Government All « Burlington Gazette - Local News, Politics, Community

Sunshine, cotton candy and car free streets in one part of Alton with skateboard soaring in another part of the Village.

By Staff

BURLINGTON, ON. June 24, 2013. If you were out and about on the weekend – and who wasn’t – you were at a BBQ with friends and family or perhaps at one of the events in the city.

The kids were “knocking themselves out” at the Norton Skateboard Park; Ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster was not exactly serving tea – but she was on the street meeting and greeting her constituents while the Friends of Freeman Station were proudly showing a model of the Freeman to anyone who passed by their booth set up in the Burlington Mall.

Just hanging out on the street with the girls – a lazy summer afternoon in Alton Village.

The Terry Fox Run to Cure Cancer people were out trying to attract and involve people from the Alton Village to take part in the event in September,

The stage certainly wasn’t city issue – shows what you can do with a couple of 2×4’s and a sheet on canvas if you have to keep the sun off you. Music was OK.

Lancaster hosted the first of the Car Free Sunday’s held in the northern part of the city – and the turnout was better than the first such event held on Appleby Line last year. Despite close to blistering heat people turned out. The Rotary was on hand with plenty of cold bottled water.

It was a chance for people to get out and mingle, take in some of the events and just enjoy themselves – and see a street with nary a car on it.

Did he make it? If you were one of many at the Norton Skateboard Park on Saturday you would have seen some impressive acrobatics going on.

On Saturday the younger set were out at the skateboard park showing us what they can do when they fly around on those boards with wheels on them. My generation used orange crates mounted on a plank that had old roller skates screwed onto the bottoms.

The Saturday event was frenetic, the Sunday event was paced and easy-going.

Bob Chambers points to a detail of the Freeman Station model he built in his kitchen in a short 4 1/2 months. The model got its first public viewing at the Burlington Mall on Sunday.

For those at the Burlington Mall is was cool inside. The Friends of Freeman Station (FoFS) were proudly showing off the new model of their project built by Bob Chambers, a former photographer with the Spectator. Bob’s wife Grace who paints with water colours was quite pleased to see the model out of her kitchen and on its way to its first public viewing. It took a very short 4 ½ months to complete the model which has a lot of detailing. The shingles put on the roof of the model came in at more than the cost of the shingles on the original station. It is a very attractive model built to scale. Worth looking at.

As for the station itself – it still sits on steel girders waiting for the move to the new location. The FoFS now have their building permit which they proudly display to anyone who asks. Don’t ask for details on how long it took to get the document – sad story.

Parking, parking, parking – free on Saturday’s and all of December. Add to that an increase of 25 cents an hour.

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON. June 24, 2013. The city is getting creative. They are totally revising the way parking is going to be managed and paid for starting with a fee increase of 25 cents an hour. BUT – parking will be free on Saturday and free for the full month of December.

The city manages 1400 parking spaces in the downtown core. People in this city have complained for years about having to pay for downtown parking – “it’s free at the malls” they will say, to which those commercial establishments downtown scoff. Free, not a chance – the cost of parking at the malls is built into the rent the retailers pay.

The new high tech parking , meters come in all sizes – they can be pretty pricey as well.

But the perception is still there – so the city has decided to do everything it can to make parking easier. “People don’t come down to park”, Brian Dean told a council committee meeting. “They come downtown because it is a destination they have chosen and we want to move the experience to the destination and not putting money in a parking meter”.

To make all that happen the city will be installing new parking meters. You will no longer park in a space that is set out by parking spots – there won’t be any parking spots. You park your car wherever there is space and walk to the nearest parking meter and make payment. Meters will be conveniently located.

The units chosen by Edmonton came in at a reported price of $12,ooo EACH. Given the buttons on the thing one might have to take a quick course at city hall to learn how to use the thing.

And – making that payment is going to be a lot easier. Cash, credit card, debit card and via your Smart phone are all options that will be part of the new parking meters.

Depending on which technology they go with a system might allow a merchant to give you token you can put in a meter or validate your parking receipt and deduct the cost from your purchase. Much of that will be worked out when the decision is made as to whose equipment will be purchased. The city has set aside $487,000 to buy new parking meters and instructed the Director of Transportation Services to have them in place and operational by the end of the year.

One will need a sense of humour to fully appreciate what the new high-tech parking meters are capable of doing.

The new parking meters are expected to have a number of payment options – how many will determine on who the equipment provider chose. The city has decided to go high-tech and make parking much less of a hassle and have you focus instead on the reason you came downtown in the first place and not on that parking meter.

Currently the time limit at a meter downtown is two hours – that will be upped to three in January 2014.

When will all this wonderful stuff happen? Assuming Council passes the recommendation July 2^nd – the units will be in place and operational the first of January – unless they count that as a holiday for parking purposes.

Now if they’d let you put your election ballot into that card slot you could tell them how you really feel about the new parking deal coming your way.

Haber inks deal that puts his name on one of the newest buildings in the city. The name will still appear on transit buses,

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON. June 24, 12013. Chris Haber is a personal injury lawyer with a strong ability to promote. The name of his law practice is seen on buses and on ball point pens.

Things were going very well for the firm and Haber thought he would move up market and put his name on a building. While it wasn’t quite that simple – come September we will see the words Haber Recreational Centre, as part of the new complex being built on Tim Dobbie Drive in the Alton Village.

The complex consists of three buildings strung together consisting of a High School, to be named after Frank Hayden, a Library (they’ve not come up with a name yet) and the Recreational Centre that will have Haber`s name on it.

From the left, Ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster sitting in for Mayor Goldring who had to remain at Regional Council to assure quorum, as she signs the 20 year $1.3 million naming rights deal with Chris Haber in the Centre. Chris Glenn on the right is pleased with that much cash

The idea of putting the family name on a public building got to Haber when his daughter, who runs the administrative side of the law practice, opened an envelope from the city detailing the new sponsorship program. Stephanie thought it was a good idea – took it to her Dad and, it happened.

Chris Glenn, Director of Parks and Recreation met with the Haber’s. The city put some numbers on the table, Haber being the superb negotiator he is put a number on the table and between those two numbers they found one that said $1.3 million spread out over 20 years – which is not exactly chump change. Much of the negotiating detail was handled by Stephanie Haber.

The deal went to council committee; they liked it and passed it along to city council. They liked it as well and all of a sudden Chris Haber will have his name in lights on one of the newest buildings in the city.

None of the Haber family has had a chance to tour the building yet and they don’t know exactly where the sign with their name on it is going to go – if Stephanie is involved in those conversations the family will be happy.

Burlington wants to do more selling of naming rights and is currently cataloging everything they have and determining what is available and what they want in terms of naming rights fees.

These are good dollars and there isn`t a municipality in the country that turns its nose up at this kind of thing. We might be seeing names on the Zamboni`s at the ice rinks soon.

So who is this guy Haber? He runs a law practice with seven lawyers on staff and a son who has returned to Burlington after a number of years in Toronto where he tried his hand at business and looked at how well his Dad was doing and decided to study law. Andrew is articling with his father’s firm and will write his Bar Admission exams next year and then be called to the Bar and become a member of the Upper Canada Law Society and be permitted to hang his shingle alongside his Dad’s.

Chris Haber is one of ten children. His father ran an insurance company and was once the Ontario Table top Tennis champion.

Chris played a little hockey , left wing. Did his undergraduate degree at Waterloo and then on to Osgoode Law School and articled with Lang Michener, the firm that was once led by Rolland Michener who went on to serve as one of Canada`s more popular Governor’s General. It was Haber’s good fortune to be with a firm that was wonderfully connected.

Chris Haber is a litigator – these are the warriors of the law world. They live in Court rooms and they just love presenting a case to a jury.

“My job as a lawyer” explained Haber “is to do everything I can to get a jury to like me and to like my client. If I can do that – I win my cases”. Does he win them all? Unfortunately no, but he certainly wins enough of them.

Worst case he ever had to handle? Doesn’t want to talk about that one. Case that he will never forget? A young woman, a passenger in a car that was rear ended. “My client was sitting behind the driver who was a heavy woman. The force of the crash broke the seat the driver of the car was sitting in, which crashed backwards into my client who suffered very serious brain damage that left her epileptic and subject to small fits. She would never be able to work again and would need constant care. “We could not get the insurance company to settle. It took nine years to get that case into a court room. The trial lasted eight weeks. It was a jury trial held in Milton. There were more than fifty witnesses and I called three neurosurgeons to testify” explains Haber.

