Aurora Citizen

News & Views from the Citizens of Aurora Ontario

Archive for the ‘Town Council’ Category

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »

Opinions, Allegations and Threats

Posted by auroracitizen on September 16, 2010

The Aurora Citizen is again the target of a letter from the Town solicitor demanding that comments be removed from this blog.

On Sept 14th, Mr Bill Hogg received a registered letter from Christopher C. Cooper, Director of Legal Services/Town Solicitor with the comment “While the Town does not seek to stifle fair and accurate comment, we hereby ask that you remove the posts from the Blog, which posts suggest  Mr Ballantyne is or has acted unethically and illegally in his role as the Town’s manager of Corporate Communications.”

Within the letter he also indicates the specific comments that are the subject of the letter.

So let’s be clear –in the quest for accuracy.

The comments identified by Mr Cooper are not posts written by someone associated with this blog — they were comments submitted by readers of this blog.

The first comment suggested that a Phyllis Morris quote included in a Banner article on her campaign for re-election was written by Mr Ballantyne.

The second comment indicated that they hoped that Mr Ballantyne was not responsible for updating comments on Wikipedia since they could be looked upon as electioneering edits.

Both comments expressed opinion. They were not asserted as statements of fact by the commentors.

The issue from the town perspective is that these comments implied that Mr Ballantyne was improperly using his office to help a candidate for re-election — which is inappropriate and a serious accusation under the Code of Conduct governing Town employees as well as the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.

Fair enough — we have removed the 2 comments at the request of the Town since it is the Town’s position that “the suggestions made in the posts were not true, have no basis in fact”. You can read the entire letter by clicking on the pictures above.

We also do not want any allegations published — either by contributors to this blog or the numerous readers who comment.

We believe the protection of staff from being embroiled in political debate is an important issue. Staff are expected to remain outside the political battles at all times. After all, this terms enemy, might be next terms boss.

We trust that Phyllis Morris and the remainder of Council share this view.

Posted in CAO, Election 2010, Integrity, Leadership, Staff Turnover, Town Council | 41 Comments »

Has Mayor Morris Fulfiled Her Election Promises?

Posted by auroracitizen on September 6, 2010

Council Watch #14 – by Richard Johnson

I think that it is about time for Aurora to check this speech against delivery…”
 
Selections from the Inaugural Speech of Mayor Phyllis Morris, Town of Aurora, December 5, 2006
Full text is available from the Town website.

How exciting it is for me to stand here tonight addressing this inaugural gathering as your Mayor. It’s a privilege to lead this Council and our community for the next four
years. I will respect the trust you have placed in me and will always hold sacred your confidence.

Perhaps you’ve heard the joke about the little girl who asks: “Mother? Do all Fairy Tales begin with ‘Once Upon A Time’?”

Her mother replies. “No darling, there’s another series of Fairy Tales that begin: ‘IF ELECTED I promise’.”

Well this promise is not a fairy tale – I will work with Council and Town Staff to make our municipal government more open, more transparent, more accountable and more
inclusive.

I’ll strive to ensure that your interaction with us is enjoyable, productive – and, yes, sometimes maybe even fun!

We will not forget that you – the people of Aurora – are the reason our town is such a vibrant and wonderful place to live.

So let’s not forget one thing. Aurora voters – sent a strong message that they expect us – Council, Staff and Mayor to do a better job – a better job of working together to move the business of this town forward in a positive and productive atmosphere.

The word most often used during the recent election was “teamwork.” Some say there’s a difference between being on a team and serving on Council. The only difference is the lack of uniforms – not the spirit, perspective, or ethics.

I believe an effective team requires players with a diversity of strengths and points of view.

So, yes, as Mayor, I will stress teamwork.

As Mayor, I promise to be fair and supportive – and I believe the public expects the same of all members of Council.

You’ll find that I’m a “hands on” Mayor, interested in the day-to-day operation of our town. While I will not, micro-manage The Town’s administration, council members, including
myself, must be kept fully informed, so that little problems don’t become big ones.

By now I hope you know I’m an energetic and optimistic person.

And, I want to know what you think. After all, this is your town. My door is open. You have my phone number – please feel free to stop me in the street, call me, or e-mail me.

I’m here to listen.

So was it a Fairy Tale?

Closed meetings have increased, legal action seems to be on the rise, over 20 senior and mid level management have left the town’s employment (some willingly, some not willingly), an integrity commissioner was fired resulting in widespread coverage in the Toronto Star, National Post, Globe and Mail, Toronto Sun and CBC news and the local media, one Councillor quit, two Councillors have stated they will not run given their experience on council, one Councillor is suing the mayor and a number of fellow councillors.

