Our Town and Its Business

Lookit Here

2012-02-27T20:40:00.000-05:00

   October 4th resolution, states "THAT Council authorize the CAO, if he deems it necessary, to engage a consultant to assist with the development of the key performance indicators, subject to an upset spending limit of $20,000; and THAT Council authorize the CAO to work with staff from the Aurora Cultural Centre to define the reporting relationship between the Aurora Cultural Centre and Council including a plan to incorporate Council representation on the Aurora Cultural Centre’s Board of Directors.

It's the last resolution adopted by Council to deal the agreement between the   culture centre board and the town.

Note the date. It is nigh on five months since.

There has been no report..

I've noticed, it seems whenever Council directs staff many times it ends up costing extra money. But that authorisation came from council. See it there in the resolution.

It didn't need to be. The CAO has authority to spend up to $50,000 (I think) without coming to council for approval .

Whether he did or not, I do not know. Why would he need a know- nothing consultant to hold discussions with a board with whom he has regular communication.

The librarian meets regularly with the CAO .

Before Mormac, the librarian was a member of the senior management team but is now excluded from the Executive Leadership Team.

We have been informed, by the board chair? there has been a reporting relationship with town CAO.

So why would we need to bring a consultant at a cost of $20,000 to discuss the town's position with the board and make change recommendations along the lines directed by Council ?

I   just received a copy of a long communication sent to the Farmer's Market, from the newest board member (appointed in October) Susan Shaw, who states" the Board welcomes the opportunity to discuss but have not been given the opportunity"

Quote:
Many of the expressed concerns about the Centre are based on a report by the Town's Solicitor, which Council reviewed on Dec. 8, 2011 and directed Town staff to "initiate discussions with the Church Street School Cultural Centre to address the issues raised" in that report. Our Board has not yet been given that opportunity, in spite our assurances to Town staff and various councillors that we too would like to discuss the content of the report, as we do not concur with many of its assumptions.

********
The communication is soliciting support from the Farmers Market to oppose to a motion on a Council agenda.Many of the vendors in the Market are not Aurora residents.

The board, according to Ms Shaw has consulted with their own solicitor who "has given his thoughtful opinion"

Quote :
The Board and several of its partners & supporters will be making presentations to Council on Tuesday evening, as will some of our detractors. Please join us, if you can, at Council Chambers, Aurora Town Hall @ 7:00pm on February 28th.

Why I wonder, would a board member be sending out this communication to the Farmers" Market? Why a new Member hardly there long enough to know what has transpired?

************
E-mail from a Culture Centre supporter:

My wife and I are appalled and very surprised that you would entertain a motion to discontinue the operation of the cultural Centre in aurora!!! We have very much enjoyed the various venues the Centre provides and would like to look forward to more in the future.Please reconsider this motion!!! .

***********
It's shorter but fairly typical reaction to the information sent out by the Board .

Shocked and appalled is the general reaction that Council would contemplate debating a motion the board and their supporters do not support.

"The Board and several of its partners and supporters will be making presentation before the Council on Tuesday as will some of our detractors"

You should know a little something about our procedure bylaw.

Delegates are allowed 5 minutes to speak.There's no limit to the number who can speak to the same topic and keep repeating and repeating.

Currently the agenda shows Robert Layton , Board chair as a delegate.

Former Councillor Boll Hogg is a delegate re. Aurora Culture Centre .   Mr. Hogg is not indicated as "a detractor"

Our procedure allows delegation requests until Monday afternoon. We will not know until to-morrow, how many more delegates may appear , each given five minutes.

All with opportunity to speak before Council gets to it.

The Procedure Bylaw is for the purpose of moving council debate forward in a time efficient manner.

If you ever had the experience of listening endlessly to the same point being made over and over, a dozen different ways until Friday, you know how every ounce of energy can be sucked out of a room?

Believe me. It happens.

In our wisdom, we have set ourselves up for it in our duly approved Procedure Bylaw.

They don't even have to be residents of the town.

And Another Thing

2012-02-27T13:37:00.002-05:00

I stepped away from the computer to obtain sustenance for my continuing task of chronicling events as they occur and another blinding light smote me to illuminate another detail of the onslaught.

The Mayor has told us of the secrecy of board meetings and that he was not allowed to divulge any of the goings on to Council.

He was obliged to reveal that positively weird circumstance because of an e-mail from residents disclosing that he "participates" in board meetings.

How would the resident, intent on letting council know of support for the centre and opposition to any decision council might make on the issue, be aware of the Mayor's attendance, if she had not been informed of the fact by a member of the board.

Since the board chairman is leading the campaign in opposition to any decision council might make on the issue, why should we not assume, the board chairman strategically leaked the information about secret meetings and "participation" by the Mayor.

Obviously it's all part of a nefarious plot to usurp the authority of Council.

The Mayor tells us the solicitor advised he should not accept the chairman's invitation and why. He did anyway.

I bet he won't make that mistake again.

You wouldn't believe the number of e-mails we've received from people far and wide, who desperately wish they had a facility like ours in their community supported from town funds.

Once again Aurora, the only place in the Province, to open town coffers and allow funds to flow unimpeded while blandly proclaiming efficient fiscal management.

More later

Where There's A Will

2012-02-27T10:00:00.000-05:00

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "E-Mail From The Mayor":

I'm glad that the mayor is still committed to negotiating. However, invoking the termination clause will not facilitate those negotiations. One party holding a proverbial gun to the head of the other party is not bargaining in good faith.

**************
I have had pleas to stop talking about Church Street School . It has been a pre-occupation since I discovered the museum would not be restored to its rightful place.

I've been told "Get over it"

Tat I will not.

It was my resolution to Council in 2006 to use some of the hydro asset fund to finish what was started by the Historical Society: complete the renovations, get the collection out of boxes and available for enjoyment and enlightenment of the community.

The Board would have to be completely out of touch not to recognize growing resentment in the community at their decision to exclude the Historical Society and the museum from the building,
where they had invested all of their time and resources for so many years.

In three years, the board has never acknowledged or attempted to resolve the situation.

Instead an ill-informed campaign has been organized to oppose any decision by Council to resolve the problem.

The solicitor's report that the agreement does not reflect public interest was published several months ago.

Still no move.

For some of us on Council, it indicated there is no intention to resolve the problem. For three others, no problem exists.

There is no gun at anyone's head.These are not union negotiations.

Council not only has authority and obligation to act responsibly in the interest of the people we are sworn to represent. If the will is there,that's what will happen.

A decision is long overdue. .

E-Mail From The Mayor

2012-02-26T20:23:00.001-05:00

Mayor Dawe has given me permission to publish an e-mail that answers questions asked on this blog
*****************
Dear ... ... ......
I see that both Councillor Able & Pirri have responded to your email, so I will not duplicate what they have already said.

