W@tt's trending has the link for the U-tube video put ot by the town ,explaining how your property taxes are used.
There are some significant details absent like in excess of half a million dollars worth of culture funding, Historical Society Grant and consultant fees for heritage district designations which may very well be unwanted by the majority of residents.
That would be a couple of points in the tax rate.
We spent $300.000. preparing to renovate the Town Hall. Then didn't d
$300.000 is a point in the tax rate. If it didn't show in last year's actual expenditures our tax increase would have been 4.75% higher instead of 3.75%
Funds spent buying culture and granting the Historical Society would be two points in the tax ate. If we didn't do that there would have been no tax increase. We gave them more than the year befor.
The Treasurer's budget statement claimed the budget was composed of "needs not wants"
If we hadn't terminated a twenty-six year employee from the treasury department for no good reason that would likely have merited in excess of two years salary.
Councillors were not supposed to know about that last senseless action.
Not allowed to ask questions either.
But you can't really keep stuff like that a secret.
It reverberates.
How does anybody feel secure in an operation like that?
Thursday, 3 April 2014
Wednesday, 2 April 2014
Post Script to straight record
It's argued the Strategic Plan makes the statement the town will pursue a post-secondary institution.
Also that eveybody participated in its creation.
I did not. I did not vote to spend $80,000 for a consultant to prepare a new Strategic Plan.
We already had one. All it needed was review and update.
Neither did I vote to implement the new Strategic Plan with its impractical goal of providing "an exceptional quality of life for all"
I warned against Council surrendering authority to staff to implement the plan.
Pursuing a post-secondary institution is a far cry from a multi-million dollar purchase of land as a gift to a senior level of government.
The Strategic Plan states free use of town facilities will be provided for events that promote the municipality .
User fees for use of facilities are set by Bylaw to establish fairness and equality between users.
The Strategic Plan statement contravenes the town's User fee Bylaw.
If the town does not respect its own legislation why should it be respected ?
No doubt if I read the Strategic Plan that I do not endorse ,I would find other contraventions that would enforce my conviction it should not have been endorsed .
Nor should $80,000 of taxpayers dollars have been expended in its creation.
Just because a majority voted for its creation and implementation doesn't mean the decision was right.
It just means the majority thought it was right.
Also that eveybody participated in its creation.
I did not. I did not vote to spend $80,000 for a consultant to prepare a new Strategic Plan.
We already had one. All it needed was review and update.
Neither did I vote to implement the new Strategic Plan with its impractical goal of providing "an exceptional quality of life for all"
I warned against Council surrendering authority to staff to implement the plan.
Pursuing a post-secondary institution is a far cry from a multi-million dollar purchase of land as a gift to a senior level of government.
The Strategic Plan states free use of town facilities will be provided for events that promote the municipality .
User fees for use of facilities are set by Bylaw to establish fairness and equality between users.
The Strategic Plan statement contravenes the town's User fee Bylaw.
If the town does not respect its own legislation why should it be respected ?
No doubt if I read the Strategic Plan that I do not endorse ,I would find other contraventions that would enforce my conviction it should not have been endorsed .
Nor should $80,000 of taxpayers dollars have been expended in its creation.
Just because a majority voted for its creation and implementation doesn't mean the decision was right.
It just means the majority thought it was right.
\To keep the record straight
In the interest of keeping things accurate ; My post did not disappear at my end.
Last night's published agenda for the in camera meeting stated the issue to be discussed.
The issue of a bid for a satellite campus is not entitled to confidential discussion.
Provincial deliberation may be secret.
A call for proposals can hardly be secret. How would anyone know about it.
The community is entitled to be informed of an intention is to bid. To hear preceding debate and
cntemplate the pros and cons.
The plan is not to purchase until and unless the bid is in the bag.
Newmarket's Mayor and Regional Councillor and CAO and Aurora's Mayor and CAO have met
in private . The intention is to share the purchase and the bid as equal partners and to gain more purchase in the process.
I believe the intent is well- meaning but so far as openness and transparency of public business is
conducted, the intent is in error.
I am not acquiescent to the error.
A university does not pay taxes though the Province does make payments in lieu of taxes.
The land being considered for purchase is developable and when developed would add to the assessment base . Growing the tax base is the business the town is in.
High Tor is about ninety acres.
Thirty acres is table land, completely serviced and planned for development prior to being transferred to Ontario Heritage.
Water,sewers .hydro and road access were planned and installed to the land's edge to accommodate future residential development on thirty acres of table land. The rest was to be dedicated to the town.
The other provincially owned parcel of 30 acres is in the location of Cardinal Carter High School on
Bloomington Road West.
A site proposed for purchase by the town is on the north west corner of the intersection of St John's Sideroad and Yonge Street.
The northern limit of the parcel abuts the political boundary between Aurora and Newmarket.
Last night's published agenda for the in camera meeting stated the issue to be discussed.
The issue of a bid for a satellite campus is not entitled to confidential discussion.
Provincial deliberation may be secret.
A call for proposals can hardly be secret. How would anyone know about it.
The community is entitled to be informed of an intention is to bid. To hear preceding debate and
cntemplate the pros and cons.
The plan is not to purchase until and unless the bid is in the bag.
Newmarket's Mayor and Regional Councillor and CAO and Aurora's Mayor and CAO have met
in private . The intention is to share the purchase and the bid as equal partners and to gain more purchase in the process.
I believe the intent is well- meaning but so far as openness and transparency of public business is
conducted, the intent is in error.
I am not acquiescent to the error.
A university does not pay taxes though the Province does make payments in lieu of taxes.
The land being considered for purchase is developable and when developed would add to the assessment base . Growing the tax base is the business the town is in.
