"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

Thursday 19 May 2016

OH DEAR ,WHAT CAN THE MATTER BE? JOHNNY'S SO LONG AT THE FAIR

I read it twice. The story in The Auroran quoted six Councillors. None of whom agreed with 
recommendations  in the report of the CAO. We don't know what Councillor Kim, Pirri or the Mayor
think. They were not quoted. It could mean one of two things.  They had nothing to say or 
nothing worth quoting. 

It appears a decision to spend ten million dollars of the hydro reserve on revitalizing downtown is to be made next Tuesday. Hardly time for input to a plan or method of payment that has or has not been 
refined by Council. 

On the other hand , the story suggests time will be allowed. 

Between now and Tuesday?

Councillor Mrakas is glad to decide  to demolish redundant buildings on Victoria Street. I would be 
heartened by the news.  But he's the only one making the reference. 

After twenty-five years of decision pending, if that was the final determination, it should have been the headline. 

The consultant's  report on "re-purposing of buildings"  has been presented . Obviously choices are yet  to be made. 

Councillor Abel doesn't agree with any of the CAO's recommendations.Particularly since there is no 
business case for investing $10.million.

No response to the Councillor's concern is noted. That's odd. Normal procedure would be for the Presiding member to seek a rationale from the CAO. 

It never happened . Councillor Abel is none the wiser and neither are we.  

It's hard to imagine response to a plan not yet decided. 

The Mayor did  not speak to it.

All but three members did . Agreement and disagreement were cited but not further articulated.

No decision by Council to make the plan their own. 

If members ,with every resource available to them,cannot define a  plan, how can the public  be expected to identify the good,bad or indifferent.  

Status of the Hydro Reserve Fund Bylaw? Something tells me it was rescinded last term. A financial feasibility report should be forthcoming from the Chief Financial Officer. 

The Reserve must be $35 million by now. 

Is it to be frittered away with nothing to show... on demolition rather than building?

 Are there no principles to be expounded?

Are we still heading down the yellow brick road  of ornamental concrete sidewalks?

We don't clean what's there now until well on in the season.

So many questions. So few answers. 

5 comments:

Anonymous said...



The Hallmark For Sale sign has a big LEASED on it.

Anyone we know?

Anonymous said...

"Councillor Abel is none the wiser..."

I believe that's a permanent state.

Anonymous said...

I think they Have to show that they are doing Something before the next election.
We have seen this before with promises of parks and hotels. It is being claimed as a huuuuuge step that they have decided to spend a huuuuuge amount of money.
Specifics To Be Determined Later
Gardening is getting under way. I don't think residents will turn out in droves to discuss this stuff -Again.

Anonymous said...

Obviously they had nothing worth quoting and even less worth saying.

Or is it the other way around?

Anonymous said...

Nothing with saying or quoting means the've already decided.