Comments from "Alice In Wonderland"

Anonymous said:

The majority of council seems to be of the opinion that your constant emails are a destructive force. It seems that your negative spin diverts members from focusing on the town's business. Yet when their concerns were placed on the agenda for a public airing you opposed the agenda from the start, then left the meeting to avoid a public discussion of your behavior. It appeared as though you were too cowardly to deal face-to-face, preferring instead to bully behind the scenes. How do you feel knowing that others must delete your words? What is the point of hurting, not helping? ~ March 5, 2008 11:54 AM

I am publishing this comment because I believe it may have come from a member of council. A verbal opinion can sound sensible, depending on vocabulary. When the same thought is put into writing however, it can often be seen in quite a different light.

How can words on a screen "bully" anyone? Or a sensible person be distracted by words?

It is not the first time in history free speech has been deemed heretical. Fascist Nazi book burning and the Spanish Inquisition comes to mind..

Why would a council believe they have a right to publicly debate the conduct of any person? If that right was claimed by all, the catfights would be endless and horrendous. For the sake of civil dialogue, rules of order currently prohibit such an exercise.

The agenda has a place for councillors to promote community events. Much of what we do at council meetings seems to be promoting community events and by the way self-promotion rather than corporation business.

I feel nothing about people not wishing to read what I write. It is the essence of our freedom.

Your last point is plaintive. I feel your pain. What is the point of hurting rather than helping?

From my perspective, it has been clear since 2003 that nothing I have to say is of any interest to councillors who believe democracy is about exercising power by whatever means, fair or foul.

I would prefer writing positively about council's accomplishments if I saw anything of the like happening. But freezing me out has set me free, don't you see? I am not responsible, if your perception of political acumen lies in shutting up the solitary opposition rather than by genuine political dialogue.

I enjoy nothing more than a free open and civil exchange of ideas. On any day, I will take my chances with the power of logic.

I will continue to use the skills I have, to best endeavour. I will provide the community with a play-by-play commentary of what is happening and let the chips fall where they may. In time it will be the electorate which will exercise the only judgement that matters.

Politically reckless and carefree I may be....cowardly never.

By the way, since you have such a driving need to delete my e-mails, why are you reading my blogs?

A Comment on - Go Figure

I have chosen to post my reponse to Anonymous' comment here instead of in the comments window.

Anonymous said:

If you are aware of current societal concerns, you would be aware that new information informs and changes on a daily basis. The times they are a changing.
Are you?

And my response:

When the Region of York was created and given planning authority over nine Municipalities there was not much inclination on the part of the municipalities to defer to the Region. Murray Pound was the first director of planning. He undertook a study of the Region's land forms. Sue Seibert, our recently retired Director of Planning worked for the region at that time and participated in the study. Sue became the first planner in the Town of Aurora. It was from her I learned about the drumlins, the types of clay left behind after the ice age and the fact the Moraine held the "last vestiges of Carolinian Forest." Long before any government at Queen's Park had heard of the Moraine we understood it's significance.

Since those years, we have treated the lands with sensitivity. They make up much of our municipality. Even before then .we were one of the first municipalities to have air line mapping to clearly delineate flood plains for a hundred year storm. We have been assiduous in our determination that no development ever takes place in flood plains, in concert with the Holland Valley Conservation Authority and its successor, South Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority.

In all modesty, I do not need to be lectured on how to exercise good stewardship over the place we are privileged to share and pass on to our children. I believe the values of the people who created a settlement in this place one hundred and fifty years ago have been upheld.

I take personal exception to relative newcomers looking down long patrician noses at our community , past and present, who have striven to protect the town's heritage and make this a better place for the present and future inhabitants. Frankly, they piss me off.

I do not argue in favour of a golf course and a seventy-five town house condominium.Although fifty-four million dollars of new assessment would contribute substantially to stabilise our tax rate.
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I support abiding by Provincial legislation. . However much one might wish to arguethe law is an ass and inadequate to protect the Moraine. It is the Law and we are bound to abide by the law. Planning staff are statutory officers. They must advise council in accordance with the law. Lawyers retained to advise council have the same professional obligation.

There have been two Public Planning Hearings held for public input into this application and every opportunity provided for formal objections to the plan.The most recent hearing lasted from 7pm. until miidnight.

Staff have previously advised there are serious outstanding issues the applicant has yet to address. My understanding of the decision made by council last night will involve hiring new consultants to take an opposite position to the work so far undertaken. I do not believe that is a legitimate use of the town's resources. Unless the applicant abandons the project, neither do I believe it will lead to a satisfactory outcome from any perspective.

I put considerable store on the breadth of my experience, knowledge and intelligence. I do not claim infallibility. But I do commit to taking my responsibility seriously and being accountable to the people who elected me to act on their behalf. That I might find myself in conflict with other views on any issue is something I anticipate. We all have that privilege.

I make no apology for that .I will continue to exercise my independent judgement in consideration of what I believe to be right for the community.

Go Figure

The applicants did what they were required to do. The Planning Department meticulously followed the law. As did the Regional Planning Department, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and the Ministry of the Environment.

Hundred of thousands of dollars public and private and countless hours have gone into the process. Outstanding issues remained to be resolved.

Last night ,Aurora council threw all of it into the dumpster. They discounted the work of the town's planning department and all the other agencies and voted to join residents in opposition to the plan at the upcoming O.M.B Hearing.

There was a time, not too long ago, when there were few statutary requirements for processing development applications. Newspapers often carried allegations of bribery and corruption in municipal government. Success in the development industry depended on having friends in the right places. Even politicians invested money in land speculation.

Then the Planning Act was passed. Precise steps had to be followed. In the Harris regime in the nineties, timing was regulated. The rules were intended to protect everyone's interest,ensure transparency and accountability. People still have property rights, they have the right to use their land and the right to protect it. The Oak Ridges Moraine Act does not deprive property owners within the area of their rights. It requires them to abide by rules intended to protect The Moraine.

Last night a phalanx of passionate advocates for the protection of the Oak Ridges Moraine filled Aurora Council Chamber. They argued against the need for another golf course. The town house development will use scarce water resources they said. They made a number of claims which were simply non-factual.

Council vote to deny the application was seven to one.

The vote to partner with residents in opposition to the proposal at the O.M.B. was seven to one.

On May 23rd 2007, another development in The Moraine had a Public Planning Hearing. Sterling Cook and his wife of south Aurora expressed disgruntlement at the slowness of the process. They had a landscape architect processing the plan.

The atmosphere in the council chamber was quite different. It was warm and welcoming and positively cloying.

Public Planning Hearings are not normally scheduled during summer months. People are not paying much attention at that time of the year. Council meetings are reduced to two a month. Kids are not in school.