We won that case for the victim – there was an award that exceeded a million dollars. I’ve never forgotten that case. These things stay with you.

One of the top business promoters in the city, Haber & Associates is seen where they need to be seen and if that can get done with a ball point pen – then so be it

Haber breathes the law. He has tapes of some of the great practitioners and spends some of his evening time listening to the best of the best. Who influenced his thinking the most? That would be The Lord Denning, who served as Master of the Roles in the United Kingdon. Denning is remembered for his role in the Profumo Affair that brought down a government over a spy and a sex scandal; juicy stuff. However, the Lord Denning was also one of the most progressive thinkers in British law, who, during his 38-year career as a judge made large changes to the common law, particularly while in the Court of Appeal, and although many of his decisions were overturned by the House of Lords, several of them were confirmed by Parliament, which passed statutes in line with his judgments. Although appreciated for his role as ‘the people’s judge’ and his support for the individual, Denning was also controversial for his campaign against the common law principle of precedent.

Asked who the best lawyer the country has ever had? Haber has no doubt about that – J.J. Robinette

John Josiah Robinette, was a Canadian lawyer who became a legal legend. In 1947, he appealed and eventually won the Hamilton case of Evelyn Dick after her conviction of murder in 1946. In 1952 he unsuccessfully defended the notorious bank robbers, The Boyd Gang. Robinette was also hired by opponents of the cancelled Spadina Expressway in 1971 to make their case at the Ontario Municipal Board. Haber either traveled with, read about or worked with some of the best legal minds in the country.

Haber hasn’t seen the recreation centre that is under construction yet. He didn’t even know it was being built but he knew an opportunity when he saw one – and his quick decision had his firm being the first to garner naming rights under the city’s new sponsorship program.

A sharp move.

That underpass on King Road will eventually open – but it won’t be this month or next for that matter.

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON. June 22, 2013. Getting around King Road north of Plains Road is going to be different for the month of July. Taxi’s will play a role in the transit mix available to people.

Pedestrian traffic will not be permitted starting Monday June 24, 2013, while the next phase of the King Road CN Rail underpass gets completed.

Pedestrian access will be reopened Friday evenings through to Monday morning of each weekend. This schedule will hold until August 2, 2013.

Burlington Taxi will provide to/from transportation for residents that walk to/from their work place on King Road between the CN Tracks and the North Service Road. The point of origin (pick up) can be anywhere along the travel route, being Plains Road (King Road to Waterdown Road) or Plains Road (King Road to Brant Street). All charges will be billed to the City. Please call Burlington Taxi at 905-333-3333 to arrange for transportation.

During the construction of the King Road Grade Separation please note that businesses located along King Road will remain OPEN to serve their patrons.

Performing Arts Centre in the final round of interviews for new Executive Director.

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON. June 21, 2013. With a full 13 member Board of Directors compliment in place, the Performing Arts Centre focuses more tightly on the business of finding a replacement for the previous Executive Director.

The Burlington Theatre Board Inc., the organization that oversees the operation of the Centre, a not for profit corporation and represent the public interest. It is made up of 13 people who serve staggered terms of office.

It’s an attractive building and a very people friendly building – it just doesn’t appear YET, to have enough friends.

Last year was a tough one for the organization. Rental revenues were down and there was serious concern at city hall over the need for increased financial support – in excess of what was expected. Council wanted changes made and went along with the financial requirement in the 2013 budget but made it clear there was going to be a different business case put in place. Councillor John Taylor who chairs the Budget and Corporate Services committee, has the BPAC people back before him sometime in October. When he was arranging for BPAC to return he made it clear that “this was not going to be a simple 10 minute delegation with questions and answers to follow”. Taylor was going to get right into the sand box with these people and work to ensure there was a plan that the public could live with.

It was shortly after that meeting that the former Executive Director decided she would return to her roots in Alberta.

A number of resignations within the Burlington Theatre Board had taken place and there was a call made to the community for replacements. With that task completed the Board was able to focus fully on finding the next Executive Director.

The Centre has an excellent program that will take them right into the spring of next year

There were over 90 applications for the Executive Director position, which Chair Burgess believes “speaks to the positive reputation the Centre has developed in its short life within the industry”. That’s one way of looking at it.

The search committee includes Allan Pearson, Peter Ashmore, Ilene Elkaim, Burlington city manager Jeff Fielding and Chair Richard Burgess. They are down to their short list and expect to be able to announce a replacement before the end of July and ideally have the new person behind a desk for Labour Day.

The first two people to enter the Main Theatre for a paid performance hand their tickets to an usher.

The next twelve months are critical for the Centre. A new Executive Director will give the day-to-day operations a boost but the Centre needs more than some bucking up at the staff level. The place hasn’t caught the interest of the overall public – at least not yet. The Centre is not yet seen as “our place” with the majority of the population. It does have its advocates and a small core of solid ticket buyers but it isn’t seen as an integral part of the city that is supported by everyone.

The Brant Street Pier with all its troubles was clearly a place the public took to in less than two days once it had been opened by the Burlington Teen Tour Band.

It was the Official opening night – the place was all gussied up – and it looked great. Cogeco Cable covered the event with five cameras. The Family Room, shown here, was a delight to be in. The ticket price of $400+ was a little too steep and some had to be given away to ensure all the seats were filled.

While the economic growth of the city isn’t dependent on the centre if we are to be seen as a vibrant community – the arts are a large part of that equation and the focal point for the arts has to be the Centre. We do need however to stop talking in superlatives about the place. It is a fine building with a good Main Theatre as well as a smaller Community Theatre. The most outstanding aspect of the place is the Family Room with the balcony surrounding the space. It also has probably the biggest bar in the city, certainly the nicest – although they could pump up the wine selection a bit.

Will the centre become an election issue in 2014? Hopefully not – because the arts always seem to take it in the shins when it comes to funding. Burlington wants to talk about “shaving and paving” its roads and the massive infrastructure deficit we face.

Councillor Rick Craven sits on the BPAC Board along with the Mayor. Better reports to the public on what’s going on over there would help – and not just how wonderful the program is.

Mayor Goldring can be direct and to the point when he wants to be – his public deserves better reporting on what happens at the BPAC Board.

There is an interesting year ahead for the Burlington Performing Arts centre. If the Board of Directors can get the selection of a new Executive Director right and work out a business plan that is sound and satisfies the city – we will be off to a good start.

The politicians we place on that Board need however to do a better job of keeping their fellow council members and the public at large up to date on what is happening.

We hear next to nothing from Councillor Craven and the Mayor, who sit on the Board, about what’s going on over there.

Pinedale plaza no longer viable and needs redevelopment; residents don’t like the intensification.

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON. June 21, 2013 It’s an eyesore. It no longer works as a commercial entity and the owners of the property want to re-develop. Everyone agrees that something has to be done – but there is very little agreement on what should be done.

Pinedale Plaza is all but abandoned; two tenants and a site that is covered with graffiti. An eyesore for the community but residents don’t like the number of units the developer wants to build on the property.

The Pinedale Plaza, located east of Appleby Line north of New Street, served the neighbourhood for years but that day has passed. Small shopping plazas have seen their day. This plaza is now covered with graffiti and has few tenants.

The owners, they took possession in 2011, have come up with a plan to develop the site and put 19 street townhouses on the property with 7 of those units fronting on Pinedale and 12 fronting on Wedgewood Drive.

As is usual in these presentations, the residents see that as far too many buildings; something that will change the tone, look and feel of the neighbourhood – they want something smaller.

That cross walk handles pedestrian traffic for three schools and a community centre. Residents feel that having seven units with driveways back onto the street is unsafe.

The units that would front on Pinedale would each have their own driveways – which for the locals is a problem. There is a school crossing guard on the corner and three schools in the immediate area.

This project is certainly intensification – excessive? Not necessarily. Vehicle access from the units on Pinedale is a problem; some redesign might help.

What is close to exceptional is the depth of the lots. There have been development applications that have postage stamp yards. Many of the new, very expensive homes in Alton don’t have yards the size of those being proposed for the plaza.

Large lots are a feature; the concentration of units on Pinedale is a concern – expect to see that cut back to five – maybe less.

The presentation, at what was the required public meeting, where anyone can show up and put their like or dislike forward, is the first time all the parties, the developer, the residents and council members are all in the same place and a sense of the reaction to the development can be gained.

