Selling the town's hydro utility was a very serious decision.There was pressure from the province to get rid of small utilities.They had the powa. They could make it very expensive to buy.
Aurora was in negotiations to join with Newmarket . They were almost complete. Newmarket thought they had Aurora over a barrel and were beating us down. I always hate that.
Then along came Powerstream and made us an offer we could not refuse. Power stream was an amalgamation of Markham, Vaughan. and Richmond Hill. Richmond Hill's sale netted them many more millions than ours. They were bigger.
When we sold , we resolved to tie up the funds so they could be used only to replace an asset with another of equal value. The money would never be allowed to trickle away in dribs and drabs with nothing to show for it.
I saw it as an exciting opportunity. I visualised a centre, maybe on Victoria Street.
I saw a five storey-building ,with people of all ages coming and going until ten or eleven at night.
Rows of windows lighted like beacons .
Studios inside accommodating all the lively arts.
I pictured the dancing class from Fame, the TV serial, leaping like gazelles, down stairs and outside to music to make anyone want to dance.
I pictured theatre workshops boxing classes and opportuntyfor activities no-one had yet thought about.
Above all, I pictured something we could never justify taxing people to provide and would would never be able to afford otherwise.
I didn't see the value of keeping the money in a bank. I thought we should use it. At the same time, I thought the community should be involved in making the decision. The excitement of thinking about it and planning for it should be shared .
Until such time as the right idea came forward , the money should be invested and tied up to prevent it from being used for mundane matters.
So, there it is. Waiting.
This year, being the first for a number of Councillors and lots to learn is perhaps not the right one.
But it's always a good year to look forward to something exciting.
Sometimes an event happens that propels something else forward.
At the moment Wells Street School is being assessed for structural damage. The town has an opportunity to express interest in it.
The old library and the former firehall are decisions pending. Parking in the Library Square is hopelessly inadequate. A decison on parking needs to be made sooner rather than later. There is not enough land to accommodate parking on the ground. Maybe it has to be a building with several underground levels.
Maybe there are so many things to think about, we can't wait another year to get started.
Maybe it's not another Neighbourhood Heritage Consultant Study at a cost of $60K we should have in this year's budget
Or thousands of dollars for a Youth Needs Study. Or $5 million to re-organise the Town Hall with a proposal to use $3.5 million of our hydro asset reserve. Or consultant studies to plan an $8 million
works and parks facility when we look down the road and see the end of the town's growth.
Maybe it's time we took our affairs out of the hands of consultants and did some of the visualising ourselves.
Maybe instead of a bunch of advisory committees, we should have an Ad Hoc Committee to create the biggest and most exciting facility in Aurora's history.
Eh!
Monday, 14 March 2011
I Knew That
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Campaign Is Underway":
Councillor Buck, not everything is a MorMac plot. But, after what you were subjected to during the last term, I can understand your feelings of paranoia and battle fatigue.
Mr Griffith is a life-long Auroran. As a boy, he attended Church Street School. As he states, he served many years on council.
I think you do him a disservice in questioning his support for the building's present use. I don't think you should presume that his letter is a put-up job. I don't recall him being a member of Phyllis' posse.
I think his expressed sentiments are genuine, and made "off his own bat."
*****************
You may be right. My reaction to those who enjoin the battle over the use of the Church Street School
may be trigger happy. At the same time, Mr. Griffith's letter to the Mayor and Council is more opposition to the museum than it is supportive of Culture .
It may be his own bias in that direction that allows him to put a different slant on the facts that led up to $3.35 million being spent on a building for the purpose of museum which had been supported in the community for forty years as opposed to a switch to culture which even the consultant study indicated had to be sold because it was not known.
What I do here ,as well as fighting for the museum's rightful place, is keep people who elected me informed of facts and details I have certain knowledge of as they relate to particular issue.
If they are challenged by someone who asserts equal authority because of his involvement, people must choose between the two.
A difference of opinion or judgment is always legitimate. A difference in facts means someone is in error or they are not telling the truth.
When people have to choose in a battle of words , it may come down simply to who had the last word.
I believe in the cause.
The Mormac regime has been defeated.
It's time to move on and repair the collateral damage always left after any war.
The fight is not against music and dance and art and poetry.
This fight favours history. The need to understand how things were, in relation to how they are. What it took to get us here in a relatively short space of time.To appreciate the courage and simple fortitude
of our forbears.To value what was built and protect it where we must.
To use the space and investment we intended for that purpose.
Mr. Griffith's background gives him every reason to be on side with the town's history. And I;m sure he is. Bur if he has other priorities that's alright too. Because plenty of others are on side.
Notwithstanding the Philistines.
By the way; John McIntyre and Jackie Stuart can give talks about the town's heritage anywhere. I think the Town Hall would be as good a place as any.
The Town Library has regular heritage material displays.
Neither take the place of a museum.
Councillor Buck, not everything is a MorMac plot. But, after what you were subjected to during the last term, I can understand your feelings of paranoia and battle fatigue.
Mr Griffith is a life-long Auroran. As a boy, he attended Church Street School. As he states, he served many years on council.
I think you do him a disservice in questioning his support for the building's present use. I don't think you should presume that his letter is a put-up job. I don't recall him being a member of Phyllis' posse.
I think his expressed sentiments are genuine, and made "off his own bat."
*****************
You may be right. My reaction to those who enjoin the battle over the use of the Church Street School
may be trigger happy. At the same time, Mr. Griffith's letter to the Mayor and Council is more opposition to the museum than it is supportive of Culture .
It may be his own bias in that direction that allows him to put a different slant on the facts that led up to $3.35 million being spent on a building for the purpose of museum which had been supported in the community for forty years as opposed to a switch to culture which even the consultant study indicated had to be sold because it was not known.
What I do here ,as well as fighting for the museum's rightful place, is keep people who elected me informed of facts and details I have certain knowledge of as they relate to particular issue.
If they are challenged by someone who asserts equal authority because of his involvement, people must choose between the two.
A difference of opinion or judgment is always legitimate. A difference in facts means someone is in error or they are not telling the truth.
When people have to choose in a battle of words , it may come down simply to who had the last word.
I believe in the cause.
The Mormac regime has been defeated.
It's time to move on and repair the collateral damage always left after any war.
The fight is not against music and dance and art and poetry.
This fight favours history. The need to understand how things were, in relation to how they are. What it took to get us here in a relatively short space of time.To appreciate the courage and simple fortitude
of our forbears.To value what was built and protect it where we must.
To use the space and investment we intended for that purpose.
Mr. Griffith's background gives him every reason to be on side with the town's history. And I;m sure he is. Bur if he has other priorities that's alright too. Because plenty of others are on side.
Notwithstanding the Philistines.
By the way; John McIntyre and Jackie Stuart can give talks about the town's heritage anywhere. I think the Town Hall would be as good a place as any.
The Town Library has regular heritage material displays.
Neither take the place of a museum.
Sunday, 13 March 2011
The Campaign Is Underway
A Citizen's Letter To Council
To Aurora Council March 10, 2011
This letter is in response to an article written by Sean Pearce dated March 8, 2011. in which he states that Councillor E. Buck has requested a review of the Aurora Cultural Centre operations with the hope of establishing a museum there.
A bit of history…In 2002 The Aurora Museum closed. In August of 2003 the Church Street School was leased to the Aurora Historical Society for the creation of the Aurora Heritage Centre. In 2007 Council approved the assumption of the Aurora Heritage Centre project. In May of 2008, the building lease was given back to the town by the Historical Society.
In July of 2008, Council adopted the Novita Report to create a cultural center in the school. The only councilor voting against this action was Evelyn Buck. The resulting contractual agreement with the Church Street School Cultural Centre Inc. runs until December 2013 and there has bee no "cause" to cancel this agreement.
There is no mention of a museum in this report and the financial agreement states that the money given is to be used for the development of arts, cultural and heritage services.
Surely, anyone who has visited this facility has seen that these obligations are being adhered to.
How fortunate we are to have our own center where we can go and hear world class musicians, view various forms of work by nationally known artists and artisans. It is a place where our children can receive instructions in art, music and media. A place where adults can find instruction in playing musical instruments, song writing, art, dancing, etc.
From the historical side, one can view many of the town's artifacts that are featured on a rotating basis and learn about them at information seminars. Recently, we had the opportunity to attend evenings with Jackie Stuart and discuss Aurora in its past and present.
Only someone who has not experienced our Cultural Centre could think about turning it over to town management and put the future of this facility in jeopardy.
More than 11,000 people attended activities at the Centre during the year 2010, and more than 3,000 during the first 10 weeks of 2011.
Without the past, there would be no future, but living in the past offers no future.
David Griffith,
Aurora Councillor, 1991 - 2003
****************
****************
In 2002 the Aurora Historical Society took it upon themselves to pack the museum collection into boxes and proceeded, without authority, to gut the building in preparation for renovations.
A usable facility was rendered useless for several years by that decision.
A fund-raising campaign had been launched in the community to pay for renovations.
In 2004, the Society came to Council and demanded a legal agreement to "protect" their financial investment
in the town-owned facility.
In 2006. I took the initiative and moved a resolution for the town to make up the difference between the funds raised and funds needed to embark upon the renovations.
The Society were paying a consultant, Don Knight to advise them on the project. Estimated cost was one million dollars.
Funds donated from the community were $750K. The Shortfall was $250K
Council approved the resolution. Town staff became involved. Estimated cost for the project was revealed to be $2.3million.
Prior to town involvement, the Historical Society retained and paid an architect for plans for a state of the art museum. The town received a presentation from the architect firm and adopted the plans.
The project commenced. The Historical Society represented by President Helen Roberts withdrew from their commitment. Their numbers were too small for the responsibility we were informed.
At the same time Ms Roberts requested consideration of a budget on the same terms as Aurora Library Board.
Also the Society ceased to contribute from funds raised for the project, to the project.
Final cost of the project was $2.6 million.
It's understood more than $400Ks of funds raised are still in the hands of the Society.
A curator had been appointed to replace J.Stuart, retired curator, in preparation for an operating museum.
Said curator successfully processed a grant application in an amount of $750K which provided a new HVAC system and interior storm windows for the facility whiich contributed significantly to the controlled environment needed for a museum.
The Curator was also the resource person to the Arts and Culture Committee appointed by Council to prepare for the appointment of an arm's length board and terms of reference for operation of the facility.
The Curator resigned.
A member of the committee , who also happened to be the former Mayor's campaign manager in the previous election, took the curator's place even while retaining membership on the committee.
He was paid $60 per hour as a consultant. The question was raised about qualifications and conflict of interest.
Helen Roberts, President of Historical Society wrote a letter to The Auroran vouchsafing for the credentials of the former election campaign manager without precisely stating what they were.
He continued in the dual function.