Nevertheless, on May 23rd, staff were hustled by the Mayor and Councillor MacEachern to hurry the thing along. The Planning Director advised: "Madame Mayor, there are statutory requirements to meet" Still they managed to meet them and a meeting was held in August. The application process was completed.

That project also was in the Oak Ridges Moraine.

There were no passionate advocates present in the chamber to save the Moraine that day

They were conspicuous by their absence.

Alice in Wonderland

Tuesday's meeting was particularly weird. Few are normal but this one was a doozy.

It started with a portrait photographer from Georgina doing an effective job of self-promotion. She thanked council profusely for allowing her to use the Skylight Gallery on the third floor of the Town Hall for a show of her work. She spoke of a collection she had created called Women of Wisdom in which Mayors Morris and McCallion of Mississauga were featured.

There were presentations to sixteen young hockey players who had won the “Silver Sticks Tournament Championship”. Each was called forward to pose for a photo with the Mayor. They had already experienced the thrill of being champions, received the trophy and carried it triumphantly home. We have a Civic Awards night in May to celebrate outstanding achievement.

Heritage Awards were presented also for the second time I gather. It seems they too had already been presented at Queen's Park. More photos were taken with the Mayor front and centre.

Then there was a video to watch. It purported to be about the dedicated work of David Tomlinson, a prominent naturalist in Aurora. The Mayor’s face and voice were heavily featured.

Afterwards, there was a lengthy discussion about Ontario Power Authority's plans to locate a Power Generating Station in Aurora. It ended at ten o'clock. Then we started on the Town's business agenda. I left about ten-thirty pm. Council and some staff wound their weary way home after midnight.

It is not an unusual scenario but by no means is it normal. Every week people appear by invitation of the Mayor to promote their particular enterprise. Sometimes presentations made in committee are repeated in council to take advantage of the television cameras.

By law, at the beginning of every term, we are required to fix and publicize the dates and times when town business will be debated and decisions made. Agendas are prepared and published on the web. Meetings commence promptly and immediately go off the rails. Usually all of two hours are spent receiving presentations from people the Mayor has encountered and invited to come and use council meetings to promote their projects...on camera.
Exiting the council chamber and going behind closed doors for forty-five minutes at the start of a public meeting is not unheard of, leaving staff, reporters, members of the public wondering if we are ever coming back.

The Mayor's voice is seldom still. The nittering and nattering continues unabated except when she calls upon Councillor MacEachern to allow herself time to breathe and ensure little participation from anyone else at the table.

It is the function of the presiding officer to move an agenda along in accordance with the rules and ensure impartial consideration by council of matters to be decided. So what is the solution when the presiding officer has a compulsion for the comfort of hearing her own voice non-stop?

The problem is made more difficult when the majority of council does not understand the pattern is weird... and growing ever weirder. Pretty soon, Alice will be too large to fit through the door.

What to do. What to do.

A CONTRADICTION IN TERMS

I came home from council last night and thought about what happened there. I considered it the worst of conduct. I thought about other occasions that might compare.

My last Blog triggered the first memory. It was a meeting between the election of 2003 and the new council being sworn in.

Councillor MacEachern was arguing in favour of a manual recount. She had disagreed with the Director of Corporate Services before the election that the machines he had recommended to council were the right ones for the job.

Now it was contended the election result proved they didn't work. Two candidates at the low end of the vote. polled within forty votes. David Griffith, an incumbent candidate was unseated, I was the one who unseated him. Councillor MacEachern had already urged David to ask for a recount. He refused.

When I called David to wish him well after his loss, he in turn congratulated me and assured me he was content to accept the decision of the voters. He added he had no stomach to serve on the upcoming council. He anticipated the ugliness.

Nevertheless Councillor MacEachern persisted. There should be a recount and Councillor Damir Vrancic agreed.

"I have no desire to sit here for the next three years looking across the table at someone who doesn't have a right to be there” he said.

I was in the council chamber at the time. Councillors MacEachern, Pederson, Griffith and Timpson were on their way out. But there was a vote anyway and a recount was held.

Councillor Kean argued it would cost nothing because only staff time was involved.As if hundreds of man hours on a particular project does not have a cost.

The result was exactly the same as on election night. The machines were accurate. and efficient. The Director had been right. Councillor MacEachern was not.

I took my seat and Damir Vrancic did have to sit across the table for three years looking at someone who did have a right to be there, whether he liked it or not. I fancy there were several occasions he did not.

I could have been offended by the Councillor's comments. I found them quite amazing. I am accustomed to the concept that a person elected is respected by virtue of being the choice of the electorate particularly by people who arrive at the table by the same process.

Just as David Griffith had expressed. During the recount, Councillor Vrancic took the opportunity to declare to me in a voice all could hear, "The voters are stupid".

I refrained from inquiring if he thought so because of the support he had received. I knew full well what he intended...Something had happened in the years of my absence... A new, and unattractive element had entered our town's affairs.

Most politicians I have known are of a different breed.. Affable. Inclined to be helpful. Competitive yes,they are capable of being angry but they laugh easily and don't take themselves too seriously. Politics is a humbling process. A reputation for simple human decency is the single most important quality one can offer. It is often the only one people care about.

The expectation that a council will work together for the betterment of the community has always been a given. The blatant and virulent hostility; the dog eat dog competitiveness displayed from the beginning of that and the current term of council is a new element to me.m though I understand it was previously manifest.

A person who perceives leadership as taking total control of all decisions while freezing out half the elected council from participation.is, a concept foreign to Aurora and I think most of our neighbours. Determined and persistent sabotage of the role of the administration is equally catastrophic to the competent management of the municipality's affairs.

I understand why David Griffith wanted no part of it. It was meant to be, I think for David and I to change places for a while. Obviously I have a stronger stomach than he does.

I am not so inclined.

COMMON SENSE AND INTEGRITY ARE NOT A FAD .

The last Blog reminded me of October 22nd, 2003. I was a spectator at council. One among many. Not unusual for a meeting held during an election . Wiseacres always come out to wring promises from incumbent candidates. That's why meetings are not normally held during a campaign.

A number of issues were exploited that night .Additional swim lanes in the proposed new recreation complex were promised and ultimately delivered.

The deadline for the town's submission to the Province on the Oak Ridges Moraine Act was Oct 23rd .2003 That was the reason for the meeting.

There had been a buzz all day. On the Agenda, a report from the Planning Director referred to a letter from the legal firm retained to advise on the town's submission. . Some properties in the Moraine had already received Official Plan Designations or had had hearings with the Ontario Municipal Board. . They had to be identified as settlement areas and specifically included in the Act as such.The letter was not attached. Staff advised, because of the potential for litigation, the matter needed to be be dealt with in-camera.

Sue Seibert, the Director of Planning repeatedly advised the issue was complicated. The Mayor and Councillor West warned of the need to be carefull..

