 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON June 19, 2012 Last Sunday evening as the last of the Sound of Music fans were heading home, at 12:40 a.m., a 14-year-old male victim and a friend were walking north on Brant Street near Caroline Street.
A lone female approached the victim, brandished a knife, held it against the victim’s stomach and demanded his property. The victim complied and gave up his knapsack and cell phone.
 Writing up another report, not that many during the Sound of Music Festival The suspect is described as a white female, 15 – 17 years, medium build, approximately 5’3” to 5’5”, fare skin with shoulder length brown hair. The suspect was wearing a grey or black beanie style hat.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905 825-4747 x2343, Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222-TIPS(8477), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637(crimes).
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON June 18, 2012 There were 70,000 copies of City Talk delivered to Burlington homes the week of June 4th, 2012 This is the first time the city has used a magazine format for the publication which requires six weeks to get through the various approval levels at city hall.
My question to those 70,000 households was this: – how many of you still have your copy of City Talk?
 Cover of the most recent issue of City Talk -how many people kept the magazine My follow up question was: – is the just shy of $20,000 in direct costs plus 105 hours of staff time writing, editing and putting the graphics in place and getting City Talk to the printers worth that much of your tax money?
In a very preliminary survey of Burlington residents a few said there was some use to the publication but when pressed other than saying “it is nice to know” we didn’t get one reason for keeping the publication.
The vast majority of the people we talked to said the publication was of no use to them. It was admittedly a very small sample. We will in the next few weeks formalize the questions And then do a typical grid type survey of 100 households and another 50 people in the two shopping malls.
We will have a copy of the publication in hand so that people can identify what it is we are asking questions about.
Week 52 – The Pier countdown
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON June 18, 2012 BurlingtonGreen, a community advocacy group that tends to ask questions and not take brush offs all that nicely has come out publicly and stated that city council has made decisions without all the information in their hands and when given an opportunity to lay their hands on all the information available – they take a pass.
Here is what BurlingtonGreen had to say to day in a letter to media about the state of the wind turbine that was to be built as part of the pier at the foot of Brant Street:
In order for Council to make an informed decision, respectful of the interests of the citizens of Burlington they serve, they require an accurate, thorough presentation of issue facts. They were not provided with this on the pier wind turbine issue. Consistent with our solution focused mandate, BurlingtonGreen stepped up and brought critical facts to the discussion which included bringing two renewable energy experts to Council to address their questions about the environmental and financial facts in regard to the pier wind turbine. The presentations confirmed that the interests of the taxpayer and the environment would be better served by installing the turbine versus scrapping it.
The turbine was not only an approved feature by the former Council but it remained as a pier component up until this April. It was explained that had staff not proposed unnecessary, overpriced battery packs, the project would have proceeded as planned. Now there appears to be new barriers preventing the project from proceeding and critical questions unanswered.
Has money been spent to beef up the pier to support the beacon and turbine already? Was an Ontario energy conservation grant of $100,000 provided years ago to pay for the wind turbine feature? Will there be costs to cancel the turbine that was already ordered? Will Burlington now be left with a large unfinished beacon with no turbine to serve as the profile symbol of our city? Will taxpayers be on the hook to pay annual energy costs to light the pier and beacon that could have been avoided by employing wind energy? We understand that the answer to all of these questions is yes, and therefore argue the turbine should be installed as previously approved and planned.
This Council has the ability and responsibility to assess all the facts and can reverse their decision to cancel the project. There need be no concerns about delaying the pier construction schedule as they could install the turbine after the pier is built. Thus far, we have received no response from Council regarding this proposed solution.
If they don’t reverse their decision, we are confident it will be a regret we will be reminded of every time we look at the $15 million dollar pier with an unfinished beacon and a pile of hydro bills.
Sincerely,
Amy Schnurr, Executive Director, BurlingtonGreen
Some of the answers to the questions Amy Schnurr asks are already answered.
Has money been spent on beefing up the beacon tower? Yes, but that beefing up may have been part of the redesign that was done. It is clear from the set of plans that are being used for the completion of the pier that some very significant changes have been made in the way “beefing up” is being done to the tower/beacon portion of the pier.
While there could have been costs to cancel the turbine order there will not be any based on comments Debra Power made at a Council meeting. Power is with Niagara Wind Power, the company that had been sub-contracted to source and install the wind turbine.
The city is certainly going to be left with a tower that will have LED lights on it and that city will have to pay for the energy that is used to keep those lights up at night.
The curved design feature will not have a cap on it, partly because Councillor Taylor though it looked like Champagne flute and he liked that look – that’s what he said, I don’t make this stuff up. The reality will be that a cap will have to be put on the top of the curved design feature.
There are some serious concerns about the strength of the tower/beacon and whether or not the vibration that would have occurred with the turbine operating would have caused metal fatigue over time. The question should have been on the table but was not asked and now that Council has decided – no turbine – who cares about possible metal fatigue.
In order for the turbine matter to be brought back to a Council committee several things have to happen. A council member has to serve notice that they want to matter re-opened – that decision to reopen has to be voted on.
Then if that vote is passed and it is debated at a Council meeting the vote to rescind the decision to take the turbine out has to have a 2/3rds majority – which means 5 of the seven council members have to vote to add the turbine.
BurlingtonGreen is saying ‘never say never” – the opera is not over until the fat lady sings. They just want Council to keep an open mind, ask all the questions and be sensible and responsible with the information they are given. And above all – listen.
 The observation deck and the beacon tower rising out of it will still be part of the pier when it is completed. What will not be in place is the turbine  The turbine part of the pier at this point has been scrapped. Besides making a statement about Burlington's commitment to the environment the turbine would have provided the energy needed to keep the lights on at night forever - at no cost the the city. BurlingtonGreen thinks the city should reconsider the decision they made and hear all the facts and then make an informed decision. On the actual construction front -things are quiet. The steel is now in the shops of the people who will be doing the cutting, the welding and then the galvanizing. These are time consuming jobs that the city is demanding be done right the first time.