Mr Griffiths ,who presents as a Councillor until 2003. notes I was the only opposition to the agreement when it was presented to Council.
I am often a lone dissent on Council. It doesn't trouble me. But those who draw attention to the fact seem compelled to overlook that I do have authority to speak for others.
A solitary vote, it seems, is easily dismissed. If I recall correctly, it's unlikely Mr. Griffith's ever claimed the distinction.
A solitary vote, it seems, is easily dismissed. If I recall correctly, it's unlikely Mr. Griffith's ever claimed the distinction.
He appears not to have noticed those who contrived to deprive the museum of its rightful place were
not, in the main, re-elected to office in 2010.
In much the same way Mr. Griffith's did not succeed in 2003. In fact, to be precise, it was myself who took his place.
In much the same way Mr. Griffith's did not succeed in 2003. In fact, to be precise, it was myself who took his place.
It's clear to me Mr. Griffith's has been recruited to join the campaign to keep the museum out of the Church Street School. I find no fault with anyone who stands up for what he believes.
It 's just a pity Mr Grifiths did not satisfy himself as to the accuracy of the facts and chose to distort those he had, before allowing himself to be persuaded to stick his neck out while others lurk behind him in the shadows.
Saturday, 12 March 2011
Robyn In Paris
Heather phoned about supper time on Thursday to say they had just got back from the airport. Robyn was on a plane to arrive in Paris at 9.45 P.M.our time. in the middle of the night theirs.
Yesterday, Friday at 3.07 P.m. we were forwarded an e-mail from Robyn to say she had visited the Louvre and seen the Mona Lisa .gone to Notre Dame Cathedral but didn't have time to go in because they were running late.
They were to be up at 6.30 a.m. this morning, breakfast at 7.15 and off to visit Versailles ,the Eiffel Tower and a cruise on the River Seine.
Robyn is sixteen.On a school trip.She has been desperate to see Paris since her brothers went for a three week European tour in 2009 and kept us posted on all their activities .
I have never seen Paris. Neither has Robyn's mother. School and parents have given Robyn the opportunity. There was never any question she would take it.
All the movies I've seen. History lessons. News on television. Last week ,we saw the Mona Lisa on the wall of the Louvre in a television feature. It was like being there and standing in front of it.
But it's not the same. From such an experience, Robyn will benefit personally more than anything she could imagine.
In Aurora and other small Ontario towns, there is nothing like Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre,the Mona Lisa . the Eiffel Tower or the Palace of Versailles.
What we do have , is a community that gave a Canadian girl the opportunity of a lifetime. Robyn grew up in Newmarket ,a place of the same vintage as Aurora.
We can reach back just three or four generations to the beginning of our history here,
We can learn how things were for grandparents four places removed. Those of us who came from the same places they did, have comparators memories of how things were for the first immigrants. What they left behind.
It is easy to scoff at a community museum and dismiss it as irrelevant .Someone refers to "just a bunch of old clothes" .
Museums here reflect the newness of our history; hardships encountered , resilience of spirit.
In one of the pioneer villages there's a shoemakers shop with a set of lasts. Adult pioneer shoes would not fit to-day's a ten-year old.
In 1967, the Royal Ontario Museum had an exhibition of clothing from early Ontario. Men and women were tiny little people.
Pioneer cemeteries in King Township. tell a grim story.Children wiped out by an infectious disease of childhood ,we do not even hear of to-day. Women who died in childbirth and the new born several days later The common story of more than one wife and child lost in childbirth.
It's only a little while since I realised with a shock, the horrible history of the French Revolution happened in my grandfather's time.
The British created a police department at the time.They were afraid the poor in Britain would also rise up in rage and revenge against the inequality and injustice that saw children in their thousands die of disease and starvation while the" upper classes" revelled in unimaginable wealth.
Early Canadians were not tall and strong with all that was needed to brave the hardships and challenges.
They were refugees from the slums and factories of industrial Britain. Or driven from their crofts in the HIghlands by greedy Clan Chiefs who found they could make more money from sheep.
In the Upper Canada Village ,the small boats that brought them over the ocean are there to see and marvel at the courage of the people who trusted their lives to them
There was little option for many.
They came with the dual driving force of despair and hope.
There is reason the value of a community museum cannot not be measured by dollars and cents.
It tells how much they accomplished. Who they were and how they lived their lives. How much courage it took to face the unknown.And integrity to create a civilised society. How much we owe to those who came before and created the society we enjoy today.
It makes them real and meaningful in our lives. As they deserve to be... gives us an appreciation of what they created and a resolve to honour their memory and sacrifice by being worthy stewards of the principles and standards by which they governed their lives.
Yesterday, Friday at 3.07 P.m. we were forwarded an e-mail from Robyn to say she had visited the Louvre and seen the Mona Lisa .gone to Notre Dame Cathedral but didn't have time to go in because they were running late.
They were to be up at 6.30 a.m. this morning, breakfast at 7.15 and off to visit Versailles ,the Eiffel Tower and a cruise on the River Seine.
Robyn is sixteen.On a school trip.She has been desperate to see Paris since her brothers went for a three week European tour in 2009 and kept us posted on all their activities .
I have never seen Paris. Neither has Robyn's mother. School and parents have given Robyn the opportunity. There was never any question she would take it.
All the movies I've seen. History lessons. News on television. Last week ,we saw the Mona Lisa on the wall of the Louvre in a television feature. It was like being there and standing in front of it.
But it's not the same. From such an experience, Robyn will benefit personally more than anything she could imagine.
In Aurora and other small Ontario towns, there is nothing like Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre,the Mona Lisa . the Eiffel Tower or the Palace of Versailles.
What we do have , is a community that gave a Canadian girl the opportunity of a lifetime. Robyn grew up in Newmarket ,a place of the same vintage as Aurora.
We can reach back just three or four generations to the beginning of our history here,
We can learn how things were for grandparents four places removed. Those of us who came from the same places they did, have comparators memories of how things were for the first immigrants. What they left behind.
It is easy to scoff at a community museum and dismiss it as irrelevant .Someone refers to "just a bunch of old clothes" .
Museums here reflect the newness of our history; hardships encountered , resilience of spirit.
In one of the pioneer villages there's a shoemakers shop with a set of lasts. Adult pioneer shoes would not fit to-day's a ten-year old.
In 1967, the Royal Ontario Museum had an exhibition of clothing from early Ontario. Men and women were tiny little people.
Pioneer cemeteries in King Township. tell a grim story.Children wiped out by an infectious disease of childhood ,we do not even hear of to-day. Women who died in childbirth and the new born several days later The common story of more than one wife and child lost in childbirth.
It's only a little while since I realised with a shock, the horrible history of the French Revolution happened in my grandfather's time.
The British created a police department at the time.They were afraid the poor in Britain would also rise up in rage and revenge against the inequality and injustice that saw children in their thousands die of disease and starvation while the" upper classes" revelled in unimaginable wealth.
Early Canadians were not tall and strong with all that was needed to brave the hardships and challenges.
They were refugees from the slums and factories of industrial Britain. Or driven from their crofts in the HIghlands by greedy Clan Chiefs who found they could make more money from sheep.
In the Upper Canada Village ,the small boats that brought them over the ocean are there to see and marvel at the courage of the people who trusted their lives to them
There was little option for many.
They came with the dual driving force of despair and hope.
There is reason the value of a community museum cannot not be measured by dollars and cents.
It tells how much they accomplished. Who they were and how they lived their lives. How much courage it took to face the unknown.And integrity to create a civilised society. How much we owe to those who came before and created the society we enjoy today.
It makes them real and meaningful in our lives. As they deserve to be... gives us an appreciation of what they created and a resolve to honour their memory and sacrifice by being worthy stewards of the principles and standards by which they governed their lives.
Friday, 11 March 2011
What ?
My job as a Councillor is to respond to the will of the people.
Catherine Marshall applied and received delegate status at a Council Meeting so that she could provide Council with that direction on the question of amendments to the procedural bylaw.
I asked if it was her opinion that everyone who came to the podium and took the microphone represents the will of the people.The muffled answer appeared to be in the affirmative.
Then I asked if that was the case, what was the job of members of Council. The answer was a little less forthright.
Ms Marshall has great confidence in the rightness of her own opinion. When the environmental committee was first created, Catherine was a member. The committee was David Tomlinson's idea. I learned that when the Mayor recounted all David's achievements, when he received another Heritage Award on Tuesday evening.
An early decision by the committee was to have several thousand leaflets printed and circulated to promote ant-litter day.
Keep in mind, the function of an advisory committees is to advise Council..
Committees do not make decisions. They do not have budgets. They are volunteers who put their heads together and come up with solutions to problems and advise the elected body. Who in turn receive the advice at a general committee meeting. Which in turn recommends or not, decisions to a Council meeting Where the decision is ratified and staff receive their direction..
If an individual or group or organisation is waiting for a decision, they wait three times longer than needed and it costs three times more than it needs to.
I think that's lousy customer service and the community at large is ill-served.
Last week at a Chamber of Commerce lunch, Mayor Dawe introduced Anthony Iurello, Manager in the CAO's department, to the business people and told them he, Mr.Iurello, is the man to see to cut red tape at the town hall.
Catherine Marshall, an initial member of the environmental committee may have suggested the leaflet littering idea. I don't know about that. I do know she designed the leaflet because that is her business . The committee approved the design ,she took it to the printer and gave the order for thousands of pieces of litter to be distributed to promote anti-litter day.
Neither Catherine Marshall or the committee had authority to spend town funds. Councillors Morris and Gaertner were both members of the committee. The Director of Public Works was the committee's resource person and there was also a committee secretary. It seems no-one told the committee or Catherine Marshall they had no authority to spend town money.
When I later raised the issue at a council meeting, Public Works Director said in soothing tones. "It's
alright I have money in my budget, I can use to pay for it"
There may have been other councillors who shared my concern but they didn't say so.
Morris and Gaertner took the position Council should be grateful for Ms.Marshall's efforts. Graphic designs are her stock in trade and the work was done for the committee and the town at no charge
and it was disgraceful for a Councillor to criticise Ms.Marshall's voluntary contribution..
I didn't feel in the least bit guilty. I hadn't started a blog then so the story was never told...until now..
David Tomlinson wrote a letter to the editor ,as did Gordon Barnes another member of the environment
committee and both Citizens of Different Years. advising the community during the last election that I was the Councillor causing the dysfunction on the last council.
Advisory committees who don't have authority to make decisions now have budgets to spend.
When the environmental committee was created it was to be seven members. Eleven citizens applied.
So Councillor Gaertner moved and Morris seconded , let's appoint them all. So we did.
During the discussion on whether the committee should be created, I pointed out the Director of Public Works would be expected to attend the meetings. He modestly responded he didn't mind.