However, I do wish to point out one very significant (so I believe) fact, and that is to do with my attendance at the Cultural Centre Board meetings.

You are correct - I do have a standing invitation to attend these meetings, and I do attend them (with the exception of the last one due to a last minute conflict).

Unfortunately, the assumption that I attend therefore that should be sufficient to satisfy the needs of Council is incorrect. The invitation from the President of the Board clearly stated that "discussions at our meetings are confidential" and "you will not have voting privileges" In other words, I have no input on any decision at the Board and further, I am precluded from reporting back to Council on what happened at the Board meeting.

Indeed, when this invitation came to me I spoke with our Town Solicitor, and his advice was not to accept, as he felt that my attendance at the meeting would give the defacto appearance that I was supporting the Board and their actions. Obviously, he has just been proven correct. However, I made the decision that I would attend, because I felt it was important to start the communication. Further, I would like to point out that this invitation came 6 months after I initiated discussions.

My goal has been to negotiate and it still is. However, negotiation requires at least 2 willing partners.

I hope this helps explain some of your concerns. But, if not, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
Best regards,
Geoff

Something New

2012-02-26T16:28:00.001-05:00

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Another Sample":

Once the dust settles, Council is going to have to examine whether or not their CAO has exceeded his authority in his dealings with the Cultural Center. From the outside it appears as though he was working for the Centre instead of for Aurora. That has to be sorted since it quite clear to all involved in this blasted mess that there was no free flow of information. This doesn't have to be done now, but it does need doing.

***********

I can't publish this without an accompanying comment.

Keep in mind the circumstances in which this board and the agreement were created. It was not done during this term.It was not done by legal counsel or Councillors. It was done by the Mayor's friends.

The last term was four years. Much of the first three years spent trying to silence all opposition within the council

The lament was frequently heard throughout the land:

"She is trying to undermine everything council does.. She must be stopped."

When the first plan failed , the next was to move corporation business beyond the purview of council or part thereof.

It was not easy to do with an administration which understood shared responsibility.

So the administration was changed. I used to imagine an entry arch to the town hall; large wrought iron letters affixed

"ABANDON HOPE ALL YE WHO ENTER HERE" with tiny flames of hell curling, twisting and turning between the letters..

After original familiar faces departed , even new faces were in the process of changing.

Silence in the halls and corridors tangible with tension while everyone waited for the next screeching harridan episode that echoed like a banshee.

People with children and mortgages to pay, do not simply pick up and move on. Good gigs are hard to find.

In municipal public service, there's always hope for relief in the next election, accompanied by the fear of retribution with change.

One must simply weather the storm and master wooden inscrutable facial expressions.

Change comes and of course ....Who to blame? Who to blame? Who else is left but staff. It would be so-o-o easy.

No use to say" The devil made me do it." though truth can be contained in that small kernel of cliche.

I had not heard the board was meeting with the CAO until Mr.Layton made the statement in his call to arms. It cannot be ignored.

The statement,it seems, has been circulated throughout Ontario.

But it has not been confirmed.

I knew the financial statement was submitted quarterly to the treasurer to obtain the next payment of funds. There was no obligation under the agreement to report any part of the information to Council.

I believe ,the agreement was written to keep council in the dark.

The CAO was not intended to be exercising control.

The plan to sidestep council authority continued. Agendas appeared with no substantive business.

Decisions were made and actions taken without the messy time- consuming business of obtaining council authority.

A new Mayor took office and discovered an arrangement much to his liking.He knew nothing different.

To my knowledge, he and the CAO, without direction from Council undertook to meet with the Historical Society. They came forward with a plan.

Now we find from a supporter's e-mail The Mayor has attended Culture Centre board meetings. It may or may not be true.

If true...to what end...does he contribute to board deliberations? Provide assurance of support?

It would explain the board's confidence in mounting opposition to any council attempt to change the agreement.

I do not know

But we do all know the Board's plans ARE to counter any attempt by council to change the agreement.

The battle was enjoined as soon as the notice of motion was reported. Did the Mayor discourage the Board from challenging Council's authority?

I wish I knew.

Whose side is the Mayor on? Does he represent Council or the appointed board? Can he represent both?

I'm doubtful.

The situation is obviously more complicated than first appeared. Sometimes politics have to run their course for the game plan to emerge.

Just as it has. Every day... sometimes two or five, here-to-fore unknown details, come to light.

This Just In

2012-02-26T12:50:00.001-05:00

I publish this one in haste. It establishes yet
another fact about the success of the Aurora Cultural Cenre.

York Region Artists received free space for their show this year.Admission to the show was free. Not surprisingly It was the most successful yet.They appeal to council to maintain the status quo.

They have found the mother lode.

The Town has sponsored and fostered the Arts community for fifty years.The pottery group had its first kiln in town space. The organiisations have grown to what they are today with community nurturing.

When the town hall was built,I recalled what I had seen Vernon B.C. and Whitby Ontario. We built the Skylight Gallery on the third floor to accommodate the artists. We didn't build a museum. We had the Church Street school.

The new library accommodated the potters guild.

The Council Chamber was designed to hold concerts. A Sunday jazz concert was held early in its inception.

Artists have always paid a user fee like every other organization.

As noted in Nancy Newman's letter,they have been seduced by the Culture Centre with free accommodation
and opportunity to sell their art without paying a commission.

The letter notes artists from elsewhere are joining their organization. Why would they not? Where else would they get a free ride?

So who are the fools here. Town Leisure services lose revenue for space built to accommodate these groups.

How fickle they are.

The Senior's Sing-along was enticed, no doubt by the same offer.

We built a beautiful new facility for seniors with rooms to accommodate whatever function they might visualise. We provide staff to program events. But the Seniors pay. Most membership revenue is paid to the town for services rendered.Admission is charged for special events.

Along comes the Culture Centre, flush with town largesse, to lure them with free space and free admission. Why would they not be tempted?

It is not their job to look at the whole picture and reconise the impact.

But it is somebody's job.

We provide a free building to the Culture Centre Board. We pay for all maintenance, heat and lights. We provide a slush fund of $356,000 which allows to give away space that costs tax payers every which way to provide.

No genius here. No imagination. No intelligence.Just free money.

As a Councillor,I have to wait for evidence to appear. I know it's there. I just have to watch for it and know it when I see it.

What burns my arse is; we have an administration that costs us millions. This is all going on under their noses.

Board chairman, Rob Layton states in his call to arms, he meets with the CAO regularly.Keeps him up to date on activities at the Centre. No indication he does not receive tacit approval.