The Quality Program and the Quality Control are doing their work each step of the process.
Sometime during the second half of July we can expect to see flatbed trucks rolling down to the pier apron and off loading galvanized steel that will be bolted into place.
The Quality Program is developed to ensure the quality of the work, thus protect the interest of the City of Burlington. It essentially involves two parts, the Quality Control (QC) Program which is implemented by the Contractor and the Quality Assurance (QA) Program which is implemented by the Consultant. The QC Program is specified in the Contract Document, while the QA Program is developed by the Consultant based on industry standards and experience.
The Turbine discussion that is taking place clouds the design issue about the tower/beacon part of the pier. The tower with the beacon are going to be built. The only thing that will not be in place is the wind turbine that was to whirl away at the top of the tower/beacon.
 There were going to be cool drinks for this lad and his family. He was one of more than 1000 people who took in the Festival Parade Saturday morning. By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON June 18, 2012 Near perfect weather for the Sound of Music Festival. Later in the month we will get the figures, but it looked to us like another record breaking event with some top flight entertainment, no major police problems and pods on the side streets that worked very well.
The Festival parade was a highlight for many with New Street lined with residents who enjoyed the bands and children who were taken in by it all.
There was one gentleman who put his ear plugs in each time a pipe band went by – he explained that pipes were an acquired taste.
 Mayor and one of Burlington's biggest benefactors Mr ccc xxx There was one feature that few will have fully appreciated and that was the car with Mayor Rick Goldring in the front seat and a small Japanese man in the back seat wearing white gloves and waving his hand. There was no signage on the car to indicate who he was. The passenger, along with an interpreter was Mr. Nakazawa who was the donator of the cherry blossom trees at Spencer Smith Park and the giver of more than $100,000 to the city. Mr. Nakazawa doesn’t speak a word of English but, as Mayor Goldring explained “he just loves Burlington”.
 It was close to a solid wall of blue as the Korean band paraded along New Street.  Antique fire trucks - odd by today's standards but they worked very well.  Well over 1000 people clustered in smal groups along New Street and parts of Drury Lane to watch and wave as band after band and dozens of different groups went by on their floats. The parade was a great display of the diversity that is now such a large part of Burlington.
 No lack of energy from this bunch.  M.M. Robinson band - both popular and energetic.  We haven`t seen this many curls since the days of Shirley Temple  Much of the parade music was tradsitional band music - the steel band was a refreshing difference.  Stepping out would be a good description of these fine gentleman.
 Proud band leader. By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON June 18, 2012 While the Sound of Music Festival keeps four stages and four pods busy with entertainers – the parade draws the biggest crowd that spread itself along New Street as it works its way on to Brant Street.
 The plumes and the sashes set this band apart  We should be seeing fresh Niagara peaches in the stores soon. Interesting float.  The people of the Philippines with their band  St. Andrews`Pipe  It was the green rimmed sun glasses that did it for this young man.  This man is a Regimental Sergeant Major - they don`t make them like this anymore.  The music got to this lady - she just bounced along new street - even the trombone player couldn`t keep up with her. The story of the parade is best told in pictures.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON June 16, 2012 It is watchful citizens that catch the criminals..
There was a series of daytime house break in in the Francis Road community. Word got out – Our Burlington was a large part of getting that word out – and when a resident saw what they thought was suspicious behaviour they called police.
Here is how the police tell the story:
On June 13th at 10:00 a.m. alert citizens reported suspicious activity of two men possibly casing homes in the area of Francis Road and Marley Crescent in Burlington. There were also some reports of these same men going door-to-door offering gardening services.
Police responded to the area and located one man seated in his parked vehicle. A second man was seen exiting from between two houses, the man ran when he spotted police.
Both men were arrested and suspected of breaking into homes. Investigation discovered that a break and enter did occur at a Francis Road home, but nothing had been taken.
The suspect had entered the unlocked home while the resident was outside doing yard work. The resident happened to return indoors and interrupted the crime in progress.
This incident is similar in pattern to other recent Burlington residential break-ins that occur while homeowners are focused on outdoor activities. Halton Regional Police Service continues to investigate a possible connection.
ACCUSED: Denis PARCZEWSKI, 26 years of Toronto; CHARGES: Break and Enter, Possession of Burglary Tools
ACCUSED: Hubert ZMIJEWSKI, 23 years of Toronto, CHARGES: Break and Enter, Possession of Burglary Tools
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON June 16, 2012 Three new exhibits will take up a temporary home at the Burlington Art Centre filling two of its galleries and its beautiful courtyard.
Opening reception is on June 24 from 2 to 4 pm. Everyone is welcome to come and mingle with the artists and experience their work.
The Courtyard will be filled with Hamilton-based artist Colleen O’Reilly’s Garden Spirits until September 23. Known for her bright and colourful function ware, in this exhibition, she ventures into the realm of sculpture with her charming porcelain totems.
Ann Mortimer – In Series will be in the Lee-Chin Gallery from June 23 to August 26. The exhibition examines the artist’s past serial work, with emphasis placed on her latest series of porcelain umbrellas which explore the relationship between form and pattern.
 Ann Mortimer'S Tree Peonies - new material will be exhibited at the BAC from June 23 to August 26TH. The paintings and collage works by Dundas artist Marla Panko in the F.R. Perry Gallery also are celebrated during the reception. Marla Panko: Meaning and Order (June 16 – August 7) explores the notion of modernism and evokes the pure abstraction which developed in the first half of the twentieth century.