In his first budget after the committee was appointed, he recommended an environmental engineer be hired. Asked about function, he responded "to identify environmental initiatives" I noted "and to attend environmental committee meetings no doubt"
He lowered his eyes modestly once again and did not respond.
And that's the story on how Topsy grows, boys and girls
Environmental Puritanism is the new religion, dontcha know?
Catherine Marshall applied and received delegate status at a Council Meeting so that she could provide Council with that direction on the question of amendments to the procedural bylaw.
I asked if it was her opinion that everyone who came to the podium and took the microphone represents the will of the people.The muffled answer appeared to be in the affirmative.
Then I asked if that was the case, what was the job of members of Council. The answer was a little less forthright.
Ms Marshall has great confidence in the rightness of her own opinion. When the environmental committee was first created, Catherine was a member. The committee was David Tomlinson's idea. I learned that when the Mayor recounted all David's achievements, when he received another Heritage Award on Tuesday evening.
An early decision by the committee was to have several thousand leaflets printed and circulated to promote ant-litter day.
Keep in mind, the function of an advisory committees is to advise Council..
Committees do not make decisions. They do not have budgets. They are volunteers who put their heads together and come up with solutions to problems and advise the elected body. Who in turn receive the advice at a general committee meeting. Which in turn recommends or not, decisions to a Council meeting Where the decision is ratified and staff receive their direction..
If an individual or group or organisation is waiting for a decision, they wait three times longer than needed and it costs three times more than it needs to.
I think that's lousy customer service and the community at large is ill-served.
Last week at a Chamber of Commerce lunch, Mayor Dawe introduced Anthony Iurello, Manager in the CAO's department, to the business people and told them he, Mr.Iurello, is the man to see to cut red tape at the town hall.
Catherine Marshall, an initial member of the environmental committee may have suggested the leaflet littering idea. I don't know about that. I do know she designed the leaflet because that is her business . The committee approved the design ,she took it to the printer and gave the order for thousands of pieces of litter to be distributed to promote anti-litter day.
Neither Catherine Marshall or the committee had authority to spend town funds. Councillors Morris and Gaertner were both members of the committee. The Director of Public Works was the committee's resource person and there was also a committee secretary. It seems no-one told the committee or Catherine Marshall they had no authority to spend town money.
When I later raised the issue at a council meeting, Public Works Director said in soothing tones. "It's
alright I have money in my budget, I can use to pay for it"
There may have been other councillors who shared my concern but they didn't say so.
Morris and Gaertner took the position Council should be grateful for Ms.Marshall's efforts. Graphic designs are her stock in trade and the work was done for the committee and the town at no charge
and it was disgraceful for a Councillor to criticise Ms.Marshall's voluntary contribution..
I didn't feel in the least bit guilty. I hadn't started a blog then so the story was never told...until now..
David Tomlinson wrote a letter to the editor ,as did Gordon Barnes another member of the environment
committee and both Citizens of Different Years. advising the community during the last election that I was the Councillor causing the dysfunction on the last council.
Advisory committees who don't have authority to make decisions now have budgets to spend.
When the environmental committee was created it was to be seven members. Eleven citizens applied.
So Councillor Gaertner moved and Morris seconded , let's appoint them all. So we did.
During the discussion on whether the committee should be created, I pointed out the Director of Public Works would be expected to attend the meetings. He modestly responded he didn't mind.
In his first budget after the committee was appointed, he recommended an environmental engineer be hired. Asked about function, he responded "to identify environmental initiatives" I noted "and to attend environmental committee meetings no doubt"
He lowered his eyes modestly once again and did not respond.
And that's the story on how Topsy grows, boys and girls
Environmental Puritanism is the new religion, dontcha know?
Thursday, 10 March 2011
A Misunderstanding
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "A Mathematical Equation":
"Consider the average salary and benefits of the team of $180K times 8.=$1,464. million. It's an annual cost. However, only ten months of service.are realised because of statutory holidays, vacations, sick pay, family emergencies, close relative funerals etc. etc. "
I would consider that this is a good reason that our taxes are too high! Consider too that these people will have a wonderful pension from OMERS when the retire too. I am all for paying staff for their good work, but if $180K per year (salary, benefits, etc) is the AVERAGE.... we have some problems. If they are only working 10 months a year, perhaps attendance records should be reviewed.
********************
My intention was not to make an issue of salaries paid to Aurora's senior directors. They are not out of line.Nor are the various benefits provided. Municipal employee benefits are known to be the best there are.
Vacations and statutory holidays are also on a par. One might argue,and I have, we are top heavy in administration for a town our size. It will at some point be an argument in favour of amalgamation.
And at that point, it will be too late to say "I told you so"
My purpose in writing the post was to illustrate how resources are squandered by the various activities in a Council meeting which have nothing whatsoever to do with town business.
The purpose of a Council meeting is to deal with the town's business in a thorough and efficient manner.
The assembly of staff has a price tag. It behooves Council to keep it in mind when delegations are allowed to exploit the opportunity over and over again.
Or come to Council ,like a couple did a few weeks ago and suggest the town make a community park out of a shopping centre because they didn't want a shopping centre in the location. They came back twice with that irrational proposal.
When citizens are invited to use a formal council meeting to showcase their special interest to the community because of the presence of media and cameras.
When awards are presented during a formal Council meeting.
When Councillors are invited to make public pronouncements to promote community organisations and events.
When we provide open forum and the same individuals exploit the opportunity to talk about the same issues ad infinitum.
None of it has anything to do with town business..
My intention is to point out, when staff are sitting with hands folded ,with no role to play except as a captive audience , Councillors have not prepared, have nothing to say but insist on saying it anyway, organisations intent on lobbying for advantages, citizens who have no understanding of the purpose of a Council meeting, taking it upon themselves to delegate to provide their own definition.
A Council meeting is not a soap box, a Town hall meeting or a free- for- all
Council is a legislative body. A Council meeting has a legislative purpose.
It is not a kindergarten sandbox with a shortage of toys.
.
Mis-using expensive resources is not the cost of democracy. It's the cost of profligacy.
It brings the institution into dis-repute.
"Consider the average salary and benefits of the team of $180K times 8.=$1,464. million. It's an annual cost. However, only ten months of service.are realised because of statutory holidays, vacations, sick pay, family emergencies, close relative funerals etc. etc. "
I would consider that this is a good reason that our taxes are too high! Consider too that these people will have a wonderful pension from OMERS when the retire too. I am all for paying staff for their good work, but if $180K per year (salary, benefits, etc) is the AVERAGE.... we have some problems. If they are only working 10 months a year, perhaps attendance records should be reviewed.
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My intention was not to make an issue of salaries paid to Aurora's senior directors. They are not out of line.Nor are the various benefits provided. Municipal employee benefits are known to be the best there are.
Vacations and statutory holidays are also on a par. One might argue,and I have, we are top heavy in administration for a town our size. It will at some point be an argument in favour of amalgamation.
And at that point, it will be too late to say "I told you so"
My purpose in writing the post was to illustrate how resources are squandered by the various activities in a Council meeting which have nothing whatsoever to do with town business.
The purpose of a Council meeting is to deal with the town's business in a thorough and efficient manner.
The assembly of staff has a price tag. It behooves Council to keep it in mind when delegations are allowed to exploit the opportunity over and over again.
Or come to Council ,like a couple did a few weeks ago and suggest the town make a community park out of a shopping centre because they didn't want a shopping centre in the location. They came back twice with that irrational proposal.
When citizens are invited to use a formal council meeting to showcase their special interest to the community because of the presence of media and cameras.
When awards are presented during a formal Council meeting.
When Councillors are invited to make public pronouncements to promote community organisations and events.
When we provide open forum and the same individuals exploit the opportunity to talk about the same issues ad infinitum.
None of it has anything to do with town business..
My intention is to point out, when staff are sitting with hands folded ,with no role to play except as a captive audience , Councillors have not prepared, have nothing to say but insist on saying it anyway, organisations intent on lobbying for advantages, citizens who have no understanding of the purpose of a Council meeting, taking it upon themselves to delegate to provide their own definition.
A Council meeting is not a soap box, a Town hall meeting or a free- for- all
Council is a legislative body. A Council meeting has a legislative purpose.
It is not a kindergarten sandbox with a shortage of toys.
.
Mis-using expensive resources is not the cost of democracy. It's the cost of profligacy.
It brings the institution into dis-repute.
Star Story On Petch House
Gary McLoughlin has succeeded in attracting the Toronto Star's attention to the plight of the Petch House.
After seven years of sometimes raucous commentary about the merits of saving the structure and challenging advocates to provide a purpose and a location.it will be interesting to see if Toronto Star attention will produce any better results.
I suspect not.
It 's of passing interest, Council received a delegation last week from a Richmond Hill resident claiming to have formed an organisation called "Friends of the Petch House". Seated alongside was Gary McLoughlin who sought a deal from the town. outside the normal process, to pay him $120.000 to restore the building, prior to the last election
Oddly, The Star story did not mention the "Friends of the Petch House"from Richmond Hill with the proposed "Walk for History" and their request Council defer the latest recommendation of town staff to not spend public resources on the Petch House.
The story also referred to the building as an authentic log house. It's not. It's an authentic clap-board clad house .
The story quotes John McIntyre local historian with a family connection to the building but apparently no personal interest in taking responsibility, despite seven years of opportunity to claim the building as his own and persistent,behind the scenes lobbying of Council without ever showing his face.
After seven years of sometimes raucous commentary about the merits of saving the structure and challenging advocates to provide a purpose and a location.it will be interesting to see if Toronto Star attention will produce any better results.
I suspect not.
It 's of passing interest, Council received a delegation last week from a Richmond Hill resident claiming to have formed an organisation called "Friends of the Petch House". Seated alongside was Gary McLoughlin who sought a deal from the town. outside the normal process, to pay him $120.000 to restore the building, prior to the last election
Oddly, The Star story did not mention the "Friends of the Petch House"from Richmond Hill with the proposed "Walk for History" and their request Council defer the latest recommendation of town staff to not spend public resources on the Petch House.
The story also referred to the building as an authentic log house. It's not. It's an authentic clap-board clad house .
The story quotes John McIntyre local historian with a family connection to the building but apparently no personal interest in taking responsibility, despite seven years of opportunity to claim the building as his own and persistent,behind the scenes lobbying of Council without ever showing his face.
Museum?? .....Culture Centre??
The intention when funds were provided from the Hydro reserve fund was for both to happen at the Church Street School.
It was decided forty years ago the building would be saved. Even before the last $2. 6 million contract. several million dollars had been spent just to keep it standing.
The museum has not been in place for a number of years.The collection was stashed in boxes waiting to come back to its rightful place.
The museum was a well used program by schools . Families donated precious artifacts knowing they would be treasured and cared for and used for enlightenment about the community's history.