Councillor MacEachern disagreed. There was more than a hint staff were not being straighforward andMayor Jones and Councillor West were friends of developers.

Councillor Damir Vrancic declared in ringing tones. “We must save the Moraine. We should not fear legal action. We should show the way.for other municipalities to follow.” He seconded Councillor MacEachern's motion that the matter be discussed in public.There was applause from the crowd who had rallied to the cause, Candidate Morris and supporters were in the crowd. as well as the challenger for the Mayor's chair and his teen-age son.

Off the top of his head, as he was wont to do, Councillor Vrancic dictated a lengthy motion in opposition to advice from staf It passed. with the Mayor and Councillor West in opposirion.

At the next meeting, the resolution had to be modified. Councillor MacEachern stated she never intended harm to property owners. But the change was not enough to save the town harmless.

There were consequences.Jones and West were elected with reduced majorities . George Timpson was featured as a flip-flop artist and lost his bid . Morris, Kean and Vrancic came in at the top of the heap. MacEachern had withdrawn her nomination after she saw who were the other candidates . I crept in at the bottom. after a re-count held on a motion from MacEachern and Vrancic.

A subsequent auditors report revealed legal costs of $270,000 were incurred because of the decision. on October 22nd. The funds were not budgeted which is why they received the auditor's attention..

It was not the only questionable decision made on that fateful night. Although it was the most expensive.

Sidewalks had recently been constructed at the corners of Maple and Yonge Streets. Two residents came to complain they weren't like the pictures they were shown.. They did not fit the heritage ambience of the neighborhood.

Public Works Director Wayne Jackson was asked the cost to replace them." $30,000", he said. Treasurer Allan Evelyn was asked if he could find the money. "No" he said

. No matter, Councillor MacEachern moved that the new sidewalks be broken out and replaced. And so it was done. In time for the election.
.
The following January, Treasurer Allan Evelyn left The Town of Aurora..

Afterwards i checked the new roll-over curbs. .. They were aptly described. The corners were a muddy morass from the wheels that rolled over. I went with a camera , only to discover they had been tidied up with interlocking bricks. I never did discover what that cost.

Wayne Jackson did lots of things like that to smooth things for his political bosses. In May.of the first year of the current term, he found himself publicly criticised by the new Mayor for a problem which he had handled with his usual deft touch.

Within days he tendered his resignation. ,.

I am often informed my views are irrelevant. I am regularly admonished that things are different to how they were forty years ago. Like I am not the one to notice .

Different ? Yes.

Better? Absolutely not.

Common sense and integrity do not go out of style.

Alice in LaLaLand

The town has property for sale on Leslie Street. It was purchased for the Recreation Complex seven or eight years ago. It cost $4.6 million. In the last year of the last term, staff were directed to do the necessary to sell the land, in house, by an auction process. The land has sensitive features and a site plan had to be developed to show the buildable sites. The exact size, shape and location of the parcel had to be meticulously described, an essential factor to determine an appraisal to use against potential bids.

The task was completed and ready for the new council to hit the ground running. They had no such inclination. For almost a year they argued and wrangled. First it was about whether or not it should be sold or kept for speculation. The public were not in on that discussion - it was held behind closed doors. Eventually, weeks later, it was determined the Town's best interest was to sell the property for development which would restore Capital Reserve Funds and provide jobs and assessment.

Then the argument was about how it should be sold. Staff advice was disregarded and a decision was made to retain a Real Estate Brokerage. Their commission would substantially reduce the proceeds but that was no deterrent to our feisty and remarkable new council which was never at any time in need of advice from staff.

Several more weeks were spent choosing the right firm and creating a contract. Documentation and a plan of how to sell the land.was generated by the company. The sale process has been underway for months. February 15th is the closing date for bids. The final step in the dance is almost complete.

But hold on there, not so fast, on Tuesday, February 5th, ten days before the close of bids, a report was tabled to Council in Committee from the Citizen's Advisory Committee of Leisure Services. They had previously received a report from a Citizen Subcommittee of the Leisure Services Advisory Committee recommending that twelve metres of land on two side of the property should be retained for a trail system. The Leisure Services Advisory Committee agreed. They recommended the action to Council in Committee.

Councillor Gaertner, a committee member, stated “It's a good thing we thought about it in time to make it a condition of the sale.”

We have a legal contract with a real estate brokerage company. They have promoted on our behalf at our cost a meticulously described parcel of land, divided into buildable lot sizes and setting out sensitive areas which are not for building.

Potential purchasers have picked up specs which describes exactly what is being offered for sale and to prepare their bids. Now, on the eve of opening bids, it is proposed we change the configuration of the land and the lot sizes. Or alternatively, encourage the sale as previously described and hit the buyers after the fact, they will have paid for land the municipality intends to require for public purposes, namely a fifty-feet wide trail system.

The sale and development will bring new assessment dollars, produce employment, both necessary to keep our economy stable and infinitely preferable to on-going tax increases and help replenish our plundered capital reserve accounts.

The price paid for the land will be multiplied many times in the sale. We already turned down an offer for a parcel at the appraised value with the potential for eight hundred highly paid jobs to contribute to our economy. I have the documentation to prove it.

Had we followed through on the work done by the previous council in this matter, the funds from this sale would have long been realised and tucked away in the reserve accounts from whence they were taken in the first place. There may well have been buildings already constructed, assessment flowing and new jobs for residents of the town.

But alas and alack ... things just don't happen that way in La La Land.

Note:
The money to pay for the Burnett Farm where the new recreation centre is built came from the following sources:

$1,750,000 - from Cash taken in Lieu of Parks reserve account.

$1,100,000. from Development Charges. That's money taken from builders when permits are issued.

$525,000 - Municipal Capital Reserves also called Tax Free Stabilization Fund. Taken from previous year end surpluses from taxes.

$2,100,000 - Taken from the Water and Sewer Fund. That's money collected with water and sewer bills for maintenance of water and sewer infrastructure.

When the debentures were issued for the building the cost of the land was not included. The reserve funds were never paid back. That's what I mean when I say the reserve funds were looted.

The Leslie Street land which we are now re-selling was purchased in the year 2000. There appears to be no record of which reserve funds were raided to pay for it. In effect, when it is sold we will not have surplus funds. We will simply be replacing funds previously robbed from reserve accounts, money which could conceivable have been used to pay for capital projects which were in fact charged to the levy (annual taxes).

Staff do as they are directed by their political masters. Who is watching? I wasn't there at the time.

Aurora 1945 - 1965 - by Elizabeth Hearn Milner

~This one's from Heather S. ~

I have finally finished reading "Aurora 1945 - 1965" by Elizabeth Hearn Milner. I thought I'd jump in and post on Evelyn's blog to see what everyone thought of it. I really enjoyed reading all about Aurora, and everything that transpired over a 20 year period that was more than 40 years ago.