Admission to all exhibitions and related events is free. The Burlington Art Centre is located at 1333 Lakeshore Road. For more information, visit the BAC.ca or call 905-632-7796. Follow the BAC on Facebook.
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON June 14, 2012 The city we live in and enjoy today wasn’t always what we see as we walk the streets.
We all ooh and ahh about the Burlington Performing Arts Centre – and it is a very well designed building. It could use a little warmth here and there but the Family Room was a great idea that is working out very well.
There was a time when the site of the BPAC was once the Regional Police service Burlington detachment. In the picture set out below you can see the parking lot that is now a multi-storey structure with the Tourism office, Pane Fresca, the Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development people along with a five level garage.
It wasn’t always that way.
 The old police station is shown in the upper left - now the location of the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. Poor Joe Brant – his house got torn down and then a replica built and then the replica got moved. When you’re in the Museum there, which is a bit on the shabby side, truth to tell, appreciate that it’s a remembrance of what used to be. It got shifted to the east about 400 yards so the hospital could have a larger parking lot. The actual ownership of the land to the east of the hospital has all kinds of strings attached to it.
 Brant House on wheels traveling east about 400 yards to provide space for a parking lot. The city’s legal department are probably the only people who fully understand the intricacies of the property that was given to Brant by the British for his service during the American Revolutionary War.
Later this month the Conservation Authority will be holding a design event for the Beachway which is now a long stretch of land from the western end of Spencer Smith Park to the Canal. They want to decide what should be done with that part of the city.
There was a time when a very vibrant community existed in that area. The houses, which were on land that was owned by the Canadian National Railway, were leased to people who built cottages on the lots. There was no street address as such for the property on the lake side of the railway line. Les Armstrong, a member of the Waterfront Advisory Committee and the Burlington Historical Society as well as the friends of Freeman Station explains to people that you would tell your visitors that you live by the “first tower” or the “second tower” which was a reference to the hydro towers that snake along the waterfront and then up through the city.
There is a small community – less than 30 homes – in the area now and they are fighting to remain there and ideally see the community built up now that the railway no longer runs along the edge of the lake.
 There was a time when Beachway was populated with hundreds of homes. All kinds of development talk – but a look at this aerial view of the downtown core on a late winter afternoon when everything is covered with a dusting of snow and the sun is getting ready to set. This was in 2000 – not much in the way of change since them.
 Downtown core area, winter of 2000 How many reports have there been about “economic development” and bringing in those high tech, high paying jobs that everyone talks about. The Simms Building, frequently known as City Hall South because of the number of city departments in the building: Legal, Human Resources and Purchasing are there now. Might be better to buy the place. Others are looking beyond adding to the space the city used in the downtown core. All kinds of discussion and city council workshops on putting parking lots # 4 and # 5 to better use. Councillor Jack Dennison was talking about this kind of change in 2000, didn’t get very far. Development change takes time.
We are indebted to Joseph Hollick for the photographs used in this story.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON June 14, 2012 The opening night will be great. The weather is going to be close to perfect and the sound that will come from the Dofasco stage where Of Gentleman and Cowards will pluck their strings to get the four day event rolling. Described as a band, made up of four friends from McMaster with an energetic sound that is melodic and youthful. They took hone first place in the Ontario finals of the Campus Music Explosion. They take to the stage at 7:00 pm
 The day before the Sound of Music kick off - possible to longe about the edge of the Lake. At the other end of Spencer Smith Park, on the OLG stage, the Glory Days will perform. This six piece ensemble is a tribute to American music icon Bruce Springsteen, and is made up of experienced concert musicians able to recreate some of the classic songs and performances that are Springsteen trademarks. Expect an unforgettable night of pure passion and energy from this bunch.
The action moves back and forth between each end of the park.
Born Ruffians at the Dofasco Stage at 8:15
Keeping the Faith on the OLG stage at 8:30
Back to the Dofasco Stage to catch the Arkells at 9:45
And end the evening taking in the Rear View Mirror at 10 pm on the OLG stage.
What a way to start the weekend – and this is only Thursday.
The Sound of Music Festival is a series of events that is anchored at Spencer Smith Park but also works its way up Brant Street and spreads out amongst the side streets as well.
 Hundreds of volunteers make the Sound of Music Festival work - two of them mark the location for a vendor. The park action is focused on three stages. The OLG Stage (your lottery gambles working for you) at the west end; the Dofasco Stage (known officially as the ArcelorMittal Dofasco Stage – remember the corporate tag line Our product is steel; our strength is our people – Arcelor laid many of them off) at the east end. Then there is the Burlington Hyundai Stage south of the Waterfront Hotel and the Cogeco Stage set up outside City Hall.
The Classical Stage is set up behind the Arts Centre on the North side of Lakeshore across from Spencer’s Restaurant.
There are also four Pods; one on Ontario Street tucked in close to the War Memorial; the Elgin Street Pod opposite the Queen’s Head; the Pine Street Pod just a short block north of Lakeshore on Brant and the John Street Pod across from the front of the Waterfront Hotel.
For Thursday – it’s just the two stages at each end of the park strutting the talent from six groups. Then it is a fast and furious Saturday and Sunday.
By Lake Ontario Waterkeeper
BURLINGTON, ON June 14, 2012 “No Fishing” signs popped up across Toronto’s waterfront recently. Will we see signs like this in Burlington?
The public backlash in Toronto was immediate and fierce and city Councillors quickly voted to have the signs removed.
Lake Ontario is a vibrant and historic fishing location, even in Toronto’s borders. There are at least 10,000 anglers within the city’s borders, part of the community of 7.5-million fishing Canadians.
 These signs went up in Toronto on Tuesday with no news announcements. Will this happen in Burlington? The timing of Toronto’s “No Fishing” experiment sent chills up our spines. As the signs went up, Members of Parliament gathered in Ottawa to debate the omnibus budget bill that will dismantle protection for fish and fish habitats across the country. Sure, the government says that the new Fisheries Act will still protect fish of commercial, cultural, or recreational value. But Toronto, with one small action, demonstrated the meaninglessness of that approach to environmental protection.
One of the reasons Waterkeeper has been so concerned about the changes to the Fisheries Act is because the new legalese actually creates incentives not to protect the act of fishing. It encourages the disenfranchisement of anglers rather than encouraging the protection of fish, fish habitat, and the restoration of fisheries.
If you live in a place like Toronto where the commercial fishery has already been wiped out, there are no fish of “commercial value”. The Fisheries Act won’t protect your fish.
If you live in a place where traditional fishing practices have been eliminated, there are no fish of “cultural value”. The Fisheries Act won’t protect your fish.
If you live in a place where a city can simply erect a “No Fishing” sign to keep recreational anglers away, fish of “recreational value” can disappear overnight. The Fisheries Act won’t protect your fish.
See how easy it is?
 The environmental changes tucked into the budget bill being debated in the House of Commons today is going to be more painful than that hook in that finger. The federal Fisheries Act rollbacks are crammed into an 800-page bill that affects every Canadian in dozens of different ways. It is hard to predict exactly what it will all mean for Canadians or when the impacts will first be felt. The one thing we know for certain is that none of the changes are intended to improve protections for fish, habitat, or the people who enjoy those resources.
It is too late to tell your MP how you feel. In this city our guy in the capital is voting for the bill. Don’t think he fishes – but he will fish for your votes at some point in the future. Remember that. This is going to be more painful for people who like to fish than getting a fishing hook stuck in your finger.
Toronto reversed the fishing ban decision they made – but the total lack of notice was not a good sign.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON June 14, 2012 The Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital held their Annual General Meeting and instead of being a real yawner – turned out to be a bit of a fun event with the newly elected chair, Stephen Friday showing not only a tie with vivid colours, something not normally seen in the medical community but also displaying a rich sense of humour. Thus guy might be fun to work with.
 Incoming JBMH chair Stephen Friday - with ties like that, you just have to like this guy.  A relaxed for chair, Susan Busby on the right talks to Board member Brenda Hunter. Susan Busby, a woman who has served the community for more than 17 years at JBMH, turned the gavel over to Friday but not before the hospital treasurer told the audience that there was a surplus of $22,000 for the fiscal year that ended March 31st.
Financially the hospital is one firm footing. The Foundation has $12 million of their $60 million in hand; they raised $295,000 at the Crystal Ball. The Hospital Auxiliary committed to raising $5 million which is a record for this city and probably for any other city near the size of Burlington.
The audience did everything but give President and CEO Eric Vandewall a group hug – can you see him handling that – and went on to hear what Mayor Rick Goldring had to say as their guest speaker.
Before the Mayor got going someone leaned toward me and said “Busby would make a very good Council member”. Wonder which ward she lives in?
The city and the Hospital are almost at the “sign the agreement” stage on how the $60 million the taxpayers are going to contribute to the re-development will be spent. Mayor Goldring in his comments pointed out just how big an expenditure that amount is for the city. “It represents about 50% of the annual tax levy. We will have to borrow to meet the commitment. Our current total debt for the city is approximately $90 million and this will have to be increased.” So for Burlington – this is not small potatoes.
There was a very nice letter from the provincial Minister of Health and Long Term Care, Deb Matthews to outgoing Chair Susan Busby that was framed and presented to her.
While the dollars are important Goldring was in the room to talk about a “healthy community” and didn’t limit his definition to health to how big are stomachs were or how we felt but saw healthy community as one where everyone was pulling together in the same direction.
The past year has been awkward for the city. Council didn’t like the idea of being asked to pay for a parking garage and also didn’t feel it was in any sense a partner with the hospital board. There was tension which Goldring doesn’t feel is part of a healthy community.
He pointed out that Burlington” residents identified the hospital as their number 1 priority by almost 70%. Residents are clearly willing to contribute, and if need be, see spending controlled in other areas of the municipality.”
Council however is responsible to its taxpayers and they are going to be diligent and ensure that funds are spent wisely. In other words the city wasn’t going to just write a cheque and leave it at that.
“The hospital and city staff, have been working towards a contribution agreement for about six months now and I believe we have found a way to make this work for all parties.”
“The agreement that we are working to finalize, will see the city contributing $60 million for equipment purchases for the hospital. This gives the residents transparency as to how their tax dollars are being spent.”
“The i’s are being dotted and t’s crossed and we are hopeful that the final contribution agreement will be brought to Committee the week of July 9th with approval anticipated at Council on July 16.”
 Burlington MPP Jane McKenna yukking it up with the girls at the JBMH annual general meeting. While the McMaster University decision to designate Joseph Brant as a teaching facility came as a bit of a surprise to the city Goldring pointed out that the McMaster Halton Family Medicine Centre will add significantly to the level of service at the hospital and provide additional accessibility to care for our community.
Goldring pointed out that the city is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in Canada and he wants the hospital to reflect that.
Goldring went on to define his idea of a healthy community as being about more than the healthcare system. Using Canadian Senate Sub-committee on Population Health data he said about 25% of health outcomes can be contributed to our healthcare system.
The other major contributors are education and income, which together are estimated to account for 50% of health outcomes, and the physical environment which accounts for 10% of outcomes. Biology and genetics are thought to contribute the balance. Municipal government plays a significant role in the overall health of a community.
There was a time when municipalities owned and ran their hospitals; then the provincial government took over that responsibility and we appear to be going back a bit and looking to the municipality to be a bigger player, which the Mayor appears to welcome. And to be a player the city needs to be at the table.