$750K were raised by the fifty-nine member Historical Society to restore the building. Generous donations are always a sure sign of community support.
The town has provided a $50K grant to the Historical Society for at least thirty years to help provide a curator for the museum. In turn, heritage research services were provided to the planning department and a summer camp program augmented the leisure service department's summer and special events programs.
Between the town and the historical society, the community was well served at reasonable expense with invaluable volunteer support.
Funds from the hydro reserve fund seemed a good use of part of that asset. A fine facility was planned which would undoubtedly be appreciated in the community,operated by volunteers at minimal cost with financial support towards the salary of a curator.
Cultural events were also envisioned in the building. I certainly never envisioned taxing property-owners to pay for them.
It seemed to me the agreement with the Historical Society was the best kind of co-operation with the town to enrich the community with the finer things without incurring a tax burden.
Something went wrong. It doesn't matter how. What matters now is we get things back on the right track.
If the Historical Society doesn't want to follow through with their original commitment,I'm sure there are enough Friends of the Museum in Aurora, prepared to take up the cause. I would certainly be receptive to any organisation willing to step up to the plate.
No-one should expect I won't be ready to fight for the museum collection to be where it was intended;in a controlled environment, on display at the Church Street School for the continuous enlightenment ,enjoyment and appreciation of people fortunate enough to be to-days residents of a fine little town of Victorian vintage which acquires ever greater antiquity as years go by.
Don't tell me a community's history is not relevant to its culture.
It was decided forty years ago the building would be saved. Even before the last $2. 6 million contract. several million dollars had been spent just to keep it standing.
The museum has not been in place for a number of years.The collection was stashed in boxes waiting to come back to its rightful place.
The museum was a well used program by schools . Families donated precious artifacts knowing they would be treasured and cared for and used for enlightenment about the community's history.
$750K were raised by the fifty-nine member Historical Society to restore the building. Generous donations are always a sure sign of community support.
The town has provided a $50K grant to the Historical Society for at least thirty years to help provide a curator for the museum. In turn, heritage research services were provided to the planning department and a summer camp program augmented the leisure service department's summer and special events programs.
Between the town and the historical society, the community was well served at reasonable expense with invaluable volunteer support.
Funds from the hydro reserve fund seemed a good use of part of that asset. A fine facility was planned which would undoubtedly be appreciated in the community,operated by volunteers at minimal cost with financial support towards the salary of a curator.
Cultural events were also envisioned in the building. I certainly never envisioned taxing property-owners to pay for them.
It seemed to me the agreement with the Historical Society was the best kind of co-operation with the town to enrich the community with the finer things without incurring a tax burden.
Something went wrong. It doesn't matter how. What matters now is we get things back on the right track.
If the Historical Society doesn't want to follow through with their original commitment,I'm sure there are enough Friends of the Museum in Aurora, prepared to take up the cause. I would certainly be receptive to any organisation willing to step up to the plate.
No-one should expect I won't be ready to fight for the museum collection to be where it was intended;in a controlled environment, on display at the Church Street School for the continuous enlightenment ,enjoyment and appreciation of people fortunate enough to be to-days residents of a fine little town of Victorian vintage which acquires ever greater antiquity as years go by.
Don't tell me a community's history is not relevant to its culture.
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
A Mathematical Equation
It's six thirty a.m. I've been awake for an hour writing this post in my head. It's going to require activation of the little grey cells Hercule Poirot refers to his dingbat friend Hastings , on a regular basis.
Last night's council meeting proceeded from seven to nine o'clock with no town business accomplished.
We presented yet another Heritage award to David Tomlinson. Recognised coaches and sixteen girl soccer players for bringing home a championship for the first time in forty-six years of the soccer league's existence.Took happy photographs of all with the Mayor.
Klaus Wehrenberg took up two delegations and a comment in public forum to tell us changes to the procedure bylaw intended for greater efficiency were undemocratic.He argued once more for his comments to be part of the public record as opposed to Councillors,whose comments never are. He read a list of changes he determined were needed to a land acquisition strategy..
We heard from Catherine Marshall, one of Mormac's Mercenary Minions about how our intentions in amending procedure are for no better reason but to stifle democracy and disallow the public voice to be heard on television.
Councillor Gallo expressed concern that the Chamber doors being closed to keep out the winter chill signifies a lack of openness and transparency as opposed to the practice of the previous administration of completely vacuous openness and horribly obvious transparency.
We waited while Councillor Gaertner shuffled through papers to prove the Mayor had mis-stated something and finally give up in bewilderment and continued to argue fiercely for vague and nebulous principles.
We discussed the changes to the procedure bylaw for the second time all the while the clock ticked and turned until it reached the hour of nine p.m...
Present throughout, without obvious purpose were eight members of the town's Executive team. Hands folded. Nothing to contribute to the proceedings.
I invite you to participate in a relevant mathematical equation.
Consider the average salary and benefits of the team of $180K times 8.=$1,464. million. It's an annual cost. However, only ten months of service.are realised because of statutory holidays, vacations, sick pay, family emergencies, close relative funerals etc. etc.
My math may not be precise but I figure two hours of executive leadership team time, serving as a
captive audience for the first two hours of last night's meeting saw $7, 320. flushed through the system
with not a scintilla of customer service return.
Nothing. Nix,.. nil,..nada... zilch and zero. Amen my friends.
And if that's not enough to disturb your equanimity, consider this additional fact. Staff are entitled to take time off in lieu for time worked in excess of the work week.
It stands to reason ,if the work load is not accomplished because of time taken off in lieu of time sitting in the council chamber as passive participants to the show, additional staff must and will be hired
The clock keeps turning, the system keeps flushing and your hard-earned tax dollars keep washing down the river like a spring flood, four times every month of the year.
And that's not counting the cost of resources to service citizen advisory committees of assembling regularly within the proposed soon to be platinum -plated walls of Aurora town hall.
Last night's council meeting proceeded from seven to nine o'clock with no town business accomplished.
We presented yet another Heritage award to David Tomlinson. Recognised coaches and sixteen girl soccer players for bringing home a championship for the first time in forty-six years of the soccer league's existence.Took happy photographs of all with the Mayor.
Klaus Wehrenberg took up two delegations and a comment in public forum to tell us changes to the procedure bylaw intended for greater efficiency were undemocratic.He argued once more for his comments to be part of the public record as opposed to Councillors,whose comments never are. He read a list of changes he determined were needed to a land acquisition strategy..
We heard from Catherine Marshall, one of Mormac's Mercenary Minions about how our intentions in amending procedure are for no better reason but to stifle democracy and disallow the public voice to be heard on television.
Councillor Gallo expressed concern that the Chamber doors being closed to keep out the winter chill signifies a lack of openness and transparency as opposed to the practice of the previous administration of completely vacuous openness and horribly obvious transparency.
We waited while Councillor Gaertner shuffled through papers to prove the Mayor had mis-stated something and finally give up in bewilderment and continued to argue fiercely for vague and nebulous principles.
We discussed the changes to the procedure bylaw for the second time all the while the clock ticked and turned until it reached the hour of nine p.m...
Present throughout, without obvious purpose were eight members of the town's Executive team. Hands folded. Nothing to contribute to the proceedings.
I invite you to participate in a relevant mathematical equation.
Consider the average salary and benefits of the team of $180K times 8.=$1,464. million. It's an annual cost. However, only ten months of service.are realised because of statutory holidays, vacations, sick pay, family emergencies, close relative funerals etc. etc.
My math may not be precise but I figure two hours of executive leadership team time, serving as a
captive audience for the first two hours of last night's meeting saw $7, 320. flushed through the system
with not a scintilla of customer service return.
Nothing. Nix,.. nil,..nada... zilch and zero. Amen my friends.
And if that's not enough to disturb your equanimity, consider this additional fact. Staff are entitled to take time off in lieu for time worked in excess of the work week.
It stands to reason ,if the work load is not accomplished because of time taken off in lieu of time sitting in the council chamber as passive participants to the show, additional staff must and will be hired
The clock keeps turning, the system keeps flushing and your hard-earned tax dollars keep washing down the river like a spring flood, four times every month of the year.
And that's not counting the cost of resources to service citizen advisory committees of assembling regularly within the proposed soon to be platinum -plated walls of Aurora town hall.
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
I Swear On My Mother's Life
Every word of this is true.
We were at the budget again last night. It's not done yet. Something was added close to the end of the four hour session. We increased numbers.
Council were informed $2 K needed to be added to the Chief Administrator's budget to take care of council's decision to approve $4 K for the Platinum Sponsorship Package for the Family Business in the town park.
The CAO explained he had $2 K in the budget which is what he had recommended. Council decided to give $5 K, including a waiver of user fees for the band shell and the park. Therefore the CAO's budget was short $2 K.
The budget is not yet approved. The sponsorship cheque has not yet been issued. The Mayor previously explained he had not voted on the question. Information had been requested from the applicant.
I assumed the information was about being a registered foundation.
Turns out the town was asking what would be derived from a Platinum Package Sponsorship.
Seems the information was not considered relevant last year when the $2 K half sponsorship was shelled out from the CAO's office without authorisation of Council.
Last night the question was if the information had been received.
The Chief Administrator told Council "they" had come into his office last Friday and given him some information. He had requested more details..
In other words, the information was not sufficient. They are to return with a more credible spiel.(my words) that will stand up to public scrutiny.
Pending that eventuality, an additional $2 K was added to the C.A.O.'s budget.
I recently asked what is derived from a Platinum Package Sponsorship of $8 K from the Chamber of Commerce.That answer too was ethereal. I concluded it's just a means of funneling money from the town treasury into the Chamber's coffers without any real value being exchanged and the unwashed masses easily bamboozled by the suggestion of something of the value of precious metal being exchanged for hard-earned tax dollars.
It's the oldest scam there is.
It's also what happens when asinine precedents are set.
It's like what's happening between the Historical Society and the Culture Centre Board.
The Board 's Purchase of Culture Agreement with the town provides them with an annual transfer of funds in the amount of $340 K +, a rent-free facility with all maintenance provided and all revenue from the program accruing to their bank account.
The town came up with the scheme. The town drew up the agreement and set the terms of reference.
The Historical Society has apparently identified similarities between culture and heritage.
They have upped the ante. They are requesting a guaranteed annual budget for the services they provide to the community and their position is not without logic.
Now see what a mess you've gotten us into Stanley!!
Aah! Oliver my Friend, it's not the only mess .The worst is yet to come.
We were at the budget again last night. It's not done yet. Something was added close to the end of the four hour session. We increased numbers.
Council were informed $2 K needed to be added to the Chief Administrator's budget to take care of council's decision to approve $4 K for the Platinum Sponsorship Package for the Family Business in the town park.