The media and residents have had to resort to numerous Freedom of Information requests in order to get answers to even the most simple and straight forward questions. While the Mayor supports legal action, trails, trees, a cultural center, a Jazz Festival and parades she has not made it a priority to support the food bank or the region’s affordable housing program with the apparent reasoning that “those kind of people don’t live in Aurora”.

I could go on with further examples but I think the picture is rather clear.

Posted in Council Watch-Richard Johnson, Election 2010, Integrity, Leadership, Town Council | 18 Comments »

Where is Team Morris?

Posted by auroracitizen on September 3, 2010

Outgoing Mayor Phyllis Morris has been MIA on the campaign trail for weeks now. Since hastily filing her nomination papers on August 11th – a Wednesday- not a peep has been heard save the brief bit of pabulum fed to the Banner.

This isn’t like Morris. We all know she loves a parade – and yet… No fanfare. No media release. No nothing. Just quietly filed the papers after months of speculation – not by us mind you, we knew Morris would be attempting to hang onto her seat.

This is not classic Phyllis.  She’d go to the opening of an envelope.  Nope. Something’s up. Usually there is a big to do when she announces.  As per the last few times, it has been at the last-minute – riding in to save the day.  “I am responding to the many many residents who have begged me to run” blah blah blah.

Everyone knows Phyllis hasn’t stopped campaigning since she squeaked past the post to win the 2006 election with less than 50% of the vote.

Which makes the rushed and harried nature of her filing and non-existent campaign presence all the more puzzling.  Well, we should say she hasn’t conducted any “official” campaign activities. We’ll leave it to you to decide if recent “Town” initiatives are anything but an attempt to make her look like she’s doing something besides taking credit for doing nothing.

She has filed her papers and yet has no website. No functioning email address or phone number to call. No kick off party. No fundraising event. Again, we should state no “official” fundraising event that we are aware of. Very disorganized.

So what gives?  She said recently that she would “begin campaigning” after the summer.  Huh? All the other serious candidates for Mayor have been actively engaging the community in the electoral campaign – through websites, through door to door canvassing, through advertisements and, recently, election signs.

What does it say about the incumbent’s attitude towards the race? Either she doesn’t take it seriously or she is so overwhelmed by the support garnered by other candidates that she is in a frantic state.

Either way, it seems that Morris is well on her way out…

Posted in Election 2010, Leadership, Town Council | 22 Comments »

Aurora Seeks New Councillors

Posted by auroracitizen on September 3, 2010

Everyone has probably seen the new HELP WANTED ads in The Auroran this week looking for new Councillors.

The qualifications requested looked pretty good.

It would be an interesting exercise to compare the existing Mayor and Councillors against these same criteria. How do you think they measure up?

When we have the chance to make a decision in October, let’s make sure we evaluate all the candidates against our own criteria.

Choose wisely — you will have your choices around for 4 years.

Posted in Election 2010, Town Council | 14 Comments »

Clean Up Aurora Campaign – Isn’t That What The Election Is For?

Posted by auroracitizen on August 29, 2010

The Town is being papered – quite literally – with a “communications piece” about the “Clean up Aurora Campaign” which is proceeding in advance of the completion of the Aurora Promenade Study – a study still in draft form and nowhere near completion – though it is “expected” to be approved by the outgoing council on September 28th. 

Interesting side note – according to the “lame duck” provision of the Municipal Act, if less than 75% of the current Council file nomination papers, then the lame duck council can’t authorize new spending over $50,000 or sell land worth the same amount. They also cannot appoint or remove officers of the corporation (phew!  Town staff are in the clear!). For the mathematically challenged Morris – that means that 7 out of the 9 members must file their papers.  So far (thank god) only 3 have… So before this Council “approves” this study, let’s make sure we know just how much it’s all going to cost us.

This week approximately 2000 residents and businesses within the study catchments area were supposed to receive the newsletter extolling the importance and urgency of the “Clean up Aurora Campaign”.  And yes, before the Aurora Citizen receives any “complaints” about spin or misleading statements, the newsletter states, categorically, that this is a “campaign”.  What telling choice of words – bit Freudian don’t you think? One does not have to be a genius to understand what “campaign” this “programme” actually supports.

