"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 2 September 2014

We have our priorities

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Speculation is Rife":

"The parks department was using the hydro property productively. Heritage salvage was being accommodated in the yard .Town archives were safe and secure in the offices."

We know, we know, we know. But the proverbial horse has already left that particular barn. The stable door is closed; keeping on repeating it won't change the situation - deal with what is NOT what could have been

Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 2 September 2014 12:42


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We are dealing with what is. The consequences of that decision are very much to the fore. 

Much needed facilities for the works department would have been a fraction of the cost had we not, despite the advice of a space needs consultant,evicted them to meet the needs of the Rangers.

The Parks Department could have vacated their space on Scanlon Court leaving ample room for a new works building to be constructed while the old one continued to be used.

A new site would not have been required. Remediation of the inappropriate site acquired would have been unnecessary. Alternate access and egress would not have been needed. The price tag could have been closer to $5 instead of $ 27 million.

Not least concern is judgement or lack thereof that brought about exorbitant cost of the town by accommodating the Queen's York Rangers ahead of our own needs.

I do not agree that an agreement between two levels of government, both serving the interest of the same people could not have been changed.

It was an area for political action. To go toe-to-toe to represent the interest of the people they serve.

Civil servants do not bear the responsibility of elected officials.

They are not accountable to the people for the decisions they make.

Namby-pamby, panty-waist lazy twits of politicians do not serve us well.

Queen's York Rangers and historical attachment to the town does not make the town financially responsible for their future.

I have been an honored guest of the Rangers at passing out parade inspections enough times to be very familiar with their activities.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

"The consequences of that decision are very much to the fore."

Yes, but you are not going to change it. No matter how much you think that you can. This has nothing to do with "the former". It has nothing to do with "secrets". It is a decision that YOU dod not agree with. Now, every time that you get an opportunity, you recite the same thing and talk about how much money this deal costs the Town. Well, you were at the table, you were privy to the vote and it still happened. Suck it up and live with it.

Anonymous said...

@ 14:07

Hear! Hear!

Anonymous said...

14:07
You are quite correct in one part of your little snark. The past cannot be changed. But I believe that there were " secrets ". If emphasizing what happened keeps us from repeating those particular mistakes then that could be a positive.
I agree also that stories get re-told but I was not always around and there may be others not so familiar with the material.
" Suck it up and live with it." What are you ? An 11 year old ?

Anonymous said...

Suck it up? You will be sucking it up in taxes and living with it. Have you no concept the debt YOU will be in by sucking it up? We might not be able to change it, but we can change who will be on council next term.

Anonymous said...

14:44

11..? no. A realist however.

Do you know what the definition of insane is?

Doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result.

Just saying....

Anonymous said...

14:07 We taxpayers make up the town. It would be nice to know, secrets or otherwise, why we are spending $27M when $5M would have been more than enough.

I suspect that our public works depot is going to be much more than a storage yard and place to service and repair equipment.

And please do not spread any of that nonsense that it will not cost us a penny as we can pay with development charges and perhaps bags of money stored in the basement of town hall.

Our blog moderator knows full well that there is only one taxpayer. Unfortunately, some of her fellow councillors are not astute enough to understand this.

You know the old saying, " a fool and his money are soon parted". This is how I feel about this scheme.

Anonymous said...

"...when $5M would have been more than enough."

Who, other than Cllr Buck when she pulled this number out of her...hat, believes this to be a realistic tptal?

Anonymous said...

16:20- How's this for a realistic total...I wouldn't have spent one dime!

Anonymous said...

16:43
Nonsense. there had to be a new facility. the problem lies in the cost which could have been whacked down considerably and was not.