This is what I have come expect, and with great disgust accept.
Politics seems to have become anything with which the human species indulges itself, there is no good behaviour, no bad behaviour, just behaviour. Thought is not a prerequisite, nor is common sense nor the maxim that one should treat another the way one would like to be treated.
The practitioners of this discipline are a disgraceful lot, parroting pithy words like transparency, accountability and VISION in their nascent campaigns to retain the office of councillor. What has been accomplished this term besides endless hours discussing "heritage trees" and "clear" garbage bags?
There are plans, studies, schemes, all involving consultants and costing several hundred thousand dollars, and nothing to show for these. Except to defer them to the next term, when they will no doubt be subject to more time wastage and the squandering of more taxpayer dollars.
Leadership is in very short supply these days, in all political forums throughout the world. Aurora is not unique. We don't even have decent followers.
And I really do not want to see the word VISION appear in any campaign advertising. The people who use this word wouldn't know it if it bashed them over the head with a wet cabbage.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 5 August 2014 1
*****************************
Aurora deserves the best. I expect the best. I am not prepared to accept less than the best.
That is a total absence of political skill.
A shameful lack of intestinal fortitude.....an insult to public intelligence......and we are all degraded by it."
My intelligence is not insulted and I don't feel degraded.
This is what I have come expect, and with great disgust accept.
Politics seems to have become anything with which the human species indulges itself, there is no good behaviour, no bad behaviour, just behaviour. Thought is not a prerequisite, nor is common sense nor the maxim that one should treat another the way one would like to be treated.
The practitioners of this discipline are a disgraceful lot, parroting pithy words like transparency, accountability and VISION in their nascent campaigns to retain the office of councillor. What has been accomplished this term besides endless hours discussing "heritage trees" and "clear" garbage bags?
There are plans, studies, schemes, all involving consultants and costing several hundred thousand dollars, and nothing to show for these. Except to defer them to the next term, when they will no doubt be subject to more time wastage and the squandering of more taxpayer dollars.
Leadership is in very short supply these days, in all political forums throughout the world. Aurora is not unique. We don't even have decent followers.
And I really do not want to see the word VISION appear in any campaign advertising. The people who use this word wouldn't know it if it bashed them over the head with a wet cabbage.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 5 August 2014 1
*****************************
Aurora deserves the best. I expect the best. I am not prepared to accept less than the best.
When you sink that low...nobody wins
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "What does it profit a man .":
Uh, *quite*, 08:21. On July 18th, Cllr Buck laid out her conspiracy theory regarding the upcoming vote on the Joint Operations Centre and named
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 5 August 2014 12:19
***************************
As long as my point appears to have been missed, I don't mind continuing the discussion. There's nothing involved here but time.There are other issues I want to talk about. But this one is easier and it has just about run it's course.
I don't believe I used the word conspiracy. I did not accept the staff advice that Council could not discuss a choice of candidate to fill the vacancy behind closed doors.
Right to Privacy requires that individuals are not discussed in public.
I just stopped short of naming the person I believed should fill the vacancy prior to the sham of an election process was adopted by Council.
I had established Bob McRoberts was willing to accept the appointment . I left the council table early to ask Bob before he left the meeting.
I believed his appointment would be most acceptable to the electorate for and any decision he made during the time would be his and his alone.
I argued against inviting citizens to submit their names and undergo a process that was meaningless
To Council but certainly not to them.
I did what the other Councillors did. I made up my mind before the meeting. I did not pretend otherwise.
In the event I might be wrong, I spent several hours composing questions for each candidate as provided in the process. My purpose was opportunity to indicate on-going interest in the town's affairs.
No other councillor followed the process they themselves had adopted.
A candidate had three votes in the first round and four in the second. The majority required.
The issue is not that Councillors decided previously on their collective choice.
The issue is the elaborate procedure adopted and trust they exploited ....to pretend they were not doing exactly what they did.
No debate could take place in the public forum to justify the choice.
No opportunity to find consensus ....make the appointment unanimous...and give the appointee and the community assurance of confidence.
It's been repeatedly dismissed as a non-event. Foul temper is evident because discussion continues.
The fact remains. A process was adopted they had no intention of following.
People who had a right to expect better from their council were exploited in the process.
That's politics ......they say.
No it is not.
For such a minor task to be undertaken without a smidgen of grace is not politics.
That is a total absence of political skill.
A shameful lack of intestinal fortitude......an insult to public intelligence .......and
we are all degraded by it.