In tandem with the massive newsletter mail out – how much did that cost you might wonder – the town has actually created a website (seriously) about the “Clean up Aurora Campaign with breathless chatter about the completed projects and pending projects.  (www.e-aurora.ca/cleanup)

Have a close look at the website folks.  After you stop laughing at how ridiculous it is, you should get very very angry.  These are your hard-earned tax dollars being used to fund a “campaign” of questionable utility and suspect purpose.

Look at the “completed projects” noted in the glossy, multi page, newsletter:

  • Re-painted all downtown railings their original green colour
  • Planted/hung 90 baskets of flower arrangements
  • Repaired, repainted and reinstalled Heritage signs where needed
  • Installed a new playground at Machell Park
  • Periodically power washed sidewalks in the downtown business area
  • Re-painted the road lines on Yonge Street
  • Removed advertising boxes in key business areas

We’ve raised this point previously in the post Is Mayor Morris Putting Lipstick on a Pig, but in light of the increased expenditures on this “campaign”, they’re worth raising again.  To be clear – there is NOTHING innovative about this programme. In fact it is not a programme at all but everyday work that the relevant departments are required to do and already doing.  This is already covered in their operating budgets.  This has already been paid for by your hard-earned tax dollars.  Why are we spending untold THOUSANDS of dollars on a pile of promotional nonsense.

We have an answer for you – ELECTION DAY!!!

We urge you to make your anger known.  Take the newsletter and send it back to the Town Hall – do your part to “clean up aurora”.   Let the Town know that you are not fooled by this pathetic attempt at whitewashing over a failed term of council.

Please vote on October 25th and truly “clean-up aurora”.

Posted in Election 2010, Leadership, Town Council | 26 Comments »

The Tale of the Tape

Posted by auroracitizen on August 27, 2010

There was an insightful occurrence during the Council meeting on Tuesday, August 17th. This is the meeting where the Integrity Commissioner presented his report. The IC was reporting on the two complaints initiated by Councillor MacEachern against Councillor Buck. His findings were to issue a reprimand on the first and to dismiss the second. After he presented his reports, and answered (sort of) the questions, the Mayor, rather than simply calling a vote, chose to read the entire contents of each report, a rather unusual thing to do, to say the least.

At some point, during the reading of the report on the second complaint Councillor Buck left the Council Chambers. Councillor Buck fell in the hallway, but was not hurt.

The insightful occurrence was the totally inappropriate (but very telling as to her character) remark made by the Mayor, and the fact that the official Town recording of this meeting has been edited. We are sure that it is just a coincidence that this particular part is NOT on the official tape — however, it is on the Rogers recording, which can be accessed here:

http://www.rogerstv.com/option.asp?lid=237&rid=70&mid=52&gid=69838#38_120_3447

We know watching these replays can be painful, so you can check the Rogers version at the times noted below with a reasonable description of the discussion:

3:40:35     the “accident” occurs (you can clearly hear the noise of something / someone falling)

3:40:45    The Mayor states that “we are going to call a recess, there has been an accident in the hallway. We’re in recess at 10:30. Stop taping at this time. It would be appropriate not to be taping at this time.”

3:41:10    The Mayor stands up as Mr. Elliot comes across the floor explain what has happened. You can hear a voice in the background asking if all the cameras are off.

3:41:15    The Mayor responds to Mr Elliot by saying  “typical”. At the urging of one of the other Councillors, she then reaches down and turns off her microphone. Note: that because the Mayor is standing up, you must turn up the volume to hear her make that statement.

Mr. Leach (Town Clerk) might argue that they didn’t edit the DVD since the Town does not keep the tape rolling during a recess. However, the Council was not in a legal recess.

Without getting too technical, for Council to go into a Recess, a Motion is required, and must state how long the recess will be for. This was NOT done. Once again demonstrating how the “experience” of Mayor Morris comes into question. Calling a recess is a fairly basic rule of procedure.

Could you argue that in this case (that being the accident) that a violation of the rules is acceptable? Probably — assuming the goal was to offer assistance, or at least to see what was going on.

Of course the tape also shows that none of the Mayor or Councillors seem particularly concerned about the events surrounding the accident. We can’t comment if that is due to general lack of interest, because they already knew the accident was minor or because they knew it was Councillor Buck.

So draw your own conclusions. It’s all there for you to see. It’s a question of Character.

