By Pepper Parr
November 10, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Tom Muir wasn’t at all sure it could be done that way – but when he saw the agenda for the Development And Infrastructure Committee he was at first aghast and then just a little stunned.
The Development and Infrastructure Committee received an excellent report on the tax rebate available to people who wanted to upgrade their homes that had been designated as historically significant.
It was a good report – there was relatively little debate – the usual congratulatory remarks were made and the report was received.
It was a short meeting – it adjourned after just over an hour and recessed until the evening session.
A Mayor can call a meeting of Council whenever he chooses.
Before anyone could leave the Council Chamber the Mayor called a Special meeting of city Council that had been announced to pass a bylaw that would make the recommendation on the tax rebate for designated homes legal.
It took less than five minutes – and Tom Muir still wants to know why something like that wasn’t done with the development application that was being made by the ADI Development Group for a structure they want to put up at Martha and Lakeshore Road. The Staff recommendation was to not approve the development and that recommendation was accepted at a Standing Committee meeting. The next step that that time was for city Council to receive that recommendation from the Standing Committee and vote on it. They never did that – because the time line within which that was to be dine had run out.
Muir has been pressing the ward two Councillor and the Mayor for an answer as to why the deadline was missed.
“I was looking at the agendas for this week and saw something interesting that is related to the ADI Martha file and timeline”, wrote Muir in an email he sent the Gazette.
“The D&I will pass the Heritage properties requests tomorrow, and then right after that the Special Council meeting will vote on it again and pass it. It’s the only agenda item.
“So this can be done slam dunk, but the staff recommendation to refuse ADI Martha can’t make it through in 22 days, and can’t do what is being done tomorrow.”
The Gazette has explained in the past that the Mayor can call a meeting of Council whenever he wishes. He is required to give the members of his Council some notice – but that notice can be waived. The Gazette was advised by the city clerk Angela Morgan that a quorum has to be in the room and that a Clerk has to be present.
Tom Muir just wants to know why City Council did not vote on the ADI Development project.
Muir is shaking his head – he doesn’t understand. He has apparently taken the Mayor off his Christmas card list for the way he was treated. Muir took the Mayor at his word and was prepared to be patient while the Mayor put together the promised “meaningful response” to the questions Muir had. What Muir got was a copy of an email the Mayor sent Ward 2 Councillor Meed Ward – thanking her for answering all Muir’s questions.
Muir takes issue with the way this had been handled and doesn’t feel Meed Ward answered any of his questions but danced around the issue.
For reasons that aren’t at all clear – this city council has changed its tone and is far less civil with some of its constituents.
Will this be built? City council didn’t say it shouldn’t – the Council – not one of its Standing committees – didn’t vote on this issue.
What the Gazette doesn’t understand is – why didn’t Council formally vote against the ADI project. They had plenty of time?
In the early stages of the Muir questioning he was told it didn’t really matter – then the position changed and Muir was told that Council did vote against the application – they did no such thing – they voted to receive a report from staff that recommend Council not approve the application.
Council did what they are supposed to do earlier yesterday, when a report was on the agenda and presented – this particular report didn’t get much in the way of debate or discussion. There was a delegation that asked Council to pass the bylaw that would increase the tax rebate to 25%.
Council did exactly that – within 15 minutes the Mayor called the Special Council meeting to order, read out the by law, the vote was called, they all put their hands up and it was passed.
Done a slam dunk! Easy, simple – Council has done exactly the same thing in the past.
The public doesn’t know why the same thing was not done with the ADI development application.
The Council member for ward two would appear to be obfuscating. The Mayor was just plain rude to a constituent. The rest of the members of this council are just as complicit – they are all sitting on their hands hoping this will go away.
There is a small group of people who want to know – why. They have patience and are aware that come January 1, there will be recourse for them.
I am sorry if I offended C. Jester, but just like his pen name reads – C(ourt) Jester – his “support”, as he called it, always sounded ambiguous, “in jest”, and so I called on him to do something about it.
Those using pen names must know what that implies. You could be anyone, and who knows what your real intentions are.
So long.
Does this include Councilor Jack Dennison’s house too? Sure hope so. BTW, How did he vote on this??? Conflict of interest?
Yes, this shows that Council could have voted down the ADI application before the 180 day deadline. They obviously chose not to. The question continues to be – why? We will never be told.
C. Jester, Instead of continuing to say we will never be told, and therefore accepting and supporting such outrageous actions, why don’t you go after them, demanding answers to your question?
Such unwillingness to take such personal action is the primary reason why this kind of city behaviour occurs and continues.
When you quit you lose for sure.
No support of Council here, Tom. No quitting either. Just stating what is already obvious. It is just too embarrassing and politically damaging for Council to admit this dereliction of duty. And they just don’t have the guts and decency to fess up. Oh do I wish they did.
Well then, why don’t you write the Mayor and Ward 2 Councilor asking that they respond, and what you think of them for what they are doing to date?
Then they will know there are others that will write to them directly.
Comments here in the Gazette don’t count.
Do something official!
When you treat your supporters just like your foes, you lose credibility. You just lost me as well. So long.
Tom
Your efforts and persistence are appreciated, thank you.
Know that all six councilors have been asked for a response regarding the 180 day timeline.
I have no expectation of what their replies, or not, will be however, they have the opportunity.
To date, I have received one response, a promise to explain in more detail after gathering a better understanding or the reason’s.
I doubt most would have the patience you have shown with this, I will try, and be sure to follow up.
Where can I find an good wealth management company????