Initially published in the Alliston Herald on March 26, 2009
The Good: Paul Whiteside has served as the chief financial officer for the Town of New Tecumseth since its creation in 1991. He served in a similar capacity for the Town of Alliston for almost a decade prior to amalgamation. By all accounts Whiteside is hardworking, dedicated and extremely able. Over the years he acquired the reputation of being a vigilant guardian of New Tecumseth tax dollars. Sadly, at Monday's committee of the whole meeting Paul announced his resignation. He will be missed.
Council Quote of the Week: "It's one of the greatest con jobs of the 20th century." - Tottenham Coun. Jim Stone on the promotion of the use of fluoride in public water systems.
Council Quote of the Week No. 2: "You couldn't put this stuff into a dump legally in Canada" - Coun. Stone again speaking of fluoride.
The Bad: In the course of the most recent federal election campaign, Helena Guergis faced questions about the delivery of a four-page newsletter after the election had been called. Initially Guergis claimed that the newsletter had been ready several weeks prior to the election call and that it had not been possible to stop. Closer scrutiny, however, revealed the literature referred to an event that had occurred just two days prior to the election call - a fact that brought the claim of Ms. Guergis, and her credibility, into question.
In response to the scrutiny both Guergis and her campaign manager, Andy Beaudoin, emphasized that the cost of the newsletter would be paid by the Guergis campaign and not with taxpayer dollars.
Several weeks ago Ms. Guergis filed her candidate's electoral campaign return with Elections Canada. The return does not appear to include any reference to the Guergis campaign having made a payment to the Queen's Printer for the cost of the newsletter. Several members of the local media have noticed the same thing and made repeated requests of both Guergis and Beaudoin for clarification.
In particular, they have asked to be directed to the item in the campaign return that reflects payment for the newsletter. The inquiries have apparently been met with silence.
This is indeed peculiar. Surely it would be a simple matter for Guergis (or her campaign manager or Official Agent or other representative) to identify where payment for the newsletter appears on the campaign return. Silence, in this instance, is not golden.
The electorate is entitled to an answer. Has Ms. Guergis honoured her commitment to pay for the newsletter with campaign funds or have we been duped? The failure to address the issue in a direct manner is not acceptable.
The Ugly: The County of Simcoe charges each municipality a levy for waste disposal associated with the single bag of garbage we are permitted each week. New Tecumseth council has elected to collect this levy on an "assessment" basis rather than a "per-unit" basis.
The per-unit method contemplates that the levy is charged only to ratepayers that receive the service and on an equal basis.
In contrast, the assessment basis means that higher assessed homes pay more for their one bag of garbage than lower assessed homes.
Although the County of Simcoe staff has recommended the per-unit charge as being more justifiable, it is a recommendation that has been persistently ignored by New Tecumseth council much to the chagrin of Coun. Dennis Egan.
Evidently all garbage is not created equal - the Previn Court stuff is much more expensive.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Initially published in the Alliston Herald on March 19, 2009
In the mid-1990s a municipal councillor from Toronto was charged with several counts of breach of trust and receiving commissions. It turns out he had taken more than $200,000 in "gifts" from a real estate developer. The councillor eventually resigned in disgrace and was ultimately convicted of several of the charges. Happily, he even spent some time in prison.
The reminder of this incident led me to give some thought to the type of qualities and characteristics that I personally find desirable in a politician. What follows is an entirely arbitrary and non-exhaustive list of seven such traits. For your amusement, characteristics of the "anti" politician are referred to in parenthesis.
To add local interest I've identified one politician in each of the seven categories, either past or present, who appears to possess the positive characteristic. This does not mean there is only one. In fact, there are no doubt too many to name. It's just that I only have 650 words.
Intelligent (Intellectually Challenged): In this day and age politicians are often called upon to approve transactions and/or arrangements that involve complex facts, concepts and terminology. An elected official with the intellectual capacity of a rock will not understand the complex facts and concepts and will, almost always, defer to the bureaucrats who make the recommendations. God bless the politician who can think independently and ask intelligent questions. A local example: Alliston councilor Jamie Smith.
Open Minded (Partisan Troll): Not surprisingly, one observes the partisan troll most frequently at the federal and provincial levels. The troll dismisses or disregards every idea that comes from his/her opponent for partisan reasons. In contrast, the open minded politician recognizes that his/her adversaries (or colleagues in the municipal context) are capable of good ideas and is prepared to consider them all. A local example: former Alliston councillor Bob Marrs.