Posted in Code of Ethics, Leadership, Town Council | 21 Comments »

A Failure of Leadership and Responsibility

Posted by auroracitizen on August 24, 2010

The following is reprinted from the Aug 18 edition, Volume 13 no 33, of NovæResUrbis – Greater Toronto Area Edition (www.nrupublishing.com this weekly magazine focuses on municipal politics and urban planning issues in Toronto and in the GTA).

Aurora appeals consolidated
In a prehearing decision issued August 12, board member Reid Rossi provided an update on an appeal by Aurora 2C West Landowners Group Inc. against failure of the Town of Aurora to approve an official plan amendment to establish a secondary plan for the Bayview Northeast Area 2C West lands, located on Concession 2, east of Yonge Street, bringing the lands into the designated future urban expansion area.

Rossi also provided an update on an appeal by Elhara Investments Limited and Aurora-Leslie Developments Limited (collectively known as Aurora-Leslie Developments Inc.) against the town’s failure to approve an official plan amendment for lands bounded by Leslie Street, Highway 404, Wellington Street and St. John’s Sideroad to permit development of a new community.

The board consolidated the appeal of Aurora-Leslie Developments Inc. with that of Aurora 2C West Landowners Group. The board set aside November 15 for a further prehearing conference, noting that at that time the town’s position would be known and the parties would be able to engage in more substantive discussions. A full hearing is expected to be scheduled for 2011.

So what’s an ordinary citizen to think?

How about Council has failed to do the job they were elected to do and look after the best interests of this community?

When the decision-making process is removed from their hands and turned over to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) to make decisions on our behalf — then Council has failed in their elected duties.

The hoopla — just prior to the election — about things like the Promenade Study is just smoke and mirrors to divert our attention from the fact that they failed to deal with official plan amendments as required.

Posted in Election 2010, Environment, Growth, Leadership, Town Council | 35 Comments »

Mayor Phyllis Morris Struggles with Basic Math

Posted by auroracitizen on August 15, 2010

Poor Mayor Phyllis Morris.  She really does struggle with math doesn’t she? Guess it isn’t one of her strengths. Her inability to do basic math seems to be an on-going problem. 

After the recent Council meeting (the July 13th fiasco) let’s just say, fractions are not her forte.  To be fair, many people struggle with fractions – the fact that those people tend to be nine years old is beside the point.

During the July 13th meeting, while attempting to ram through the Integrity Commissioner’s report – oh, we’re sorry – “deliberate” the IC report, Council lost quorum. This requires that the meeting must be adjourned – or at least recessed until such time as quorum can be re-established. 

Let’s explain quorum — quorum means a majority of Council must be present in order for the meeting to proceed. This isn’t a small thing — it’s required according to the Municipal Act for any activity of a Council to be considered legal.  As Aurora’s Council is composed of 9 members, quorum is 5 members out of 9. Even a first time Councillor knows that, let alone someone with the years of experience Phyllis has.

At the July 13th meeting, Councillor Gallo was not present leaving eight members of Council.  Councillor Buck had left just prior to the tabling of the IC report and Councillors McRoberts and Mrakas, having previously declared their objection to the item being on a public agenda, left the Chamber.  This left 5 members of council still present.  So far so good. 

Then, at 11:25pm, Councillor MacEachern also left the Chamber.  That left just 4 members at the table.  4 out of 9 does not equal a majority.  Quorum was lost. 

And yet, watch the tape, Mayor Morris just kept blabbering on, speaking to the item on the floor, either oblivious to or unconcerned with the clear loss of quorum.  Yes the loss of quorum was temporary – only minutes really.  But that’s beside the point.  Quorum is basic.  Everyone knows you must have enough people at the meeting in order for it to continue. Once quorum is lost, the meeting is over. It’s the law. 

Except where Phyllis is concerned. Once again, adherence to rules and procedures go out the window when Morris is in the Chair. 

This is not the first time that Phyllis’ lack of math skills have caused problems.  Last May, while “chairing” a council meeting – and sorry for the air quotes folks, we just can’t in all good conscience describe Phyllis’ actions as chairing per se, though she does occupy the chair, but we digress – the Mayor allowed a motion to waive procedure to be put to a vote and declared the vote to be carried. 

Unfortunately, the vote did not in fact carry.  According to our Byzantine like procedural by-law a 2/3 majority is required in order for the vote to waive procedure to carry. There were 8 members of Council present. The vote was 5 for and 3 against.  5 out of 8 is not 2/3 – at least in most math books – and yet Phyllis said it was.

So what does this mean? Should the public really care if quorum is lost? Should the public really care if a vote is counted as passed when it really hasn’t?