Average household income in Burlington is $115,000 per year, which is 25% above the provincial average. 40% of Burlington households have an income over $100,000 .
However, poverty is a challenge. Although not fully evident to everyone in Burlington, we have almost 10% of the population living at or below the poverty line. We have over 3500 families living in poverty in our community. Our food banks have become a growth business in Burlington. Over the last two years demand at the food banks has grown by 20% per year.
The City provides affordable opportunities for all. Seniors centers’, libraries, public transit, recreation and cultural events all help to level the playing field and provide an improved and affordable quality of life leading to positive health outcomes. Municipal Government operates long-term care facilities and supports or provides certain mental health services. We work with the LHIN to fund and coordinate some of these activities, but perhaps not to the level that we each could. These all dramatically impact the health of our community.
With the City and Region involved in so many of the important areas that impact the overall health outcomes of the community, how should we be working better together?
And that was the critical question – because the hospital and the city have not been able to work together all that well. When it takes six months to work out how the city’s $60 million contribution is going to be spent – you know there are problems.
Goldring wants the hospital to think aloud with him asking
1. How do we define a healthy Community? What would it look like?
2. How would we measure it? What critical measurements would we focus on?
3. What objectives would we set? How would we establish objectives that were meaningful?
4. How would we prioritize and fund these objectives within our individual areas of responsibility? Would we be willing to give up anything within our silo for the greater good?
5. Could we work together, share information and be more effective and efficient?
6. Understanding all the bureaucratic roadblocks that exist, would we be willing to pilot solutions that make Burlington a Healthier Community?
The city and the hospital haven’t been able to do this so far.
 The hospital is now working flat out to get shovels in the ground by the end of the year and will take a site development plan to city council in the fall. The overall layout for the site is shown above. The near completion of the Redevelopment Memorandum of Understanding is a significant milestone”, said Goldring. “All of us need to be united 100% behind the work of the foundation and the campaign cabinet and be advocates and contributors in order for us to reach our local share target.
“Let us look at the redevelopment process as the beginning of a much bigger conversation within which we can leverage the positive goodwill in the community and the great work the city and region do so that Burlington will be not only the best city to live in Canada but the Healthiest City.
“That is the question I want to leave with all of us.”
Did they hear the question? Will they head the question? Time only will tell. There is a new chair that Goldring knows well and has worked with in the past. Stephen Friday certainly sounded as if he was open to a new working relationship. Hopefully he can bring about a better working relationship.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON – June 14, 2012 BurlingtonGreen in partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada is thrilled to announce that Dr. Jane Goodall, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) & UN Messenger of Peace, will be the keynote speaker at both the Imprints youth environmental conference and the BurlingtonGreen Eco Awards evening celebration to be held on September 19, 2012 at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre.
” We had the privilege of meeting Jane Goodall at the screening of her film “Jane’s Journey” and we’re incredibly inspired by her powerful messages of hope and how each of us can make a difference. She is the perfect fit for both of these events and we are truly honoured that she has agreed to include Burlington in her week long Canadian tour”, said Amy Schnurr , Executive Director of BurlingtonGreen.
Dr. Jane Goodall will be speaking at both events with the youth event focusing on JGI’s global Roots & Shoots program that empowers youth to take action for people, animals and the environment.
 Jane Goodall studied the behavior of chimpanzees in Kenya and became one of the foremost expert in the behavior of the free-ranging chimpanzee.
The Eco Awards celebration will include a keynote presentation by Dr. Goodall, an audience Q & A and the presentation of awards to Halton’s greenest achievers by Dr. Jane Goodall herself!
BurlingtonGreen and the Halton Learning Foundation are grateful to the Burlington Community Foundation for their generous support as a platinum sponsor in addition to the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation for their gold level of support. More sponsorship opportunities are available to support the events that will be promoted widely throughout Halton and beyond. Contact info@burlingtongreen.org or 905-466-2171
Schools can register Youth for Imprints at no cost starting June 12 on a first come first serve basis. The general public will be able to purchase tickets for the evening Eco Awards event later in June. A limited supply of VIP exclusive tickets will be available where guests will be treated to a special reception with Dr. Jane Goodall.
Both events are expected to sell out. Information for Eco Awards and the VIP Reception will be available at www.burlingtongreen.org and tickets will be available for purchase at www.burlingtonpac.com
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON June 13, 2012 Some Council members expected something quite different in the way of staff changes that were released after the Council meeting Monday night.
The City Clerk quietly distributed a notice announcing that the position of General Manager for Development and Infrastructure was vacant and that Steve Zorbas would move from Acting General Manager of Development and Infrastructure and return to his former position as Executive Director of Finance.
There was no discussion or debate during the Council meeting on the changes. There was however, a very lengthy Closed Session discussion during the Budget and Corporate Services meeting previously, during which Jeff Fielding, the City Manager would have set out the changes he wanted to make and the direction he was going with his staff development.
Some Council members, two at least, were expecting even larger changes to be announced and were disappointed with the scope of what was released Monday evening. We are advised that Council is expecting to hear more in the not too distant future.
 Some of the staff changes city Manager Fielding has put into place got their start back when Tim Dobbie, on the right, was city manager. Coming into an organization, assessing the talent and then deciding who is living up to the standard you expect is never an easy task for a new chief executive officer, which is what the city manager is. It takes time to determine just what you have in the way of a team and where the changes have to be made.
It’s not an easy job – but it has to be done.
A look at the existing staff and the structure and the “top 60” as they are being called by the City Manager, reveals a number of places where change is needed – not the least of which is the way some of the people got the positions they now have in the first place.
 Roy Make, current head of Human Resources Human Resource management is both an art and a science that hasn’t been seen around city hall south in the last number of years. Errors made as far back as ten years ago have to be corrected; Council was expecting to see more of those corrections made last week.
We – and those Council members look forward to hearing more.
It needs to be said that there are some very, very talented people doing fine work and growing in the job they do. There are staff reports with excellent municipal administrative work being shown. We don’t intend to be chintzy here when we say “some” we are talking about a lot of people, not just a handful.
City Council recently approved removing the “acting” from the title of Director, Parks and Recreation that Chris Glenn holds. That removal was earned and deserved.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON June 12, 2012 Art in Action awarded two scholarships at their annual silent fundraising auction at Rayoon –Persian Fare in Burlington’s Village Square.
Ten Burlington public and catholic schools participated. Each school put forth an applicant that was pursuing a post-secondary fine arts program. Each student completed an application and included three digital images of their artwork.
 From left to right: Olivia Hashka - Nelson H. S. Winner • Honorary Chairperson for our 10th Anniversary. Rick Goldring, Mayor, Michelle Friesen - Robert Bateman H. S, Stephanie Moore - L. B. Pearson H. S. Darlene Throop, Art in Action Scholarship Chair. Missing Jessica Gneth - M. M. Robinson H. S. - Winner, Sara Fackrell - Aldershot H. S., Ashley Jean-Gilles - Assumption H. S. The jury process consisted of six Art in Action artists representing various art mediums. Two winners were selected.
Congratulations to Jessica Gneth of M.M. Robinson high school and Olivia Hashka of Nelson High.
Other applicants were Sara Fackrell of Aldershot high, Ashley Jean-Gilles of Assumption catholic secondary, Stephanie Moore of L. B. Pearson High school and Michelle Friesen of Robert Bateman high school.
The winners received a scholarship of $1000.00 each as well as free admission to participate in this November’s studio tour .
Art in Action celebrates it’s tenth anniversary this year and will put on an especially robust Studio Tour this fall.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON June 12, 2012 This was a big one. A total of nine people charged with multiple offences during what the police called project “Commute”.
Police had an undercover officer make multiple purchases of cocaine from a trafficker in Halton Region. Subsequent investigation revealed this illegal activity was supported by an organized network of individuals.
Monday June 11, Halton Police arrested a number of people and exercised search warrants at several residences in Burlington, Oakville, Hamilton and Toronto. The police have been at this one for more than eleven months, following leads and getting at everyone they saw as part of what they now describe as an organized ring of drug traffickers that covered the Region of Halton, City of Hamilton and City of Toronto.
 Numerous police units were involved in Operation Commute; an 11 month investigation that resulted in the seizure of three kilos of drugs and $45,000 in cash plus nine arrests. Drug and Morality officers were assisted by members of the Halton Guns & Gangs Unit, PAVIS (Provincial Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy), PWEU (Provincial Weapons Enforcement Unit), Halton RIS (Regional Investigative Services), Halton and Hamilton uniformed members, Halton TRU (Tactical Rescue Unit), Hamilton ERU (Emergency Response Unit), and Toronto ETF (Emergency Task Force).
The accused are:
Steven BAKER, 25 yrs, Hamilton
-Trafficking in a controlled substance (cocaine)
-Trafficking in a controlled substance (cocaine and crack cocaine)
-Possession for the purposes of trafficking (cocaine)
-Possession of proceeds of crime (over $5000)
Glen THOMAS, 32 yrs, Pickering
-Possession for the purposes of trafficking (oxycodone)
-Possession of proceeds of crime (over $5000)
Goun IM, 20 yrs, Oakville
-Possession for the purposes of trafficking (oxycodone)
-Possession of proceeds of crime (over $5000)
Brook TENN, 28 yrs, Hamilton
-Possession for the purposes of trafficking (cocaine and crack cocaine)
-Possession for the purposes of trafficking (oxycodone)
-Produce a controlled substance (crack cocaine)
-Careless storage of a firearm (contravention of regulations)
-Unauthorized possession of a prohibited firearm
-Possession of a prohibited firearm knowing that its possession is unauthorized
Pierre KALATA, 30 yrs, Oakville
-Trafficking in a controlled substance (cocaine)
-Possession for the purposes of trafficking (cocaine)
-Conspiracy to import a controlled substance (cocaine)
-Breach of recognizance of bail (3 counts)
Joseph SANSONE, 22 yrs, Toronto
-Trafficking in a controlled substance (cocaine)
-Possession for the purposes of trafficking (cocaine)
-Possession for the purposes of trafficking (ecstasy)
-Possession of proceeds of crime (over $5000)
-Conspiracy to import a controlled substance (cocaine)
-Careless storage of a firearm (contravention of regulations) two counts
-Unauthorized possession of a firearm
-Unauthorized possession of a prohibited firearm
-Possession of a prohibited firearm knowing that its possession is unauthorized
-Possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized
Lindsay COUTTS, 23 yrs, Toronto
-Possession for the purposes of trafficking (cocaine)
-Possession for the purposes of trafficking (ecstasy)
-Possession of proceeds of crime (over $5000)
-Conspiracy to import a controlled substance (cocaine)
-Careless storage of a firearm (contravention of regulations) two counts
-Unauthorized possession of a firearm
-Unauthorized possession of a prohibited firearm
-Possession of a prohibited firearm knowing that its possession is unauthorized
-Possession of a firearm knowing that its possession is unauthorized
These accused persons are scheduled to appear in Milton bail court on the 12th of June 2012.
Two additional people were added to the list of those arrested:
Sausha JEFFERSON, 33 yrs, Mississauga
-Conspiracy to import a controlled substance (cocaine)
Romina PISANI, 28 yrs, Concord
-Conspiracy to import a controlled substance (cocaine)
These accused persons will appear in Milton court on the 31st of July 2012.
 During a drug raid police assume there are weapons inside the residence - they go in fully prepared. This is a major multi-level police investigation. Seized was three kilograms of cocaine, quantities of oxycodone, ecstasy and marihuana. All of these are dangerous, mind altering drugs that result in addictions. The people in this business also had three illegal handguns, ammunition, a bulletproof vest, approximately $45,000.00 in Canadian currency and equipment used in the production of crack cocaine.
The number of police units involved indicates how serious the drug problem is in the region. The people arrested were selling the drugs – who was buying the stuff?
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON June 12, 2012 She does it every time – she’s consistent and while she drives her fellow Council members bananas – she strives to get to the point – and the point of cancelling the turbine on the Pier was not at all clear to Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward and she had questions.
 Mayor may have a lot of explaining to do if Councillor Meed Ward can build a case about why the turbine for the Pier was really cancelled. Mayor Goldring wasn’t at all sure there was anything to discuss but Meed Ward advised him that she was referring to a document that had been received and filed and that she had a right to comment at length – which she did.
Meed Ward started her comments by saying she was “feeling very unsettled” and the decision made was “not sitting well with her’. Her sense was that the decision was made for the wrong reasons – she said she was hard pressed to know why the decision was made at all and she wanted to see the dialogue about the turbine on the pier continue.
If each of the reasons we were given is not the reason for cancelling the turbine on the pier – then what is the reason she asked. All her colleagues sat on their hands. Councillor Sharman didn’t bring up his usual canard about the “return on investment”. There wasn’t a peep from the council members.
Meed Ward said she met with the city manager and Craig Stevens of the engineering department but still didn’t feel she had answers that made sense.
To recap the steps that led up to the cancellation.
 Contractor says he could install the turbine in half a day whenever the city is ready and that the meters for the net metering program are already in place. But Council didn't want to hear a word of it. The city was told that electricity from the turbine could not be fed into the electrical grid. That there was something called the MicroFIT program for which there was a long list of applicants, that included Councillor Dennison who wants to put solar panels on the roof of his health club
Director of Engineering misled staff and council when he suggested that a battery pack – at a cost of $70,000 would solve the problem. City Council wouldn’t touch that idea and voted at committee to cancel the turbine.
It got a through airing at the Council meeting that approves all the decisions made at Committee. However, at Council the city learned two things:
That the MicroFIT program was not the preferred choice but that something called net metering was the better solution and that was available the next day if the city was ready.
 There was the sound of a jack hammer coming from the pier. Good sign? At the same meeting Council heard that there were numerous problems with getting the steel that was needed to fabricate the base structure for the pier. They were also told that the delay with the steel might mean the city would be unable to pour the concrete that would form the deck of the pier if there is an early winter
That sent a shiver up the spines of every council member and they were not going to even think about something that had the potential to delay this project.
Meed Ward thought the council did not have all the facts or they weren’t paying attention to the facts they had.
She again asked: What is the real reason? Her view was that the dialogue about the turbine should continue but no one on this Council was picking up on that idea.
Meed Ward said the new contractor has changed much. `
There is supposed to be more oversight. “Where was the oversight on the ordering of the steel?
“What assurance are there that we won’t see further challenges.`
Meed Ward was relentless
“I wish I could tell you that we will deliver this on time – I am confident that we can”, which was the best answer city manager Jeff Fielding had.
 The matter of re-opening the decision to cancel the turbine on the pier might come down to who knows the Procedural By-law best. Meed Ward wanted to get this out on the table and continue the dialogue but she wasn’t getting anywhere. In order for the subject to be opened she had to put forward a motion, get a seconder and then get five of the seven members of Council to vote to just re-open the discussion.
It`s worse than that actually. Meed Ward would have to serve notice of her motion and then get it on the floor. Her fellow council members were not going to let that happen
Her only recourse is to bring the matter up again at the next Community Services committee when the next Pier Update will be delivered, which will be June 20th.
This is messy but “Little Miss Sunshine” isn’t going to let this one get away. She has in the past forced council to go through a recorded vote on six different questions. She did it once and she will do it again if she has to.
We are rounding the turn at the halfway mark of this council term of office. Is Meed Ward building election points? Heaven help them if there is a significant delay in completing the pier – the voters will never forgive them – and they will remember Little Miss Sunshine who stick to her guns like Annie Oakley.
Meed Ward has always believed that the city should have tried to work something out with the original contractor who walked off the job, when he said he could not build a pier based on the design he was given.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON June 12, 2012 One of the three General Manager position at city hall was declared vacant this evening. Acting General Manager of Development and Infrastructure will return to his home position July 3rd and take up the position of Executive Director of Finance – which means Joan Ford who has been filling those shoes, very well we might add, goes back to her old job and all the people in the department will move down one rung on the corporate ladder.
 City manager Jeff Fielding has made his first move on re-organizing his talent pool. How much more to come? City Manager Jeff Fielding had the City Clerk hand out a press release once Council had adjourned – there was no discussion on the changes. That had taken place two weeks ago at a Budget and Corporate Services meeting at which more than an hour was spent at a Closed Session of Committee to discuss a Human Resources related to the reorganization.