High Tor is about ninety acres.
Thirty acres is table land, completely serviced and planned for development prior to being transferred to Ontario Heritage.
Water,sewers .hydro and road access were planned and installed to the land's edge to accommodate future residential development on thirty acres of table land. The rest was to be dedicated to the town.
The other provincially owned parcel of 30 acres is in the location of Cardinal Carter High School on
Bloomington Road West.
A site proposed for purchase by the town is on the north west corner of the intersection of St John's Sideroad and Yonge Street.
The northern limit of the parcel abuts the political boundary between Aurora and Newmarket.
A Bid Too Good To Refuse
We went behind closed doors last night to discuss negotiations to buy land for a post secondary institution.
It's for a satellite campus for York University.
Post secondary institutions are a provincial responsibility.
They have the tax base; Income tax, sales tax, liquor and excise tax,gaming and lottery revenues. If a way could be found to tax the air we breathe they'd do that too.
They might already, under a different guise.
Some genius at Queen's park has come up with a way of reducing the cot of a campus.
Municipalities in York Region have been invited to compete in a bid to locate a satellite .
Like offer land for a site.
The Mayors of Aurora and Newmarket, the CAO's and the Regional Councilor have put their
heads together and come up with a plan.
Behind closed doors, Council discussed the plan
Ostensibly each town will share the cost of 21 acres of developable land in Aurora . We will offer it as a gift to the province .
Aurora /Newmarket might be chosen for the satellite campus.
If the bid was successful, the land purchase could swallow up a chunk of Hydro asset money.
Or we could take on debt.
Or levy against property tax.
Or we might get help from the Region or the Province .
Or it could be an amalgam of all possibilities.
Dedication to The Province for a satellite campus means forfeiture of anticipated tax assessment and development charge revenues.
In the meantime, the Province owns two parcels of land in Aurora ,ideally suitable for a satellite campus .
Thirty acres sits vacant and idle behind Pine Ridge ,currently used by the Provincial Ministry of Transportation,
It's in the hands of Ontario Realty ,a real estate division of the Provincial government.
We negotiated for years to lease some of it for soccer fields. But they want an arm and a leg .
We can't afford to pay the province the price they want but we can afford to make them a gift costing our taxpayers millions.
Thirty Acres of High Tor farm is table land. Water, sewers and all other utilities .including access are available . It's located on Bathurst Street a major traffic artery .
It also sits vacant and idle, contributing nothing to the tax base or any other benefit to the community including zero,zip.nil. and nada, not a thin red dime to the tax base.
It's owned by Ontario Heritage Foundation
The Foundation also has a real estate division for handling disposition of lands they control.
As of last night , it had not apparently occurred to our particular brains trust that two excellent sites
are already available, crying out for a good purpose , right here in Aurora , already in the ownership of the Province.
If we needed a trump card . we always had two.
Possibly they were not aware. but others in the administration could have informed them had they been asked.
Even when made aware, the info was dismissed.
We have no authority over Heritage lands was the puzzling response.
Right. Unlike the control you have with an expenditure millions are proposed to acquire land to gift away.
There's a deadline for bids
The pressure is on.
It's presumed the community will be as excited by the prospect as the Economic Development Committee.
If not, it apparently matters not.
No time or need to make a business case to justify the case.
Oh Dear Me No !!!!!
Tuesday, 1 April 2014
Why are opponents the bad guys ?
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "New lessons learned":
The present scaremongers' fear tactics were addressed in the 2005 study for the North-East Heritage District by Michael Seaman (the Town's then heritage planner).
Designation does not:
1. Prohibit change (alterations or additions)
2. Impose obligations or additional expenses beyond those expected by any property owner
3. Restrict the use or resale of your property
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 1 April 2014
************************
!. Designation requires preservation of external features of the home.
2. Owners are obliged to maintain the building in authentic condition.
3. Heritage homes are a niche market. Marketability is therefore reduced.
***********************
If designation does not have impact ,as argued by Michael Seaman in the 2005 study for the North-east Heritage District:
What is the purpose of designation
Why is designation adopted by bylaw?
Why is designation registered against the title of properties?
Why are arguments opposing designation described as fear-mongering and scare tactics?
If there is no validity to the arguments , why are they so described?
***************************
The town is not without experience in the field. Church Street School is a designated property.
Renovations have been carried out. Grants received. Requirements are spelled out.
Windows had to be replaced with single diamond glass.
To conserve energy, interior storm windows had to be designed for the purpose.
False ceilings installed to keep heat where it was needed , had to be removed .
Windows were installed in rotting frames . Window sills ,that should be stone .are wood and rotting. Paint constantly peels and must be repainted frequently.
I'm fairly confident these are not the only features of preservation required . Certainly Ontario Heritage approval must be obtained to carry out restoration. They, because of designation share
responsibility for authenticity.
They would not allow Petch House to be re-located on Sheppard's bush property because rotten boards had to be replaced and as a result it would no longer be authentic.
The present scaremongers' fear tactics were addressed in the 2005 study for the North-East Heritage District by Michael Seaman (the Town's then heritage planner).
Designation does not:
1. Prohibit change (alterations or additions)
2. Impose obligations or additional expenses beyond those expected by any property owner
3. Restrict the use or resale of your property
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 1 April 2014
************************
!. Designation requires preservation of external features of the home.
2. Owners are obliged to maintain the building in authentic condition.
3. Heritage homes are a niche market. Marketability is therefore reduced.
***********************
If designation does not have impact ,as argued by Michael Seaman in the 2005 study for the North-east Heritage District:
What is the purpose of designation
Why is designation adopted by bylaw?
Why is designation registered against the title of properties?