Humility (Egotist): The politician with a monstrous ego is an offensive and objectionable creature. The egotist is not generally loaded with brain cells (see above) and tends to forget that they are elected to act on behalf of the public. The dead giveaway of a politician with a monster ego is when he/she talks about "my career". A local example of a humble politician: Tottenham councillor Jim Stone.
Charismatic (Dullard): The inclusion of charisma on this list is not intended to suggest that someone who lacks charisma is incapable of being a good politician. It's just that much easier when the politician is able to comfortably engage and interact with his/her constituents. A local example: Beeton councillor Richard Norcross.Practical (Heartless Prig): According to Fowler's Modern English Usage a "prig" is a believer in red tape who "exalts the method above the work done." I expect we have all experienced or encountered an individual who insists upon certain "rules" being followed no matter how silly, absurd or nonsensical they may be. The practical politician looks for solutions and isn't beholden to tradition or "rules" that defy common sense.
Strong/Tough/Fearless (Coward): A politician should not be afraid to stand up for what is right even though it may be unpopular. One who folds at the first sign of adversity or under the threat of an Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) hearing is likely to be forever labeled as a cowardly lion and fearful of conflict. A reputation for weakness will not serve the public well. Sometimes you just have to be willing to fight. A local example of a strong politician: former Tottenham councillor Betty Aldridge.
Independent (Toady): Be wary of the politician who places him/herself in a position where they are identified as being "in the pocket" of a particular person or special interest group. It could become a slippery slope as the councillor from Toronto discovered. A local example of an independent politician who we need not worry about being in anyone's pocket: New Tecumseth Mayor Mike MacEachern.
In the mid-1990s a municipal councillor from Toronto was charged with several counts of breach of trust and receiving commissions. It turns out he had taken more than $200,000 in "gifts" from a real estate developer. The councillor eventually resigned in disgrace and was ultimately convicted of several of the charges. Happily, he even spent some time in prison.
The reminder of this incident led me to give some thought to the type of qualities and characteristics that I personally find desirable in a politician. What follows is an entirely arbitrary and non-exhaustive list of seven such traits. For your amusement, characteristics of the "anti" politician are referred to in parenthesis.
To add local interest I've identified one politician in each of the seven categories, either past or present, who appears to possess the positive characteristic. This does not mean there is only one. In fact, there are no doubt too many to name. It's just that I only have 650 words.
Intelligent (Intellectually Challenged): In this day and age politicians are often called upon to approve transactions and/or arrangements that involve complex facts, concepts and terminology. An elected official with the intellectual capacity of a rock will not understand the complex facts and concepts and will, almost always, defer to the bureaucrats who make the recommendations. God bless the politician who can think independently and ask intelligent questions. A local example: Alliston councilor Jamie Smith.
Open Minded (Partisan Troll): Not surprisingly, one observes the partisan troll most frequently at the federal and provincial levels. The troll dismisses or disregards every idea that comes from his/her opponent for partisan reasons. In contrast, the open minded politician recognizes that his/her adversaries (or colleagues in the municipal context) are capable of good ideas and is prepared to consider them all. A local example: former Alliston councillor Bob Marrs.
Humility (Egotist): The politician with a monstrous ego is an offensive and objectionable creature. The egotist is not generally loaded with brain cells (see above) and tends to forget that they are elected to act on behalf of the public. The dead giveaway of a politician with a monster ego is when he/she talks about "my career". A local example of a humble politician: Tottenham councillor Jim Stone.
Charismatic (Dullard): The inclusion of charisma on this list is not intended to suggest that someone who lacks charisma is incapable of being a good politician. It's just that much easier when the politician is able to comfortably engage and interact with his/her constituents. A local example: Beeton councillor Richard Norcross.Practical (Heartless Prig): According to Fowler's Modern English Usage a "prig" is a believer in red tape who "exalts the method above the work done." I expect we have all experienced or encountered an individual who insists upon certain "rules" being followed no matter how silly, absurd or nonsensical they may be. The practical politician looks for solutions and isn't beholden to tradition or "rules" that defy common sense.
Strong/Tough/Fearless (Coward): A politician should not be afraid to stand up for what is right even though it may be unpopular. One who folds at the first sign of adversity or under the threat of an Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) hearing is likely to be forever labeled as a cowardly lion and fearful of conflict. A reputation for weakness will not serve the public well. Sometimes you just have to be willing to fight. A local example of a strong politician: former Tottenham councillor Betty Aldridge.
Independent (Toady): Be wary of the politician who places him/herself in a position where they are identified as being "in the pocket" of a particular person or special interest group. It could become a slippery slope as the councillor from Toronto discovered. A local example of an independent politician who we need not worry about being in anyone's pocket: New Tecumseth Mayor Mike MacEachern.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Initially published in the Alliston Herald on March 12, 2009
The Good: Shortly after moving to New Tecumseth in 1999 I became aware of the existence of the Community Living Association for South Simcoe (CLASS) - an organization dedicated to helping those with developmental disabilities live and participate in their community.
The organization's staff appear, from my perspective, to be extraordinarily hard working, dedicated and professional. They deserve a great deal of credit for how CLASS and its clients remain a fixture and valued part of our community.
The Bad: After countless volunteer hours and the passage of many years, the Alliston and District Humane Society (ADHS) is, to its credit, ready to construct a shelter in Adjala-Tosorontio.
Unfortunately, the ADHS have encountered a variety of hurdles including an insistence by township council that bars be installed in all of the windows.
The ADHS has indicated that the new facility will not be used to store cash or narcotics. Nevertheless, in what can only be described as a bizarrely paternalistic attitude, council has, at least until recently, insisted upon the bars as protection from vandals.
Given the apparent desire of Adjala-Tosorontio council to protect rural buildings from vandalism, why do the windows at their own municipal offices not have bars? Surely the photographs of town councils from years past are at greater risk of theft (well, at least the frames) than "Bessie" the 13-year-old Beagle who suffers from flatulence.
The Ugly: The saga of the water pipeline becomes more murky and clouded with each passing day.
At last week's council meeting we learned that the town is the guarantor of the $21.3 million debt owed by the New Tecumseth Improvement Society (the entity that was set up for the benefit of New Tecumseth taxpayers as the "owner" of the water pipeline) to the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA). Given that NTIS has not made a single payment to OCWA towards the debt (and is therefore in default or at risk thereof) it's not clear how this little tidbit has escaped notice of the town's auditors. Is the existence of the guarantee in these circumstances not something that ought to be factored into the town's borrowing limits?
The Puzzling: At Monday's meeting CAO Terri Caron referred to an intention that the pipeline debt would repaid through the town's purchase of water from NTIS. The statement left me scratching my head. In particular, to use 2004 as an example, we know the town paid NTIS "rent" in excess of $1.5 million that year in order "to service the debt obligations associated with the pipeline." Yet we also know from OCWA that none of their $21.3 million debt has ever been serviced and we know there is another $10 million debt payable to the town (which, given the size, would appear never to have been serviced either). What's going on?
The Bad: In 2005 an Ontario Water Strategy Expert Panel recommended that the Province assume the Collingwood pipeline assets and debt. It was a proposal that was heartily endorsed by Mayor MacEachern in a subsequent news release. Unfortunately, the discussions that followed (and apparently remain ongoing) appear to have occurred under a cone of silence with only a handful of senior staff privy to the details.
The pipeline asset is incredibly valuable. The asset is worth far more than the cumulative debt. Accordingly, any contemplated transfer of the pipeline to the province must ensure that the town receives adequate compensation for the asset.
It would be irresponsible for the town to simply hand over the asset and walk from the debt. That would not represent fair or adequate compensation. It would be tantamount to giving it away.
If this is the mayor's intention we need to be told about it now.
The Good: Shortly after moving to New Tecumseth in 1999 I became aware of the existence of the Community Living Association for South Simcoe (CLASS) - an organization dedicated to helping those with developmental disabilities live and participate in their community.
The organization's staff appear, from my perspective, to be extraordinarily hard working, dedicated and professional. They deserve a great deal of credit for how CLASS and its clients remain a fixture and valued part of our community.
The Bad: After countless volunteer hours and the passage of many years, the Alliston and District Humane Society (ADHS) is, to its credit, ready to construct a shelter in Adjala-Tosorontio.
Unfortunately, the ADHS have encountered a variety of hurdles including an insistence by township council that bars be installed in all of the windows.
The ADHS has indicated that the new facility will not be used to store cash or narcotics. Nevertheless, in what can only be described as a bizarrely paternalistic attitude, council has, at least until recently, insisted upon the bars as protection from vandals.
Given the apparent desire of Adjala-Tosorontio council to protect rural buildings from vandalism, why do the windows at their own municipal offices not have bars? Surely the photographs of town councils from years past are at greater risk of theft (well, at least the frames) than "Bessie" the 13-year-old Beagle who suffers from flatulence.
The Ugly: The saga of the water pipeline becomes more murky and clouded with each passing day.
At last week's council meeting we learned that the town is the guarantor of the $21.3 million debt owed by the New Tecumseth Improvement Society (the entity that was set up for the benefit of New Tecumseth taxpayers as the "owner" of the water pipeline) to the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA). Given that NTIS has not made a single payment to OCWA towards the debt (and is therefore in default or at risk thereof) it's not clear how this little tidbit has escaped notice of the town's auditors. Is the existence of the guarantee in these circumstances not something that ought to be factored into the town's borrowing limits?
The Puzzling: At Monday's meeting CAO Terri Caron referred to an intention that the pipeline debt would repaid through the town's purchase of water from NTIS. The statement left me scratching my head. In particular, to use 2004 as an example, we know the town paid NTIS "rent" in excess of $1.5 million that year in order "to service the debt obligations associated with the pipeline." Yet we also know from OCWA that none of their $21.3 million debt has ever been serviced and we know there is another $10 million debt payable to the town (which, given the size, would appear never to have been serviced either). What's going on?
The Bad: In 2005 an Ontario Water Strategy Expert Panel recommended that the Province assume the Collingwood pipeline assets and debt. It was a proposal that was heartily endorsed by Mayor MacEachern in a subsequent news release. Unfortunately, the discussions that followed (and apparently remain ongoing) appear to have occurred under a cone of silence with only a handful of senior staff privy to the details.
The pipeline asset is incredibly valuable. The asset is worth far more than the cumulative debt. Accordingly, any contemplated transfer of the pipeline to the province must ensure that the town receives adequate compensation for the asset.
It would be irresponsible for the town to simply hand over the asset and walk from the debt. That would not represent fair or adequate compensation. It would be tantamount to giving it away.
If this is the mayor's intention we need to be told about it now.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Mouseland: Part III
Initially published in the Alliston Herald on March 5, 2009
There was trouble in Mouseland. There was a shortage of peanuts. There were no peanuts to pay for a hole where the Tottenham mice could put their doo doo. There were no peanuts to pay for more fire mice. There were no peanuts to fix hundreds of mouse paths. The mouse paths in Mouseland looked like swiss cheese.
Even the mouse pool leaked. There were no peanuts to fix it.
Mouseland used to have peanuts. That was when the mouse called "Larry" was head mouse. Larry was a tiny, secretive mouse who loved to spend peanuts. It was his most favourite thing to do.
Larry the Mouse paid millions of peanuts for the water hose that brought the Japanese mouse company fresh water to build things. Then he borrowed millions more. There was monster peanut debt.
Larry even had Mouseland buy property with the bald mouse called "Newman". Newman the Mouse kept the good parts that made peanuts. Mouseland got the empty parking lot. Now Newman's tenant mice use the parking lot for free. It wasn't such a good deal for Mouseland.
When Larry the Mouse was no longer head mouse he liked to volunteer. He became President at the Gibson Castle and helped spend the Castle's peanuts. Larry still likes to spend peanuts.
The deputy mouse did not worry too much about the peanut debt. He mostly worried about becoming head mouse again. He even coloured his fur yellow to make it seem that he was not too old to be the head mouse.
The Mouse House mouse from the Briars had some ideas about how to fix the peanut problem. But whenever he talked in the Mouse House the other mice would cover their mouse ears and say, "La la la la la la la." They did not want to listen to him.
The legal mouse from Alliston liked to use big words when he talked about the peanut shortage. He would say, "The paucity of the arachis hypogaea is iniquitous." The other Mouse House mice didn't know what he said. They hardly ever knew. They just wished he would speak Mouse.
The girl mouse from Alliston also seemed worried about the peanut shortage. She even stopped giggling when she talked in the Mouse House.
The large mouse from Beeton loved to spend Mouseland peanuts to buy shiny toys and objects. He was like a pack rat. As soon as he got one shiny toy he scurried around to spend more peanuts on another. When he got the Beeton library he wanted the Beeton field. When he got the Beeton field he wanted the Beeton field house. When he got the Beeton field house he wanted a new Beeton arena. He was a happy Beeton mouse.
The youngest Mouse House mouse from Tottenham liked to talk about saving peanuts. He would say, "We need to be responsible with our peanuts" and "We need to look out for the taxpayers of Mouseland."
It made him smile when he said these words. He liked it when he sounded responsible. But he seemed confused. After he said these things he would vote to spend peanuts on whatever shiny objects the Beeton mouse wanted.
The oldest mouse from Tottenham was very generous. He didn't seem to worry much about the peanut shortage. He just wanted to give peanuts to old mice.
Some mice thought that Mouseland should sell the water hose to fix the problem. The water hose was worth a lot of peanuts to the cats and rats who liked to build mice nests for thousands of mice. That would lower the monster peanut debt. But the head mouse had a different idea. He wanted to give away the water hose to the land called "Queen's Park". The Queen's Park mice must have put a spell on the head mouse.
To be continued...
There was trouble in Mouseland. There was a shortage of peanuts. There were no peanuts to pay for a hole where the Tottenham mice could put their doo doo. There were no peanuts to pay for more fire mice. There were no peanuts to fix hundreds of mouse paths. The mouse paths in Mouseland looked like swiss cheese.
Even the mouse pool leaked. There were no peanuts to fix it.
Mouseland used to have peanuts. That was when the mouse called "Larry" was head mouse. Larry was a tiny, secretive mouse who loved to spend peanuts. It was his most favourite thing to do.
Larry the Mouse paid millions of peanuts for the water hose that brought the Japanese mouse company fresh water to build things. Then he borrowed millions more. There was monster peanut debt.
Larry even had Mouseland buy property with the bald mouse called "Newman". Newman the Mouse kept the good parts that made peanuts. Mouseland got the empty parking lot. Now Newman's tenant mice use the parking lot for free. It wasn't such a good deal for Mouseland.
When Larry the Mouse was no longer head mouse he liked to volunteer. He became President at the Gibson Castle and helped spend the Castle's peanuts. Larry still likes to spend peanuts.
The deputy mouse did not worry too much about the peanut debt. He mostly worried about becoming head mouse again. He even coloured his fur yellow to make it seem that he was not too old to be the head mouse.
The Mouse House mouse from the Briars had some ideas about how to fix the peanut problem. But whenever he talked in the Mouse House the other mice would cover their mouse ears and say, "La la la la la la la." They did not want to listen to him.
The legal mouse from Alliston liked to use big words when he talked about the peanut shortage. He would say, "The paucity of the arachis hypogaea is iniquitous." The other Mouse House mice didn't know what he said. They hardly ever knew. They just wished he would speak Mouse.
The girl mouse from Alliston also seemed worried about the peanut shortage. She even stopped giggling when she talked in the Mouse House.
The large mouse from Beeton loved to spend Mouseland peanuts to buy shiny toys and objects. He was like a pack rat. As soon as he got one shiny toy he scurried around to spend more peanuts on another. When he got the Beeton library he wanted the Beeton field. When he got the Beeton field he wanted the Beeton field house. When he got the Beeton field house he wanted a new Beeton arena. He was a happy Beeton mouse.
The youngest Mouse House mouse from Tottenham liked to talk about saving peanuts. He would say, "We need to be responsible with our peanuts" and "We need to look out for the taxpayers of Mouseland."
It made him smile when he said these words. He liked it when he sounded responsible. But he seemed confused. After he said these things he would vote to spend peanuts on whatever shiny objects the Beeton mouse wanted.
The oldest mouse from Tottenham was very generous. He didn't seem to worry much about the peanut shortage. He just wanted to give peanuts to old mice.
Some mice thought that Mouseland should sell the water hose to fix the problem. The water hose was worth a lot of peanuts to the cats and rats who liked to build mice nests for thousands of mice. That would lower the monster peanut debt. But the head mouse had a different idea. He wanted to give away the water hose to the land called "Queen's Park". The Queen's Park mice must have put a spell on the head mouse.
To be continued...
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