Not a Pretty Picture

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Surprise Party":

Can one ask where the figures originated? Could this be another Staff initiative? I can't speak for seniors but generally they do not seem to be over-reaching in their demands. They did not even expect the Seniors Center although they love it. Might be a mistake to think they are stupid about money.
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The idea of the celebration was the Mayor's. The Director of Leisure Services  was  directed to plan . I doubt the idea came forward without Mayoralty input.
I am equally certain the idea of using the hydro  reserve fund did not  come from this particular Director. He was part of the management team  when the sale took place.
He knows  how strong the feeling the money should not be frittered away with nothing to show for it. It was a difficult decision to surrender the asset of our own hydro. Had the Province not been pressuring to reduce small utilities, threatening higher prices for power, I doubt I would have supported the decision to sell or amalgamate with Newmarket.
Mine was not the only vote against spending this amount of these funds to hire a project manager to manage  a year long  celebration. 
Councillors Thompson and Humphryes argued against it and inexplicably voted for it. 
Councillor Gallo, Gaertner, Ballard and myself voted against 
recommending the plan to Council.
That's half a person short of half the Council opposed. A project like this should have full support.It is a celebration for Goodness Sake.
The decision is not yet made.
It is not between a celebration and no celebration. 
It's  between a year long celebration  and extravagance with multiple events and  funds spent that should only be used to replace an asset lost with a new asset of equal benefit to the community.
And a great wing-ding of a party,  over a long week-end that  provides an opportunity to participate, brings friends and relatives home to Aurora to share in the excitement and joy,  gives young people a memory of their home town that will live with them always,  does not dissipate a precious resource and maximizes the 
community's potential for creativity.
I don't believe profligate spending  honors the town's history. Not in the least. No sirree. That's not a legacy  in keeping with the town's character.
That's more like giving away half a million dollars a year and a precious building to an outfit that answers to nobody for the 
spending of it. 
We are doing that too. Same as the last lot.
Damned if I recognise  efficient fiscal management in  any of it. Despite the cost of  high-priced advisers.