I sent a copy to my grandmother, Edith Sisman - who read it right from start to finish over the weekend. Some of her recollections were different from the details provided in the book. I thought I'd jump in here (because a LOT more of Evelyn's blog followers are 'vintage Aurorans') and invite you all to comment on what you thought.

So... what did you think? Did you enjoy the book? The pictures? I'm eager to hear everyone's thoughts, and recollections, given that my paternal family had 'vintage' status as well.

~Heather Sisman

We don't Hold Meetings We hold Court

HEATHER'S NOTE: This post is a letter to the editor that was published in The Auroran's January 29th edition. ~HEATHER SISMAN


This week the mayor issued her edict that henceforth she would decide which questions will permit councillors to ask of delegates. Henceforth disobedience to her edict will result in a culprit being required to apologize or risk banishment from the august presence.

On Tuesday evening, the newly formed Sports Coalition of Aurora presented their mission statement asserting lofty goals and aspirations. A spokesperson of the organization has already lobbied council against any increase in user fees which partly cover costs of operation of facilities. There have been no increases since 2004.

At the end of the presentation, I asked if the organization had developed a philosophy on the principle of paying user fees. He replied, "We have not made a decision on that yet".

On Wednesday, we had a Public Planning Meeting. An environmental lawyer presented opposition to a development in the Oak Ridges Moraine. It has an Official Plan designation which gives the owner rights which cannot be negated. The young lawyer confidently stated Aurora is maxed out on water.

I asked who was paying him to attend the hearing. He answered his organization is funded by charitable donations. I asked him on what basis did he make the statement there is no water available for the development. He didn't exactly answer. So I told him there is an insufficient reservoir capacity to allow people to turn on taps in a drought and let them run until the reservoirs are almost empty.

That's when the mayor became annoyed and stated she would not allow the delegate to be harrassed.I suspect the delegate was there by invitation.

That meeting started at 7 p.m. It ended at 12.20 p.m. I left at midnight without having had the opportunity to participate in debate or vote. For five hours we listened to technological jargon, very little of which is within our range of competence to argue and which will all be repeated April 7th before an Ontario Municipal Board who will make the final and over-riding decision.

The Planning Act requires municipal councils shall not take a position on any application until all interested parties have been heard. At three minutes to twelve, without comment from any councillor, Councillor Evelina McEachern dictated a resolution, three pages long containing a list of actions for staff to carry out and report back to council prior to February 7th, the date the Municipal Board will hold a pre-hearing.

On Thursday night at a budget meeting, a presentation was made by one of last year's 18 vendors at the Farmers’ Market.

He asked for financial support to pay for promotions and provide staff to assist the vendors. The Market is a community event, he said, and should be funded like other community events. I asked: if the permit is $60 and the season is 20 weeks, that amounts to an outlay of $3 a week to set up shop on public property.

He agreed. Then I asked how much he makes from his day at the market. He opted not to answer. And therein lies the rub.

Up and down and on either side of Yonge Street, retailers are operating businesses. They provide their own accommodation, meet payrolls, pay Workman's Compensation. They promote their businesses.

In slow times, they pay more for interest on a bank overdraft than they take in. They pay property taxes to the Town, the Region and the Board of Education. In strip plazas they even pay property tax on the parking spots in front of their stores. They support with money, scores of sports teams that allow young people to enjoy robust and healthy activities. They are solicited and buy advertising in the Leisure Services Guide which is circulated free throughout the community.

Any day of the week, they are solicited by organizations galore for charitable donations. Last year, it was reported the vendors at the Farmers' Market were very satisfied with the success of their endeavour.

Every Saturday, they sold out their inventories. They received $900 of taxpayer money for promotions. This year, they want $3,400 for promotions and staffing. The invoices are to be sent to the mayor's office. The cheques will be co-signed by the mayor and treasurer.

I suspect market vendors have been encouraged to believe their request is reasonable. The issue, like all the others, is more about political currency than any other kind. It always has been.

Like I said, we do not hold council meetings, we hold court. The favourites cluster around. Honours are bestowed. Photos taken. Councillors are invited to proclaim their extra-curricular activities.

Last Tuesday we listened to a proclamation that took 25 minutes to read. The only thing missing was a clarion of trumpets.

At precisely the hour of adjournment, the business agenda of the Corporation finally began. At that hour, it is not at all likely to be given the attention it deserves. Many, many questions are never asked simply by the exhaustion of time and endurance.

AN ILLUSORY HOUSING SOLUTION

Habitat for Humanity has been back to Council seeking a donation of "surplus" land for a site. A Notice of Motion has been filed.

Habitat is an American organization. It serves a dual purpose. As well as helping a family get into the housing market, it also helps to regenerate urban neighbourhoods. There is a desperate need of renewal in many American towns and cities.

I have not travelled much in the States. I have watched vdeos of Habitat's activities. They show the grim reality of run-down neighbourhoods. Abandoned properties with ownership transferred to municipalities for unpaid taxes. From a municipal perspective, Habitat represents a Heaven-sent though meagre solution to assessment sink-holes.

No municipality in York Region shares that problem. Certainly not Aurora. Properties with perfectly well-maintained homes are being sold for $350,000 and up. The houses are immediately demolished to make way for million dollar mansions with assessments three times the previous value. That's a plus from the municipal perspective.

When Habitat asks the town to donate "surplus" land to build a house for a "deserving" family, they are seeking a donation to the value of $300,000 thousand, a conservative figure for a housing lot in Aurora.

The Town has no properties which have come into public ownership because of non-payment of taxes. There are no run-down neighbourhoods in need of a boost from Habitat for Humanity.

Seniors are forced to sell their homes because of high taxes. Young families live in town-houses, with barely a footprint on the ground, and both parents working to pay the mortgage and taxes. Children are in institutional care ten hours a day so parents can provide shelter for their families.

Old neighbourhoods with houses leaning or sinking a few years ago have now become the elite. Fifty year old subdivision track houses are regarded as "Heritage" by some owners.

Habitat tells us they are highly selective when they choose a family worthy of entering the housing market through their enterprise. Of twenty-five families who apply, twenty four are ineligible because they may not "fit" into Aurora neighbourhoods.

Meantime, York Region Housing has a "waiting list" of fifteen thousand which has not altered in seven years. A family selected by Habitat as lucky winner of a house built by "sweat equity" will make no dent in the desperate housing need in our community. People are living in fire-trap basements and attics and paying twelve out of a twenty thousand dollar income for shelter. No level of government is doing anything about their situation. No poorly housed family in our community will benefit from the Habitat concept.

Private charitable donations are admirable. Charitable donations of taxpayers money have no legitimacy.