Well we say YES!

Fair and democratic processes depend on clear and public set of rules that everyone abides by. After 4 years of Morris though, it’s clear, that the rule book has either been tossed aside — or she just doesn’t know them. In either case, it means she is unqualified for a position of trust.

When Morris points to her experience as one of the key reason she should be re-elected — let’s not forget just how well she knows procedure. She may have been class valedictorian in law enforcement  at Seneca in 1995 — but it looks like she must have failed basic math and leadership. Possibly those courses weren’t offered as part of the curriculum.

Posted in Election 2010, Integrity, Leadership, Legal, Town Council | 35 Comments »

Candidate Questions

Posted by auroracitizen on August 12, 2010

We will be sending a questionnaire to each candidate. We would like your input on what the questions should be.

We can’t guarantee whether any candidates will answer them — but we want to make sure they are asked. Please indicate whether your question is for Mayor, Councillor or both.

Please send along your suggestions. We will probably send them to the candidates in early September.

Posted in Election 2010, Town Council | 45 Comments »

Open and Transparent? You be the judge

Posted by auroracitizen on August 6, 2010

A familiar refrain throughout the Morris Regime has been that she fosters an Open and Transparent Council environment; an Open and Transparent Council process; she’s Open and Transparent. She makes that statement at virtually every council meeting.

Similarly, we heard this throughout her campaign in 2006 as if to differentiate herself from Tim Jones and the “back room boys”.  She would open the doors to the “backroom” and bring all the council business into the open where all the public could see for themselves what goes on behind closed doors.

Well, that might be what she’s selling, but we’re not buying.

We’ve heard from many posters and many residents and many “insiders” alike that Morris et al have spent more time behind those closed doors – doing god knows what – than any other Council in recent memory.  Every single Council meeting seems to have a closed session meeting.  Everything seems to need a “secret” meeting to discuss, decide and I assume defend the decisions they are making.

Thus far though, those “allegations” as Poppe the apologist calls them, have not been based on tangible, provable, facts.  We’ve only had impressions, or thoughts, or observations of meetings and Town hall going’s on upon which to base our suppositions.  We know in our gut that all is not right but had nothing to prove it.

Until now that is.

As a by-product of an FOI request, we have been provided with a complete list of EVERY closed door session of Council from 2000 through 2009.  It includes start time and end time of each closed session.

This list is a veritable goldmine of information, not the least of which is that it is proof positive that Phyllis Morris is as transparent as a block of wood. 

Closed Door Sessions

The pie chart you see above is wholly accurate.  The 2006 – 2010 (and before anyone and argues we’ve skewed the figures by comparing a 4 year term to three year terms – we used figures from 2007 – 2009 only; so it is an accurate comparison).

Here are the stark figures folks:  Since Phyllis Morris took office, the Town of Aurora council has spent more time meeting in secret, behind closed doors,  than the last two terms of council combined and then some!!  It also shows that more than 30 percent of those meetings started at or beyond the hour of adjournment and a staggering 60 % ended well past 10:30. It begs the question, “Just what the heck are they talking about into the wee hours of the morning??”

Getting back to the numbers though, to be exact the breakdown of time spent in secret meetings is as follows:

  Term Term Term
  2000-2003 2003-2006 2006-2009
       
Total # closed sesion  meetings: 63 73 103
       
Total # meetings starting at or beyond hour of adjournment: 1 12 28
       
Total # meetings ending at or beyond hour of adjournment: 3 24 61
       
Total Time spent in closed session: 30hrs 20mins 52hrs 49mins 115hrs 21mins
       
Average length of meeting in closed session: 29 43 1hr 7mins

 

Look at those numbers — 115 hours and 21 minutes or 6921 minutes!!!!  They are simply staggering.  The difference between this term and last term is a DOUBLING of time spent in secret discussions.

How can Morris continue to claim that she is “Open and Transparent”? Is she being deliberately obtuse or are secret meetings simply how she thinks Town Business should be handled?

Look at the numbers another way.  If a Council meting is, through by-law, generally 3.5 hours long, and this Council has spent over 115 hours behind closed doors, then that means this Council has spent the equivalent of 33 full council meetings deliberating in secret.  

That’s right.  The equivalent of 33 full council meetings held in secret.

If that’s open and transparent government, then possibly you would be interested in a bridge for sale in Brooklyn …

Posted in Election 2010, Freedom of Information, Integrity, Leadership, Special Meetings, Town Council | 23 Comments »

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »