Believe it or Not
Posted by auroracitizen on August 7, 2009
Thursday night, Aug 6, the contract for the Integrity Commissioner was terminated by Council — only 6 Councillors attended the closed session meeting Councillors Buck, Roberts and Collins-Marakas declined to attend because they weren’t informed why the meeting was held until too late to attend.
This decision was reported out after the emergency meeting in response to the decision that was provided by the Commissioner about the complaint against Councillor Buck lodged by Council on July22.
Let’s summarize.
- Contract signed: June 18
- Complaint lodged: July 22
- Decision rendered to Mayor Phyllis Morris: Aug 5
- Commissioner terminated: Aug 7
So let’s all guess why the Integrity Commissioner was terminated. Was it because he has integrity and refused to render a decision that conformed to the desires of Mayor Morris and her crew?
It will be very interesting to hear what Mayor Morris has to say about “cause” for the termination. However, don’t expect to hear anything concrete. The contract was probably written to allow termination by either party without cause — so we will be left to decide what the real back story is on this issue.
It will be equally interesting to hear whether members of Council have seen the report or anything from the Commissioner. And if so, which ones. Give them a call — see what they have to say.
Maybe one of them would be willing to make a comment to this post — in their own name versus anonymous — and let us know. Confession is good for the soul.
Truth is stranger than fiction. A fiction writer couldn’t make this stuff up and have anyone believe it was a credible story!
Use the envelope and pencil icons immediately below to forward this post to friends or leave a comment.
Aurora Citizen 
Anonymous said
I have asked for release of the report but the response is that it has to be released according to protocol and process for releasing reports and hence it will not be until September.
What I find amazing is that Councillor Buck was accused of being critical of town staff. I have watched council meetings consistently for 2 years and the people who always treat the staff with disdain and as incompetent idiots are Evelina and Wendy. Evelina is a nasty piece of work… just get an email from her about something you disagree with and see how vitriolic and arrogant she can be.I think she far surpasses anything Councillor Buck could write.
Nigel Kean said
To Aug 9 2:52
Glad to see that you think I am predictable. I am sure that you, as anonymous, feel safe making such a statement.
Please use your name or call me to discuss.
I think that the only predictable issue here is Morris' broken promises for transparency and openess.
I do use my name as I choose not to hid behind "anonymous".
What about you. Please expand on your statement.
Anonymous said
If the best you can do is deny me my voice by calling me Evelina, what does that say?
Anonymous said
and equally predictable to see an immature and intellectually stunted response from you Evelina…
Anonymous said
I'm happy Nigel Kean waded in at this point.
Very predictable!
Anonymous said
To the moderator, I have been rolling things about in my mind and I remembered the CAO deliberately instructing you to remove comments made in another blog and that they were going to write a letter to Google, what ever happened to that?
I need a good laugh right now.
The GOS seemed to think they can rule the world.
This is all sort of like an old low budget movie being played out in panasonic color.
Anonymous said
Why does anyone think for one moment that after what they have done with the Integrity Commissioner and the slander that the GOS will not manufacture to discredit him, that there is another Integrity Commissioner in this world that would touch Aurora with a 100 foot pole. Any complaints as stated in the GOS's notification are either stayed or abeyed until the commission of another Commissioner, good luck with any complaint issued to date. The wording alone is of legal contention and if any complaint goes further it only justifies further legal recourse for anyone involved. I would be extremely careful what you are complaining about and who? You never know what dark horse will jump out at you.
One more question…. was legal council, Mr. John Mascarin, in attendance at the closed session meeting on Thursday and if so how much did this little escapade cost us?
Nigel Kean said
How disappointing this council has turned out to be. How disappointing is the mayor after all of her promises of openess. How can councillors Wilson,Granger,Gallo,McEachern,Gaertner continue to follow her.
What happened to integrity? Oh wait they fired him.
Please continue your ways right up until the next election so that you will all get voted out.
Please.
Anonymous said
How many council members have university degrees?
There are lots of buffoons with university degrees. But there are even more buffoons without university degrees.
Nitkin's credentials look fine.
Anonymous said
I think that Evelyn Told us this would happen. Hey a tempest in a teapot isn't that what I have seen of late. Go for Evelyn and by the way where is your legal fund set up at? I would like to contribute.
Anonymous said
HEY WITHOUT QUESTION "SHE TOLD US". Evelyn did it again but you know they will tell you she is the person in the wrong.
What a joke. Evelyn with her almost 50 years of municipal politics behind her, according to these fools knows nothing.
Gaertner, Wilson and Morris why don't you start looking for a position in the real world, chances are there is not one there for you. Especially now, don't use the Town of Aurora as a reference, you will be tossed in a second.
Anonymous said
MorMac, I think it's more like MacMor. She is truly calling the shots. They are totally and completely out of control and have lost any sense of what their roles are as elected officials. The other 4 of this pack can't make a decision between them and only do as they're told…AGAIN. How can they look in the mirror? This Town has become the laughing stock of the Region. Just ask other members of Regional Council…they'll tell you quite up front our mayor is a joke. No one listens to her. She has no tenure with any of them and they write her off. What a fun year ahead. Let's get a citizen's group going that will be loud and demand to be told the truth. Who the hell is accountable to whom???
Anonymous said
what would it matter if the 3 of them showed up to the meeting..
Everyone knows it would have been 6 to 3
GOS does what ever they like disregarding that they are spending taxpayers money…
Follow the blind till they all fall off a cliff
I can't wait to see the budget this year….goin to love to see them try and keep it down with all the extra money they are wasting….
Anonymous said
ok so they hired this man
signed a contract
sent in a complaint..that they spent taxpayers money on, having a lawyer write it..
then this guy rules and decides
then they call a special meeing and fire this man..
are the taxpayers on the hook to pay him for termination???
this is the president of ethicscan…
Are you telling me that MorMac think that they are more ethical and know better then this man 2…
Just more MOney MorMac has flushed down the toilet because of someone doesn't agree with them..
2010 PEACE OUT!!!
My Kinda Town said
Look at Anon 6:16.
They are a councillor, or live with a councillor.
They attended the meeting yesterday.
We don't know which of the six they are. But that doesn't matter. Read their post. That's scary stuff.
Is it Gallo who doesn't know whether it's weather or whether it's whether? Is it Gaertner? No, this is beyond her perceptive abilities. Is it Granger, who SO RUDELY DISMISSED ME AT THE GYM? DUDE I WAS TWENTY YEARS OLD and my political insight clammed you right up. Wilson's not a tech guy.
That leaves the M PEOPLE.
I couldn't care less about the results of this 'complaint.' But you rude, ignorant, arrogant, incompetent six have got to go.
MKT
Anonymous said
to August 7, 2009 6:16 PM
who said it ain't over till it's over….
ARE YOU F—ING kidding me???
What a joke this town has become
Morris complains about everyone breaking rules yet she breaks them all the time….
A mark of a true leader is being neutral and applying the rules equally to everyone…
As far as the 3 councillors that didn't show up… i don't blame them….I wouldn't want to be part of this farse!!!!
Remember 2010 Peace Out!!!!
Heather said
I saw this on the Era/Banner site:
http://yorkregion.com/News/Aurora/article/95312
The Mayor is quoted as saying the IC's report will be available tomorrow according to this article published this afternoon.
Mind you, it doesn't say when the conversation took place, so that might be incorrect now that the complaint has to be put on hold til a new IC is hired. Hmmm.
Anonymous said
Here's a quote I found at yorkregion.com on July 26, 2009 09:00 AM:
"I think it is a price that most would be willing to pay. It comes down to council to select an integrity minister wisely, find someone who has experience with municipal governance and can properly weigh the merit of said grievances," Ms Morris said, days after Aurora council filed a formal complaint against Councillor Evelyn Buck for allegedly making disparaging remarks and allegations against town staff."
Was Nitkin a bad choice? Did he do something he shouldn't have? I can't find a copy of his contract online anywhere to know what section 30 is.
Anonymous said
The mayor is out of control and something needs to be done.
Does no-one know where to turn to have a town investigated? Why is there no higher power?
This could be made into a movie – she is making a mockery out of everyone that lives in Aurora…
Anonymous said
It ain't over "til it's over.
Silly councillors who chose not to attend.
Too bad they can't pass on anything that was discussed!
So what did they prove?
Too weak to stand and be counted.
As for Councillor Buck she gets to keep stirring the pot, and enjoying the ongoing attention.
Anonymous said
THAT any and all pending complaints not yet decided be stayed and that they be reported to the Director of Corporate Services to be held in abeyance pending Council’s appointment of a new Integrity Commissioner; and further
That is part of the motion from last nights council meeting that the GOS held
So it would be safe to assume that they are going to try and say that his decison came after the firing therfore it doesn't count…
I think it would also be safe to assume that he decided that the GOS complaint had no merit and that is why the emergancy meeting to fire him….
I know that i will be placing a FOI to see the decision that he did make since it was my money as a taxpayer that was spent in creating this decision….I would also suggest that all other taxpaying citizens do the same….
I wonder what the spin from MorMac and the GOS will be
I would also take the advice from the citizen and call this bumbling fools and ask them what the hell is goin on in this town…. I bet you won't get a straight answer from the GOS
2010 PEACE OUT!!!
Anonymous said
so here are the minutes of the special meeting held on Aug 6
TOWN OF AURORA
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
NO. 09-22
Council Chambers
Aurora Town Hall
Thursday, August 6, 2009
ATTENDANCE
COUNCIL MEMBERS Mayor Morris in the Chair; Councillors Gaertner, Gallo, Granger, MacEachern, and Wilson.
MEMBERS ABSENT Councillors Buck, Collins-Mrakas and McRoberts
OTHER ATTENDEES Acting Chief Administrative Officer/Town Solicitor, Manager of Legislative Services/Deputy Clerk.
Mayor Morris called the meeting to order at 5:20 p.m.
I DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
III CLOSED SESSION
Moved by Councillor MacEachern Seconded by Councillor Granger
THAT Council resolve into a Closed Session to consider:
1. personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees, re: Code of Conduct Complaint; and
2. personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees
CARRIED
Council recessed into closed session at 5:53 p.m.
Council reconvened in open public session at 11:05 p.m.
Moved by Councillor MacEachern Seconded by Councillor Gaertner
THAT the meeting reconvene at 11:05 p.m.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor Gallo Seconded by Councillor Granger
Rising and reporting on item 2, regarding Mr. Nitkin’s contract obligations and the process to follow pursuant to the Town of Aurora's Council Code of Conduct and contract with EthicScan Canada Limited, in the public’s best interest it is recommended:
THAT further to repeated attempts to seek the Integrity Commissioner’s cooperation to adhere to the Town’s lawfully sanctioned Code of Conduct complaints process, it is recommended that the powers and duties of the Integrity Commissioner be removed effective immediately; and further
THAT the Mayor and Acting CAO be directed to immediately communicate with the Integrity Commissioner to advise as to the contents of the recommendation and reasons for the recommendation of Council and Council’s willingness to abide to section 30 of the contract between the Town of Aurora and EthicScan; and further
THAT the Integrity Commissioner’s postings on the Town’s website be removed; and further
THAT any and all pending complaints not yet decided be stayed and that they be reported to the Director of Corporate Services to be held in abeyance pending Council’s appointment of a new Integrity Commissioner; and further
THAT staff be directed to commence the process to recruit and recommend the appointment of a new Integrity Commissioner.
CARRIED
IV READING OF BY-LAW
Moved by Councillor Gaertner Seconded by Councillor MacEachern
THAT the following listed by-law be given 1st, 2nd and 3rd readings, and enacted:
5162-09 BEING A BY-LAW to confirm actions by
Council Resulting from Special Council Meeting 09-22 on August 6, 2009
CARRIED
V ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Councillor Gallo
THAT the meeting be adjourned at 11:12 p.m.
CARRIED
_______________________________ ________________________________
PHYLLIS M. MORRIS, MAYOR CINDY JANZEN, DEPUTY CLERK
I find it very strange that they said that cindy janzen does not have the power to release the decision by the integrity commish yet she is listed at the bottom of the minutes as the DEPUTY CLERK…
THIS COUNCIL DOESN"T NEED A INTEGRITY COMMISH THEY NEED MENTAL HELP….WHAT A JOKE!!!!!!!!
Worthy of Rod Serling said
From the Town's website:
"Rising and reporting on item 2, regarding Mr. Nitkin’s contract obligations and the process to follow pursuant to the Town of Aurora's Council Code of Conduct and contract with EthicScan Canada Limited, in the public’s best interest it is recommended:
THAT further to repeated attempts to seek the Integrity Commissioner’s cooperation to adhere to the Town’s lawfully sanctioned Code of Conduct complaints process, it is recommended that the powers and duties of the Integrity Commissioner be removed effective immediately; and further
THAT the Mayor and Acting CAO be directed to immediately communicate with the Integrity Commissioner to advise as to the contents of the recommendation and reasons for the recommendation of Council and Council’s willingness to abide to section 30 of the contract between the Town of Aurora and EthicScan; and further
THAT the Integrity Commissioner’s postings on the Town’s website be removed; and further
THAT any and all pending complaints not yet decided be stayed and that they be reported to the Director of Corporate Services to be held in abeyance pending Council’s appointment of a new Integrity Commissioner; and further
THAT staff be directed to commence the process to recruit and recommend the appointment of a new Integrity Commissioner."
(Is Brian Morris still unemployed? Opportunity knocks…)