Councils are elected to provide the best level of municipal service at the most efficient cost. We are not elected to decide for people which charity they will be compelled to support.

There is nothing noble about putting your hand in someone else's pocket for a a donation to a cause they may or may not support.

One per cent of our tax rate is $230,000. The gift of a residential detached building lot represents between one and two per cent added to the tax bill.

A building lot is a liquid asset of considerable value. Same as cash.

To Market, to Market, to Buy a Fat Pig

The Farmer's Market was started before I came back to Council. It was a creation of former Councillor Nigel Kean and promoted as a way of bringing life back into the downtown core. So far as anyone was aware, it was not costing taxpayer's money and though I didn't have a lot of interest in it, neither did I have any objection to it. I saw little evidence of the historic commercial core returning to its former glory as a result of the Farmers' Market.

Small ads appeared occasionally bearing Councillor Kean's name and phone number as the contact person for The Market. I had heard he was spending his own resources to make it a success. The Seniors were using the Market to raise funds for their new Centre so that was a plus.

Then a full-page ad appeared and my antennae shot up straight. There was no budget for the project. A full-page ad is never cheap. I considered it unlikely the Councillor was digging into his own pocket to that extent. I made an inquiry.

Finally, I took the question to the Mayor's office and was informed the Councillor was using his “Allowance”. It seems the practice was normal, although, frankly I had never heard of such a thing. Councillors have a “Conference” allowance. In olden times it could only be used for the purpose stated in the budget. Yet I had heard Councillors generously offer their “allowance” to pay for this and that. Usually something I was describing as asinine.

Despite all his efforts to put the Town on the map with the Farmers' Market, Councillor Kean failed in his bid for the Mayor's chair and lost no time declaring it was time for someone else to take on the Mantle of The Market.

Last year, seven vendors took out permits. A farmer from Uxbridge came to Council seeking financial support. He informed us the market was not a commercial endeavour. “It is a community event.” he said seriously

It was determined the permit fee was $60, but it had not always been paid. When staff went to The Market collect it, Councillor Kean had run interference. Public money had been spent to promote The Market. The parking lot was closed for its accommodation. Public works provided the barricades. Some vendors paid nothing at all, others paid sixty dollars. There appeared to be neither rhyme nor reason.

Eventually, last year eighteen vendors returned to The Market. A councillor was appointed as go-between. Soon there was a request for money. Nine hundred dollars were allocated for promotional events - taxpayers' dollars of course. The Market became a fabulous success. Vendors were delighted. They sold out every Saturday, a thousand people patronized the locale.

This year, their stated intention is to move to the Town Park. The paved area in front of the Band Shell will suit them fine, they feel. They will have access to power outlets and toilet facilities. They are not offering to pay anything extra.

Oh Dear Me, No.

Instead, there is a request for additional funds. Councillor Granger asked for staff assistance to take care of the vendors. And money for promotional events. $3,500 are allocated in the budget.

The town park is the home of our one and only water park. Families seeking to use that facility in the long hot summer Saturdays will have to compete with vendors and their thousand patrons for use of the space, toilet facilities and parking. Residents around the park will have to endure traffic that does not belong on their streets.

The vendors intend to continue to bring life back into the downtown core. It's not clear how they intend to do that from a couple of blocks away.

Conduct - As in Code

The issue was an item on the agenda of a closed door meeting. I declared it had been contrived to allow continued harassment of Aurora Cable over their plan to erect a couple of wind turbines. An emergency meeting was subsequently called to deal with the problem of a councillor not observing the secrecy of in-camera discussion... The Director of Corporate Services reported rules of order for debate applied also to conduct of councillors in general.. That didn't hold water. The Town Solicitor said issues of liability belong behind closed doors. They do. But there was no issue of liability.

It is not beyond the realm of possibility that staff will report as directed by particular political masters. Politics is an art not a science. Whoever appears to have the clout. ,,, has the clout.. For municipal staff, it is a practical reality. People do what they must to protect their jobs so long as they are not breaking any laws. .

But I suspect the outrage that triggered the original "emergency" meeting was about something else I said.

The spokesman for opposition to Aurora Cable plans, had repeatedly and publicly disputed professional advice to council from statutory officers of the corporation. He was subsequently appointed to the Committee of Adjustment, a quasi-judicial body which must make decisions based on hard evidence. . The committee must give weight to comments from Statutary Officers of the Corporation.

The appointment was not supported by four members of council. Notwithstanding, the Mayor notified all , she would inform the appointee of her 100% support. To keep the record straight,I took it upon myself , to inform him he did not have unanimous support . I respectfully provided my reasons. My e-mail was deemed by some to be insulting and outrageous .They were also frustrated to be told by the town solicitor I had contravened no law
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That's when a Code of Conduct was proposed.We wold pass our own law to control recalcitrant councillors. The Director of Corporate Services was directed to prepare a report. Eventually it was submitted but not accepted. Council determined after all, it was not appropriate for staff to recommend Conduct for Councillors. A Citizens' Advisory Committeeshould be appointed for the purpose.

So the Code is not yet in place. It is still just a report. But it has some interesting ideas. For example; a member of council should not host or co-host a television show. Nor write a newspaper column. Or Letters to the Editor. It suggests there should only be one spokesperson for council .. Councillors should not make comments to the press.Or harrass staff.

Though there is authority in the Municipal Act to adopt a Code of Conduct,there is no requirement
to do so. Evidence from elsewhere suggests such a code is likely to morph into a complaint forum for councillors to score political points against each other. Toronto . has it's own Act and Integrity Commissioner. He lnvestigates complaints, makes recommendations to Council and they decide whether to follow his advice.. They often don't. They have no method of enforcement.The Commissioner is paid $104,000 a year. Not bad for casual employment. He has an administrative assistant who probably does all the legwork and certainly will be paid accordingly.

Toronto's Code came as the result of The Bellamy Inquiry into a computer boondogle of millions of
dollars in budget over-run that involved a staff person , at least one councillor the brother of a hockey player. and sex.The inquiry went on for months It cost more than 13 million dollars.

Aurora recently retained the services of George Rust D'Eye ,a solicitor .We do not have a Code of Conduct... No complaint was documented . No terms of reference were established. No section of the Municipal or any other Act was cited to provide authority to conduct an investigation..No purpose was ever stated. No advice was sought from the town solicitor.As yet. no report has been made public though the matter is concluded.The cost of the exercise is not yet known.

.It appears an "investigator" has the authority of Advisor, Judge, Jury, Prosecuting Attorney . All of it in secret.

Penalties suggested for non-adherence to the non-existent Code of Conduct are suspension of remuneration for ninety days , being billed the expense of the investigation. And to ensure future secrecy ,Council could create an executive committee or an" inner circle" .
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Any councillor inclined to be forthright has to be prepared to run the gauntlet of disapproval, even personal dislike..It is not considered to be conventional political wisdom. Generally speaking, that's mostly about covering one's posterior.