Why are arguments opposing designation described as fear-mongering and scare tactics?
If there is no validity to the arguments , why are they so described?
***************************
The town is not without experience in the field. Church Street School is a designated property.
Renovations have been carried out. Grants received. Requirements are spelled out.
Windows had to be replaced with single diamond glass.
To conserve energy, interior storm windows had to be designed for the purpose.
False ceilings installed to keep heat where it was needed , had to be removed .
Windows were installed in rotting frames . Window sills ,that should be stone .are wood and rotting. Paint constantly peels and must be repainted frequently.
I'm fairly confident these are not the only features of preservation required . Certainly Ontario Heritage approval must be obtained to carry out restoration. They, because of designation share
responsibility for authenticity.
They would not allow Petch House to be re-located on Sheppard's bush property because rotten boards had to be replaced and as a result it would no longer be authentic.
Risk Management
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "New lessons learned":
"There are insurance companies which will not insure designated properties."
But will they insure "worthless relics"?
***********************
Well now, let me think about that.
What do I know about insurance .
Only what I am told.
I think....if I were selling insurance...and quoting a premium...I would need to know the risk.
I'm not in business to lose money.
Insurance, generally speaking...is considered to be lucrative.
What would the risk be to insure a worthless relic. Replacement cost would be a factor.
If insurance had to cover costs of heritage plans and hand millled lumber and other materials
difficult to find and costly. I think premiums would be higher. If the cost of replacement could not be established, insurance might not be available.
On the other hand, if a structure was four walls and a roof ,enclosing x number of square feet of living space , worn out , badly designed , totally inadequte and unsafe by modern standards .... basic .replacement value and premiums could easily be calculated.
I think an insurance company would likely be willing to insure against replacement value. Providing of course the building wasn't an obvious fire waiting to happen.
Certainly comparable to "cookiecutter " designs disdainfully referentced by passionate adherents to the principle of surrendering property rights to red tape bureacratic process for the purpose of exercising control over anything and everything that might happen in a neighborhood perceived to be exclusive based entirely on its age.
Even life cannot be insured beyond a certain age ,no matter how badly one might wish to leave a little something for a beloved grandchild.
"There are insurance companies which will not insure designated properties."
But will they insure "worthless relics"?
***********************
Well now, let me think about that.
What do I know about insurance .
Only what I am told.
I think....if I were selling insurance...and quoting a premium...I would need to know the risk.
I'm not in business to lose money.
Insurance, generally speaking...is considered to be lucrative.
What would the risk be to insure a worthless relic. Replacement cost would be a factor.
If insurance had to cover costs of heritage plans and hand millled lumber and other materials
difficult to find and costly. I think premiums would be higher. If the cost of replacement could not be established, insurance might not be available.
On the other hand, if a structure was four walls and a roof ,enclosing x number of square feet of living space , worn out , badly designed , totally inadequte and unsafe by modern standards .... basic .replacement value and premiums could easily be calculated.
I think an insurance company would likely be willing to insure against replacement value. Providing of course the building wasn't an obvious fire waiting to happen.
Certainly comparable to "cookiecutter " designs disdainfully referentced by passionate adherents to the principle of surrendering property rights to red tape bureacratic process for the purpose of exercising control over anything and everything that might happen in a neighborhood perceived to be exclusive based entirely on its age.
Even life cannot be insured beyond a certain age ,no matter how badly one might wish to leave a little something for a beloved grandchild.
Monday, 31 March 2014
A possible clue
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Only The Shadow Knows":
22:49- “Isn't necessarily from the Town’s grant” So how is that $70,000 being used? When they can stand up on their own feet and not ask for another red cent….your “hyperbolic outrage” comment may be valid. Until then….expect any and all types of “outrage”.
*************
The Aurora Sports Hall of Fame sent out a bulletin last week. A Trillium grant of $192,000 has been received providing for a new staff person.
Their address is the Aurora Town Hall.
Remember when the erstwhile jazz festival applied for a Trillium grant. The Town had to support them to validate purpose for a trillium grant.
Maybe the Historical Society has received a Trillium grant as well.
If you know how to work the system and all parties co-opeate, the money just flows.
It may be why the Aurora Historical Society continues to exist.
No money is provided in the Town's budget to operate the museum.
We have a room in Church Street School. We have artifacts.
Funds flow freely in grants to organizations allowing them to hire staff .
But no operating funds for the town's museum.
22:49- “Isn't necessarily from the Town’s grant” So how is that $70,000 being used? When they can stand up on their own feet and not ask for another red cent….your “hyperbolic outrage” comment may be valid. Until then….expect any and all types of “outrage”.
*************
The Aurora Sports Hall of Fame sent out a bulletin last week. A Trillium grant of $192,000 has been received providing for a new staff person.
Their address is the Aurora Town Hall.
Remember when the erstwhile jazz festival applied for a Trillium grant. The Town had to support them to validate purpose for a trillium grant.
Maybe the Historical Society has received a Trillium grant as well.
If you know how to work the system and all parties co-opeate, the money just flows.
It may be why the Aurora Historical Society continues to exist.
No money is provided in the Town's budget to operate the museum.
We have a room in Church Street School. We have artifacts.
Funds flow freely in grants to organizations allowing them to hire staff .
But no operating funds for the town's museum.
New lessons learned
I should have added the Heritage Act is permissive legislation. Municipalities don't have to.
I once had to explain to a lawyer the difference between mandatory and permissive .After I answered his query he sarcastically asked where I received my legal training
I wish I had time to follow trends.
Mr. Bray, the Heritage Consultant states there are 31 districts designated in Ontario.
There are 444 municipalities in Ontario.
One of the districts is in Aurora and we are spending taxpayers money again to create a second.