The City Manager had decided to keep the three General Manager structure which will now look like:
General Manager: Kim Phillips heading up what has been called Budget and Corporate Services will oversee:
Finance
Human Resources
Legal
Information Technology Services
Clerks
 Acting General Manager of Development and Infrastructure Steve Zorbas reutrns to Finance to pick up his old job. General Manager of what was called Development and Infrastructure, which is now vacant will cover:
Burlington Transit
Parks and Recreation
Burlington Fire Department
Local Board Liaison: Burlington Art Centre; Burlington Museums; Tourism Burlington; Burlington Public Libraries; The Burlington Performing Arts Centre
General Manager of what has been called Community Services will continue to be overseen by Scott Stewart. Parks and Recreation has been moved out of this division and put into Development and Infrastructure
Planning and Building
Roads and Parks Maintenance
Engineering
Transportation Services
Corporate Strategic Initiatives
Local Board Liaison: Burlington Economic Development Corporation; Burlington Chamber of Commerce; Burlington Downtown Business Association; Aldershot BIA; Burlington Hydro
“The city’s Executive Director of Finance, Steve Zorbas, had been serving as the Acting General Manager of Development and Infrastructure. Staff in the acting positions of the executive director, deputy treasurer, manager of budgets and policy and financial analyst, budgets and development, will return to their home positions in the coming months,” said the press release.
 Joan Ford knew her numbers inside out and developed perhaps the sharpest crew at city hall. Joan Ford, as Acting Executive Director of Finance, has developed an exceptional staff team using a nurturing, supportive approach that has worked very well. Some of those staff members are highly qualified and may want to look at other municipal jurisdictions. Finance isn’t going to be a happy place for the next little while.
The Parks and Recreation Department will be grouped in the same division as Burlington Transit and the Burlington Fire Department. Until the new General Manager is in place, Parks and Recreation will continue to report to General Manager Scott Stewart.
The acting fire chief, Dave Beatty will report to the city manager temporarily. The recruitment for the new fire chief to replace the retired chief will take place after the new General Manager of that division is in place. The city currently has three deputy fire chiefs – which might, we are told, be cut back to just two deputies.
There are other organizational changes that will come to the surface once city manager Fielding has his three General Managers in place and functioning as a team.
Clerks is going to see some modifications. In order to “develop synergies within divisions and increase corporate capacity to best reflect the needs of the community” as Fielding put it, there is going to have to be more focus on the customer and less on the taxpayer.
Good first step – more to come.
BURLINGTON, ON June 12, 2012 Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward advised the city last night at a council meeting that her Ward Advisory Committee is looking into the idea of having off-leash times for dog owners in Central Park
 Dogs off leash in Central Park - if you have an opinion - speak up The thinking is that time would be set aside during the early morning and late evening hours for dogs to run free in the park. “We would recommend a trial run at this if this is what the community wants and see how it works out” said Meed Ward
City bylaws call for dogs to be on leashes in city parks.
It’s a controversial suggestion – but Meed Ward seldom backs away from controversy. She wants to raise the question with her constituents and then take the response to a city council committee meeting.
If you’ve thoughts on this – comment on the story below or send Meed Ward an email.
 Revised and corrected June 12, 2012
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON June 12, 2012 BFAST has asked the city to stop cuts to transit service. BFAST (Burlington for Accessible Affordable Transit) has submitted a detailed report to the City of Burlington asking the city to stop the cuts proposed in the City’s Interim Transit Plan.
BFAST points out that the proposed cuts to transit service mostly impact northeast and southeast Burlington which the group feels is unfair to parts of the city where the service is being cut.
Cuts to transit in northeast and southeast Burlington will not build transit use in these growth areas of Burlington. These areas require stability in transit routes and future improvements, not cuts, to encourage transit use. Cuts ignore the City’s recently approved Strategic Plan and Halton’s Transportation Plan which both call for increased transit use.
 Burlington Transit getting new buses - to deliver less service. BFAST proposes that the city reallocate money from the City transportation budget or overall City budget to implement the proposed service enhancements for west and central Burlington to avoid cuts in north east and south east Burlington.
The transit people have been looking for ways to drive down there costs and get some financial stability into the transit service and feel that the route changes as well as the changes to the levels of service is the approach they want to take for a period of about 20 months.
At the end of that period of time the transit people feel they will have the data they need to make decisions and will have tried a few service changes and see how they work.
Burlington transit did get approval at a Council meeting Monday evening to purchase six replacement busses at a cost of $2,844,454.83 The busses will be 12 metre diesel powered low floor transit vehicles bought from New Flyer Industries in Winnipeg. These additions to the fleet are badly needed. Some of the buses in the fleet have been in service more than 20 years and cost as much as $8,500 each month to keep in service.
The city is taking the position that they will not make large radical changes to the transit service until the Official Plan review is completed.
It will be difficult to convince this Council to change the decision that has been made – unless the response from the community public information sessions are resoundingly strong. Given that very few people knew about the events, it is doubtful there will be a change in the city.
Bfast held its first public meeting with former city of Toronto planner Paul Bedford speaking. The event had more attendees than the transit public consultation meetings got. Why would that be?
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON June 11, 2012 It wasn’t exactly a busy, busy week on the pier front but if you listened carefully you would have heard the sound of a jackhammer out there.
And the portion of the platform that snuggles up to the walkway along Spencer Smith Park was getting a very minor design change that had been approved some time ago.
 If you look carefully you can see the opening that is being made to create a walkway from the north part of the pier, the part closest to the shore, to the shore line. We will have to share that natural beach with the geese but it looks as if it is going to be a very pleasant addition to the pier. Wasn't part of the original design - a freebie if you will and there haven't been many of those on this project. Large boulders were brought in to create a wall that, once it is all finished will see a walkway from the pier to the water’s edge and onto the natural beach that was formed when the pier base was built out into the lake, The small natural beach is one of the pluses for the community; probably the only plus we have had so far.
The transportation, cutting, welding, fabrication and then galvanizing the beams that will go back in is proceeding steadily. While everyone wants the pier completed by Sound of Music 2013 that date may slide and if the politicians are wise they might begin to slowly and quietly move away from that date.
We are going to do this – so let’s do it right and get the problems behind us.
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