Being targeted as the subject of a secret investigation with the possibility of being punished like a felon has elements of an Inquisition with touches of comedic farce.. It is not, I submit , a price anyone should expect to pay to participate in the democratic process.

It's All About Ethics - Yours or Mine.

On a television chat I referred to Councillor Doug Holyday of Toronto. I was talking about a complaint filed with the Toronto Integrity Commissioner. Councillors Holyday and Rob Ford had had an official complaint against them because they had NOT made a claim for office expenses. I said it appeared they were both “rich” and had paid their own expenses. I received a friendly correction from one who knows Doug Holyday. He is not rich.

My knowledge of City politicians is what I pick up from the media. My comment would probably never reach Councillor Holyday or matter in the least to him. But just in case, I do want to correct it. And it has made me think.

Councillors in York Region have an allowance for office expenses and administrators. In Markham for instance, an office and a staff person is shared by two ward councillors.. In Aurora,where the whole town is the size of a ward and we have eight councillors, we have a new administrative assistant shared by all councillors and we just refurbished office space complete with a reception area at a cost of almost $60,000.

If the cost of the new facility and staff were to be assigned to councillors who use it, I would not be making a claim for expenses. I have only seen the facility once since it was completed and I have never discovered a need for an administrative assistant. That is not a reflection on the person occupying the position.

I see my role as a personal conduit between residents with a problem and the appropriate town department, to resolve the problem or provide an answer to any query I might have on their behalf. My research means paying attention to what is going on in other municipalities. Councillor Marsh drew my attention to a service on the internet called Munimall. It culls news items about municipalities across Canada.

If I need to know another municipality's experience on a particular issue, I pick up my own phone and call the relevant department in that city. I just say who I am and they treat me like one of their own. Municipal people are always happy to share information. It is the nature of public service.

I make no use of the phone, desk, computer or laptop in the councillors' room. Last term, it was discovered by monitoring that the room was almost never used except for Councillors Morris and Keane, who had separate rooms of their own. I've never thought about that before but I really have no idea what they did there.

In the last budget, we included the cost of refurbishing the councillors' room.and providing an administrative assistant. The budget was not finished until May. It was a tedious process. By the time terms of reference , advertising and selection took place, the job was not filled until the end of the year.For reasons of privacy rights, a person's salary cannot be divulged and I will not do that. But, by the time all factors are considered, space, equipment, benefits and use of other town facilities, . a conservative budget figure for the service would be in the region of $75,000 .Along with re-furbishing the room they werenew budget items and represented an increase in taxes.

The new council committed to it. They had no experience to guide them. But that did not stop them.

With the same absence of experience, they took other things out of the budget. A playground had been listed three years in a row in need of replacement. The cost was $70,000. The councillor who lives in the area said her neighbours would be wondering why we were wasting taxpayers' money that way. On the night we passed the budget, a mother from the neighbourhood came in and asked when so many beautiful things were happening elsewhere in our beautiful town, why could the children in her neighbourhood not have a playground they could safely enjoy?

The councillor promptly pointed at the Leisure Services Director. “You said it was safe” she said.

“It is.”, he said, “because we remove what is unsafe. That's why it is in need of replacement.”

When I started this blog, it was my intention to write about new provincial regulations and the requirement to appoint an “Investigator” to support the regulations. The stated Provincial objective is greater transparency and accountability of municipal politicians.They have their caucuses and party discipline which does not allow elected members to speak except in support of government policy. And they presume to talk about transparency and accountability at the municipal level.

To conform to the new regs,a Code of Conduct will be necessary to give the “Investigator” a standard of measurement against which to judge the behaviour of council or any councillor about whom there may be complaints..The devil is in the details. .

Councillors Ford and Holyday were complained about by colleagues who make claims for office expenses of around $56,000. Ford and Holyday did not claim . They have now been directed by the Integrity Commissioner to reveal their sources of finances which cover their office expenses.

One wonders what might happen if they claim to have paid out of their own pockets or, alternately, don't have office expenses. Will either explanation be accepted or will that also be considered a Breach of the Code?

We have a clause in our Code of Ethics which requires councillors to educate themselves about municipal matters. Maybe , a councillor who doesn't attend the variety of workshops available at commercial rates could be considered in breach of The Code for not educating him or herself

So you think that's just being silly? Well, you have no idea how silly things are.

We have adopted a system to have Investigators available which will cost $600 a year and $1250 a day .. An investigator could quite easily take a day to decide if a complaint is frivolous...or not...and whether or not an investigation is necessary.

Most municipalities are not anticipating complaints. But if Toronto's , East Gwillimbury's, and our experience is a gauge, we will have councillors complaining about councillors on the basis of tit- for- tat or spite, or because they can't handle criticism or all of the above.

How, I wonder, will the public's confidence in elected officials be enhanced under these particular circumstances?The people who designed this monstrous mechanism should not escape being held accountable .The people who exercised their franchise in the last municipal election should be interested in learning how their authority is being circumscribed.

Weighty Matters

I have served on many councils over the last forty years. I was the last Reeve of Aurora and served on the last County Council .. I held the Office of Mayor and Regional Councillor four years, I served on a government review board for nine years and travelled to just about every city, town and village in Ontario.

I was a member of the Police Services Board, York County Hospital Board, Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority and Childrens' Aid Society and I chaired the York Region Public Health Board.

I have associated with Police Chiefs, Hospital Directors, Planners, Doctors, Engineers, Municipal Clerks and CAOs. I worked as a reporter during a rest period from town politics and covered the affairs of a rural municipality and the York County Board of Education. A Director of Education crossed my path. I've dealt with several dozen lawyers, a few of them outstanding. I've met with cabinet ministers and their deputies, and worked well with a number of Mayors and an army of councillors.

Along the way I learned from everyone but the best lesson of all was to trust my own judgement.

Aurora Council had two external lawyers at the Town Hall this week to advise on separate matters. Both presentations were of course made behind closed doors.

Until recently, no record was kept of proceedings of a closed meeting. It is still true of discussion but now there needs to be a vote to provide direction to staff and that must be a matter of record ,though still not public.

For forty years, I have maintained the confidentiality of deliberations that had the potential of harming the town's interest , sometimes at my own cost politically..

The definition and intent of regulations regarding Conflict of Interest and Pecuniary Advantage are not complicated. There is nothing difficult about knowing if or when one is likely to benefit financially from participating in a discussion or a vote that carries the authority of elected office. There are no pitfalls for honest sensible people. Wealth is not the corollary of power as a councillor in the Town of Aurora ..