The CAO explained he had $2 K in the budget which is what he had recommended. Council decided to give $5 K, including a waiver of user fees for the band shell and the park. Therefore the CAO's budget was short $2 K.
The budget is not yet approved. The sponsorship cheque has not yet been issued. The Mayor previously explained he had not voted on the question. Information had been requested from the applicant.
I assumed the information was about being a registered foundation.
Turns out the town was asking what would be derived from a Platinum Package Sponsorship.
Seems the information was not considered relevant last year when the $2 K half sponsorship was shelled out from the CAO's office without authorisation of Council.
Last night the question was if the information had been received.
The Chief Administrator told Council "they" had come into his office last Friday and given him some information. He had requested more details..
In other words, the information was not sufficient. They are to return with a more credible spiel.(my words) that will stand up to public scrutiny.
Pending that eventuality, an additional $2 K was added to the C.A.O.'s budget.
I recently asked what is derived from a Platinum Package Sponsorship of $8 K from the Chamber of Commerce.That answer too was ethereal. I concluded it's just a means of funneling money from the town treasury into the Chamber's coffers without any real value being exchanged and the unwashed masses easily bamboozled by the suggestion of something of the value of precious metal being exchanged for hard-earned tax dollars.
It's the oldest scam there is.
It's also what happens when asinine precedents are set.
It's like what's happening between the Historical Society and the Culture Centre Board.
The Board 's Purchase of Culture Agreement with the town provides them with an annual transfer of funds in the amount of $340 K +, a rent-free facility with all maintenance provided and all revenue from the program accruing to their bank account.
The town came up with the scheme. The town drew up the agreement and set the terms of reference.
The Historical Society has apparently identified similarities between culture and heritage.
They have upped the ante. They are requesting a guaranteed annual budget for the services they provide to the community and their position is not without logic.
Now see what a mess you've gotten us into Stanley!!
Aah! Oliver my Friend, it's not the only mess .The worst is yet to come.
Monday, 7 March 2011
The Power of Language
Hairy Fairy has left a new comment on your post "Not So Fast...We're Not Done With The Budget Yet...":
Anon 8:55 -
What does "airy fairy" mean?
****************
It is a well used term in Scottish vernacular meaning artsy-fartsy
Back later
Anon 8:55 -
What does "airy fairy" mean?
****************
It is a well used term in Scottish vernacular meaning artsy-fartsy
Back later
Sunday, 6 March 2011
Not So Fast...We're Not Done With The Budget Yet
B.S. Budget has left a new comment on your post "Tomorrow NIght Another Budget Meeting":
I hate to say it and I am completely astounded that it has come to this but I don’t think our new Mayor is listening to the right people, I don’t want to cast blame on him for not digging deeper but I really think it’s time he stopped listening to the Town Hall dreamers and start acting on what this community overwhelmingly asked for "CHANGE" Fiscal responsibility has not and will never be, first and foremost with the bureaucrats , but you politicians must see to it that the money isn’t getting pissed away as it was the last four years. Certainly you cant be the only one who sees this
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Council is still reviewing the budget. Only a few small items have been removed . My sense is and it's certainly what I intend , is look at the whole budget before we decide to make it our own.
At the moment, it is a a draft for Council's consideration.
But it's something else as well. It is inherited. A huge number of projects were set in motion last year. Funds have already been expended in phasing a variety of studies.
$5 million dollars to be spent on the town hall, came out of the re-organisation and is intended to make room for new employees.It is proposed to be paid with $3.5 million from the Hydro reserve. Which can't be touched without input from the community.
The Customer service study was started last year. Money has already been spent.. Additional funds are recommended to complete the project.
My judgment is,. it should never have been started. We will be throwing good money after bad. But I'm the only one there from last year with that perspective. I don't think the re-org had anything to do with improving the operation, or the assets management study,or proposed improvement of customer service.
I think it had to do with shaping the administration to be more amenable to the control of the Mormac machine. Elevate some staff , denigrate others,give various non-elected organisations budgets and make them yours for life.
Directors lost areas of authority where they had expertise and vice versa.
The budget is more difficult to follow because of the shifts. New managerial jobs are proposed, to compensate for lack of experience that came with the shifts
If it sounds like chaos, well that's how I see it. I've been watching it happen.
There's no easy fix.
Because I'm going to be the only saying how bad I think it is. I am not the Mayor. I do not have the prime leadership responsibility.
Councillors Gaertner and Gallo are the only other two councillors re-elected. They were of the
six who made the previous decisions. They are unlikely to re-cant.
New councillors can't know from their own experience yet they must form a judgment. .
That's why, at the very least, I think council should not make big ticket decisions in their first year. They should wait until they have a better sense of things. When they do ,they will be totally responsible for whatever they decide.They are going to be responsible whatever they do. They might as well be cautious.
My judgment is, we are contemplating the end of growth. It's time to shrink managerial staff and switch attention to the growing list of parks,sports fields, boulevards ,wood lots, the urban forest and facilities where people gather.
We should be looking for ways and means to meet the new exigency of zero growth.
I firmly believe we are top heavy in administration and have been for the last twenty years.
It's time to get a grip.
Ending on a positive note, we will still be a small manageable town even when we're fully grown.
I hate to say it and I am completely astounded that it has come to this but I don’t think our new Mayor is listening to the right people, I don’t want to cast blame on him for not digging deeper but I really think it’s time he stopped listening to the Town Hall dreamers and start acting on what this community overwhelmingly asked for "CHANGE" Fiscal responsibility has not and will never be, first and foremost with the bureaucrats , but you politicians must see to it that the money isn’t getting pissed away as it was the last four years. Certainly you cant be the only one who sees this
*************************
Council is still reviewing the budget. Only a few small items have been removed . My sense is and it's certainly what I intend , is look at the whole budget before we decide to make it our own.
At the moment, it is a a draft for Council's consideration.
But it's something else as well. It is inherited. A huge number of projects were set in motion last year. Funds have already been expended in phasing a variety of studies.
$5 million dollars to be spent on the town hall, came out of the re-organisation and is intended to make room for new employees.It is proposed to be paid with $3.5 million from the Hydro reserve. Which can't be touched without input from the community.
The Customer service study was started last year. Money has already been spent.. Additional funds are recommended to complete the project.
My judgment is,. it should never have been started. We will be throwing good money after bad. But I'm the only one there from last year with that perspective. I don't think the re-org had anything to do with improving the operation, or the assets management study,or proposed improvement of customer service.
I think it had to do with shaping the administration to be more amenable to the control of the Mormac machine. Elevate some staff , denigrate others,give various non-elected organisations budgets and make them yours for life.
Directors lost areas of authority where they had expertise and vice versa.
The budget is more difficult to follow because of the shifts. New managerial jobs are proposed, to compensate for lack of experience that came with the shifts
If it sounds like chaos, well that's how I see it. I've been watching it happen.
There's no easy fix.
Because I'm going to be the only saying how bad I think it is. I am not the Mayor. I do not have the prime leadership responsibility.
Councillors Gaertner and Gallo are the only other two councillors re-elected. They were of the
six who made the previous decisions. They are unlikely to re-cant.
New councillors can't know from their own experience yet they must form a judgment. .
That's why, at the very least, I think council should not make big ticket decisions in their first year. They should wait until they have a better sense of things. When they do ,they will be totally responsible for whatever they decide.They are going to be responsible whatever they do. They might as well be cautious.
My judgment is, we are contemplating the end of growth. It's time to shrink managerial staff and switch attention to the growing list of parks,sports fields, boulevards ,wood lots, the urban forest and facilities where people gather.
We should be looking for ways and means to meet the new exigency of zero growth.
I firmly believe we are top heavy in administration and have been for the last twenty years.
It's time to get a grip.
Ending on a positive note, we will still be a small manageable town even when we're fully grown.
Tomorrow NIght Another Budget Meeting
Staff are hoping Councillors will come prepared with items they would like to discuss ,plus a determination one way or another of what will be included and what not in the 2011 budget.
I have a clear idea of what I want out. Yet I am aware of all kinds of private meetings going on between organisations, directors and Council members which are no doubt having an influence.
It's the only reason to account for the change of direction after an initial spurious demand for $5K hand-out for the Jazz Festival. Questions at the table pointed to a hard sell. .It looked like the hand-out was not going to be handed out.
Then , another meeting, same delegation and same half-assed justification, despite contrary staff recommendation , all of a sudden,without warning, there it was; a resolution to hand over $5K hard earned tax dollars to a cause without merit with every reason to be denied.
Something happened behind the scenes to change the direction. Whatever else it was, it was neither open nor transparent.
Management Board of the Culture Centre is seeking an opportunity to meet with council to provide a tour of the facility and no doubt make their pitch for continuance of funding.Why not? $134K
maintenance , use of a multi-million dollar facility and $340K budget plus 3% interest at stake to provide high-minded culture and entertainment to the masses.
The Historical Society is seeking the same deal as the Culture Centre board . A budget to follow through with their plans and aspirations. Why should heritage awareness be less important than culture for the masses? Why not indeed?
I suspect a Faustian deal made to withdraw commitment to the museum in exchange for a budget from tax levies to pursue a different objective. All done out of the public eye, of course with the Master of Management Mormac Administration.
Sport Aurora has come twice to council in recent weeks to support using D.C. funds to purchase lands far in excess of realistic needs or ability to manage and a consultant study at considerable expense for a youth needs.analysis over and above all the sports and recreation facilities and programs already provided during this year of anticipating a devastating tax increase which we might be able to blame on unavoidable circumstances like the failure to tax people enough in recent years.
I kid you not. The statement has been made publicly.
While regular reference is made to the town's soon-to-be built out status; no more than fifteen thousand new residents are anticipated, yet Council is asked to approve $98K for a consultants to plan and design space for an $8million dollar public works and parks facility.We already have substantial facilities but they need to be bigger, 8 million dollars worth bigger for fifteen thousand people. So we need a $98K study which will not place a stone upon a stone towards that end.
The building department wants many thousands for a consultant to provide a customer service strategy. It has apparently escaped customers attention that we do not have a strategy. I would have heard about it otherwise.
This is after approving a re-organisation study the cost of which escapes me , of the administration and adding bodies for implementation of same with apparent objective of greater efficiency.
Which, as a person charged with responsibility for oversight, I have not yet sighted.
I leave you now with the objective of poring over figures looking for places to cut . Mindful of the realisation that on Monday night , I may once more very well be spitting into the wind and certain at least three Councillors, Gaertner, Gallo and Ballard will remain with feet securely cemented in the rut of past passage.
I have a clear idea of what I want out. Yet I am aware of all kinds of private meetings going on between organisations, directors and Council members which are no doubt having an influence.
It's the only reason to account for the change of direction after an initial spurious demand for $5K hand-out for the Jazz Festival. Questions at the table pointed to a hard sell. .It looked like the hand-out was not going to be handed out.
Then , another meeting, same delegation and same half-assed justification, despite contrary staff recommendation , all of a sudden,without warning, there it was; a resolution to hand over $5K hard earned tax dollars to a cause without merit with every reason to be denied.
Something happened behind the scenes to change the direction. Whatever else it was, it was neither open nor transparent.
Management Board of the Culture Centre is seeking an opportunity to meet with council to provide a tour of the facility and no doubt make their pitch for continuance of funding.Why not? $134K
maintenance , use of a multi-million dollar facility and $340K budget plus 3% interest at stake to provide high-minded culture and entertainment to the masses.
The Historical Society is seeking the same deal as the Culture Centre board . A budget to follow through with their plans and aspirations. Why should heritage awareness be less important than culture for the masses? Why not indeed?
I suspect a Faustian deal made to withdraw commitment to the museum in exchange for a budget from tax levies to pursue a different objective. All done out of the public eye, of course with the Master of Management Mormac Administration.
Sport Aurora has come twice to council in recent weeks to support using D.C. funds to purchase lands far in excess of realistic needs or ability to manage and a consultant study at considerable expense for a youth needs.analysis over and above all the sports and recreation facilities and programs already provided during this year of anticipating a devastating tax increase which we might be able to blame on unavoidable circumstances like the failure to tax people enough in recent years.
I kid you not. The statement has been made publicly.
While regular reference is made to the town's soon-to-be built out status; no more than fifteen thousand new residents are anticipated, yet Council is asked to approve $98K for a consultants to plan and design space for an $8million dollar public works and parks facility.We already have substantial facilities but they need to be bigger, 8 million dollars worth bigger for fifteen thousand people. So we need a $98K study which will not place a stone upon a stone towards that end.
The building department wants many thousands for a consultant to provide a customer service strategy. It has apparently escaped customers attention that we do not have a strategy. I would have heard about it otherwise.
This is after approving a re-organisation study the cost of which escapes me , of the administration and adding bodies for implementation of same with apparent objective of greater efficiency.
Which, as a person charged with responsibility for oversight, I have not yet sighted.
I leave you now with the objective of poring over figures looking for places to cut . Mindful of the realisation that on Monday night , I may once more very well be spitting into the wind and certain at least three Councillors, Gaertner, Gallo and Ballard will remain with feet securely cemented in the rut of past passage.
Saturday, 5 March 2011
Words...Words...Words
When you have an articulate document before you and listening to someone speak to its content. It doesn't take long to realise the person commenting, has understood nothing of what he read..
There can be several reasons for lack of comprehension. One being a lack of intelligence.
If a person is not capable of grasping the meaning of written words ,even with an opportunity to re-read and consult a dictionary,chances are they will comprehend spoken language is even less.
My first reaction is to be embarrassed for the person who lets themselves down in public that way.
My second is to recognise the futility of engaging.
A number of years ago, the Ontario government launched a campaign to educate people about the tragedy of mental illness. The possibility posed of it happening to yourself or someone you love, was to encourage a better understanding and sympathy.
I've often thought how easily we dismiss a person for obvious lack of intelligence. We say "What a fool " even while recognising the person is neither capable nor responsible of being anything else.
Long ago I concluded, it's easy to criticise a lack of common sense , which is serious deficit in a person's life and perchance in the community, because people so afflicted are often totally unsympathetic personalities.
I'm no Mother Theresa. I do not plead for greater understanding. Recognising my worst human frailty. I deal with the situation by choosing not to be in company of such a person doubly afflicted or if it cannot be avoided ....fake it.
There can be several reasons for lack of comprehension. One being a lack of intelligence.
If a person is not capable of grasping the meaning of written words ,even with an opportunity to re-read and consult a dictionary,chances are they will comprehend spoken language is even less.
My first reaction is to be embarrassed for the person who lets themselves down in public that way.
My second is to recognise the futility of engaging.
A number of years ago, the Ontario government launched a campaign to educate people about the tragedy of mental illness. The possibility posed of it happening to yourself or someone you love, was to encourage a better understanding and sympathy.
I've often thought how easily we dismiss a person for obvious lack of intelligence. We say "What a fool " even while recognising the person is neither capable nor responsible of being anything else.
Long ago I concluded, it's easy to criticise a lack of common sense , which is serious deficit in a person's life and perchance in the community, because people so afflicted are often totally unsympathetic personalities.
I'm no Mother Theresa. I do not plead for greater understanding. Recognising my worst human frailty. I deal with the situation by choosing not to be in company of such a person doubly afflicted or if it cannot be avoided ....fake it.
Herein Lies A Tale
Anonymoose has left a new comment on your post "This One Is Entertaining":
Oh dear, I obviously was not clear. When I said "get over it with the museum" I was referring to the comment made by the previous commentor who said "Bring our museum back to us.".
My apologies. When I said museum you thought I was talking about Petch House rather than.... well.... the museum.
Regarding Theater Aurora, I find it interesting how in the same paragraph you can say "The town provides a building and takes care of the exterior." and "In their entire history, they have never requested a sponsorship." Do I really have to spell out how contradictory these two statements are?
The irony of course is doubled when considering how bitterly you objected to renting the old hydro building to DND, who actually will be paying real money rather than simply providing 'magic'. To be consistent you should be lobbying to give the boot to Theater Aurora. I mean after all, how many people do you think could be employed and how much tax would the town be able to collect if we sold that land and turned it back into a factory. Not to mention the windfall of cash we would get for the sale.
**********
I know you're there Evalina. It's you who needs to get over it. I never understood why a person possesssed of such hostility wanted to be a member of Aurora Council.It's still not apparent.
Let's consider how the town came to possess a little theatre with all the necessary accoutrements.
The building was constructed at the beginning of Regency Acres subdivision. Consolidated Building , contemplated an industrial area alongside Sterling Drug factory. A small block structire was built on spec.
By the time we arrived in the second phase of the residential subdivision the building was still vacant. Subsequently it was occupied by a cement molding plant for a few months before it was vacated once again
The property was acquired. The new owner processed plans for the town house development. Ownership changed hands again, except for the little block building. $5K taxes were owed on the property.
A deal was offered to the town. The building was offered for use by Aurora Theatre in return for taxes owing. Owner had allowed Theatre group to store stage props and such in the building.
I went in once. It was a macabre scene. Theatre stuff was heaped in the centre, surrounded by mounds of mis-shapen hardened or broken concrete. Birds had invaded through broken windows, swooping and cheeping and dropping all over the place.
Until then, Theatre Aurora had, by the grace of St. Andrew's College, been able to mount many excellent plays and musicals in their theatre. The company built parts of sets in home basements all over town, and put them together on the night of dress rehearsal on stage at St. Andrew's..
The town accepted the deal. The owner threw in a couple of hundred chairs . An L.I.P.grant was available.
Penciled plans were created over a week-end. An application made. $21K was obtained. Within weeks, a stage was constructed, dressing rooms behind, a lobby in front, washrooms at the side and a control room where it needed to be.
Excitement was at fever pitch. You have to be a player to understand what it means to have your own dedicated space for a theatre. Aurora had a dedicated theatre community. That shabby little factory building was a dream come true.
It has undergone many changes since. Shabby orange stage curtains were salvaged dirt cheap from someplace in the city. The floor was eventually ramped and theatre chairs obtained. Lighting was purchased.Over the years a real theatre took shape. Paid for by proceeds from various productions requiring thousands of hours of stagecraft by dedicated actors,actresses,directors,producers,costume designers, set builders , all volunteers.
Thousands of hours of entertainment provided to theatre- going Aurorans. Actors and actresses trod the boards whose light might never otherwise have had an opportunity to shine were it not for a shabby little shack lovingly crafted into a jewel of a theatre.
In terms of dollars, it cost the town little. Our culture was enriched many times over.
Theatre facilities have grown in York Region, mostly in schools. Gifted young people are encouraged to think of theatre as a possible career.
It started on borrowed stages. Then in small spaces like the Curtain Club in Richmond Hill and The Factory in Aurora.
It was a light that could not be quenched . Because of it, we are all the richer.
Oh dear, I obviously was not clear. When I said "get over it with the museum" I was referring to the comment made by the previous commentor who said "Bring our museum back to us.".
My apologies. When I said museum you thought I was talking about Petch House rather than.... well.... the museum.
Regarding Theater Aurora, I find it interesting how in the same paragraph you can say "The town provides a building and takes care of the exterior." and "In their entire history, they have never requested a sponsorship." Do I really have to spell out how contradictory these two statements are?
The irony of course is doubled when considering how bitterly you objected to renting the old hydro building to DND, who actually will be paying real money rather than simply providing 'magic'. To be consistent you should be lobbying to give the boot to Theater Aurora. I mean after all, how many people do you think could be employed and how much tax would the town be able to collect if we sold that land and turned it back into a factory. Not to mention the windfall of cash we would get for the sale.
**********
I know you're there Evalina. It's you who needs to get over it. I never understood why a person possesssed of such hostility wanted to be a member of Aurora Council.It's still not apparent.
Let's consider how the town came to possess a little theatre with all the necessary accoutrements.
The building was constructed at the beginning of Regency Acres subdivision. Consolidated Building , contemplated an industrial area alongside Sterling Drug factory. A small block structire was built on spec.
By the time we arrived in the second phase of the residential subdivision the building was still vacant. Subsequently it was occupied by a cement molding plant for a few months before it was vacated once again
The property was acquired. The new owner processed plans for the town house development. Ownership changed hands again, except for the little block building. $5K taxes were owed on the property.
A deal was offered to the town. The building was offered for use by Aurora Theatre in return for taxes owing. Owner had allowed Theatre group to store stage props and such in the building.
I went in once. It was a macabre scene. Theatre stuff was heaped in the centre, surrounded by mounds of mis-shapen hardened or broken concrete. Birds had invaded through broken windows, swooping and cheeping and dropping all over the place.
Until then, Theatre Aurora had, by the grace of St. Andrew's College, been able to mount many excellent plays and musicals in their theatre. The company built parts of sets in home basements all over town, and put them together on the night of dress rehearsal on stage at St. Andrew's..
The town accepted the deal. The owner threw in a couple of hundred chairs . An L.I.P.grant was available.
Penciled plans were created over a week-end. An application made. $21K was obtained. Within weeks, a stage was constructed, dressing rooms behind, a lobby in front, washrooms at the side and a control room where it needed to be.
Excitement was at fever pitch. You have to be a player to understand what it means to have your own dedicated space for a theatre. Aurora had a dedicated theatre community. That shabby little factory building was a dream come true.
It has undergone many changes since. Shabby orange stage curtains were salvaged dirt cheap from someplace in the city. The floor was eventually ramped and theatre chairs obtained. Lighting was purchased.Over the years a real theatre took shape. Paid for by proceeds from various productions requiring thousands of hours of stagecraft by dedicated actors,actresses,directors,producers,costume designers, set builders , all volunteers.
Thousands of hours of entertainment provided to theatre- going Aurorans. Actors and actresses trod the boards whose light might never otherwise have had an opportunity to shine were it not for a shabby little shack lovingly crafted into a jewel of a theatre.
In terms of dollars, it cost the town little. Our culture was enriched many times over.
Theatre facilities have grown in York Region, mostly in schools. Gifted young people are encouraged to think of theatre as a possible career.
It started on borrowed stages. Then in small spaces like the Curtain Club in Richmond Hill and The Factory in Aurora.
It was a light that could not be quenched . Because of it, we are all the richer.
Friday, 4 March 2011
This One Is Entertaining
Anonymoose has left a new comment on my post "Pesky Old Petch House":
Oh get over it with the museum. We already have a museum. It's called Hillary House. How many do we really need? I've been there plenty of times. Sure some will nit pick and say that it is something different. I look at it and see a museum.
As for other displays of town history, The cultural centre will be rotating that stuff though on a regular basis as well. I remember when the church street school was the museum. It also had other tenants too and no one ever went there. Now we have a centre which does so much more. Will actually attract people to it so that when displays are there, they will be seen!
I like our new cultural centre and will fight tooth and nail to keep it.
****************************************
Anonymoose valiantly declares ,"I will fight tooth and nail to keep it" while lurking incognito and tossing out an occasional sneering comment like above reference to the Pesky Petch House post,the museum and reference to the town's historical collection as "that stuff"
My last post was about user fees for town facilities and policies as opposed to actual practice.
The Culture Centre is a public facility created with a recent but by -no- means - first investment of $2,6 million dollars and $750K in a grant from the Heritage Foundation . A budget of $340K plus maintenance expenses of $134K is paid with funds from the tax levy.
No user fee policy applies.The Management Board is arms length from the people accountable for tax collection and spending.
A pre-jazz festival party was held there last July. Admission of $35 p.p.was collected. No user fees charged.
Artists are invited to display their art and paid to do so I believe No user fees are charged orn Art paid
The Town Hall has an Art Gallery . I'm fairly certain the town does not pay artiststo exhibit. I believe a portion of art sales however are paid to the town. S.O.Y.R.A. holds a juried art show once a year. A Juried show is a professional standard.. Not every entry is accepted.
In the forty years of its existence, Aurora's Juried Art Show has grown in status. It never needed a sponsorship. It was started by two young mothers who were neighbours, Cathan Schonicker of Sunray Place and Mabel Pearson of Jasper Drive. Ernie Batson ,arena manager/recreation director/ hockey scout, provided space in the community auditorium and it simply grew in stature from there.
A Writer's Club meets regularly at the town hall. I 'd be very surprised if they don't pay a user fee.
We have a Theatre in Aurora that competes with the best in Ontario.Plays and musicals are expensive to produce. The town provides a building and takes care of the exterior. The group produces the magic.
In their entire history, they have never requested a sponsorship. Though local furniture stores often
contributed items for sets that players didn't bring from their own homes. .
Thousands of hours of enjoyment for audience and players alike were produced over the years in what once was a little concrete factory building and is now a Bijou Theatre
New residents delight in the town's library and the variety of interests they discover in Aurora. They join and enrich what was here .
The only lament I ever heard was lack of a movie house. We not only have that now , we also have a film society to bring movies to town unlikely to be seen in the regular circuit.
Oh get over it with the museum. We already have a museum. It's called Hillary House. How many do we really need? I've been there plenty of times. Sure some will nit pick and say that it is something different. I look at it and see a museum.
As for other displays of town history, The cultural centre will be rotating that stuff though on a regular basis as well. I remember when the church street school was the museum. It also had other tenants too and no one ever went there. Now we have a centre which does so much more. Will actually attract people to it so that when displays are there, they will be seen!
I like our new cultural centre and will fight tooth and nail to keep it.
****************************************
Anonymoose valiantly declares ,"I will fight tooth and nail to keep it" while lurking incognito and tossing out an occasional sneering comment like above reference to the Pesky Petch House post,the museum and reference to the town's historical collection as "that stuff"
My last post was about user fees for town facilities and policies as opposed to actual practice.
The Culture Centre is a public facility created with a recent but by -no- means - first investment of $2,6 million dollars and $750K in a grant from the Heritage Foundation . A budget of $340K plus maintenance expenses of $134K is paid with funds from the tax levy.
No user fee policy applies.The Management Board is arms length from the people accountable for tax collection and spending.
A pre-jazz festival party was held there last July. Admission of $35 p.p.was collected. No user fees charged.
Artists are invited to display their art and paid to do so I believe No user fees are charged orn Art paid
The Town Hall has an Art Gallery . I'm fairly certain the town does not pay artiststo exhibit. I believe a portion of art sales however are paid to the town. S.O.Y.R.A. holds a juried art show once a year. A Juried show is a professional standard.. Not every entry is accepted.
In the forty years of its existence, Aurora's Juried Art Show has grown in status. It never needed a sponsorship. It was started by two young mothers who were neighbours, Cathan Schonicker of Sunray Place and Mabel Pearson of Jasper Drive. Ernie Batson ,arena manager/recreation director/ hockey scout, provided space in the community auditorium and it simply grew in stature from there.
A Writer's Club meets regularly at the town hall. I 'd be very surprised if they don't pay a user fee.
We have a Theatre in Aurora that competes with the best in Ontario.Plays and musicals are expensive to produce. The town provides a building and takes care of the exterior. The group produces the magic.
In their entire history, they have never requested a sponsorship. Though local furniture stores often
contributed items for sets that players didn't bring from their own homes. .
Thousands of hours of enjoyment for audience and players alike were produced over the years in what once was a little concrete factory building and is now a Bijou Theatre
New residents delight in the town's library and the variety of interests they discover in Aurora. They join and enrich what was here .
The only lament I ever heard was lack of a movie house. We not only have that now , we also have a film society to bring movies to town unlikely to be seen in the regular circuit.
Thursday, 3 March 2011
User Fees...What's Fair...What's Not
The Town has a policy on user fees. It's purpose is to require facility users to contribute to the cost of operations on a fair and equal basis.
Staff take direction from policy. Permit applications are processed on the basis of qualifications. No divergence is permitted .
The Town has a grant policy. A budget is set each year. Staff process applications for grants on the basis of qualifications.Staff do not have authority to make grants. Recommendations are made to Council to grant or not grant according to qualifications.
A request to waive a user fee is the same as a request for a grant Staff do not have authority to waive user fees. There would be no fairness or equality to waive fees for those who ask but not to those who do not ask.
Request to waive fees are made to the political body. Sometimes they are waived .Sometimes not. There is no fairness or equality in the process.
Often nothing hangs in the balance save amount of funds claimed to be contributed to charity.
For example Dove, a Lacrosse Association, boasts of the amount of a charitable contribution from a tournament in an Aurora facility over an entire week-end without paying a user fee. The contribution ,
if the fee was paid, would be less by that amount. Aurora taxpayers therefore are foregoing revenue
to swell a charitable contribution. They are contributing to a charity without their leave or awareness. Hands are in their pocket which have no right to be there for that purpose.
There is no fairness or equality in the practice of waiving fees. Neither is there integrity.
A request for a fee waiver should be processed in accordance with the grant policy and a recommendation made to Council for approval or not in accordance with qualifications to ensure open and transparent fairness and equality.
In 2010, a "sponsorship" of $2K was provided to a Jazz Festival through the Chief Administrator's office by a process in accordance with neither User Fee Policy or Grant Policy.
It was provided under no policy familiar to this Councillor.
In 2011, a majority of council has approved the park user fee be waived for a weekend to allow union musicians to ply their trade and realise employment at union scale.
Councillors further directed money's to make up the sum of $5K be handed out to augment further union scale wages paid to musicians employed by a commercial endeavour.
All of it to come from the pockets of unwitting taxpayers whose interest they are sworn to protect.
None of it seen as fair and open or equal and transparent or agreed to by said taxpayers.
Staff take direction from policy. Permit applications are processed on the basis of qualifications. No divergence is permitted .
The Town has a grant policy. A budget is set each year. Staff process applications for grants on the basis of qualifications.Staff do not have authority to make grants. Recommendations are made to Council to grant or not grant according to qualifications.
A request to waive a user fee is the same as a request for a grant Staff do not have authority to waive user fees. There would be no fairness or equality to waive fees for those who ask but not to those who do not ask.
Request to waive fees are made to the political body. Sometimes they are waived .Sometimes not. There is no fairness or equality in the process.
Often nothing hangs in the balance save amount of funds claimed to be contributed to charity.
For example Dove, a Lacrosse Association, boasts of the amount of a charitable contribution from a tournament in an Aurora facility over an entire week-end without paying a user fee. The contribution ,
if the fee was paid, would be less by that amount. Aurora taxpayers therefore are foregoing revenue
to swell a charitable contribution. They are contributing to a charity without their leave or awareness. Hands are in their pocket which have no right to be there for that purpose.
There is no fairness or equality in the practice of waiving fees. Neither is there integrity.
A request for a fee waiver should be processed in accordance with the grant policy and a recommendation made to Council for approval or not in accordance with qualifications to ensure open and transparent fairness and equality.
In 2010, a "sponsorship" of $2K was provided to a Jazz Festival through the Chief Administrator's office by a process in accordance with neither User Fee Policy or Grant Policy.
It was provided under no policy familiar to this Councillor.
In 2011, a majority of council has approved the park user fee be waived for a weekend to allow union musicians to ply their trade and realise employment at union scale.
Councillors further directed money's to make up the sum of $5K be handed out to augment further union scale wages paid to musicians employed by a commercial endeavour.
All of it to come from the pockets of unwitting taxpayers whose interest they are sworn to protect.
None of it seen as fair and open or equal and transparent or agreed to by said taxpayers.
Pesky Old Petch House
For seven years it sat on cinder block at the side of Leslie, south of Wellington. It was placed there at the expense of developers, who agreed they would move it once more to a location of the town's choosing when the town got around to choosing..
The town never did.
$100K has been included annually in the town's budget,to be raised from tax levies to restore the building if a use could be found and a place could be identified.
It never was..
A donation of $8K was made by an anonymous donor who never volunteered to accept the building
or suggest a use or a location.
For all that time, the building was home to generations of wildlife who lived, bred, defecated and died and filled the building with gross and unimaginable filth..
The roof was torn off . The building was open to wind and rain and snow and birds that fly and creatures that creep and mould bearing spores that clothed the floors, walls and ceiling.
Log planks rotted steadily to the point the structure can no longer be moved in one piece. Neither can it be restored to authenticity because of foreign material needed to replace that which is no more..
A professional report provided free. indicated the building could no longer be moved in one piece. The unimaginable filth on interior walls, ceilings and floors would have to be scraped bare to determine the full extent of deterioration.
The advice was not accepted by the majority of Councillors. It was free.
An engineering consultant was retained at a fee of several thousand dollars to describe how the building might be moved and restored and at what cost.
Reduced from authenticity, to the size of a three-hole privy the engineer consultant reported an estimate of almost half a million dollars.And that it could not be moved in one piece.
Still the decision was left hanging..
The sad, forlorn, steadily deteriorating shack continued to sit, alone and unloved at the side of the road.
Stories were told the developer was committed to restoring the building when a location had been found.
A meeting established that to be a myth. The developer committed to a one shot additional payment of $50K and no more.
Yet another call went out for expressions of interest. A fellow from Keswick ,at the invitation of the Councllor who insisted on the engineering consultant's report,appeared at Council and declared for $120K he would restore the building.
More calls went out for expressions of interest.
Then we had an election.
Finally on Tuesday, on the Council Agenda along with a list of expressions of interest , was a long awaited recommendation the building should not be restored.
The decision would mean the 2011 budget with the big booby forecast increase could be reduced by $100K .
However, a delegation from Richmond Hill presented as "Friends of the Petch House" .The old clap-board , rotting . moldering, carpenter ant infested , defecation and carcase filled building was once again described as a fantasy inspired "one-of-a-kind log house" and a fervent appeal was made for three months deferral of the decision to allow "A Walk for History" to be held to raise money to "save" the precious artifact.
The fellow from Keswick who would restore it for $120K, was in attendance with the delegation.
A motion was passed at Council to defer the decision for three more months.
The town never did.
$100K has been included annually in the town's budget,to be raised from tax levies to restore the building if a use could be found and a place could be identified.
It never was..
A donation of $8K was made by an anonymous donor who never volunteered to accept the building
or suggest a use or a location.
For all that time, the building was home to generations of wildlife who lived, bred, defecated and died and filled the building with gross and unimaginable filth..
The roof was torn off . The building was open to wind and rain and snow and birds that fly and creatures that creep and mould bearing spores that clothed the floors, walls and ceiling.
Log planks rotted steadily to the point the structure can no longer be moved in one piece. Neither can it be restored to authenticity because of foreign material needed to replace that which is no more..
A professional report provided free. indicated the building could no longer be moved in one piece. The unimaginable filth on interior walls, ceilings and floors would have to be scraped bare to determine the full extent of deterioration.
The advice was not accepted by the majority of Councillors. It was free.
An engineering consultant was retained at a fee of several thousand dollars to describe how the building might be moved and restored and at what cost.
Reduced from authenticity, to the size of a three-hole privy the engineer consultant reported an estimate of almost half a million dollars.And that it could not be moved in one piece.
Still the decision was left hanging..
The sad, forlorn, steadily deteriorating shack continued to sit, alone and unloved at the side of the road.
Stories were told the developer was committed to restoring the building when a location had been found.
A meeting established that to be a myth. The developer committed to a one shot additional payment of $50K and no more.
Yet another call went out for expressions of interest. A fellow from Keswick ,at the invitation of the Councllor who insisted on the engineering consultant's report,appeared at Council and declared for $120K he would restore the building.
More calls went out for expressions of interest.
Then we had an election.
Finally on Tuesday, on the Council Agenda along with a list of expressions of interest , was a long awaited recommendation the building should not be restored.
The decision would mean the 2011 budget with the big booby forecast increase could be reduced by $100K .
However, a delegation from Richmond Hill presented as "Friends of the Petch House" .The old clap-board , rotting . moldering, carpenter ant infested , defecation and carcase filled building was once again described as a fantasy inspired "one-of-a-kind log house" and a fervent appeal was made for three months deferral of the decision to allow "A Walk for History" to be held to raise money to "save" the precious artifact.
The fellow from Keswick who would restore it for $120K, was in attendance with the delegation.
A motion was passed at Council to defer the decision for three more months.
It's a Month Since
The off-site orientation session was at the Kingsridge Centre. I had to walk distances to be where I needed to be. A few days later,one knee succumbed. It refused to bear weight except with excruciating pain.Without intending to be my own physician, the obvious was forced upon me.
Do not put weight on the knee.
I rented a go-go scooter again for a month.Long enough to determine, it is not handy in winter.Having it at the town hall meant taking it apart and putting it together. Frequently. It was a chore I could not handle alone.
Cold meant the battery had to be brought in from the car and plugged in each night.
Despite having a ramp, the Council Chamber design has proven not to be accessible for a motorised mobility device.
The walker on the other hand proved to be versatile and completely practical. I developed new-found respect for something vanity had heretofore despised.Particularly at king Henry's Arms. The stools are too tall and the chairs too small.
When I visited the medic at a walk-in clinic, he resorted to a computer and informed me of four possible problems with the knee. He said an MRI was necessary to determine the right one.. It would require consultation with a specialist.He would make an appointment.
He prescribed tylenol with codeine for pain and advised only time and not putting weight on the knee would resolve the problem.
I was already familiar with all of the possible causes. I could have advised him without the help of the computer. The appointment with the specialist, when it came, was not for several weeks and was in Markham.That the problem would resolve itself with sensible care was all I needed to hear.
A month later, after being compelled by excruciating pain,to save the knee by staying off my feet, tylenol with codeine being ineffective, his prediction turned out to be right. The offending joint is better but not yet best.
I will not be having the MRI. By the appointment date, I expect the knee to be all better and not in need of internal scanning device to inform it is old, arthritic and prone to problem- creating difficulties if I ever again demand more than it is capable of giving.
The Kingridge Centre was an unrealistic challenge. The design layout was intended for athletic training.
I could have returned home immediately and missed the orientation ,such as it was, or stayed and coped as best I could.
Turns out it was not best.
Another lesson learned.
The shoulder muscles will no doubt recover a month from now.
Maybe sooner. I never had a problem with them before.
Do not put weight on the knee.
I rented a go-go scooter again for a month.Long enough to determine, it is not handy in winter.Having it at the town hall meant taking it apart and putting it together. Frequently. It was a chore I could not handle alone.
Cold meant the battery had to be brought in from the car and plugged in each night.
Despite having a ramp, the Council Chamber design has proven not to be accessible for a motorised mobility device.
The walker on the other hand proved to be versatile and completely practical. I developed new-found respect for something vanity had heretofore despised.Particularly at king Henry's Arms. The stools are too tall and the chairs too small.
When I visited the medic at a walk-in clinic, he resorted to a computer and informed me of four possible problems with the knee. He said an MRI was necessary to determine the right one.. It would require consultation with a specialist.He would make an appointment.
He prescribed tylenol with codeine for pain and advised only time and not putting weight on the knee would resolve the problem.
I was already familiar with all of the possible causes. I could have advised him without the help of the computer. The appointment with the specialist, when it came, was not for several weeks and was in Markham.That the problem would resolve itself with sensible care was all I needed to hear.
A month later, after being compelled by excruciating pain,to save the knee by staying off my feet, tylenol with codeine being ineffective, his prediction turned out to be right. The offending joint is better but not yet best.
I will not be having the MRI. By the appointment date, I expect the knee to be all better and not in need of internal scanning device to inform it is old, arthritic and prone to problem- creating difficulties if I ever again demand more than it is capable of giving.
The Kingridge Centre was an unrealistic challenge. The design layout was intended for athletic training.
I could have returned home immediately and missed the orientation ,such as it was, or stayed and coped as best I could.
Turns out it was not best.
Another lesson learned.
The shoulder muscles will no doubt recover a month from now.
Maybe sooner. I never had a problem with them before.
Wednesday, 2 March 2011
Budget ....Fuss budget ..... 3
Information received by e-mail yesterday in response to a Councillor's request.
The following items are in addition to the $2K sponsorship of the Aurora Jazz Festival spent in 2010
Chamber Directory Advertisement - $1700
Persepctives Northern York Region Advertisement - $3500
Online Business Directory Annual Fee - $1500
Photography - $1400
Logo promotional items- $1200
York Region Employment Survey - $3000
BMA Municipal Competitiveness Study - $2300
Nimlock Display - $3500
Website Photography - $1000
Graphic design, marketing and promotion - $2500
In 2011, we anticipate similar expenditures to 2010 with the exception of the Nimlock display and the addition of enhanced investment attraction initiatives in partnership with the N6. Activities include participation/sponsorship of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors annual ski day, golf tournament, spring conference and fall conference.
We are also partnering with the N6 and York Region to participate in the GTMA's advanced manufacturing investment attraction program and York Region's Invest in York program. In addiiton, we are exploring options for an N6 focused investment attraction program led by York Region and have committed to hosting a full day small business conference in Aurora in September
The details or purpose of some of the above items are not familiar to me.
The Jazz Festival hand -out appears in the e-mail as you see it above. It appears not to have been part of the list.
This year's hand-out is proposed to $5,000. That is not the recommendation of staff.
It means last year's budget will be increased by $3K by a motion of Councillor Gallo
seconded by Councillor Thompson.Councillor Gallo offered being an art lover as his reason for support.
The Mayor did not vote which is a negative vote. Councillor Paul Pirri and myself
voted against it.
The following items are in addition to the $2K sponsorship of the Aurora Jazz Festival spent in 2010
Chamber Directory Advertisement - $1700
Persepctives Northern York Region Advertisement - $3500
Online Business Directory Annual Fee - $1500
Photography - $1400
Logo promotional items- $1200
York Region Employment Survey - $3000
BMA Municipal Competitiveness Study - $2300
Nimlock Display - $3500
Website Photography - $1000
Graphic design, marketing and promotion - $2500
In 2011, we anticipate similar expenditures to 2010 with the exception of the Nimlock display and the addition of enhanced investment attraction initiatives in partnership with the N6. Activities include participation/sponsorship of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors annual ski day, golf tournament, spring conference and fall conference.
We are also partnering with the N6 and York Region to participate in the GTMA's advanced manufacturing investment attraction program and York Region's Invest in York program. In addiiton, we are exploring options for an N6 focused investment attraction program led by York Region and have committed to hosting a full day small business conference in Aurora in September
The details or purpose of some of the above items are not familiar to me.
The Jazz Festival hand -out appears in the e-mail as you see it above. It appears not to have been part of the list.
This year's hand-out is proposed to $5,000. That is not the recommendation of staff.
It means last year's budget will be increased by $3K by a motion of Councillor Gallo
seconded by Councillor Thompson.Councillor Gallo offered being an art lover as his reason for support.
The Mayor did not vote which is a negative vote. Councillor Paul Pirri and myself
voted against it.
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