The residents aren’t excited about this one and the driveways that front onto Pinewood are a genuine concern – but every other house in the immediate area has a driveway.

The city’s planners take part in the meeting. The architect and the developer’s planner are usually at the meeting. The professionals listen, take their plans away and look for ways to make the changes that will keep the residents happy, satisfy the city planning department and leave a developer satisfied that the project will be a profitable one.

There is little doubt that the plaza has to go – is the intensification just a little too much? Maybe, but the city has approved projects where people are squeezed into small spaces with very little yard space.

It is a property that no longer meets the needs of the community. It is time for redevelopment. A developer has proposed a 19 unit townhouse project that will have very large yards. Traffic in the area will increase.

There is a senior’s home to the east of the project and three schools plus a community centre in the immediate area.

There is a concern with the quality of the traffic study that was submitted. Residents of the community pointed out that the intersection of Pinedale and Mullins Way is a gateway to three schools, a community centre and a seniors complex and that the study submitted was seen by a number of residents as inadequate at best and misleading (deliberately) at worst.

Expect the planners to be looking at that traffic study very carefully.

The development is located in Ward 5, Paul Sharman territory. He didn’t appear to have strong views one way or the other – which is unusual for Sharman.

Mayor and Meed Ward wanted you to know – the rest of council decided you have to wait to learn legal costs of pier.

By Pepper Parr.

BURLINGTON, ON. June 19, 2013 They did get close, well not that close, but they did talk about it. And when it was all over – two of the seven voted to let you know how much the city had spent on defending and fighting for the city’s interests related to the construction of the Brant Street Pier that most of the people seem to have fallen in love with.

After a weekend of opening events tucked inside the Sound of Music Festival the pier was opened to the public and you can now walk out to the end and enjoy the lake the way you were never able to enjoy it before.

Earlier in the week the city released a Memorandum that actually said something about the legal fight.

There are five lawsuits: the city is suing people in some and defending itself in others. The people who provided the insurance and then failed to give the city as much as a dime when the contractor walked off the job seem to be involved in all the lawsuits.

The following represents factual information respecting the litigation:

Harm Schilthuis and Sons Limited vs. the Corporation of the City of Burlington

The Corporation of the City of Burlington vs. Zurich Insurance Company Ltd.

The Corporation of the City of Burlington vs. Harm Schilthuis and Sons Ltd., Aecom Canada Ltd., Lombard General Insurance Company of Canada, P.V &V Insurance Centre Ltd. et al (Insurance Claim)

The Corporation of the City of Burlington vs. Aecom Canada Ltd.

Harm Schilthuis and Sons Ltd. vs. Lombard General Insurance Company of Canada, P.V. & V Insurance Centre Ltd., the Corporation of the City of Burlington, Craneway Equipment Ltd. (Insurance Claim).

Electronically coded documents were exchanged in the December 2012 to January 2013 time frame.

The parties are currently in the Examination for Discovery phase of the litigation. It is a lengthy process. To date there have been approximately 17days of examination. The examinations have resulted in a considerable number of undertakings being given by the parties being examined. An undertaking may contain an obligation to find an answer to a question or to produce further documents in response to a question posed. Often the people who are being examined don’t have all the information to respond fully to the questions being asked by the other parties. Some undertakings may not be agreed upon by opposing parties and could require a court attendance for a determination as to whether or not the undertaking is valid.

It is expected that the examinations for discovery will be completed in the early fall of 2013 after the undertakings have been answered.

The next court appearance is scheduled for June 21^st, 2013 at the Superior Court of Justice in Milton at 10:00 am. The Milton Courthouse is located at 491 Steeles Ave. E., Milton Ontario.

It is a case management conference before Mr. Justice James Fitzpatrick the purpose of which is to address issues of scheduling and procedure. The matter is generally open to the public, subject to the presiding Judge’s direction otherwise. The city will be represented at the case management conference by external legal counsel, Mr. Andy McLauchlin of McLauchlin and Associates.

At some point in the proceedings and prior to a trial taking place, the Court will order that the parties engage in mediation to see if the issues can be resolved. The parties have to agree on a mediator. Mediation does not make a determination of the legal rights of the parties. Mediation is not binding and the mediator cannot impose a resolution on the parties. Mediation is a process conducted on “without prejudice: basis, it is private and all documents filed are matters discussed are “confidential” to the parties.

The city would like to take steps to encourage the other parties to agree to an early, voluntary mediation process rather than wait until it is ordered by the Court in order to see if an early resolution to the litigation can be found.

That’s the city’s position – it is carefully worded and is an interesting example of how one manages the news. The politicians call it “spinning” the news.

The city manager recently got approval to spend up to $10,000 on consultants who could advise on communications and legal matters. This release is the first glimpse of what the city is getting for what it is paying those “communications” consultants.

During the council committee earlier in the week the city waived its lawyer/client privilege and discussed the document. Meed Ward wanted to know when the case started – 2010 they were told.

They were told that 60,000 documents have been released and that the city is still digging out information they have been asked to provide. We have learned that Harm Schilthuis and Sons Limited (HSS) claims they have provided everything they were asked to provide and are ready to proceed to trial, which is strange given that city solicitor advised that there have been 17 full days of discovery and they expect there to be an additional four or five days.

Nancy Shea-Nicol, the city’s solicitor does not like speaking in open session. She did not want to say who was discovering whom. Ms Shea-Nicol keeps every card she has very close to her chest. Tell them as little as possible seems to be her modus operandi.

We understand that the city has yet to release all the documents it has been asked for.

During the council committee meeting members asked – when can we tell the public how much we have spent on legal fees? That was another matter and for a few minutes there was some interesting discussion but then they moved into closed session.

The city manager said he thought the number should be made public. Councillor Meed Ward said she wanted to see the numbers released to the public. “The public has a right to know” said another council member. There was quite a bit of posturing going on.

The Mayor was for releasing the numbers. Councillor Sharman wanted to know what the downside of doing that was – and was told that would be discussed in a CLOSED session. Councillors Lancaster, Craven and Dennison did not offer an opinion or make a comment on whether or not the number should be released.

Councillor Taylor was chairing the meeting and made no comment in open session.

We do know that everyone wants documents from the designers of the pier, Totten Sims Hubicki (TSH). This case appears to rest on whether or not the pier could have been built using the design given to the contractor.

The first design was released to the contractors who were interested in bidding on the tender they expected the city to issue. It didn’t take that group of contractors very long to realize then that the pier set out in the original drawings could not be built for the amount of money the city was willing to spend.

The prices that came in were way beyond what the city was prepared to spend. That meant the city had a design and no one who was prepared to build it. So they went back to the designers and said – ‘give us a design that can be built for the money we have’. And that we believe, based on the questions we have asked and the documents we have seen, is what this case will rest on.

The city revised the design to fit the budget they had and produced a design that just would not work. Harm Schilthuis and Sons Ltd., realized that and quit the job and then sued the city. The city counter-sued and dragged in all the insurance companies.

All the steel thought to be faulty is stripped away – stored in a warehouse should further testing have to be done. Now the task of ordering new steel and getting it in place begins.

Before Schilthuis arrived at the point where they knew they had to quit the project a crane that was being used toppled over. That not only stopped the project but brought to light all kinds of problems with the quality of the steel being used.

What complicates all this is that the city had a designer Totten Sims Hubicki (TSH) working for them and another company, AECOM, managing the project.

AECOM then bought Totten Sims Hubicki (TSH) and that created significant conflicts. The project manager was now administering and keeping accountable a company they now owned. Messy.

The pier design was different. No one else has a design like ours. Piers tend to go straight out into a body of water; the Brant Street Pier has a S design and was to have a wind turbine as well.

Many believe that when AECOM bought TSH the city should have gotten themselves another project manager. That may prove to have been a very expensive mistake on the part of the city.

What further complicates this mess is that most of the people who dealt with these matters are no longer in the employ of the city.

Much was made in the document the city released, of the desire on the city’s part to consider mediation; a process where everyone goes into a room and agrees to settle or not to settle. The settlement amount should be public but with this administration and the way our city solicitor thinks – one never knows.

It was a grand parade. The band played, the flags flew and there was applause as the Burlington Teen Tour Band stepped out onto the pier. It was a sight to warm the cockles of ones heart as the BTTB marched up the slope and out onto the pier.

But that is all you get to hear – the facts? They get buried – and that is the way this city would like to see this whole thing go away. The pier is open, the natives seem happy and it will be years before this goes to trial. Half of this council won’t be in place when there is a decision.