As noted above, two lawyers have provided legal opinions to councillors behind closed doors. Staff were permitted to attend. The question now is whether the interest of the municipal corporation would be harmed by public discussion of the issues. Is there a possibility of litigation against or arising from the proceedings?

Is there a person who might suffer loss of privacy from public disclosure?

Are politicians entitled to discuss political matters behind closed doors to weild clout they might not have in a public setting or save themselves embarrassment by loss of face?

The questions are weighty but delicious.

The Debate Begins!

I started blogging in the hopes that people would join the chat about our town's affairs. A year ago, I had no idea how it might evolve. I had hopes but there were no precedents. Before blogging, nobody could ever have revealed what goes on behind the scenes.

I have long argued with people in the private sector that the public sector bears very little resemblance to business. How can it? Periodically in politics, a new board of management is elected. They are chosen for almost as many reasons as there are people in the community.

Residents have told me they are waiting to receive leaflets from all the candidates. Their plan is to read them all and make a selection. Candidates can make hilarious claims to competence in a leaflet and it may be sufficient for a voter to decide in their favour.

A casually written story in a newspaper can create a negative impression. The female candidate "yelled". The male candidate "roared". The female was" bitter". The male was "critical". At times the reporter may be right but mostly it is a societal bias. It happens in every field.

Aurora's politics have always been robust, but there has also been a balance between the duty of political oversight and the responsibility and accountability of the administrative body and a recognition by council that the day-to-day management of town services must rest with the expertise of the professional administration

This term, we do not have that balance. We have elected people who believe they need the expertise to manage the munivcipality. They think they can learn it by questions asked and answered many times over and still without comprehension.This problem has been growing over the last number of years. A steady exodus of senior management has occurred concurrently.

CAO's are a relatively rare breed. Not every municipality has one. They number just over a hundred. Municipal people keep in touch with one another. If a problem rears its head in one community, chances are it has already been dealt with in another. The wheel does not have to keep being re-invented but it is likely more than problem solving is shared. Municipalities can gain or lose a reputation.

At council meetings, Directors traditionally take their place at the council table alongside their political "bosses". This year in Aurora, they have been relegated to the bottom of the table. No expression must cross their countenance, no speaking without invitation, no matter what idiocy or misrepresentation, they encounter,respect for the elected body must be maintained. . By the luck of an election they may have a balanced council and a chairperson with the skills necessary to keep the business of the corporation on track. And they may not.

Public service is unlike the manufacturing , retail.i or any other industry. A council is composed of nine people of various competencies and principles with agendas which may or may not reflect the best interest of the entire community they serve.

Many citizens are certain of the simplicity of delivering municipal services. Summer droughts, winter blizzards, ice storms. None of that is of any consequence to some people. They just know instinctively the job is a cinch.

And yet, if it were not for the efficiency of municipal services, most of Ontario for much of the year would be uninhabitable. A significant number of residents hightail it to other places to escape the hardship of a Canadian winter. Because of municipal services, the rest of us endure to make a living and raise our families in what might arguably be said, except for some of the weather, to be the best place there is.

As individuals, we do not have much influence in the world. We do not even have much in the government of our country. Influence on provincial affairs is less with each passing year.and the wealth and power of public service unions. But at the local level, we can vote, we can put our names forward for election to office. We can make our contribution to the public debate about the difference between good, bad or indifferent government. We can make our voices heard.

'Tis the season to be jolly.

For days I have been trying to think of something positive to blog about. You have provided it. We are not just observers. We are participants. By posting a comment, you have engaged. Can that be a bad thing? I think not, my friend. I welcome your thoughtful comment.

Tis the Season....

Season's Greetings and Merry Christmas Everybody!

Click this link for a wee bit of Christmas Cheer.

Wishing you health and happiness.

~'Elf'elyn

Answers to a Reader's Questions

A comment on my Blog asks why I missed the last council meeting. Was I asked not to attend? Could I be made to resign?

I was not feeling up to snuff on Tuesday. There was a Budget Meeting on Monday, a Public Planning Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Budget for Saturday. Tuesday's Agenda had nothing of any significance so I decided to harbour my resources.

From my perspective, my relationship with council colleagues is not difficult. There is some overt hostility that surfaces occasionally from the Mayor and Councillor MacEachern but since the feeling is mutual it balances itself out.

Communication is formal. Rules of order require civility. There is little room for awkwardness. There are no suggestions I should not attend meetings or hints from anybody that I should consider resignation.

I realize my frankness in this venue.my Letters to the Editor and e-mails to colleagues could be construed as counter-productive to a working relationship. But, time passes, issues are decided in a consistent pattern. The gap between my perception of the obvious and that of some colleagues is relatively constant. I do not claim my judgement to be always right, but I do claim experience and knowledge. For that to be discounted on a regular basis is more than needs to be silently endured. Professional advice is also regularly discounted. Staff must silently accept the authority of the elected body. I do not...have to be silent that is.

There is an option in these days of modern technology. I can present my side of things for those who choose to read. They may disagree vehemently, dismiss with vigour, or share my views as with like minds.

The Mayor and council have decided, wrongly in my opinion, to retain legal counsel at public expense to advise that I do not have the authority to follow my option to continue to share information frankly and freely, boldly and bluntly, as I promised in my election campaign. I continue to believe it is a legitimate option.

Blogging is a relatively new phenomena in today's politics. It is too early to tell what the ultimate effect will be but for now it is dramatic. Before the bllog, politicians were completely dependent on journalists to interpret what they were saying. Journalists are dependent on editors for how much print space might be available for any story. That was always an occupational hazard. As it went, I didn't have a lot to complain about. But it is much more agreeable to have my own conduit through the Blog.

Letters to the Auroran Editor also provide a powerful sense of freedom never before experienced. Although, to be sure, it's not every politician who would consider that an advantage.

Obfuscation

The following link will take you to a Media Release dated Tuesday, November 20th, 2007.

Media Release

My response, submitted as an email to the Mayor and all Councillors:

Madam Mayor

With respect,

I have read the Media release and letter to the editor you presented to council as a fait accompli on November 20^th which you signed as Mayor and Councillors. Since councillors were not apprised of the letter, the press conference or the media release, until after the fact, it is difficult to comprehend why you felt you had that authority.

I wish not to be associated with either of the documents for the following reasons; the documents state what was not illegal by council and what did not take place at in-camera meetings. While they do not deny there were meetings, they make no reference to what actually did take place. Combined, they are a masterpiece of obfuscation.

I have been attempting to understand the purpose for which Mr. Rust-D'eye has been retained by yourself and council. On November13th you declined to respond to my request to specify the reasons for your precipitate action. I have requested by email, Mr. Panizza to forward terms of reference and parameters of the contract with Mr. Rust-D'Eye and the section of the Municipal Act which provides authority for council to expend public resources on this project.

The information has not been forthcoming even three weeks after you presented your plan without apparent notice to anyone but certainly without prior consultation with myself. In fact, things are less clear today.

Mr. Rust-D'Eye informed me on November 20th, he had been provided with numerous documents; blogs, emails and letters to the editor written by myself and read by himself. Since my original purpose in writing the various missives was to share my thoughts on town matters with as many people as wished to read them, I have no concerns about the solicitor becoming familiar with how I think and communicate with the people I am committed to serve. However it throws no light on why Mr. Rust-D'Eye has been retained at substantial cost to the public treasury. The question looms large in the minds of many in Aurora.

Council was informed after the fact, on November 20^th Mr. Rust-D'Eye was on hand at the press conference. He was quoted in the Media Release as making statements on what was and what was not. Rules of evidence, Madam Mayor, dictate that unless a witness is present, the evidence is hearsay and therefore not valid. The press conference was in response to a column in The Auroran to which you took exception. It therefore appears Mr. Rust-D'Eye's services were being used to support your political agenda. The Corporation's interest was not affected.

The question derived from this is, who will pay for this service provided by Mr. Rust-D'Eye. I believe it is incumbent on yourself and those councillors who agreed to retain the gentleman's service to indicate how they intend fees to be paid. If not at personal expense, then how is the public expenditure to be justified.

You indicated, Madam Mayor, all in-camera meetings will be suspended. It is not clear why or how you propose to suspend dealing with essential items of town business and what part of the Municipal Act provides the authority to make this unilateral decision.

I note we have an in-camera agenda for November 27th. How does that reconcile with your dictum there will be no such meeting until an undetermined date?

As you can see, a number of significant questions are posed. We hold office to deal with the public agenda. Personal and political matters are not part of our function as members of council. I take no comfort or assurance from your concept of how public business should be conducted. That is regrettable. I cannot however allow it to interfere with my own responsibility to keep my commitment to the people who gave me their trust.

Funny Math

York Region Transit made a second presentation to Council on Tuesday night. It had been done the previous week and repeated because it was thought to be of sufficient interest to capture viewers' attention on Aurora Cable . We failed to complete the Town's business on either night but we listened to the Transit presentation twice , asked the same questions and made the same observations.

The average return from the fare box is 40 cents on the dollar. Transit is planning to terminate a route that travels down Industrial Parkway in Aurora four hours in the morning and three in the afternoon. It carries an average of four passengers an hour and loses ninety-two cents in the dollar. For every eight cents recovered from the fare box, taxpayers pay ninety-two cents

An average of four riders an hour means twenty-eight fares in seven hours. That could mean a total of fourteen people using the bus to get to get to and from work.

Councillor Gaertner led the argument not to terminate the route. Chamber of Commerce support was solicited for that position. On Tuesday. a presentation was made by the Chamber. Industry people had been contacted and they want the route to continue. They were not informed of ridership or losses incurred by the service.

The business community is often consulted about public policy at all levels of government.I personally would be interested in knowing how many could survive while losing ninety-two cents of every dollar spent to manufacture their product or provide their service. What does it say in general about business acumen?

Council was assured by Transit, the comments would be considered when the decision has to be made. I offered mine that the route should be terminated.

I do not use the bus service. Users obviously appreciate the amenity. Ridership is lower in Aurora than other municipalities. People notice empty buses trundling round the streets, especially in the evening. They are obviously incurring a deficit, and equally obviously contributing to pollution. These are not positive attributes.

But neither are a concern to some councillors.

In total contradiction. on Tuesday evening , we had a repeat of another argument . A small subdivision of sixty- one homes is proposed on a property bound by Bayview Avenue , Vandorf Sideroad and the Hydro corridor. It is a cul-de- sac with an entrance from Bayview.

The plan was first proposed in 2001. It eventually had a public planning hearing in 2006. That laborious process was repeated again under direction from council a couple of months ago. Each time, there has been a recommendation for a park in the staff report. Each time it has been challenged. Councillor Gaertner and Councillor MacEachern argue taxpayers cannot afford the burden of maintaining a park for so few families.

On the same evening they argued taxpayers should continue to carry the burden of a bus route that loses ninety-two cents on the dollar for a ridership of fourteen return trips over a period of seven hours a day , they also argued a neighbourhood of sixty-one families should be denied the amenity of a park. because the tax burden is too great. Other councillors appear to agree.

So we muddle along. We take two steps forward and three backward. We pour millions of dollars into planning for rational decision-making which is regularly sabotaged at the political level for reasons that defy logic but sound good as notes from a trumpet.

A Proportional Dilemma

I spent the morning in quiet contemplation of everything I saw and heard last night. I am moving in uncharted territory and need to choose my steps carefully.

Council had a full agenda. Items had been deferred from the previous meeting. The Mayor's Emergency Meeting to deal with an unspecified Emergency had taken precedence over town business.

The scenario was repeated last night. At the beginning of the meeting .two thirds of council voted to go into closed session. It was necessary, the mayor indicated, because George Rust D'Eye had been requested to attend and “Lawyer's don't come cheap."

I voted against the motions to recess, suspend the rules and proceed behind closed doors. I was considering whether I should boycott the session when the Mayor approached with Mr. Rust D'Eye who wanted a word with me before going into the meeting.

In hockey, there's a play where the guy with the puck gets sandwiched by opposing team players and shoved to the side. I've watched the game and my political instincts are finely tuned.

“Grab a chair, Mr. Rust D'Eye.”, I said. “You want to talk to me , we will do it here.” We were in full view of the public and the television cameras.

He asked whether I had retained legal counsel. Why did he think I needed to do that, I asked. He said he had been retained to carry out an investigation and he had raed numerous documents - blogs, letters to the editor and e-mails, written by me. He assured me he was not taking sides in the issue. I asked him which section of the Municipal Act gave council the authority to retain his services to carry out such an investigation. He introduced the term Conflict of Interest, having a pecuniary interest and finally the word “Litigation” was floated.

It was at that point I decided to attend the closed session. “I am a member of council", said I. “I have a right to attend this meeting and that is my intention.”

Now the dilemna becomes apparent. It is clear from Mr. Rust D'Eye's comments to me prior to the meeting I am the subject of the investigation. Also clear, solicitor-client privilege was the reason for the in-camera session. While I am one (a client, that is) and at the same time, the object of the investigation, that represents a problem. The law they say is adversarial.

In a budget meeting last Saturday, a figure of $25,000. appeared as a line item for councillors. In response to questions from the Mayor and Councillor MacEachern, the treasurer stated it was because of Tuesday's decision to retain outside legal counsel. He has no idea what the amount should be or where it should appear. He had done some research among other municipalities and found nothing like it anywhere.

The treasurer was directed to include it with the legal services budget.

Stay tuned!