So, new we know how the stuff outlined above was allowed to happen?
Was anyone in charge? Some of us think we know the answer to that question.

What kind of fools do they think we all are? How long could they expect to keep it a secret?

When I asked for the solicitor to review the culture centre agreement last Fall, the Mayor demurred. He was concerned about the solicitor's work load.

I asked; "Mr Mayor, why would you not want to know what you need to know about that agreement"

He did vote for the direction. He now acknowledges the agreement does not represent town interest.It's a step forward.

Have I mentioned before my contention nothing was done in the previous term that did not serve the perceived political interest of the incumbents.

Refreshingly, the solicitor understood his task perfectly. He clarified. He would look "for omissions and shortcomings"

It was probably the most comforting moment of the last five years. To know that finally, there would be no deliberate obstruction.

It took a little while. Research was exhaustive.It had to be right. The report was more discreet than it needed to be, but fulsome nevertheless.

It made council realize the situation was no longer tenable.

Tax dollars flowing out of the treasury have increased to total millions.

Now we know we are losing previous revenue as well.

The town is probably not the only agency suffering.

Aurora's churches and service clubs have traditionally provided space for community functions and earned small revenues for their ministry as well.

I don't need a consultant or a survey to know there's an impact.

**************

Mayor and Council
On behalf of the Society of York Region Artists, I would like to offer our whole hearted support for the Aurora Cultural Centre. In light of the recent contract controversy, we feel that it is important for you to recognize the extraordinary value of the Aurora Cultural Centre. In a very short time, the staff of the Centre has created an artistic hub for our community that is unparalleled anywhere in the GTA. We are indeed fortunate to have such capable and dedicated people providing opportunities for the visual and performing arts. The members of SOYRA feel that our recent 25th anniversary show held at the Aurora Cultural Centre was the most successful show ever, and that was largely due to the initiative taken by the enthusiastic and hard-working staff. As you may know, we had approximately 800 people who came specifically to see the show. With free admission, members of the community had the opportunity to become aware of and appreciate the calibre of artwork being produced by local artists. The artwork sold benefited the artist, the buyer who now has an original piece of local art rather than a print purchased from a Toronto gallery, and of course the Cultural Centre. Local businesses, through their sponsorship, became better known by our guests. Several visitors even decided they would like to join our group.

Many of our members are long time Aurora residents. Personally, I have lived in Aurora for nearly 30 years. We fully appreciate how the Aurora Cultural Centre is contributing to the quality of life in our town. Where there was a cultural and creative void, we now have the opportunity to attend outstanding concerts, art exhibits, historical lectures and a wide variety of art, photography, writing, and music classes for children and adults. We know that on entering those beautiful red front doors, we are being warmly welcomed and that we will find something exciting to see and do.

Disrupting the current contract will only result in damaging the reputation and programing of this town treasure. Can we not find a way to negotiate a new contract in due course? Let us recognize the outstanding efforts made by the current staff to make the Aurora Cultural Centre an effective and enjoyable space for all.

Nancy Newman

Another Sample

2012-02-26T11:03:00.001-05:00

There are thirty e-mails on my screen this morning I've responded to most of them . Two have engaged in back and forth discussion.One from Aurora .One not.
I just responded to the Aurora resident for the third time. I used blogging time and I have some legal stuff to attend to so I will share the last response with you.
***********

Good Morning,

Your e-mail is again on my screen. You are making several erroneous assumptions. Obviously you feel your questions are rational and they are. Why therefore would you assume they have not already occurred to the people who were elected to represent your interests

The agreement ,according to our town solicitor was not written by a lawyer.It was written by friends of the ex-mayor and probably the lady herself. She was not re-elected. You might have noticed that.

There was an amendment to the resolution to approve the agreement. It was made to respond to my concerns about the haste to approve it.

The amendment referred the agreement to the new solicitor, who was appointed that evening, to review the agreement and report back to council if any modifications were required.

No report came back. NOT because the agreement was satisfactory as we have now learned, but for the same reason we had a new solicitor, a new clerk,a new CAO. a new director of public works.

I am not a lawyer either. The contract provides for a year's notice of termination.The resolution proposed by Councillors Pirri and Abel is in accordance with the agreement.

It's me who would break the agreement here and now by withholding funds from the board. I would have done that last year.

It is my contention the board did not uphold the intent of the community and the agreement when they froze the Historical Society out of the building. They did that from day one.

That was adversarial .

They have never chosen to offer an explanation to the community.

The town did not lease a building to the board with market value rent. The board contributes nothing towards the cost of the space they occupy.That suggests to me something more than a strictly legal arrangement.

Why do you assume the Historical Society has not interfaced with the board in the three years since renovations were completed? How reasonable is that assumption? I believe you are confused because you do not wish to deal with

the obvious.

I cannot believe you have lived in Aurora all these years and paid nominal attention to your town's affairs and were not aware what has been going on. This issue did not spring up out of the ground overnight like a fungus.

Politicians tend not to be adversarial. They tend to look for compromise to avoid the kind of reaction you are perfectly illustrating.Councillor Pirri and Abel are doing exactly that and look where it has got them.

If anything is wrong it always has to be the fault of politicians. Oh My God, we won't vote for them again.

Sometimes that's exactly the right decision. It was in the last election. It may be again in the next if right decisions are not made.

I tend not to be typical and walk around carrying fear of consequences on my shoulders. I enjoy my responsibilities. I am glad to be where I am.

I asked for the job. I believe I may assume people who vote for me tend to like that about me.

I am the kind of politician I would like to have represent me. I keep putting my name forward for election because I have never found anyone else like me.

People who don't like where I stand on any given issue, tend to accuse me of being adversarial. Usually when they can't find another reason to disagree.

I may share our conversation with my blog readers. I have put enough blog time into it

Have a great day

Another Sample

2012-02-26T00:31:00.002-05:00

Dear Mayor Geoff Dawe and Aurora Councillors,

I am writing to express my disappointment with Councillors Paul Pirri and John Abel who intend to table a motion to invoke the termination clause in the Town's five-year signed contract with the Aurora Cutural Centre at Feb. 28th's Council Meeting.

I have been a long time resident of Aurora, since 1981, and the Aurora Cultural Centre has been one of the best ideas to keep the Arts alive in this area! It is much more than an idea. Many people worked very hard to transform the Church Street School into what it is today, a beautiful facility to display art, attract musicians, showcase Aurora's rich historical past, encourage the public to take courses, etc. The staff continues to work hard to provide relevant attractions for residents of all ages. The popularity of the Centre speaks for itself! Never have I seen people use this building like I have in the past three years since it became the Aurora Cultural Centre. Why would you want to terminate something that is of benefit to all?

Personally, I would be very upset to see this contract terminated. I have used the Centre on many occasions, taken courses there and attended functions. It has enriched my life and I would like to have further opportunities to partake in events organized by the directors and co-ordinators.

The Arts are IMPORTANT, just as important as parks and recreation (sports), environmental issues, the library, and the list goes on. Please reconsider the motion that is about to be tabled. It could adversely affect something that is truly important to many residents of York Region.

***************
I picked the above because the writer claims long-time residency of Aurora.

How many times have I told the story of the purpose of the town's investment of millions into the renovation of Church Street School.

About the Historical Society's fund raising campaign and retention of architect specialists to design the museum. Of $750,000 grant obtained and used to create the controlled environment necessary to protect valuable artefacts.

I provided the facts so many times,readers complained about having to read it over and over.

I talked about it at every opportunity. Wrote letters to the editor.

The issue has been discussed again and again since the 2011 budget

The e-mail campaign to support the Culture Centre Board and staff, launched by the board against the Council has produced some surprises.

I have responded individually to most e-mails.Now I am calling a halt.

If they were sufficiently disinterested in town affairs to be able to write with knowledge aforethought, they are not likely to be interested in facts now.

The e-mail authors stick essentially to the script mapped out by Mr. Layton. The Board is doing an amazing job and staff are simply divine.

They critically identify the two Councillors who put forward the motion to deal with the problem.

They deny there is a problem.They know there's nothing that can't be worked out without knowing it has been tried.

They appreciate the beauty of the facility but know only what they see.

Probably half who responded to Layton's call do not live in our town. Do not pay our taxes. Have no idea of principles of equity between users of facilities.

Any suggestion that factors other than their own interest might be relevant to the question, would undoubtedly be dismissed summarily.

They have no idea of what went before. As though they have lived in the rarified atmosphere of some other place. Lofty condescension permeates the tone.

It will be interesting on Tuesday to see how Council responds.

A Sample

2012-02-25T18:35:00.000-05:00

Dear Councillors,

I am currently in Arizona and unable to be personally present at the meeting regarding the Aurora Cultural Centre.

It is with dismay that I have learned that a couple of councillors fail to understand what a fabulous facility has been developed utilizing the beautifully renovated and historic building and its very competent and imaginative staff to enrich the community with tremendous opportunities to experience and participate in a large variety of activities.

I trust that the Mayor and the remaining Councillors will prevail in their support for the continuation of the contract and that if adjustments need to be considered, that they can be done in an intelligent way that does not destroy the ability of the Aurora Cultural Centre to function effectively.

Sincerely,

Ann Mortimer, C. M. RCA=

***************
Dear Arizona Visiting Person.

It doesn't take much of a stretch of imagination to realise how easily one might develop a delightful program of art and culture if one is provided with a beautiful facility, rent free, with heat light and maintenance provided and a third of a million dollars in cash, plus whatever revenues one may or may not derive from programs in the

facility, from fundraising activities and from soliciting donations.

It may be the reason the Aurora Culture Centre is unique among all others

No other municipality in the Province would likely be so profligate with public resources as to provide such amenity with absolutely no accountability to any governing authority.

Evelyn M. Buck

W..TT...FFF

I don't Go There

2012-02-25T18:09:00.001-05:00

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Subtlety Is Lost":

An Ethical Question
This morning, I decided to bite the bullet and see what Councillor Ballard had on his Blog, or whatever he calls it. There I discovered a Poll asking about the Cultural Centre and asking me to vote. My question is whether my less than friendly visit should make me decline to vote ? Would it somehow be used to benefit his case? Is it simply a trap? I haven't voted and do not know if he can see if someone votes more than once. Don't know enough about computers. So, what do you advise ?

*****************

I never visit Councillor Ballard's Blog. From time to time somebody will tell me something he has said.

I think it's best for the sake of maintaining civility that I do not know what he has to say outside of a council debate.

I've never understood why people who hate me persist in visiting my blog. They are no more welcome than they would be in my home.

But to answer the question about voting on a blog poll. I can't.

An anonymous person sent the questions to my blog.

Aha,I thought. It may be a trap. So.... I zapped 'em

When The Auroran started polls on line I wondered what would hinder a person from skewing the vote by casting a vote every five minutes , yes or no, according to one's preference.

Somebody told me a second vote from the same computer would not register.

I tend to think that would have to be the case. How else would the process make any sense?

I tested it once on a television polls. You call a phone number and state your preference. I voted several times to see if anybody would catch on.

They never did.

Huh, I thought, why would anybody pay any attention to those scores? I never had anyway. So it made no difference.

Any more than I am inclined to log in to Ballard's blog. I figure anybody who carried the former Mayor's purse for her wouldn't likely have anything to say on any subject that would interest me.

I Am Fuming

2012-02-25T14:05:00.002-05:00

An e-mail to all councillors:

I am a resident of York Region and have been involved in the
arts in York region for many years. For the past 21 years I have
been the artistic director of Thornhill Chamber Institute. I am ,as
well, a professional musicoan and private teacher of violin at the
Toronto Waldorf School.
As a member of York Region arts community, and participant in
many musical endeavors in York region I feel compelled to address
you. I have been made aware of your possibly taking away a clause
in the agreement which would threaten the Aurora building's
previously-agreed-upon contracted time of use.
The building has been a welcome change in serving the arts of
all persusions. I personally was thrilled to see it arrive and felt
that we
finally had a place to visit and use as a home base. We were
finally allowed a place similar to any in cities and towns where
the arts are considered an integral part of the community. The
Aurora building is a visible presence and certainly draws
attention to the arts as being a valuable part of our culture.
Please do not take this away!!!
Yours Sincerely,
Gretchen Anner , Artisitic Director ThornhillChamber Music.com

**************

This is typical of the numerous e-mails received by the Mayor and Council in the last week. I am posting it because I understand the York Region Arts group were leased the space in the Church Street School that was intended for the Historical Society. It was one of the board's first decisions.

Under the agreement the board is required to obtain town approval to lease space. It doesn't have to come to council. Nothing does.

Because of previous re-organisation of the town's administration, request for approval went to the Director of Public Works or is as now known, Director of Infrastructure and Environment.

Responsibility for management of facilities was transferred from the Director of Leisure Services; the person thoroughly familiar with various programming and the significance of the request.

Approval was granted by the new chief out of ignorance of the significance or perhaps by direction of the Mayor.

Who could know under the circumstances?

Half the Leisure Services Department's responsibilities were transferred from one who had credentials and background in all town programs , to one who had none.

The first person's salary stayed the same. The second moved up the grid on the pay scale.

I need to stop now and have a nice calming cup of tea.

E--M--E--R--G--E--N--C--Y

2012-02-25T13:24:00.001-05:00

I've been kept busy for several days now responding to e-mails from all over from ill-informed people responding to a rallying call for support of the status quo from the appointed board of the Church Street School facility against a Notice of Motion on the town's business agenda on Tuesday evening.

I found this announcement attached to the undersigned e-mail.

***********************

Please find attached my feeling of the subject to be raised on 28th and i hope this can play some part in focusing on the important of culture in our community. Thanks Pt. Doobay

From: bdoobay@hotmail.com
To: info@auroraculturalcentre.ca
Subject: RE: Friends of Aurora Cultural Centre Asked to Show Support at Town Council Meeting Feb. 28
Date: Sat, 25 Feb 2012 10:50:15 -0500

Thanks for sending me the information of the up coming event and i can assure u that i will be attending the meeting on 28th. Let me say i am very disappointed with the intention of the councillors' and i would like to know what cultural qualification theses councillors have to guide them to make such irresponsible suggestions. I am a Hindu Priest and moved in the area just a few months now and i feel very strongly about community culture because this is the key to established the pure spirit and guidelines of our foundation of future generation. Pt. Ishwar Maharaj Doobay.

*******************

In response to one of the many e-mails I have received in the last few days , I hesitated to suggest the board was responsible for the e-mail campaign to fight a decision by Council that might impact the status quo.

Well By Golly... how wrong I was .

Note how Mr Layton fails to mention the town solicitor's review of the agreement which found it to be without merit in representing the town's interest. Minimal change recommended was Council representation on the board
.

That was before Christmas

Note also Mr. Layton reference to reporting to the town's Chief Administrative Officer suggesting the practice totally fulfills, in his view, the need for accountability

Nowhere does the statement acknowledge the lack of requirement under the agreement for the Chief Administrative Officer to report to Council on the activities of the Board.

This board has been in operation since 2009. Nowhere is there a direct public record of accountability from a board that receives in excess of half a million dollars of public funds plus a rent free building to operate in.

What does that sound like ?

Is it clear and transparent?

Does it respect the authority of the people as represented by their council?

Does it look like something deliberately contrived to keep

the business operation of the facility secret ?

Upon my word! I do believe it to be so.

The plan of the board is apparently to fill the council chambers on Tuesday evening with ill-informed supporters, an inordinate number of whom are not Aurora residents,to intimidate by their numbers and pummel council into submission.

The tactic has previously been successful.;

There's a Tigers hockey game that night. Cable T.V. will not show the Council Meeting until 11P.M.

If you ever needed to attend a council meeting and let your feeling be known, it is now.

Remember how the insane and wildly extravagant monstrosity of a traffic calming plan came to be in the north-west quadrant of town.

Hey!!! Check This Out

2012-02-25T12:38:00.001-05:00

Aurora Cultural Centre
February 24, 2012

Friends of Centre Asked to Show Support at Town Council Meeting February 28

Dear Friends of the Aurora Cultural Centre,

On behalf of the Centre's Board of Directors and staff, we would like to bring your attention to a motion that will be tabled by Town of Aurora Councillors Paul Pirri and John Abel, this Tuesday, February 28, to unnecessarily invoke the termination clause in the Town's five-year signed contract with the Aurora Cultural Centre. The contract is scheduled to be renewed in January of 2014.

For our many visitors, volunteers, suppliers and colleagues who wish to show their support of the Aurora Cultural Centre, you can contact Mayor Geoff Dawe and his fellow Councillors by emailing allcouncillors@aurora.ca and the Town Clerk at jleach@aurora.ca, or by calling 905-727-1375. We also invite you to join us at the Council Meeting this Tuesday, February 28, 7:00pm, at Town Hall, 100 John West Way.

The Centre has been operating out of the Church Street School for the last three years, and since its official opening in 2010, the Aurora Cultural Centre has grown by leaps and bounds with an attendance of more than 20,100 people in 2011. Thanks to you and the many residents of Aurora and York Region, visits to the Centre have already increased this past January from the same time period last year.

The Aurora Cultural Centre Board of Directors was completely taken by surprise with this unwarranted action by Councillors Pirri and Abel, who have spoken on the record as fully supporting the thriving Centre. We can assure you, the Board is committed to negotiating in good faith on all issues brought to the table and understands that final funding approval must be reserved for Council. As a termination of the current contract is not required to begin negotiations with the Town of Aurora, we have asked for the opportunity to resolve issues with the existing contract in collaboration with the Town.

A Town ordered independent Contract Compliance Audit Report presented in late 2011 by Brooke Laker, concluded that the Aurora Cultural Centre is "in compliance with all of the CSA (Cultural Services Agreement) sections which speak to ensuring accountability and transparency of the Centre's actions. Since the Centre is compliant with all of these sections we therefore conclude it is acting in an accountable and transparent manner."

We believe the Audit Report clearly concludes the Aurora Cultural Centre staff and Board of Directors are fulfilling our mandate of providing arts, culture and heritage programming year-round, as governed by the Town's five-year signed contract. In addition, Centre Board and staff have made it a priority to provide the Town's Chief Administrative Officer with comprehensive financial and programming status reports, including Key Performance Indicators, on a quarterly basis.

It is widely recognized that the existence of a facility such as the Aurora Cultural Centre brings an increased quality of life and economic stimulus to any community. A termination of the agreement could do irreparable harm to the Centre and would impede our ability to sign programming and supplier contracts, book events and workshops, and to attract long-term sponsors and funding partners.

We are committed to continuing a dialogue with the Town, and welcome the support of our community to ensure the Centre is in a position to deliver on its mandate for years to come.

Please visit our new website for more information and updates at www.auroraculturalcentre.ca, and contact us by email at President@auroraculturalcentre.ca. Additionally, some of our supporters have provided opportunities to share your comments on Facebook at Friends of Aurora Cultural Centre.

We thank-you for your continued support, and hope you will join Board members, staff, volunteers and fellow supporters at Council this Tuesday.

Yours sincerely,

Robert Layton, President, Aurora Cultural Centre

Subtlety Is Lost

2012-02-25T11:25:00.004-05:00

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Success All Round":

Newmarket?! That's heresy in a blog that's supposedly about "Our Town".

***********
Ah!! but you fail to appreciate my subtlety.

In Our Town we regularly waive fees for use of town facilities. We have a line item in the budget.

Organizations raking in hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity think nothing of requesting a waiver of fees,year after year,for use of town facilities.

We are the target town for fund-raisers because of our munificent generosity.

We   even provide "sponsorship grants",cash money, on top of waiving user fees as much as a thousand dollars, for a three day Jazz Festival that last year had reported revenue of $140,000...all on the pretext it brought business and fame to Our Town

What a crock.

It certainly contributed nothing to the cost of providing the service.

It was a deficit, deficit all the way.

We regularly elect people who regard their role akin to    philanthropy. Nothing is enjoyed more than contemplation of distributing largesse from tax coffers.

Grandmama...Grandmama''' How much can we give away?

Oh dear children, lots and lots today

To make ourselves popular with the unwashed masses who are too preoccupied to comprehend, it's their resources we are giving away.

A few years ago, a fundraiser was held for a town event;the July 1st Parade. Traditionally the parade had always been financed from the fundraiser.

A Silent Auction was held. Four tables of prizes donated.

No proceeds were reported. No accountability required. Despite the event was held by a sub-committee of an advisory committee and prizes were solicited under the auspices of the town.

Instead the town ponied up a $10,000 grant to fund the event out of taxes. The next year, $12,000

Every year, when that small group of families gather in Newmarket to work hard and put on a social event to raise funds to make the lives of   specially abled young adults better, I think of the contrast of how things are done in Aurora.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars are raised for charitable and other events in Aurora. Possibly millions. The norm rather than the exception, is for organisation to ask for fees for town facilities to be waived.

Why do they do that?

Small organizations that apparently don't rate, pay the fees. Which must inevitably be higher to absorb the cost for free-loaders.

But successive Aurora councils think only of how to increase prestige by doling out the dough on the scale of importance of the organizations making the request.

I think it's shameless . Unconscionable. Embarrassing. Politics at its least elevating.

So every year close to Valentine's Day, I tell the story again of the amazing success of a small group of families, some from Aurora, who have created an event that people look forward to, that raises funds to contribute to the lives of people who need the help and pay the user fee for the facility the town provides and never ask for it to be waived.

I await the final tally eagerly so that I can make the point once more, for the benefit of neighbours and colleagues.

We keep hearing of affluence of the average resident in Aurora.

Why are the merits of paying their share not recognized?

Why are the scam artists so easily able to fold into the fabric of our community?

Why is there so much TALK about righteousness, good conduct and efficient management?

Give me a break.

Why am I made to feel like a common scold for mentioning what appears to me to be so obvious ?

.

Success All Round

2012-02-24T20:13:00.000-05:00

My grandson Adam will travel to Edmonton this week-end. His brotherKeenan and partner Keri left this morning. His mother and father and sister Robin will leave on Sunday.

They will be home again a week from Sunday.

Between times ,Adam will play goalie with Special Hockey International.

He will travel for the first time in a plane. When he is on the ice, every member of his family, save one, will be there to cheer him on. There will be tears of joy on every face.

Last Saturday, the sixth Valentine Day Fundraising Dance and Social was held at the Newmarket Seniors Centre. Every year tickets are sought by more people who have heard of the event and wanna be there.

The Silent Auction is the great attraction.Proceeds are more each year and a good time is had by all.

This year the gross take was about $23,000. After all expenses were paid net was $19,900.

They always pay the user fee for the facility. Never have they asked for it to be waived. All of the family, including Adam, work at putting the event together.

They move tables and chairs into place. Make sandwiches. Arrange sweet treats. Put out the chips and snack foods. Dad minds the bar. Sister sells tickets on raffles. Adam plays host and kibbitzes with his friends who drink gallons of free pop and eat chips and have a marvelous fun evening .

In the end, the money is counted and another great adventure is a reality in their lives. The team will travel ,well equipped with everything they need , self-sufficient,independent, knowing it was acccomplished with kind hearts and the willingness to put their backs into it. Taking nothing for granted.

This year the silent auction raised $9,900 . The most yet

Newmarket continues to grow. Still ,at the heart of it, the community thrives , alive and well , caring about things that matter.

Saints Preserve Us

2012-02-24T14:06:00.001-05:00

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "All There Is To Know":
There are more penalties involved. Morris has to pay her lawyer/s and the town is paying to represent staff. Then the cost of bringing the matter to court can be claimed by the taxpayer doing it. That has already likely added up to some serious money due to delays along the way. Too bad we can't charge interest for the use of town money for what will probably be two years.

************
Correct. Delays are contrived But courts are not blind .They are not isolated from the community either.

There are more expenses coming down the tube related to the Morris debacle. But they are not penalties imposed by the court when a defendant is convicted.

Which was the question I answered.

It's the reason I voted against paying Morris' legal bills.

It meant the town accepted liability.

In my judgment, the lawyer who accepted the retainer shared liability with Morris for costs related to the failed action.

I did not believe the matter ended with payment of the bills

It has not.

I did not believe Council should acknowledge liability.

Council had an obligation to save the town harmless.

As we have done now in releasing staff from the obligation to maintain confidentiality of closed session meetings.

It is not our purpose to obstruct the purpose of Conflict of Interest legislation.

Much of Canadian law is derived from English common law.

Which means, commonly practiced common sense and justice.

One of the common surprises of modern times is how modern generations are so completely in awe of so-called professionals.

A study done by Guelph University established that fifty-three per cent of all graduates cheat to obtain their credentials.

University faculties are aware of it. They turn a blind eye.

It may not be honorable but it is essentially practical. A Bachelor of Arts cost a minimum of $30,000 to obtain. Much of it borrowed.

It stands to reason students are going to do what it takes to ensure graduation. It may not mean they would have failed without cheating. It just means they can't afford to take the risk.

If students start failing courses en masse. There 's a good chance the paper would no longer be worth the expense.

Faculties might find themselves without students to teach.

Perish the thought...that would never do. Faculties are not above moving to protecting their collective arses. and promote their industry.Never mind the question of productivity and a guarantee of quality.

Another surprise is how modern Councillors tend not to think for themselves all the time,any more. There were always a few that didn't. They coasted along on somebody else's coattails.

But now, righteousness and confidence are par for the course. Now there are professionals to advise.

Just do what you are told and all will be well.

"Ah yes, but the director said it, it must be right"

" Who am I to challenge the professionals?"

"I would like the director to answer my question, if you don't mind"

God Save Us All from Sins Of Omission.

Calling Keswickians

2012-02-24T13:06:00.001-05:00

If the resident accused of defaming Mayor Grossi, now being defamed by the Mayor, were to proceed with litigation against the Mayor, the possibility is, the Mayor would be indemnified by the town's insurer,,

It has happened elsewhere.It doesn't make it right .It just means a Mayor can lean on insurers. It's a competitive world out there.

Against legal advice, Toronto council voted to pay legal costs of Councillor Heap, who was sued for defamation by a competing candidate in the 2006 election.

He was quoted that he was obliged to settle the matter to avoid bankruptcy.

Councillor Doug Holyday took the issue to court, at his own expense and the decision was reversed.

At the same time , Councillor Sandra Bussin 's legal costs were funded. That may be the case law cited by Georgina's CAO .who was directed to speak for Grossi the Brave One, when Karen Toomey delegated to council recently.

Councillor Bussin is Speaker of Toronto Council.

The City Act permits election of a speaker. The Mayor is not the presiding member.

If the process is the same as higher levels of government , the Speaker is removed from the political process. except to cast a vote in the event of a tie.

It is possibly the reason the chair is indemnified while other Councillors are not.

Councillors are indemnified by town insurers if sued for a decision made in performance of their duty. Taking legal action against someone else is not covered by town insurers.

i imagine Georgina was advised by some genius to pass a bylaw to get around that obstacle. It may have been legal. It would not have been right.

The Heap case brought by Councillor Holyday against Toronto Council must be a matter of public record. Sandra Bussin's also.

Karen Toomey would probably find it helpful to obtain a copy. if the community is intent on compelling Georgina Council to pay costs of the acknowledged flawed judgement initially exercised.

Since the CAO cited case law, it would be reasonable to request it be produced and or posted on the town's web site.

Court numbers or even hard copies should be available for the price of copying.

A formal request for an investigation into a closed meeting is a right. Legislation was created to serve that specific purpose.

It can't be a matter for councils to decide.That would make no sense.On the other hand, there would be precedents for that.

I think some provincial laws are nothing more than window dressing to fulfill knee jerk reactions.

Municipalities are required to foot the bill for inquiries. The legislation and the process should be on line.

There is legwork to be done that does not require legal services.

Forewarned is forearmed .

And Good Luck

All There Is To Know

2012-02-24T00:17:00.003-05:00

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Conversation Is Over":

Good call. I have a question about the blasted Municipal Act for anyone who knows that answer and won't charge for it. A hypothetical 'if' a Judge finds Morris breached the Act, what are the consequences? To date, I have learned she can be banned from elected office for 7 years [ which is already written ] and can be ordered to return the money from the Town. But what I'm interested in is if there is any sort of fine for doing this sort of thing when you have the experience to have known it was wrong. Can't find anything but am likely not looking in the right place.

**********

I think you have identified all the penalties.

Conflict most likely is to vote for something like a re-zoning that results in property owned by the councillor to realise value it would not otherwise have.

There is no prohibition against a property owned by a councillor realisng a value through a re-zoning. The conflict arises out of the councillor using his position of trust to influence the vote on re-zoning. to his own financial benefit.

When such a decision is being made, a Councillor with a conflict must not only declare the conflict and a brief description, he/she must leave the room where debate and decision takes place.

The penalty on conviction is being banned from holding public office for seven years and returning ill-gotten gains to the municipality.

It's rare indeed for a Mayor to take a council behind closed doors in the town hall, engage town staff in a discussion and a decision to use public funds and other resources to pursue an action which is personal and not the business of the corporation.

Particularly where a town solicitor, whose prime responsibility is as officer of the court, is present.

Jamie Young had Mayor Grossi of Georgina on his cable program "Perspectives" last week. The Mayor was invited to explain why he recently took the action of notifying a constituent of intent to file suit for defamation .

The Chief Magistrate noted his role as Chief Executive Officer and proclaimed himself to be "the face" of the municipality which obligated him to defend the corporation.

Without the proverbial unblinking gaze, the Mayor claimed repeatedly the defendant had "lied"

He did not clearly articulate either the lie or the truth of the matter

He exhibited no hesitation in defaming the character of his critic by publicly accusing him of lying.

Throughout the interview, no reference was made to Canadian law that prohibits government from suing constituents.It 's another protection we have that others do not.

Mr Young, host of the show, is former Mayor of East Gwillimbury.

It may be ,neither host nor guest have been paying much attention to recent news outside their respective balliewicks .

Either that or both were betting constituents in Georgina and East Gwillimbury are equally inward- looking.

I think that might be a bet they would lose.

The Conversation Is Over

2012-02-23T18:04:00.001-05:00

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Rules Is Rules":
ENOUGH!
This should not be discussed up here. We could do damage while trying to help.

*********
I agree.

We can't have a conversation if only a few people know what it's about. I am not one of the few.

I started it in response to a question about a ruling I made on Tuesday.

David clearly indicated he was going to talk about someone and try to be diplomatic.

It didn't matter who or what he planned to talk about. It was not stated,as required,in his formal request for delegation status.

Had it been, it would have been explained to him by staff, it could not be allowed.

A meeting held for the purpose of conducting town business cannot be used for another personal purpose.

I have better reason than most to know it's a flagrant misuse of the authority of the chair to encourage and permit such abuse.

Ongoing ramifications can be severe. We all have good reason to understand what they are.

So this conversation is over.

What!!!!

2012-02-23T10:22:00.001-05:00

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Amazing Gift": to anonymous @ 22 February, 2012 10:03 PM

We???

Are you a councillor? Or are you one of the sheep

******************

David Letterman has a feature on his program where he asks
"Is this something"

The above was the only comment this morning. I had to go back and read Feb.22 10.23 am to see what it was about.

Like one is a member of council or a sheep person.

Being elected is something. It's a mistake though to think it's permanent.

My first term elected it was two years.

I had been a candidate twice before. Term of office was one year. I thought that was better.

Nomination meetings were held in Wells Street School. The auditorium was packed as was the lobby. Out the doors and down the steps the people stood.

Candidates names were written on a chalk board along with a nominator and seconder.

Hydro Commissioners were to be elected and trustees for public, separate and district high school.

Each candidate had three minutes to speak .Mayoralty candidates had five

The clerk-treasurer presided .He had a brass bell to ring time.

It was an big evening. Women wore hats.

On election night , as poll numbers came through names and numbers went up, again on a chalk board, written by the Clerk-treasurer who was and still is Elections Officer.

Once it was in the town office on Yonge Street. The night I was elected for he first time , te ritual was in Victoria Hall.

One of the losing candidates commented;

" I guess I'll have to start writing letters to the editor "

I remember thinking " yes but they need to make sense"

I probably know better than anyone the impermanence of elected office.

It doesn't make one different from anyone else in the community. .

I was opposed to three year terms. Four year term are worse.

But it' s amazing though how fast the time goes.

Next Tuesday, council will pass its second budget. Only one more before the next election

The budget is the measurement of a Council's competence.

Everything stems from a budget.

Rules Is Rules

2012-02-22T16:50:00.000-05:00

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Purpose Of Rules":

Why would David be humiliated?You have confused me.We know what he put up with but cannot speak up

************

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Purpose Of Rules":
Normally you go into great detail. Please give us more information about what happened at last night's meeting.

*********
A meeting of Council, in public, is not the place to speak up.

David Heard had delegation status at the Meeting of Council in Committee last night. The reason for the request related to the old post office clock.

He withdrew that purpose and started to speak of something else. He said it related to an individual who could be identified. He said he intended to be diplomatic.

I was in the chair because it was my turn.The exercise is to give Councillor's experience at presiding over a meeting.

I told David I would not allow him to speak about an individual
who could be identified. I explained the rules do not allow it.

I stated it plainly. Perhaps brusquely. I don't think there is any other way .It has to be firm. .

Being in the chair is a serious responsibility. A meeting can quickly get out of hand. The chair must be confident.

I don't know any other way..

If David had asked me beforehand I would have warned him what to expect.

If I embarrassed him by cutting him off and I acknowledge I might , it would undoubtedly have been worse if I let him get into his complaint and stir up a hornet's nest.

At least, it wasn't on camera.

David is a friend but there was no other way to deal with the situation.

I would have done the same thing if Moses himself came down from the mountain with his own set of rules.

.

The Purpose Of Rules

2012-02-22T16:04:00.001-05:00

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Not In Any Circumstance":

I think you were just MEAN.

**********

Perhaps you would like to be specific. In what respect do you think I was mean.

Do you know what David planned to talk about.

Did he intend to complain about a Councillor's conduct.

If that was his intent, would he have any reason to believe the Councillor would not respond.

If the complaint was about bullying , was the response likely to be belligerent? I think it might.

What rule would protect David from being humiliated ?

How could it be cited if David was allowed to take the first shot?

Where would it end?

Rules of Order have a purpose. The first principle is to maintain civil discourse.

Councillors must be free to express whatever views are relevant to a question. The requirement is it be done civilly without criticism and without impugning another's motive.

There are a few other governing principles but these are by far the most important.

Procedure also allows a chair's ruling to be challenged.

My ruling was not challenged.

Not In Any Circumstance

2012-02-22T14:13:00.001-05:00

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Not Understood At All":

Councilor Buck I heard about last evenings meeting and what happened.
I get the feeling the story of David Heard, mentioned in the post at 7:46pm, has taken a stance against the bullying.
I am disgusted as a citizen if David was attacked like that.

***********

I chaired last night's council-in-committee meeting. Councillors take turns.

David was listed as one of eight delegates.

The purpose for delegation was stated but not followed.

Twice he indicated he intended to be diplomatic. Then he said he had something to say about an identifiable individual.

It was not permitted. The meeting was public.Comments about an identifiable individual are out of order in a public meeting.

The rule applies to council and the public alike. The principle applies equally.

Council meetings are held to process the business of the
municipality. The Municipal Act requires municipalities to adopt rules of procedure to govern conduct of meetings.

Some matters are allowed to be discussed behind closed doors. The right to privacy is considered sacrosanct.

The rule is not always respected. When I came back to Council in 2003, Former Councillor Al Wilson frequently used the public forum to berate me in public.

Mr. Wilson had been a candidate several times without success. It seemed my being elected infuriated him

He had to take the microphone and display his great displeasure to the world. Wilson was lacking in self-control.

I had to take the Mayor of the day, to one side a couple of times before he took the matter in hand and ruled Mr. Wilson out of order.

Ex- Councillor Keane thought Mr. Wilson was being deprived of his rights.

During the last term, numerous individuals were encouraged to appear as delegates or in public forum and make a variety of unsubstantiated accusations and unfounded allegations .All directed against the same individual.

One memorable occasion, the town solicitor attempted to intervene and advise council the onslaught was not a matter for Council .

It was for naught. The presiding member was in charge.

Notwithstanding the Code of Righteous Conduct, no rules were observed that didn't fit her intent.

There was never any possibility the same licence would be permitted while I was in the chair.

Appearing as a delegate is a privilege. It is not a right.

Abuse of privilege is not acceptable under any circumstance.

Reading comprehension

2012-02-22T12:17:00.001-05:00

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Not Understood At All":

"A building the town needed, no matter how it turned, was turned over to a group with a vested interest with another one of those contracts like the Church Street School."

The Canadian Armed Forces has a vested interest in Aurora Politics?

You gotta be kidding me. Where does this stuff come from?

******************

Definition of "vested interest"

.3. A special interest in protecting or promoting that which is to one's own personal advantage

The Amazing Gift

2012-02-22T11:58:00.003-05:00

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "A Dream Came True":

To Anonymous 22 February, 2012 10:57 AM

"The time for dealing properly with this mess came and went without notice as the ordinary Aurorans were considered beneath notice."

Where were you and the others that are endorsing the voiding of a contract when this deal was made in the first place? It was not made in a vacuum or inside a closet. If you have a problem with how it is run, I think the proper place is at the Board level of the Centre

****************

No..the proper place is at the Council table.

I was there when approval of the contract was voted.

Questions were raised .

An amendment was made to the motion to refer the contract to the town solicitor, to report back if any modifications to the contract were necessary.

That never happened.

There was no follow through.

The new board interpreted the contract to mean they had authority to exclude the museum from the building.

The decision was not immediately apparent.

I have told the story several times of when it did become apparent.

I asked the Mayor in a Council meeting, when the museum was going to be up and running in the place provided for it by the town.

I well recall the response. The Mayor's eyes shifted rapidly from side to side like a trapped animal before she referred the question to the Director of Finance to provide a report.

That never happened.

It was the curator hired by the historical society who informed me when I inquired, of the board's refusal to accommodate the museum in the building.

Reason given .... a museum doesn't make money.

Mayor Morris had friends and campaign workers posted in all kinds of positions of influence.

Ken Whitehurst was appointed, at $60.00 an hour, to replace the curator who resigned, as resource person advising the Ad Hoc Heritage and Culture Committee of which he was a member. Chris Ballard was involved prior to being a Councillor
.
Councillors Gaertner and Granger represented Council on the committee.

The curator who resigned was the person who processed a successful application to Federal Heritage which brought $750,000,
grant revenue to be spent on a heritage project..

Deputy Mayor Bob Mc Roberts a life- long resident and town history buff asked to be involved in the committee.

That didn't happen.

The only requirement of the board to obtain release of the funds provided by the town was a quarterly financial statement submitted to the Treasurer. Who had no obligation to report anything at all to Council.

In other words, no accountability to Council. Only to the Director of Finance. Funds flowed unimpeded and that's how it was arranged.

No wonder they think they own the building

It was wrapped up, tied in a bow and handed to them.

If the deal wasn't made in a vacuum, it certainly was in a closet with only a few people who knew.what was intended.