To be fair to Mayor Goldring – he wasn’t part of the decision making process when the pier became a city project. Only Councillors Craven, Taylor and Dennison were around then. And Craven was just a newbie at the time as well.

This is almost as good as the Sunshine list. Who is seeing who at city hall? They don’t tell us why. Maybe next year.

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON. June 19, 2013 Who sees who at city? Ever wonder about that? Who are the chief cheeses talking to? How often do they meet? What do they talk about?

Journalists don`t get access to that kind of information from city hall. THAT has changed. City manager Jeff Fielding is doing things differently. The data that follows was submitted to a Council Committee by Leah Bisutti but she didn’t compile the list because she had nothing better to do.

Who met with whom – and why? City Manager Jeff Fielding on the left breaks bread with his General Managers: Kim Phillips and Scott Stewart. Fielding has given transparency for this city.

The report was an executive decision that would have been cleared by Council but other than the appearance of the report, it didn’t get as much as a word of comment by anyone on Council, It is a list of who General Managers Scott Stewart and Kim Campbell plus City manager Jeff Fielding met with.

The date of the meeting isn’t given; which of the three had the meeting isn’t revealed and the subject matter is given. When a location appears at the end of theline, that is the city the meeting took place in

“Outreach”, says the report, “ is an effort by individuals in an organization to connect its ideas or practices to the efforts of other organizations and is an important aspect in the understanding of Burlington’s citizens, businesses and community groups.”

The General Managers and City Manager collectively met with over 252 members of the

Burlington community in 2012.

There are some limitations to what is put out. The data is for 2012 – which means some of it could be as much as 18 months old. Yet if you glean through the data you learn that someone – the city manager, or one of the General Managers met with Tim Crawford and Vince Rossi of the Air Park. The understanding one got as we listened to the delegation at Council on June 10^th was that one of these two men was a stranger to at least General Manager Scott Stewart. So who did they meet and what was the conversation about?

It is an interesting list. Could be done quarterly. And the Mayor might want to produce such a list as well.

Lynn Fergusson, 2H2M Consulting, Burlington

Kathie Bavota, 3M

Paul Smeltzer, AMEC

Ron Scheckenberger., AMEC

Ang Cutaia.AMEC

Jim Detlor, AML Communications

Don Dalicandro, Apex Systems, Burlington

Lawrence Chiaravalle, ARI Fleet Management, Mississauga

Stan Capobianco, Associated Paving, Burlington

Angelo Bentivegna, Beauty & the Bistro, Burlington

Doug Brown BFast (Transportation Committee), Burlington

Richard Burgess, Burlington Theatre Board, Burlington

Allan Pearson Burlington Theatre board, Burlington

Denise Walker, Burlington Theatre board, Burlington

Graham Frampton, BPAC Staff, Burlington

Brenda Heatherington, BPAC Staff, Burlington

Arden Semper, Branthaven Developments, Burlington

Jacques Des Ormeaux, Bromont ville branchee, Bromont, QC

John Farquharson, Bruce Trail Conservancy, Burlington

Ian Ross, Burlington Art Centre, Burlington

Keith Hoey, Burlington Chamber of Commerce, Burlington

Kim Coulter, Burlington Condominium Working Group, Burlington

Ed Keenleyside, Burlington Condominium Working Group, Burlington

Karen Reynolds, Burlington Condominium Working Group, Burlington

Brian , Dean, Burlington Downtown Business Association, Burlington

Tim Crawford, Burlington Executive Airport, Milton

Vince Rossi, Burlington Executive Airport, Milton

Don DeSaverio, Burlington Golf & Country Club, Burlington

Amy Schnurr, Burlington Green Community Group, Burlington

Dan Guatto, Burlington Hydro, Burlington

Michael Kysley, Burlington Hydro, Burlington

Gerry Smallegange, Burlington Hydro, Burlington

Joe Saunders, Burlington Hydro, Burlington

Vince Jones, Burlington Hyundai, Burlington

Barb Teatero, Burlington Museum, Burlington

Maureen Barry, Burlington Public Library, Burlington

Chris Byrnes, Burlington Radio Station, Burlington

Phil Papadopoulos, California Hairworks, Burlington

Roger Caranci, Caranci Consulting, London

Nick Carnicelli, Carriage Gate Homes

Dawn Braddock, Centre for Skills Development, Burlington

Cathy Mills, Centre for Skills Development, Burlington

Will Letts, Charles Sturt University, Burlington

Larry Chettle, Chettle Real Estate, Burlington

Rick Johal, City of Kitchener, Kitchener

Don Crossley, Clean-Air Solutions, Hamilton

Jeremy Freiburger, Cobalt Connects

Michel Blais, Cogeco Cable, Trois Rivieres, PQ

Tim Brown, Cogeco Cable, Burlington

Claudette Paquin, Cogeco Cable Burlington

Risha Burke,Community Development Halton, Burlington

Joey Edwardh, Community Development Halton, Burlington

Ken Phillips, Conservation Halton, Burlington

Bob Edmondson, Conservation Halton, Burlington

Gary Guthrie, Covenco

Dwight Ryan, Daryan Communications, Burlington

Sheila Botting, Deloitte

Doug Emerson, Deloitte, Oakville

Tracey Hare Connell, Deloitte

Evan McDade, Deloitte, Burlington

Anita Shinde, Deloitte, Toronto

Dennis Kar, Dillon Consulting

Allan Pearson, Discovery Ford / BPAC Board, Burlington

John van Leeuwen, EcoSynthetix, Burlington

Diane Locke, Ellis Locke

Ken Hall, Enbridge Pipelines

Barbara Fox, Enterprise Canada, Toronto

Adam Scott, Environmental Defence, Toronto

Julie Pehar, Equity Vision, Toronto

Cal DiFalco, Executive Consultant, – PPP, Mediation, Change, Stoney Creek

Eamonn Horan-Lunney, FCM, Ottawa

Kevin Brady, FDH Lawyers, Burlington

Brian Heagle, FDH Lawyers, Burlington

Anissa Hilborn, FDH Lawyers, Burlington

Michael Fenn, Fenn Advisory Services, Inc. Burlington

Mark Friedman, Fiscal Policy Studies Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico

James Smith, Friends of Freeman Station, Board President, Burlington

Brian Aasgaard, Friends of Freeman Station, Vice President, Burlington

Mike Wallace, Government of Canada, Member of Parliament

John Connolly, Graham Construction

Deb Harvey, Grand Theatre, London

Michael Pautler, Halton Catholic District School Board / United Way Fundraising Cabinet

