"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Tuesday 31 January 2012

A Brief Summary And Tally

Before gale force winds blew down from Georgina carrying all kinds of  familiar flotsam and jetsam  the Heritage Act was being referenced in our political circle. I will get back to it.

First it should be said, a Mayor doesn't have to defend him/herself for having  big ideas.

They just have to turn out well. Full credit is accorded if it does. A different result, if not.

Putting  the Blame on Mame doesn't  cut it. No politician worth his salt blames .They bite the bullet.  

Standing at the corner of Wellington and Yonge years ago, looking west at the chaos of re-construction,a municipal solicitor told me once, "If you want a career in politics Evelyn, you won't do anything. If you want to get things done, you won't have a career in politics"

He was partly right.

Stuff happened  during  the last term of Aurora Council to ensure a negative outcome. 

An e-mail was forwarded by a councillor  to the solicitor  for a client appealing a town decision. 

Councillors are bound by  Oath of Office to protect the municipality.Under Federal law,  Breach of Trust is a criminal offence. The Councillor had difficulty accepting the stricture. The town solicitor,  obliged to advise found other employment.

A Code of Conduct was custom designed  to serve a purpose other than integrity.

Complaint costing $70,000 legal fees filed,trumpets blaring.  A negative decision,  Number One Commissioner fired the day following.

New Commissioner after  a private meeting with the Mayor,  second complaint filed, same target.  Half- assed decision  never to be referred to again.Cost $40,000.

Still another complaint filed and withdrawn

The same  probationary employee coerced to file additional  complaint of harassment in the work place. Cost unknown.

Finally..... litigation....and a town  insurance provided defence.

Following that, failed litigation against three families costing to date, $65000 of public resources. Cost to families unknown at this time.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

No need to wait until Thursday, every day is Groundhog Day here.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Anonymous, 31 January, 2012 2:25 PM !

It's a shame that some politicians seem to make the same mistakes despite what history teaches.

Thank goodness that we still have at least a few people that are not afraid of being sued with their own tax dollars for the offence of speaking their minds.

Anonymous said...

My goodness when you bring such clarity to what happened in our fair little hamlet is sends a shiver down ones spine,

Now our neighbors north know exactly how we all felt , unless you've experienced it, not a soul on the planet can begin to comprehend the magnitude of the waste of public resources,