Uh, *quite*, 08:21. On July 18th, Cllr Buck laid out her conspiracy theory regarding the upcoming vote on the Joint Operations Centre and named
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 5 August 2014 12:19
***************************
As long as my point appears to have been missed, I don't mind continuing the discussion. There's nothing involved here but time.There are other issues I want to talk about. But this one is easier and it has just about run it's course.
I don't believe I used the word conspiracy. I did not accept the staff advice that Council could not discuss a choice of candidate to fill the vacancy behind closed doors.
Right to Privacy requires that individuals are not discussed in public.
I just stopped short of naming the person I believed should fill the vacancy prior to the sham of an election process was adopted by Council.
I had established Bob McRoberts was willing to accept the appointment . I left the council table early to ask Bob before he left the meeting.
I believed his appointment would be most acceptable to the electorate for and any decision he made during the time would be his and his alone.
I argued against inviting citizens to submit their names and undergo a process that was meaningless
To Council but certainly not to them.
I did what the other Councillors did. I made up my mind before the meeting. I did not pretend otherwise.
In the event I might be wrong, I spent several hours composing questions for each candidate as provided in the process. My purpose was opportunity to indicate on-going interest in the town's affairs.
No other councillor followed the process they themselves had adopted.
A candidate had three votes in the first round and four in the second. The majority required.
The issue is not that Councillors decided previously on their collective choice.
The issue is the elaborate procedure adopted and trust they exploited ....to pretend they were not doing exactly what they did.
No debate could take place in the public forum to justify the choice.
No opportunity to find consensus ....make the appointment unanimous...and give the appointee and the community assurance of confidence.
It's been repeatedly dismissed as a non-event. Foul temper is evident because discussion continues.
The fact remains. A process was adopted they had no intention of following.
People who had a right to expect better from their council were exploited in the process.
That's politics ......they say.
No it is not.
For such a minor task to be undertaken without a smidgen of grace is not politics.
That is a total absence of political skill.
A shameful lack of intestinal fortitude......an insult to public intelligence .......and
we are all degraded by it.
Monday, 4 August 2014
Politics do not come with warranty
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "New Topic":
There was no consequence in Richmond hill. Lots of yelling and pointing fingers. But all forgotten now.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 4 August 2014
*********************************
The assumption is surprising. Especially here in Aurora.
Councillor Gallo was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Grace. He was the runner-up in a comparatively recent election.
It was an entirely legitimate decision though not popular.
Six years ago , he accepted the appointment. Few would have done otherwise.
I would argue ,many have still not forgotten.
I know very ,very little about Richmond Hill politics.
Is there a Mayoralty challenge in the upcoming eleection?
How long has the current Mayor held the office?
Have there been other controversies. Disappointments? Betrayals?
Does he hold on to the job because no credible alternative has presented?
The variables are myriad.
But nothing is certain until the votes are counted.
There was no consequence in Richmond hill. Lots of yelling and pointing fingers. But all forgotten now.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 4 August 2014
*********************************
The assumption is surprising. Especially here in Aurora.
Councillor Gallo was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Grace. He was the runner-up in a comparatively recent election.
It was an entirely legitimate decision though not popular.
Six years ago , he accepted the appointment. Few would have done otherwise.
I would argue ,many have still not forgotten.
I know very ,very little about Richmond Hill politics.
Is there a Mayoralty challenge in the upcoming eleection?
How long has the current Mayor held the office?
Have there been other controversies. Disappointments? Betrayals?
Does he hold on to the job because no credible alternative has presented?
The variables are myriad.
But nothing is certain until the votes are counted.
That was a week-end that was.
I've been camping....sort of.."I slept in a bed at a resort. Spent the days on the beach and nights around the camp fire.
As a Social Assistance Review Board member I visited much of Ontario . By plane and car and once on a train to Windsor.
Mostly in pairs, members drove hundreds of thousands of miles al over the Province.
Members were from all parts of the province.
Hours of wheels turning beneath us brought forth surprising confidences. Everybody has a story to tell. Some more than one.
Former MLAs. Were among the members. . One was a Speaker if the House. Another the Party Whip. Both in the Davis government. I'm a good listener and they had lots to tell.
I amused myself by pondering where in this beautiful Province , I would choose to live.
providing I won a lottery and could take all of my family along . I don't buy lottery tickets. So, it was pretty much an idle fantasy.
Except for one aspect. Prince Edward County. The Town of Picton. The Bay of Quinte. The Village of Wellington. Sandbanks Provincial Park.
My children Heather and Andy and my grandchildren ,My son Stephen and his wife Mary and their three children have spent most summers at Sandbanks.
Now my grand-daughter Vanessa, her three children ,the twins and Lane from Tacoma, Washington,U.S.A. also make it a summer pilgrimage.
This year Maria was there with my grand-daughter Robyn. My son Frank came for theAugust week-end to bring his new adopted daughter home.
My grand-daughter Stephanie, and great grand-daughters Cheyanne, Abigail and Emma had also been there but had to leave before I arrived.
Stephanie was playing the role of Grace O'Malley opposite Blackbeard in a Pirate Festival in the Town of Milton during the August week-end.
I got home last night before nine. Stephanie has just arrived.
For the next several days I will hear about the Festival where Stephanie did the thing she loves most in all of life.
Her hair was dyed several shades of red at the Sandbanks. Maria did it.
At the festival she crossed swords and lunged and parried with Blackbeard to entertain starry-eyed children and their parents for the entire week-end.
Eight year old Abigail had to go home with grandparents on Saturday night.
She sobbed. Nothing would comfort her from being removed from the sheer joy of magic.
As a Social Assistance Review Board member I visited much of Ontario . By plane and car and once on a train to Windsor.
Mostly in pairs, members drove hundreds of thousands of miles al over the Province.
Members were from all parts of the province.
Hours of wheels turning beneath us brought forth surprising confidences. Everybody has a story to tell. Some more than one.
Former MLAs. Were among the members. . One was a Speaker if the House. Another the Party Whip. Both in the Davis government. I'm a good listener and they had lots to tell.
I amused myself by pondering where in this beautiful Province , I would choose to live.
providing I won a lottery and could take all of my family along . I don't buy lottery tickets. So, it was pretty much an idle fantasy.
Except for one aspect. Prince Edward County. The Town of Picton. The Bay of Quinte. The Village of Wellington. Sandbanks Provincial Park.
My children Heather and Andy and my grandchildren ,My son Stephen and his wife Mary and their three children have spent most summers at Sandbanks.
Now my grand-daughter Vanessa, her three children ,the twins and Lane from Tacoma, Washington,U.S.A. also make it a summer pilgrimage.
This year Maria was there with my grand-daughter Robyn. My son Frank came for theAugust week-end to bring his new adopted daughter home.
My grand-daughter Stephanie, and great grand-daughters Cheyanne, Abigail and Emma had also been there but had to leave before I arrived.
Stephanie was playing the role of Grace O'Malley opposite Blackbeard in a Pirate Festival in the Town of Milton during the August week-end.
I got home last night before nine. Stephanie has just arrived.
For the next several days I will hear about the Festival where Stephanie did the thing she loves most in all of life.
Her hair was dyed several shades of red at the Sandbanks. Maria did it.
At the festival she crossed swords and lunged and parried with Blackbeard to entertain starry-eyed children and their parents for the entire week-end.
Eight year old Abigail had to go home with grandparents on Saturday night.
She sobbed. Nothing would comfort her from being removed from the sheer joy of magic.
What does it profit a man .
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "New Topic":
"Many saw this as The Mayors biggest mistake..."
Many would be wrong. It was an issue of little consequence
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 4 August 2014 12:17
*******************************
Why would they be wrong. Why would there not simply be a different opinion.
Why the obsession with who is right and who is wrong?
If it was of such little consequence, why did the decision have to be made on July 29th
Council had until August 23rd to make the appointment.
If every Councillors needed to participate, why was a date not chosen to accommodate all Councillors?
Why such an elaborate process that exploited eighteen citizens to make it look like the decision was not predetermined. ?
You really need to be either totally cynical or incredibly unintelligent to imagine the public would fall for such blatant artifice when they saw the result.
The candidates obviously did but except for one, I doubt they came away from the experience with the same respect they had at the beginning.
An appointment was indeed a simple straightforward task that hardly seemed necessary.
Hardly worth the elaborate pretext ...and certainly not to anyone's credit.
"Many saw this as The Mayors biggest mistake..."
Many would be wrong. It was an issue of little consequence
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 4 August 2014 12:17
*******************************
Why would they be wrong. Why would there not simply be a different opinion.
Why the obsession with who is right and who is wrong?
If it was of such little consequence, why did the decision have to be made on July 29th
Council had until August 23rd to make the appointment.
If every Councillors needed to participate, why was a date not chosen to accommodate all Councillors?
Why such an elaborate process that exploited eighteen citizens to make it look like the decision was not predetermined. ?
You really need to be either totally cynical or incredibly unintelligent to imagine the public would fall for such blatant artifice when they saw the result.
The candidates obviously did but except for one, I doubt they came away from the experience with the same respect they had at the beginning.
An appointment was indeed a simple straightforward task that hardly seemed necessary.
Hardly worth the elaborate pretext ...and certainly not to anyone's credit.
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