One is underway in Kingston. A Councillor hopes it will be completed by the 2014
election. Mr. Bray is quoted in the Kingston Plan as well.
It would be useful to know why the Heritage Act was amended by the Province.
It wouldn't be surprising to find municipalities cited in the magazine Money Sense
as best places to live in Canada , as the same with Heritage Districts.
Considering financial and monitoring responsibility that goes with authority to designate.
it's easy to see how a whole new industry could be created with opportunities for an army
of heritage consultants and planners.
It brings back the question of where the pressure came from for municipal authority
to impose district designation.
Supporters of designation argue insurance protection is not affected.
Opponents have discovered something different. An insurance representative merrily
gives verbal assurance designation makes no difference. Asked for assurance in writing
draws a different response.
There are insurance companies which will not insure designated properties.
We all know about fine print .
What a catastrophic lesson to discover after a designated house is lost ,that authentic heritage
replacement cost is not covered by the policy.
Informal chats between provincial bureaucrats and representatives of the insurance industry would not count for much in the circumstance.
How much responsibility would the municipality have for leading people to believe the problem
does not exist?
The issue has been raised in public. The problem is denied .
How much legal responsibility does a consultant have ?
I once had to explain to a lawyer the difference between mandatory and permissive .After I answered his query he sarcastically asked where I received my legal training
I wish I had time to follow trends.
Mr. Bray, the Heritage Consultant states there are 31 districts designated in Ontario.
There are 444 municipalities in Ontario.
One of the districts is in Aurora and we are spending taxpayers money again to create a second.
One is underway in Kingston. A Councillor hopes it will be completed by the 2014
election. Mr. Bray is quoted in the Kingston Plan as well.
It would be useful to know why the Heritage Act was amended by the Province.
It wouldn't be surprising to find municipalities cited in the magazine Money Sense
as best places to live in Canada , as the same with Heritage Districts.
Considering financial and monitoring responsibility that goes with authority to designate.
it's easy to see how a whole new industry could be created with opportunities for an army
of heritage consultants and planners.
It brings back the question of where the pressure came from for municipal authority
to impose district designation.
Supporters of designation argue insurance protection is not affected.
Opponents have discovered something different. An insurance representative merrily
gives verbal assurance designation makes no difference. Asked for assurance in writing
draws a different response.
There are insurance companies which will not insure designated properties.
We all know about fine print .
What a catastrophic lesson to discover after a designated house is lost ,that authentic heritage
replacement cost is not covered by the policy.
Informal chats between provincial bureaucrats and representatives of the insurance industry would not count for much in the circumstance.
How much responsibility would the municipality have for leading people to believe the problem
does not exist?
The issue has been raised in public. The problem is denied .
How much legal responsibility does a consultant have ?
Sunday, 30 March 2014
Letter
Dear Editor,
Mayor Dawe uses some of the information from MoneySense magazine to paint a rosy picture of Aurora's property taxes. The use of averages, without deeper examination can give an inaccurate picture. Here are some other Aurora measures gleaned from MoneySense.
a) Aurora is rated # 24 across Canada.
b) Average income, $133,000 - 6th highest in Canada.
c) Average home value, $560,000.
d) Net household worth, $833,000.
e) Average discretionary income, $63,600.
These numbers may help individual citizens decide whether our local taxes are appropriate and affordble.
Sincerely,
Robert Cook
***********
Some of these figures are used by the treasurer when introducing increased spending.
High average income and high average post-secondary education are apparently justification for steady increases in taxation.
The service level consultant study submitted to Council in December noted high cost of service reflected high level and high quality of service.
It's a measure of how things have changed over the years.
Spending used to be measured against the ability of those least able to pay.
All the airy -fairy schemes that permeated this term of office are a reflection of Council's
assumption of wealth and disposable income in the community.
The high salaries paid to the town's top administrators don't contribute to the statistics.
They do not live in our town.
Preservation of worthless relics..????
When I was re-elected in 2003. I had been out fourteen years. I had some catching up to do.
The Heritage Act had been amended to give municipalities authority to impose heritage designation
I wondered why . Change never comes without pressure. The answer was not immediately obvious.
No time wasted in Aurora designating the north east quadrant. I thought it was a bit of a stretch
but it wasn't something I cared to argue. Owners who didn't want to be part were able to opt out.
No controversy erupted.
The situation with the south east area is different.
Request for district designation came from one opposed to re-development. Control of the neighborhood was the obvious objective.
The area includes Wellington Street and Victoria Street; properties with different long-term uses expectations and investment.
Opposition to heritage designation and all that entails quickly became evident.
Carl Bray ,the Heritage Consultant doing the "study" for the town, described opposition as a
"significant minority"
It was an interesting choice of words.
Opposition was apparently not to be taken seriously.
Subsequently opponents organized and brought their arguments directly to Council's attention.
Whereupon accusations of fear-mongering and spreading mis- information quickly spread throughout the land.
It often happens when there's no rebuttal.
The other eventuality is the politicians' dance of weave and bend and twist in the wind.
If there is insufficient intestinal fortitude to fulfill the role, it is a pathetic sight to behold.
Now the controversy commands community attention.
The town budgeted $100,000 for the "study" The contract was let for $67,000. Funds came from general tax revenue.
It's not clear to me why.
The HeritageAct authorizes a municipality to impose heritage designation.
It's not clear to me why.
Authority carries responsibility to monitor and ensure a designated district is restored and maintained in its authentic heritage character.
Heritage Designation is registered against title of every property in the district.
It's not policy...guideline ...or flexible option. It's law.
It must be enforced ...by the corporation and obeyed by private property owners.
We already have a heritage planner on the payroll. With two designated districts, monitoring and
enforcement will compel a new division within the corporation.
Inevitably, it will increase the tax burden.
Without as much as a by-your-leave or a smidgin of consultation.
Misinformation...lack of communication... there's plenty about.
There can be no doubt insurance on property will be impacted by cost to restore property
constructed a hundred years ago.
Mortgage financing is not available without insurance to cover the risk.
Marketability is reduced by restrictions on use .
The corporation does not benefit by maintaining old,inadequate,unsafe housing
on large lots, taking up more than their share of infrastructure, producing less than their share of assessment revenue to pay for fire protection, police protection and other services provided by the municipality, including violin and piano concerts by world renowned musicians and esoteric art shows.
The question of reducing numbers of councillors and a ward system drew good response.
Better than the open house on the joint facility the Mayor thought was wildly successful.
We didn't even talk about how the town could practically be divided into wards.
Now let's hear from you about all these perishing heritage designations being undertaken
at the expense of the community at large and without support of the inmates.
The Heritage Act had been amended to give municipalities authority to impose heritage designation
I wondered why . Change never comes without pressure. The answer was not immediately obvious.
No time wasted in Aurora designating the north east quadrant. I thought it was a bit of a stretch
but it wasn't something I cared to argue. Owners who didn't want to be part were able to opt out.
No controversy erupted.
The situation with the south east area is different.
Request for district designation came from one opposed to re-development. Control of the neighborhood was the obvious objective.
The area includes Wellington Street and Victoria Street; properties with different long-term uses expectations and investment.
Opposition to heritage designation and all that entails quickly became evident.
Carl Bray ,the Heritage Consultant doing the "study" for the town, described opposition as a
"significant minority"
It was an interesting choice of words.
Opposition was apparently not to be taken seriously.
Subsequently opponents organized and brought their arguments directly to Council's attention.
Whereupon accusations of fear-mongering and spreading mis- information quickly spread throughout the land.
It often happens when there's no rebuttal.
The other eventuality is the politicians' dance of weave and bend and twist in the wind.
If there is insufficient intestinal fortitude to fulfill the role, it is a pathetic sight to behold.
Now the controversy commands community attention.
The town budgeted $100,000 for the "study" The contract was let for $67,000. Funds came from general tax revenue.
It's not clear to me why.
The HeritageAct authorizes a municipality to impose heritage designation.
It's not clear to me why.
Authority carries responsibility to monitor and ensure a designated district is restored and maintained in its authentic heritage character.
Heritage Designation is registered against title of every property in the district.
It's not policy...guideline ...or flexible option. It's law.
It must be enforced ...by the corporation and obeyed by private property owners.
We already have a heritage planner on the payroll. With two designated districts, monitoring and
enforcement will compel a new division within the corporation.
Inevitably, it will increase the tax burden.
Without as much as a by-your-leave or a smidgin of consultation.
Misinformation...lack of communication... there's plenty about.
There can be no doubt insurance on property will be impacted by cost to restore property
constructed a hundred years ago.
Mortgage financing is not available without insurance to cover the risk.
Marketability is reduced by restrictions on use .
The corporation does not benefit by maintaining old,inadequate,unsafe housing
on large lots, taking up more than their share of infrastructure, producing less than their share of assessment revenue to pay for fire protection, police protection and other services provided by the municipality, including violin and piano concerts by world renowned musicians and esoteric art shows.
The question of reducing numbers of councillors and a ward system drew good response.
Better than the open house on the joint facility the Mayor thought was wildly successful.
We didn't even talk about how the town could practically be divided into wards.
Now let's hear from you about all these perishing heritage designations being undertaken
at the expense of the community at large and without support of the inmates.
Thursday, 27 March 2014
Only The Shadow Knows
Born of wealth and privilege, St.Andrew's College might have been our Alma Mater.
We would have participated in theatre arts and a debating society and become masters of the latter art.
No matter. We can learn . This media provides the opportunity.
A question under discussion is sufficient number of Council seats? 6 or 8
The task is to discover the merits and prepare oneself to argue for one or the other.
Rules are civility and timing.
The first means no invective, personal criticism of an opponent's intellect is a no-no.
"Ya. yir ma wears army boots." is not appropriate.
Itwould be definite lack of decorum . Points would be lost .
Timing in this media is not material but precision matters. Rambling cost points.
Consider what is known.
In living memory,Aurora always had eight councillors since a population of 5,000
and half its geographic area.
With the creation of Regional goverment in 1971, with a population of 11,000. authority was given to reduce the size of Council.
It was proposed and promptly rejected by the community. The feeling was one of deprivation of rights.
Fast forward to 2010. Contemplate the last term of Council.
Fury swept through the community. Three citizens were sued during the election campaign by the Mayor using tax resources, compelling them to incure massive legal cost to defend themselves.
Already a strong campaign had been mounted to replace the Mayor and five incumbents.
Twenty candidates were registered for eight seats.
Despite a massive effort the campaign was only partially successful.
Turn-out, always the key ,only increased by .5 %
The Mayor 's office was handily won by a candidate without experience of municipal government. A first in living memory.
Four Councillors of unknown quantity , were elected.
Two incumbents and a follower , all affirmed disciples of the former Mayor, were re-elected.
A fifth was squeezed out by the narrowest of margins.
A powerful campaign was only half successful
So, what did we learn?
Elections are hard. The electorate is a strongly independent entity. They do the best they can with what's available.
Half the Mormac Cabal was re-elected.
New untried members elected did not fulfill the promise of change.
Would fewer numbers have provided quality over quantity?
Would candidate selection be enhanced by a reduction in Council seats?
How say you?
Mind..... no name calling. It proves nothing .
And forby, how do I know you're not a candidate attacking the competition. ?
If I do it, everybody knows it's me.
If anonymous does it only The Shadow Knows.
We would have participated in theatre arts and a debating society and become masters of the latter art.
No matter. We can learn . This media provides the opportunity.
A question under discussion is sufficient number of Council seats? 6 or 8
The task is to discover the merits and prepare oneself to argue for one or the other.
Rules are civility and timing.
The first means no invective, personal criticism of an opponent's intellect is a no-no.
"Ya. yir ma wears army boots." is not appropriate.
Itwould be definite lack of decorum . Points would be lost .
Timing in this media is not material but precision matters. Rambling cost points.
Consider what is known.
In living memory,Aurora always had eight councillors since a population of 5,000
and half its geographic area.
With the creation of Regional goverment in 1971, with a population of 11,000. authority was given to reduce the size of Council.
It was proposed and promptly rejected by the community. The feeling was one of deprivation of rights.
Fast forward to 2010. Contemplate the last term of Council.
Fury swept through the community. Three citizens were sued during the election campaign by the Mayor using tax resources, compelling them to incure massive legal cost to defend themselves.
Already a strong campaign had been mounted to replace the Mayor and five incumbents.
Twenty candidates were registered for eight seats.
Despite a massive effort the campaign was only partially successful.
Turn-out, always the key ,only increased by .5 %
The Mayor 's office was handily won by a candidate without experience of municipal government. A first in living memory.
Four Councillors of unknown quantity , were elected.
Two incumbents and a follower , all affirmed disciples of the former Mayor, were re-elected.
A fifth was squeezed out by the narrowest of margins.
A powerful campaign was only half successful
So, what did we learn?
Elections are hard. The electorate is a strongly independent entity. They do the best they can with what's available.
Half the Mormac Cabal was re-elected.
New untried members elected did not fulfill the promise of change.
Would fewer numbers have provided quality over quantity?
Would candidate selection be enhanced by a reduction in Council seats?
How say you?
Mind..... no name calling. It proves nothing .
And forby, how do I know you're not a candidate attacking the competition. ?
If I do it, everybody knows it's me.
If anonymous does it only The Shadow Knows.
Wednesday, 26 March 2014
They know not what they do
Voter turnout in the last few elections.
2010 - 38.5%
2006 - 38%
2003 - 33%
2000 - 41%
1997 - 33.8%
1994 - 40%
*******
A Special Meeting of Council was held on Monday to choose wording for a question on the ballot on wards.
Council previously approved putting the question on the ballot in October's election.
Wording is as follows:
1. Are you in favor of electing all Aurora councillors, other than the Mayor, by ward vote instead of
Town -wide vote?
2. Are you in favor of reducing the number of councillors. other than the Mayor, from eight(8)
to six (6) councillors?
***************
I understand for the question to be binding, voter turnout must be 50%.
As noted above, the closest turnout in the last five elections (twenty years) was the year 2000
Turnout was 41%.
Each election cited had a mayoralty contest.
When there is none ,turnout can be and generally is as low as 20%.
Council also recently passed a resolution to allow for "re-call" if enough people signed a petition.
Premier Kathleen Wynne has announced new legislation to place municipal councils under the oversight of Ontario Ombudsman , Andre Morin.
Mr.Morin is not admired in government circles. He first came to eminence with the Special Investigative Unit, oversight of police where a death has occurred.
He was relieved of responsibility for that job.
Eyebrows raised when he was appointed Ontario Ombudsman.
Aurora's Mayor has commented publicly if he really had CEO authority, there would be changes
at the Council table.
He did not specify.
I will not speculate.
At a time ,when one hopes citizens are contemplating candidacy, what encouragement is there in all of this to take additional risk.
The Code of Conduct Act, Integrity Commissioner legislation. Conflict of Interest Act.
Ontario Water Act that could find an entire Council guilty of an inditable offence punishable by jail time.
The normal everyday process of being a candidate carries its own self-inflicted costs and penalties.
$100. registration :
Thousands of dollars costs of a campaign.
Audited financial statements at the end of it;
Hundreds of milles walked; thousnads of steps and stairs climbed.
Thousands engaged , at least half with no interest in the enterprise.
On the fateful night,watching the tally and finally, potential public rejection.
There are always more candidates than seats.
People have always done it. Some, out of conviction ,two or three times before being elected.
Most never risk it again. It is not an enviable experience.
Now we have the Honorable Kathleen Wynne's government ,eviscerating the people's right to choose
and live with their selection.
At what point does priceless liberty become, for an individual, not worth the price?
Are we perhaps there already ?
People have authority and power, who know not what they do
2010 - 38.5%
2006 - 38%
2003 - 33%
2000 - 41%
1997 - 33.8%
1994 - 40%
*******
A Special Meeting of Council was held on Monday to choose wording for a question on the ballot on wards.
Council previously approved putting the question on the ballot in October's election.
Wording is as follows:
1. Are you in favor of electing all Aurora councillors, other than the Mayor, by ward vote instead of
Town -wide vote?
2. Are you in favor of reducing the number of councillors. other than the Mayor, from eight(8)
to six (6) councillors?
***************
I understand for the question to be binding, voter turnout must be 50%.
As noted above, the closest turnout in the last five elections (twenty years) was the year 2000
Turnout was 41%.
Each election cited had a mayoralty contest.
When there is none ,turnout can be and generally is as low as 20%.
Council also recently passed a resolution to allow for "re-call" if enough people signed a petition.
Premier Kathleen Wynne has announced new legislation to place municipal councils under the oversight of Ontario Ombudsman , Andre Morin.
Mr.Morin is not admired in government circles. He first came to eminence with the Special Investigative Unit, oversight of police where a death has occurred.
He was relieved of responsibility for that job.
Eyebrows raised when he was appointed Ontario Ombudsman.
Aurora's Mayor has commented publicly if he really had CEO authority, there would be changes
at the Council table.
He did not specify.
I will not speculate.
At a time ,when one hopes citizens are contemplating candidacy, what encouragement is there in all of this to take additional risk.
The Code of Conduct Act, Integrity Commissioner legislation. Conflict of Interest Act.
Ontario Water Act that could find an entire Council guilty of an inditable offence punishable by jail time.
The normal everyday process of being a candidate carries its own self-inflicted costs and penalties.
$100. registration :
Thousands of dollars costs of a campaign.
Audited financial statements at the end of it;
Hundreds of milles walked; thousnads of steps and stairs climbed.
Thousands engaged , at least half with no interest in the enterprise.
On the fateful night,watching the tally and finally, potential public rejection.
There are always more candidates than seats.
People have always done it. Some, out of conviction ,two or three times before being elected.
Most never risk it again. It is not an enviable experience.
Now we have the Honorable Kathleen Wynne's government ,eviscerating the people's right to choose
and live with their selection.
At what point does priceless liberty become, for an individual, not worth the price?
Are we perhaps there already ?
People have authority and power, who know not what they do
Saturday, 22 March 2014
I'll be fine
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Compare prices":
U OK?
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 21 March 2014 18:58
*********************
I'm alright. I just need some time.
My sister was twenty-two months older. Our childhood was as one. I knew her as well as I knew myself.
I'm not ready to write about it. Maybe I never will.
But for now, I can't write about anything else.
I just need some time.
U OK?
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 21 March 2014 18:58
*********************
I'm alright. I just need some time.
My sister was twenty-two months older. Our childhood was as one. I knew her as well as I knew myself.
I'm not ready to write about it. Maybe I never will.
But for now, I can't write about anything else.
I just need some time.
Thursday, 20 March 2014
Compare prices
An in-camera session was held after Council meeting on Tuesday. The item to be discussed was Hallmark Cards property on Vandorf Sideroad.
It's for sale.
It's twenty nine acres. Has warehouse facilities of 29 thousand square feet.
Asking price is $17 million dollars.
Similar properties in town have been on the market a number of years.
The town is proceeding with a plan for a joint works and parks facility on 4 or 5 acres with
an estimated $3 million needed to make it into a developable site.
Estimate cost of the project, including land. is $26. million .
Where's the logic?
It's for sale.
It's twenty nine acres. Has warehouse facilities of 29 thousand square feet.
Asking price is $17 million dollars.
Similar properties in town have been on the market a number of years.
The town is proceeding with a plan for a joint works and parks facility on 4 or 5 acres with
an estimated $3 million needed to make it into a developable site.
Estimate cost of the project, including land. is $26. million .
Where's the logic?
Wednesday, 19 March 2014
The Vigil Has Ended
My sister died at five o' clock last night.
I am finding it hard to compose my thoughts.
I will be back in touch soon.
I am finding it hard to compose my thoughts.
I will be back in touch soon.
Monday, 17 March 2014
A Week of Vigil
I had to go to Ottawa yesterday. My sister Kathleen is hospitalized . She has ben placed on palliative care.
It was hard to leave and it's hard to focus. .
I was able to say goodbye . I know she is in a good place.
Kathleen's children are with her. This week will be a vigil.
Thursday and Friday the litigation resumes in a court house in Oshawa.
This my be the week my attention is distracted.
This is by way of an explanation beforehand.
It was hard to leave and it's hard to focus. .
I was able to say goodbye . I know she is in a good place.
Kathleen's children are with her. This week will be a vigil.
Thursday and Friday the litigation resumes in a court house in Oshawa.
This my be the week my attention is distracted.
This is by way of an explanation beforehand.
Saturday, 15 March 2014
What will be , will be
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Grace needs Assurance":
Let Grace decide.
The Council can still be a nasty scene. too many residuals and heaven knows what is coming out of the underbrush.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 15 March 2014 19:16
*********
Of course Grace will decide. No pressure intended , No offence either by not mentioning others.
When Grace resigned I felt the community was short-changed, It wasn't meant to be that way.
Let Grace decide.
The Council can still be a nasty scene. too many residuals and heaven knows what is coming out of the underbrush.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 15 March 2014 19:16
*********
Of course Grace will decide. No pressure intended , No offence either by not mentioning others.
When Grace resigned I felt the community was short-changed, It wasn't meant to be that way.
Grace needs Assurance
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "All...":
I would love to see Grace run but she took such a nasty hammering with the last council that I hesitate to even suggest such a thing. I felt so badly because we had voted for her & encouraged others to do so
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 15 March 2014 12:51
***************
It's because of what happened in the last term that I think Grace needs to be encouraged.
And it's about the town's needs.
Grace's Dad was a Captain in the Beaches fire department.
It's an area with a strong sense of identity. People who grew up there speak of their background with pride.
Grace has that sense of pride in public service. It's not an idle cliche. We are short on identity and commitment on Council.
There's too much cold calculation of " what's in it for me "
FYI< there's a referendum campaign in Scotland now about Separation.
Except for language, it's not unlike the roils and rumbles we hear from Quebec.
Except the Scots might be a tad more deliberate and have less to lose,
The Irish still want the Northern Territory back. Kind of like Russians and Crimea .
The Irish practiced terrorism , with funs from Americans, until the mothers decided ...when they had to bury children...they had had enough.
Doesn't really matter where in Europe, passion is never far from the surface .memories
never fade and it doesn't take much to start an argument and get the blood boiling.
The new rigeur for blog will not include occasional waspish comments.
We are advised the trolls are being fed too much .
I would love to see Grace run but she took such a nasty hammering with the last council that I hesitate to even suggest such a thing. I felt so badly because we had voted for her & encouraged others to do so
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 15 March 2014 12:51
***************
It's because of what happened in the last term that I think Grace needs to be encouraged.
And it's about the town's needs.
Grace's Dad was a Captain in the Beaches fire department.
It's an area with a strong sense of identity. People who grew up there speak of their background with pride.
Grace has that sense of pride in public service. It's not an idle cliche. We are short on identity and commitment on Council.
There's too much cold calculation of " what's in it for me "
FYI< there's a referendum campaign in Scotland now about Separation.
Except for language, it's not unlike the roils and rumbles we hear from Quebec.
Except the Scots might be a tad more deliberate and have less to lose,
The Irish still want the Northern Territory back. Kind of like Russians and Crimea .
The Irish practiced terrorism , with funs from Americans, until the mothers decided ...when they had to bury children...they had had enough.
Doesn't really matter where in Europe, passion is never far from the surface .memories
never fade and it doesn't take much to start an argument and get the blood boiling.
The new rigeur for blog will not include occasional waspish comments.
We are advised the trolls are being fed too much .
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "All Join In The Chorus":
How can we have an honest discussion without opposing views?
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 15 March 2014 11:01
****************
I didn't say I would delete opposing views.
A difference of opinion and a mean and spiteful, venomous attack are not the same.
A rational argument is not enhanced by aspersions on character, moral or intellectual.
That's why Parliamentary Rules of Order require the person who has the floor to speak only to the question on the table.
Speaking of which, Grace Marsh should be encouraged to be a candidate in the next election.
Grace has a wealth of knowledge and integrity to bring to a Council .
We are not short of ability in Aurora. But we do need to restore confidence.
How can we have an honest discussion without opposing views?
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 15 March 2014 11:01
****************
I didn't say I would delete opposing views.
A difference of opinion and a mean and spiteful, venomous attack are not the same.
A rational argument is not enhanced by aspersions on character, moral or intellectual.
That's why Parliamentary Rules of Order require the person who has the floor to speak only to the question on the table.
Speaking of which, Grace Marsh should be encouraged to be a candidate in the next election.
Grace has a wealth of knowledge and integrity to bring to a Council .
We are not short of ability in Aurora. But we do need to restore confidence.
No Irish Need Apply
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Hallelujah I'm a Bum":
Evelyn
Please. what do you now about this " European Club " meeting at the town hall called by a woman running for Council ? does she have to pay for the use of the facilities & what might a ' European club ' be since we have solid european roots & have never heard of it
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 15 March 2014 08:58
********************
I haven't heard about the European Club.
Any one can use the Council Chamber .There's a User Fee.
I know of one woman candidate . Svetlana suggests Russian but that could cover a number of new/old Baltic States.
The candidate has been making her presence felt for some time.
A corner of Bayview and St.John's Sideroad has a designation for commercial development.
There was a delegation to demand trees not be removed. The town was being denuded .
Next request was for the Town to buy the land and turn it into a park much-needed in the new neighborhood.
After that, a delegation of support for the tree bylaw.
Also support for acquisition of the six acre school site no longer required by the separate school board for a much-needed park.
Then registration as a Candidate.
Then husband recruited and selected for Board of Historical Society under leadership f John McIntyre and William Albino.
And now formation of a European Club.
It's been a while but I don't think citizens of the tight little Island known as the United Kingdom
generally speaking identify themselves as anything but English, Norther Irish ,Scottish and Welsh .
Well, the English also self- identify as Brits. It's a peculiar affectation they have.
Some Canadians identify them as " Bloody Limeys" But the English are sublime in the certainty of superiority.
I'm not sure any citizens of Europe self-identify as Europeans
Certainly Asian people would not .
So I think, by a process of elimination, one must assume a meeting of a European Club in the Town Hall would have no political reference in the Town of Aurora.
It must be social.
If there is an invitation ,it must be seen to be exclusive.
Evelyn
Please. what do you now about this " European Club " meeting at the town hall called by a woman running for Council ? does she have to pay for the use of the facilities & what might a ' European club ' be since we have solid european roots & have never heard of it
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 15 March 2014 08:58
********************
I haven't heard about the European Club.
Any one can use the Council Chamber .There's a User Fee.
I know of one woman candidate . Svetlana suggests Russian but that could cover a number of new/old Baltic States.
The candidate has been making her presence felt for some time.
A corner of Bayview and St.John's Sideroad has a designation for commercial development.
There was a delegation to demand trees not be removed. The town was being denuded .
Next request was for the Town to buy the land and turn it into a park much-needed in the new neighborhood.
After that, a delegation of support for the tree bylaw.
Also support for acquisition of the six acre school site no longer required by the separate school board for a much-needed park.
Then registration as a Candidate.
Then husband recruited and selected for Board of Historical Society under leadership f John McIntyre and William Albino.
And now formation of a European Club.
It's been a while but I don't think citizens of the tight little Island known as the United Kingdom
generally speaking identify themselves as anything but English, Norther Irish ,Scottish and Welsh .
Well, the English also self- identify as Brits. It's a peculiar affectation they have.
Some Canadians identify them as " Bloody Limeys" But the English are sublime in the certainty of superiority.
I'm not sure any citizens of Europe self-identify as Europeans
Certainly Asian people would not .
So I think, by a process of elimination, one must assume a meeting of a European Club in the Town Hall would have no political reference in the Town of Aurora.
It must be social.
If there is an invitation ,it must be seen to be exclusive.
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