David Euale, Halton District School Board / United Way

Domenico Renzella, Halton District School Board, Burlington

Gerry Cullen, Halton District School Board, Burlington

Chris Murray, City of Hamilton, Hamilton

Art Zuidema, City of Hamilton, Hamilton

Bob Bratina, City of Hamilton, Hamilton

Peggy Chapman, City of Hamilton, Hamilton

Bill Fitzgerald, Hamilton Port Authority, Hamilton

Bruce Wood, Hamilton Port Authority, Hamilton

Paul Berton, Hamilton Spectator (a Metroland co.), Hamilton

Michael Barton, Hamilton-Halton Homebuilders Association Hamilton

Mathieu Langelier, Hamilton-Halton Homebuilders Association, Hamilton

Henry Schilthuis, Harm Schilthuis & Sons, Ancaster

Jim Clemens, Heritage Burlington, Burlington

Archie Bennett, Hydro Board member, Burlington

Luis Carrasco-Cortes, IBM Canada, Burlington

D. Scott Lightfoot, IBM Canada, Burlington

John Longbottom, IBM Canada, Burnaby, BC

Doug Pass, IKEA, Burlington

Jeff Young, iLOOKabout, London

Phil Evenden, Integrity Wealth Management, Burlington

Fraser Johnson, Ivey School of Business, London

Gerard Seijts, Ivey School of Business, London

Frank Harrison, J.S. Steel Canada, Hamilton

Gary Johnson, Jetport

Henry Decker, Joseph Brant Hospital, Burlington

Mario Joannette, Joseph Brant Hospital, Burlington

Florene Lobo, Joseph Brant Hospital, Burlington

Eric Vandewall, Joseph Brant Hospital, Burlington

Wayne Harrison, KNY Architects, Burlington

Brian Bourns, KPMG

Barry Frieday, KPMG, Hamilton

Bruce Peever, KPMG, Hamilton

Neville Knowles, Knowles Leadership, London

John Krpan, Krpan Group, Burlington

John Birch, LaSalle Park Marina, Burlington

Ken Dakin, Land Use Planning, Burlington

Ken Goobie, Legal Shield

Liaquat Mian, LJM Developments, Burlington

Mark Gregory, LocoMotion Comm’ns & PR, Burlington

Keith Moore, LS Travel Retail -North America, Toronto

Paddy Torsney, Maximus

Matt Jaecklein, Mayrose-Tycon Limited / Bridgewater Devel., Milton

Wolf Teichmann, Bridgewater Development

Andrew Gurlesky, McLauchlin & Assoc. Barristers & Solicitors, Toronto

Andrew McLauchlin, McLauchlin & Assoc. Barristers & Solicitors, Toronto

Paul Bates, McMaster University -DeGroote School, Burlington

David Mammoliti, McMaster University -DeGroote School, Burlington

Andrea Mior, McMaster University -DeGroote School, Burlington

Paul Mace, Mercedes Benz Burlington, Burlington

David Harvey, Metroland West Media Group, Burlington

Debbi Koppejan, Metroland-Burlington Post, Burlington

Bruce McCuaig, Metrolinx, Toronto

Mo Ettehadieh, Mettko

John Alley, MHPM, Burlington

Andrew Cowan, MHPM, Ottawa

Gordon Kack, MHPM, Burlington

Ralf Nielsen, MHPM, Ottawa

Steve Howse, Millington & Assoc. Oakville

Tony Millington, Millington & Assoc. Burlington

Milt Farrow, Milt Farrow Associates Consultants, Oakville

Shanda Chronowich, MNP, (Corp. Emergency Preparedness Audit)

Vince Molinaro, Molinaro Group, Hamilton

Bruce Miller, Morrison Hershfield

Yvon Chiasson, MTE Consultants, Burlington

Dan Finelli, MTE Consultants, Burlington

John Goodwin, MTE Consultants, Burlington

Bill Veitch, MTE Consultants, Burlington

Ward Wilson, MTE Consultants, Burlington

Greg Berry, Municibid Online, Government Auctions

Quinn Moyer, Nelson Aggregates, Burlington

Jeff Paikin, New Horizon Homes, Hamilton

John Fleming, Occasional Consulting, Oakville

Ian Collins, Ombudsman Ontario, Toronto

Laura Pettigrew, Ombudsman Ontario, Toronto

Gillian Sheldon, Ontario Centres of Excellence, Mississauga

Steve Klein, Optimus SBR, Toronto

Pepper Parr, Our Burlington, Burlington

Angelo Paletta, Paletta International Corporation, Burlington

Stephen Kuhr, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Toronto

Raj Mohabeer, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Toronto

Sasha Pejcic, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Toronto

John Kuypers, Performance Shift Consulting, Burlington

Maureen Spencer, Golovchenko Pillar NonProfit Network, London

John Gotts, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Hamilton

Gerry Lewandowski, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Toronto

Anne Morash. Primaris Real Estate (Burlington Mall), Toronto

John Morrison, Primaris Real Estate (Burlington Mall) Toronto

Ted McMeekin, Province of Ontario, MPP

Deb Matthews, Province of Ontario, MPP, Minister

Larry Clay, Province of Ontario, Toronto

Claudio De Rose, Province of Ontario – MGS / Service Ontario, Toronto

Mark Christie, Province of Ontario (MMAH), Toronto

Andrew Doersam, Province of Ontario (MMAH), Toronto

Karen Wallace, Province of Ontario (MMAH), Toronto

Frank D’Onofrio, Province of Ontario / Service Ontario, Toronto

Art Komarov, Province of Ontario / Service Ontario, Toronto

Bob Chiarelli, Province of Ontario, -Minister of Transportation, Toronto

John Almond, Province of Ontario, -MNR, Aurora

Dan Petoran, Province of Ontario, -Service Ontario, Toronto

Michael Masotti, Province of Ontario -Tourism,Culture,Sport

Stephen Bauld, Purchase Consultants International

Laura Gainey, RBC Royal Bank, Toronto

John Lever, RBC Royal Bank, Burlington

Pat Moyle, Region of Halton, Oakville

Kendra Willard, Region of Halton, Oakville

Mitch Zamojc, Region of Halton, Oakville

Gary Carr, Region of Halton, Oakville

Craig Black, Rogers Communications

Gus Dimitropoulos, Rogers Communications

Deborah Herbert, Royal Botanical Gardens -Cootes to Escarpment, Burlington

Edith Fajszan, Royal Mutual Funds Inc., Burlington

John Chisholm, SB Partners, Burlington

Seniors Centre Board, Burlington

Lucia Casacia, Siemens, Burlington

Charles Halasz, Siemens, Burlington

Richard Jarsaillon, Siemens, Burlington

Marco Jungbeker, Siemens, Burlington

Demain Rebolloa von Duben, Siemens, Burlington

Ricky Law, SmartLock & Security Surveillance, Burlington

Paul Lowes, Sorensen Gravely Planning Associates, Toronto

John Best, Southern Ontario Gateway Council

Paul Sipos, Stark Architects, Mississauga

David McNaughton, Strategy Corp., Toronto

Ron Shaw, City of Stratford, Stratford

Mina Wahidi & Mr. Kim, Tansley Woods Café, Burlington

Debra Pickfield, ThinkSpot, Burlington

Tim Dobbie, Tim Dobbie Consulting, Burlington

Linda Moore, TNG Leaders

Brad Quinn, TNG Leaders

Pam Belgrade, Tourism Burlington, Burlington

Dennis Perlin, Town of Halton Hills, Halton Hills

Mario Belvedere, Town of Milton, Milton

Paul Cripps, Town of Milton, Milton

Ray Green, Town of Oakville, Oakville

Eric Lehtinen, Town of Oakville, Oakville

Dominic Lunardo, Town of Oakville, Oakville

Dave Bloomer, Town of Oakville, Oakville

Lynda Townsend, Townend & Associates, Barristers & Solicitors, Oakville

Joe Carapella, Tricar Group, London

Vic Cote, Trinity P3, London

Lesley Allison, United Way, Burlington

Robyn Knickle, United Way, Burlington

Len Lifchus, United Way, Burlington

Cathi Lacey, United Way Associate, Burlington

Gayle Cruikshank, United Way Fundraising Cabinet, Burlington

Wendy Derrick, United Way Fundraising Cabinet, Burlington

Jamie Edwards, United Way Fundraising Cabinet, Burlington

Brian Ferguson, United Way Fundraising Cabinet, Burlington

Chantel Goldsmith, United Way Fundraising Cabinet, Burlington

Sheila Jaggard, United Way Fundraising Cabinet, Burlington

Greg Jones, United Way Fundraising Cabinet, Burlington

Jason Lemaich, United Way Fundraising Cabinet, Burlington

Scott Massey, United Way Fundraising Cabinet, Burlington

Tim Miron, United Way Fundraising Cabinet Burlington

Judy Pryde, United Way Fundraising Cabinet Burlington

Richard Rizzo, United Way Fundraising Cabinet, Burlington

George Dark, Urban Strategies, Toronto

Tyler McDiarmid, Vrancor Group, Hamilton

Darko Vranich, Vrancor Group, Hamilton

Deborah Nicol, Want to Wow Gifts, Burlington

Marlaine Koehler, Waterfront Regeneration Trust, Toronto

Jamie Cook, Watson & Associates Economists, Mississauga

Bruce McNichol, Wentworth Technologies, Mississauga

Multiple Residents

There is certainly enough shame for everyone on this one: Double-Dipping

> DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="267"> UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> Name="heading 2"/> Name="heading 3"/> Name="heading 4"/> Name="heading 5"/> Name="heading 6"/> Name="heading 7"/> Name="heading 8"/> Name="heading 9"/> Name="caption"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> Paragraph Font"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> Name="Placeholder Text"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> Name="Revision"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> "/> Name="TOC Heading"/>

By Ray Rivers.

BURLINGTON, ON. June 18, 2013. We’re not talking ice cream cones. Collecting income from two separate sources is called double-dipping. Most of us have probably double-dipped at some point in our lives. Maybe we taught evening classes while drawing a salary for the day job? Or perhaps we drove the courtesy van at Canadian Tire, or greeted at Wal-Mart while drawing a CPP or OAS pension. This double-dipping is a natural part of our capitalist culture – by earning as much income as we can, we help grow the economy. There is nothing wrong with double-dipping.

I was surprised, however, that Justin Trudeau was collecting speaking fees while also serving as member of Parliament. I thought politicians were eternally hunting for a soap box, and were happy if only it were free. But Trudeau actually got paid. Well, politics is a complicated, dirty business, as Justin found that out when the Conservative-linked Grace Foundation demanded their money back, just to embarrass him. In the midst of the Senate debacle and with the PMO (Prime Minister’s Office) being investigated by the Mounties, Mr. Harper sank even lower than I thought he could go.

Trudeau might have known it was a trap. Why else would the Conservative leaning Grace Foundation invite the soon-to-be-crowned leader of the Liberal Party to speak. And why pay him $20,000 when anyone could have just turned on the TV or gone to one of his stump speeches. And, if you are good Conservative would you really go to listen to the son of the most despised man in Conservative history? Almost a year after he spoke, Grace demanded their money back. But somehow the letter went to the Prime Minister’s Office, which circulated it far and wide, before even Trudeau had seen it. And it worked, Harper embarrassed Trudeau.

This is not what the political junkies mean by Double Dipping.

To be clear, Justin wasn’t in any kind of conflict of interest, although this raises a question about the nature of his job as MP and his commitment to serve the people. I think he was wrong to charge for the speech, and he obviously agrees since he has offered to repay everyone. In fact, this whole incident says more about the PM, Grace and their board of directors than it does about Trudeau. The Canada Revenue Agency conveys charitable status only to organizations which do not “seek to further the interests of a particular political party”. And Grace’s actions should now place their charitable status in jeopardy, but don’t count on it with this government firmly in control.

I was also surprised to learn that senators, like Pamela Wallin, are permitted to serve on corporate boards, where she would be party to corporate decision-making based, in part, on government policy before them. There is no question that an airline or an investment house would benefit from inside information on evolving government policy. Why else would they have been willing to pay over a million dollars? Wallin was taking Doube Dipping to a new level.

And wasn’t she being paid to attend to business in the Senate when she was double-dipping to pick up all those lucrative earnings? By definition doesn’t this make the Senate her part-time job? The fact is that the Senate isn’t a full-time job and it’s not even a serious business. We can complain about senators like Wallin, Duffy, Brazeau or Harb – but really – isn’t the problem more with the Senate itself than the occupants. The Senate doesn’t fit our governance model because there is no place for a Senate in a Parliamentary democracy. It is time for it to go.

Editors note: Back in the ‘good old days’ several of the bigger banks has Board members who were Senators that sat on the Senate Banking Committee that set the rules on bank behaviour.

Ray Rivers writes weekly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat after which he decided to write and has become a political animator. Rivers was a candidate for provincial office in Burlington where he ran against Cam Jackson in 1995, the year Mike Harris and the Common Sense Revolution swept the province.

Rural property owners can rest a little easier: police arrest two males for day time break-ins in North Burlington and Milton.

By Staff

BURLINGTON, ON June 18, 2013. Two Hamilton men are facing a multitude of criminal charges following a spree of break-ins to rural residential homes.

Beginning May 29th, 2013 the Town of Milton and City of Burlington experienced a series of rural residential daytime home break-ins. Six homes from each municipality were entered and in each case no one was home at the time.

The suspects forced their way in and the contents of the residence were strewn about. A large quantity of jewelry and small electronics were stolen.

Homes in setting like these – and empty during the day have been broken into by a pair of Hamilton based thieves. Police arrested two males recently.

On June 3, 2013 police observed the suspects driving in a stolen car and were forced to enter into a short pursuit. The pursuit was immediately terminated when the driving actions of the suspects clearly posed a threat to public safety. The suspects eventually abandoned the motor vehicle near the intersection of Dundas Street and Walkers Line, Burlington.

Police recovered a large quantity of stolen property from six rural break and enters that occurred on that day from homes in Milton and Burlington.

With the assistance of Forensic Identification personnel and Hamilton Police Service, two suspects were identified and arrested by Hamilton police June 5th.

Both accused are now also before the courts in Halton on various charges.

ACCUSED:

Karl Michael BATTLE (28 yrs) of Hamilton

Robert Joseph LAROCQUE (43 yrs) of Hamilton

CHARGES:

Break and Enter (12 counts)

Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle

Flight from Police

Theft of Motor Vehicle

Possession of Stolen Property (three counts)

LAROCQUE faces three additional counts of Breach of a Probation Order.

Police get a break; suspect surprised to see police cruiser, chase ensues.

By Staff

BURLINGTON, ON. June 18, 2013 On Monday evening, shortly before 8:30 p.m. a male suspect got into an altercation with another male in downtown Burlington. A threat with a weapon was made before the suspect drove away.

Shortly thereafter, two police constables on routine patrol happened by chance to pull up behind the suspect. The suspect sped off and entered an intersection against a red light and began driving in a dangerous manner. The officers activated their emergency lights in an attempt to stop the suspect vehicle.

During a brief pursuit, the suspect drove directly at a patrol supervisor, who had to take evasive action to avoid a head-on collision.

At the intersection of Brant Street and Plains Road East the suspect entered the intersection against a red light and collided with two vehicles that had right of way. The suspect vehicle smashed into a light standard, causing significant damage. After the collisions, the suspect bailed from the car and fled on foot. He was apprehended seconds later by the original officers who chased him on foot. During the foot pursuit, one of the officers sustained a minor injury. He was treated and released from hospital.

A 23-year-old Burlington man driving the first vehicle that the suspect hit was not injured. A 48-year-old Burlington woman and her 11 yr old son, who were in the second car hit by the suspect, sustained minor injuries and were later treated and released from hospital.

The Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) was called to the scene and assisted in the investigation. The intersection was closed for five hours while the investigators measured the scene and collected evidence.

Several witnesses came forward and provided police with statements. Any additional witnesses are asked to call the CRU at ext. 5065.

Joshua FARRAY, age 22 yrs, of Burlington has been charged with:

Flight from Police,

Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle,

Fail to Remain, 3 counts of Breach Probation,

Drive While Suspended,

Use Plates not Authorized for Vehicle,

Use Validation not Furnished for Vehicle

Drive with No Insurance

FARRAY is being held in custody for a bail hearing scheduled for Tuesday morning.

Should have taken a bus.

There now – that didn’t hurt did it? City begins telling legal story about the pier. More to follow for sure.

By Staff

BURLINGTON, ON. June 18, 2013 – The legal process related to the pre-2011 construction of the newly-finished Brant Street Pier is underway, with the city in court on June 21 and the matter in the discovery phase until the fall.

The Brant Street Pier opened to the public on June 13, 2013, with official opening ceremonies taking place on June 14 and 15. The pier was completed by Graham Infrastructure, hired by the city in September 2011.

The city released a memo today that outlines the five lawsuits related to the pier. The memo is on the city’s Budget and Corporate Services Committee agenda for June 18. The five lawsuits are:

Harm Schilthuis and Sons Limited vs. the Corporation of the City of Burlington

The Corporation of the City of Burlington vs. Zurich Insurance Company Ltd.

The Corporation of the City of Burlington vs. Harm Schilthuis and Sons Ltd., Aecom Canada Ltd., Lombard General Insurance Company of Canada, P.V &V Insurance Centre Ltd. et al (Insurance Claim)

The Corporation of the City of Burlington vs. Aecom Canada Ltd.

Harm Schilthuis and Sons Ltd. vs. Lombard General Insurance Company of Canada, P.V. & V Insurance Centre Ltd., the Corporation of the City of Burlington, Craneway Equipment Ltd. (Insurance Claim)

The memo refers to the public court appearance on June 21 in Milton court to address scheduling and procedure. Andy McLauchlin of McLauchlin & Associates will represent the city.

“We have promised openness and disclosure to the full amount possible to the people of Burlington,” said City Manager Jeff Fielding.

The pre-2011 pier project parties are in the examination for discovery phase of the legal action, which is a long process. Examinations for discovery should be completed in early fall 2013.

“The city would like to take steps to encourage the other parties to agree to an early, voluntary mediation process rather than wait until it is ordered by the court in order to see if an early resolution to the litigation can be found,” states the city memo.

Three confirmed measles cases in Burlington; local retail outlets may be source.

By Staff

BURLINGTON, ON. June 18, 2013 The Halton Region Health Department has reported three related cases of measles in Burlington.

Persons who visited the any of the following locations on June 8 may have been exposed to measles:

SportChek in Burlington Mall, Guelph Line and Fairview Street, at 1 p.m. until approximately 4 p.m.

The Collector’s Vault, near New Street and Guelph Line, at 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Al’s Source for Sports, 3485 Fairview Street, at 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.

The Halton Region Health Department has followed up individually with persons who may have been exposed at a health care setting or at an organized event.

“Measles is preventable through immunization with two doses of measles vaccine,” stated Dr. Bob Nosal, Halton Region Medical Officer of Health. “Persons who have measles need to isolate themselves while they are ill and for four full days after the rash first appears.”

Measles starts with cough, runny nose, red, watery eyes, and fever, and after about four days a rash begins on the face and moves down the body. There may be white spots inside the mouth. Measles spreads easily to persons who are not immune. Anyone born 1970 or after who has not had two doses of measles vaccine is considered susceptible to measles. Infants under one year of age, pregnant women, and persons with weakened immune systems can get very ill with measles. Complications of measles can include middle ear infections, pneumonia, croup, and inflammation of the brain.

If you think you may have measles and need to see a doctor, you must call ahead to the doctor’s office, walk-in clinic, or emergency department. This will allow health care staff to give you a mask to wear when you arrive and take you straight to a room in which you can be isolated. In a doctor’s office you may be given the last appointment of the day.

For more information, dial 311 or call the Halton Region Health Department at 905-825-6000, toll free 1-866-442-5866 or visit www.halton.ca.

THE Official Opening of the Brant Street Pier in Burlington, Ontario

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON. June 15, 2013. It opened – indeed it did and the event was wonderful to watch, a delight to be part of and a milestone for the city. That milestone has the potential to become an albatross around the neck of this city but today is not the day to quibble.

weft

It is done – it is open and the public seem to love it. There were out in droves on the Saturday when the Burlington Teen Tour Band marched the full length of the pier and returned with the city lag snapping in the breeze.

These things happen. The city decided their wouldn’t be a “ribbon cutting” but instead there would be a banner made up and stretched across the pier for the Burlington Teen Tour Band to march through making the opening of the pier. The sign was supposed to read Brant Street Pier NOW but the banner was longer than the space and – well the W of now got hidden. Ooops! Not an omen – please.

The applause was very real. I’m not sure if those young men and woman in the BTTB were fully aware of what they were participating in –but it was an historic occasion for the city.

They were sticky, they were gooey, they were soft and moist – one per person with more than a thousand made up to be given away. Did you get one?

The city had more than 1000 cupcakes on hand to pass out – they were all used up.

Hard to say how many people actually visited the pier on the Saturday – it will have approached 5,000 by the time the day was over.

Now what?

The pier will find its place. The city will come up with ways to program the location and people will see it as something that makes their city just that much different from any other city in the province.

The birthing pains were excruciating and we know that from this point forward every politician will talk about the event as something historic. Hopefully it will move the politicians off that ‘safest city in the country” line they keep touting.

A picture that should be etched in the mind of every citizen in the city. Glorious!

It is interesting that they speak of the pier as the completion of the city’s waterfront park. The question as to what the Region does with the Beachway Park to the west of Spencer Smith has yet to be determined and for the waterfront to have some harmony the two will have to – and should – complement one another.

All in the future – this weekend the city celebrates and acknowledges that we now have something no one else has –and it is truly wonderful.

Are there flaws, deficiencies and things that need to be fixed quick, quick? You bet there are – but today is not the day to point to hose.

Point instead to that picture of the full Burlington Teen Tour Band marching back towards the city with the flags flying and the full band playing.

Public about to watch the last phase of a political suicide in Ward 4. Dennison takes CoA decision to OMB.

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON. June 15^th, 2013. He is going to do it. City Councillor Jack Dennison has decided he will appeal the decision of the local Committee of Adjustment, which opposed his application to sever a portion of the east side of his property on Lakeshore Road.

The Committee of Adjustment hearing held at city hall May 21^st, was one of its longest, adjourning at well after 11 pm. It was also one many felt was an embarrassment to the city and its democratic processes.

The property on LAkeshore Road that City Councillor Jack Dennison wants to sever – against the wishes of many, if not most of his constituents.

The Dennison residence is in that part of the community described as Roseland, a part of the city threatened by developments that some feel is changing the character of the community.

The community is one of two that are being given a “character study” treatment by a group of consultants working for the Planning department who are in the midst of an Official Plan Review, something the city has to do every five years.

Dennison, for reasons of his own, which are more than likely financial, decides he can sever the property he has for a significant financial return.

The application to sever was lost at Committee of Adjustment (CoA) . Everyone has the right to appeal a CoA decision to the Ontario Municipal Board. On the last day open to Dennison to file an appeal to the does so and the CoA Clerk advises the residents who have asked to be kept informed that the application to appeal has been filed.

Letter advising Councillor Dennison that his Appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board has been received.

Now the public waits for the OMB to determine a date for the hearing.

Roseland is one of those communities that decided earlier in the year that they did not want developers changing their community without their input and when the owners of a property on Hart sought a Committee of Adjustment ruling to sever, they too lost at CoA. They too took their case to the OMB – where they also lost.

The Roseland residents formed the Roseland Community Association and brought in the professional talent needed to oppose and won their case at the OMB.

Dennison feels he has a strong case and is preparing to take it to the OMB. In doing so he further alienates himself with a community that was once close to bedrock electoral support for him. That support is now lost to Dennison. Political suicide is not something one sees often in Burlington.

Burlington’s Committee of Adjustment. All appointed by city council to serve a four-year term. From left to right chair Ramsay, members Bailey, Newbury, Kumar and Sarraf. Peter Thoem, also a member was absent.

The Committee of Adjustment decision was clearly split with Chair Malcolm Ramsay, members Grant Newbury and Robert Bailey voting against the application to sever and members Dave Kumar and Sam Sarraf voting for the application. Many had serious concerns over how Kumar and Sarraf conducted themselves.

More than $14 million later – real number is $20 million – the pier opens and the people like it. It is a fine pier.

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON. June 14, 2013 For opening number two of the Brant Street Pier the God’s shone upon the city and the sun was out – the breeze from the lake was pleasant and, as has been standard for the pier – the opening was late by about a quarter of an hour.

A colour party from the Iron Duke Sea Cadet Corps in Burlington.

But it was a good occasion. All the movers and shakers and the people who make things happen were out on the site. The speeches were mercilessly short. The guest list was very short as well – some real surprises as to who wasn’t on hand. More on that later.

Seven hands – seven futures for the city.

The focal point was unveiling the plaque with the hand prints of seven young people, one from each council member. The seven were chosen from the more than 440 who sent in an application along with their thoughts on what the pier would mean to them.

Theses seven were recognized when the final beam of the pier was bolted into place and had a section of steel with their names on it. At that time their handprints were taken and later used to make casts from which a mold was made to cast the bronze plaque that was unveiled this afternoon.

That plaque is going to be out there for more than 100 years during which time those seven boys and girls will return again and again with their spouses, the children and their grandchildren. It is a wonderful piece of local history.

What kind of a pier is it going to be? Like a new restaurant, it will take some time to find its market; those people who will be out there day after day. While it is very early one could begin to get a sense of how people are going to relate to the structure.

It will serve the city well. It’s construction was plagued with problems and while those were not the making of the current civic administration is a serious blot on our copy books that is working its way through the legal system That full story has yet to be told. There is a serious bump out there that the city has yet to get over.

How and when people make the pier their own will take a little time. One “pier walker” wondered if someone would hold Tai Chi classes out at the very end of the pier? What a neat idea. Will weddings be performed on the observation deck? Will anyone remember that there was supposed to be a win turbine at the top of the beacon on the observation deck? It was going to provide all the power to keep the lights on.

With the pier officially opened we now head for the “third” opening that will take place on Saturday.

Sometime next week the words Brant Street Pier will get moved from the Project and Initiatives part of the city’s web site.

A traditional bronze plaque was set out on the pier with the names of the current Council members. It may well be the only public mark of the municipal political service some of them have given.

Henry Schilthuis on the left, along with an aide.

Ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster on the right walks with former Ward 6 Councillor Carol D’Amelio. Expect to see these two running against each other in 2014. D’Amelio wants back in.

Note quite the traditional photo op – most of those who took part in the official opening of the pier gathered at the end. For once everything worked.

The ceremonies over the Naval Promenade becomes the fous with the Seniors’ out in force listening to the All MAle Welsh Choir. Strolling along is Craig Stevens, the city’s project manager on the pier project. He direction and oversight kept the project going when it got a little wonky at times – but that’s another story.

So who WAS there and who WASN’T there?

Some thought former Mayor Rob MacIsaac would be on hand to say a few words about how this project came about. However, had MacIsaac ben on hand then former Mayor Cam Jackson would have had to be on hand – and that wasn’t going to happen.

Regional chair Gary Carr sent his regrets.

Former city council member Carol D’Amelio was on hand. She and Councillor Blair Lancaster toured the observation deck together. Expect those two to battle it out in Ward six next municipal election. D’Amelio wants back in. She gave up her Council seat in 2010 to run against then Mayor Cam Jackson and while she did better than Jackson the city wanted a new look and chose Rick Goldring.

Councillor Taylor didn’t attend. Councillor Dennison did but he wasn’t talking about his decision to appeal the Committee of Adjustment decision that went against him to the Ontario Municipal Board. The decision to appeal will mark the beginning of the end of his 20 years of political service.

Henry Schilthuis and one of his able assistants made an appearance. Schilthuis was the original contractor on the pier. e walked away from the project when he realized, in his opinion, that it could not be built with the plans he was given.

A court of law will decide if Henry Schilthuis was right.

The pier is now part of the city. Is it what those Council members back in 1999 thought it would be? It will find and make a place for itself. The city can settle into its next biggest problem – the absolutely obscene situation with the Air Park.

The music is fine and the living is easy – summer on the waterfront.

By Staff

BURLINGTON, ON. June 14, 2013. The Saturday is the blowout day for the Sound of Music – the day they pull out all the stops and begin with a parade with every possible group they could find to take part. As events in this city go it at times beats even the Santa Claus parade – except they don’t have the big guy in the red suit.

There is a new parade route this year. It starts at 11:00 am. at Central Park; travels along New Street and James Street to City Hall; then turns south on Brant Street, west on Lakeshore, ending at Maple Ave., featuring as always Burlington’s own Teen Tour Band and Junior Redcoats.

With the parade ending the music begins.

Here is the lineup for the first half of the day.

People will certainly want to get out onto the pier and take in the view.

Then back for the evening schedule.

Damage to Appleby Line properties extensive – not visible from the road. Air park owner likes it that way.

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON. June 14, 2013. The damage to property as a result of the land fill being dumped at the airport in north Burlington is very hard to appreciate if you just drive up and down the roads. There is really nothing to see were you to drive along Bell School Line. What’s the problem here you would ask – must be those pesky rural types who get upset if you cut down as much as a single tree.

The Gazette has reported on the damage done to Barbara Sheldon’s property closely because it is so very evident and the relationship between Sheldon and Vince Rossi is so toxic. These two send each other threatening notices about trespassing on each other’s property.

Not a hint of cooperation from Rossi over the difference he has made to the value the Sheldon property.

Were fill like this dumped in the backyard of a property south of Dundas in Burlington the by-law enforcement officer would be ordering it be removed – immediately. Burlington Executive Air Park claims they are under federal jurisdiction and do not have to comply with municipal, Region or Conservation Authority regulations.

The Cousins, Wendy and Carl are just up the road from Sheldon. Their situation is quite a bit different. Carl Cousins farms the land and takes hay off each year. For the past three years he has not been able to get onto some of the fields – “they are just too wet” he explains.

Wendy was born on the farm which consists of two lots – one 25 acres and the other 5 acres.

The original culvert installed by the company doing the land fill work for the Air Park. The run off from the landfill was flooding the property next door. That is a lot of landfill to dump – is it needed to improve aeronautical operations at the airport or is it a landfill revenue operation?

The ‘mountain’ of earth at the edge of their property is stunning. Imagine anyone south of Dundas seeing a pile of earth similar to that shown in the pictures we have set out below next to their property line.

The city would have by-law enforcement officers in there in a flash and that earth would be gone – real pronto.

The upgrades to the culvert that handles the runoff from the landfill onto the Cousins property. Anyone of the Regional Councillors with an farming background will tell you this is as useless as those things on bulls.
Shoddy treatment by the air park owners.

The Burlington Executive Air Park has taken the position that they are regulated by the federal government and do not have to comply with municipal, Regional or Conservation rules and regulations. Many think this is a total crock and while local government.ck all government moves slowly there is now movement.

Most reasonable people see this as unfair and an abuse of the federal jurisdiction situation. Yes airports have to be regulated by the federal government to ensure that all airports are following the same rules. BUT what Rossi is doing has precious little to do with aeronautics. And where what he is doing has to do with aeronautics e is expected to be civil.

Flow of run-off water from the landfill in the background is not only rotting the fence posts but flooding the fields on the Cousin’s property making it too we to take off the hay from the family farm. That landfill in the background is there, it is claimed, to improve the aeronautical operations of the Burlington Executive Air Park.

It will take time for this to work its way into a court room but some day, at some time there will be a Judge who will opine that Vince Rossi has abused the federal jurisdiction and used it as a skirt to hide behind.

His day will come.

Meanwhile Wendy and Calvin Cousins put up with the damage to their lifestyle and their livelihood.

Police upgrade murder charge to first degree murder.

By Staff

BURLINGTON, ON. June 14, 2015 As a result of further investigation, Halton Regional Police homicide detectives have determined the murder of Parmanand (Barry) DEBIE was a deliberate, pre-planned act and have accordingly upgraded the charge against Calvin GREEN to first degree murder.

GREEN will attend a bail hearing this morning at 10:00 a.m. at the Milton Provincial Court.

A number of Gazette readers have commented and complained that the police are being unfair with the language they are using and that it is a court of law that makes the decision as to guilt.

The role of the police is to investigate and then lay what they feel are appropriate charges under the Criminal Code Act. A court of lay will then decide if the person is guilty or not guilty.

Those readers have a point.

Pier goes through a “soft opening” – a mushy experience but the public is going to like what they are paying for.

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON. June 14, 2013 Burlington seems to like soft openings.

The city did that with the Performing Arts Centre. They set up a schedule that allowed people to get used to the place by taking part in small events.

There were small events for different groups and public events where people just wandered in and out of the building.

The first public – they came in dribs and drabs Thursday afternoon.

The same approach seems to be the way the pier is going to open.

Thursday afternoon a crowd of a couple of hundred were gathered around the gates waiting to wander out – but those gates weren’t ready to come down. The construction crews were still giving the place the finishing touches it needed.

CHCH TV reporter arrives a little too early. Pier not quite ready for its opening.

A local television station announced the pier was going to open at 3:30pm – they got that wrong. There was still work to be done. The bits of rain that drifted in and out didn’t help.

The contractor would have been just as happy if the public had not been let out onto the pier on Thursday – they still had work to do.

The construction crews would move the gates back further and further to allow people out – but it wasn’t until well past 5:30 pm before people could walk out to the observation deck. And even then they could not go beyond because crews were setting up facilities for a fireworks display.

All a little awkward – but Burlingtonians seemed to go along with the flow.

The pier has a limit of 2100 people on it at any one time – there were not that many yesterday afternoon and we probably won’t see that big a crowd for some time – bit it will hold that many if they are out there shoulder to shoulder. Is there a Guinness Book of Records opportunity here?

By 7:00 pm people were wandering in and looking around. Mayor Goldring took a stroll and several hundred people were out with skate boards and baby carriages as they decided just how they were going to relate to their pier.

On Friday the politicians will hold their event, the Sea Cadets will form some kind of an honour guard which is a nice touch. The politicians are not expected to take all that long to do their thing.

One of the pluses with the pier was the mini-beach that was formed on the west side. Due to the currents and the flow of water sand gets washed up on the west side. when city engineers saw this formation they decided to put in a walkway leading to the water.
MAny thought there was going to be docks for boats to tie up to – they talked about it and they even costed it out – and then backed away from it given the massive cost over runs.
You can almost bet that at some point there will be talk of baot docks again.

Then it’s back in the hands of the public – but they still won’t be able to get out to the very end – the space from the observation deck to the end is being used to set up the fireworks display for Saturday night as part of the Sound of Music Festival.

They will become collectors items sold on eBay in the future. Did you get one?

But folks – for those of you who have been waiting for years for this pier to get given to you – Sunday it will be all yours. It is quite the place to wander around in the early hours of the morning, perhaps with a cup of coffee and a friend.

Perhaps you will be one of those early “pier walkers”.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: