Broderick Epps: What a great handle… gee, I really hope you didn’t make that one up. Good point though, Ms. Gaertner is truly not the sharpest knife in the drawer, and even given my limited observation of the workings (?) of your council, I do sympathize with your collective level of exasperation. However it does not excuse the action/reaction of Councilor Buck. Not surprising actually, but equally not excusable. Of course it’s not like she got up and whacked anybody…lately.
And yes, in comparison to the goings on in Aurora, it is quite boring over here in Bethesda. But then a smooth running government and the sane folks who run it could easily be characterized as boring. Too bad it’s a foreign concept to you folks. And know, I am not easily offended, at least not by those who are not my peers…
“Condescending manner”? I like to call it being correct…
And finally, what have you got against “the Wayner”…?
Just because a well connected “good ol’Boy” has made good and manages to run the only scandal free municipal government in the GTA, you call him a buffoon?
Just who do think is doing a good job at the region? The mayors and representatives who are pushing for a zero tax increase this year? Those “visionaries”? Wayne’s pretty much the only one who is capable to look to the future and understand how short sighted a zero increase is. …Speaking of which, I see by the latest post, the usual suspects are about to start the complaining about Aurora’s proposed 2.82% tax increase. I guess you people feel it’s acceptable to incur debt now, and just expect your kids (or likely somebody else’s) to pay for it later. Sounds like a good plan, …who does your taxes, Obama?
And you call Wayne a Buffoon? Yeah right…sounds like jealousy to me

Fred: Yeah, your mayor likes me. And I tell you why. When we talk, and we do, I speak my mind, tell her what I think she is doing right, and what I think she is doing wrong, and I suggest to her what I believe to be possible imporvements/solutions.
Am I one of her unknown “advisors” many of you loath and fear? No. Hardly. Most of the time I don’t agree with what she does. As a matter of fact, I have told her, to her face, that she is quite possibly the worst mayor Aurora has had in recent memory. And that’s the truth.
But still she likes me. Why? because I am honest with her. She knows who I am, and why I am talking to her. I am trying to help. She doesn’t have to take my advice… mostly she doesn’t, (her loss) but heaven knows where you all would be if she did… but at least she knows I am doing it because I am trying to help.
Yeah, it would be a whole lot easier to sit on the sidelines, cowardly hiding behind the cloak of anonymity, and complain about everything with out giving any solutions beyond “throw the bums out!”
Remember the last time that strategy was successful in Ontario? Two words… Bob Rae… damn we’re still paying for that fiasco.
That’s why I have such a problem with most of the people who contribute to this site, and thier “intentions”.
They could really help if they wanted to, but they don’t. All they do is complain, but don’t offer up any solutions.
Most a bunch of self-important hypocrites really. Its easy to see by the names by which they hide behind. For instance, take “Council Cop”, like this person has some kind of legal mandated power over the council…sure. Or is this “White Knight” supposed to come galloping over the hill on a white charger and rescue the fair damsel in distress (Buck?) from the fire breathing dragon (Morris)?
Right.
(I’ll leave to you folks the visual of Buck as a “fair damsel”…)
Or “Someone who loves this town more than politics”, boy with a handle like that you’d figure this person would actually do something for the town other that complaining a blue streak whilst never leaving his basement…
As I said before, this blog has the possibility to be a positive force…but it ain’t happening yet.

Wowsers!: Apparently not. 200 lines for you…

A Timid Observer: You have every right to be timid if you find yourself on the opposite side of the prevailing opinion on this blog… well, you’ve come to the right guy.

And as to your questions… I’m not sure we have the time or the space to cover that.
But some general observations.
On Councilor Buck: She has said she respects the office of mayor, but not the current holder of that office. The truth is Ms. Buck has not respected any mayor of Aurora other than the short period when that office was held by her favorite person…herself.
Respecting the office, but not respecting the office holder is somewhat similar to respecting a highway, but not respecting the cars and trucks that drive on it. And then wondering why you got run over when you lay down on the asphalt…
Buck needs to understand a council is about team work, and she’s not always the captain. And threatening to take “your” ball and go home if you can’t make the rules is, well…let’s just say most of us ended that sort of behavior when we stopped wearing short pants. It’s time she did.
On Mayor Morris: Many have complained about the antics/activities of the mayor and her “supporters” on council, the so named “gang of six”. A good leader should always know how a vote will go before it comes to the floor, he/she has to know how the supporters and opposition will vote, so that the outcome is ensured/controlled. That is the reality of politics, it isn’t pretty, and it isn’t always right, but that’s the way it works. But doing it properly so it doesn’t look so heavy handed, awkward and yes, undemocratic, is a skill. Morris doesn’t have it yet, maybe not ever either. I think she may be at times too idealistic and naive, but also not comfortable with the office she holds and therefore becomes too overbearing and controlling in an effort to get done what she feels to right. She needs support from her council, she doesn’t get it, and so she over reacts…the result is almost nothing gets done, what does, never happens easily. The process gets bogged down, decisions are not made, or made poorly, staff is demoralized… and so on and so on. Well I don’t have to give any more examples of can happen, just look at what’s going on over there.
And Morris is not entirely to blame, the previous administrations were no better.
Does that excuse her? Definitely not, she should learn from the mistakes of others, as should we all, but that’s not happening. Democracy should be a growing, evolving thing, but that’s not happening either, and so it is being diminished.
Concrete examples? Go to council meetings. Be informed. Get involved. You will see them for yourself.
But hopefully, unlike most of the others who infect this site, you may be compelled to help, to build up instead of tear down, to be positive, instead of negative.
Be usefull.
There is hope for your town.
Don’t you be part of the hopeless, there are enough of those already…

Peace

My vote for worst councillor goes to the Councillor whose classless boorish behaviour since becoming a Councillor has staff affectionately referring to her as Evilina. Her know it all
sourpus demenour when she doesn’t hear what she wants certainly eclipses the vapid Ms. Gaertner or Jethro Bodine like Steven Granger.

Im interested in thoughtful opinons on democracy and how to improve it. Im not sure where Bethesda is but if its Stouffville, then his mayor would be on York Regional council along with mayor Morris.