By Pepper Parr
September 12th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Mayor Meed Ward spoke for about half an hour on what the budget for 2025 was going to look like and what the process was to get it passed. Then a microphone was placed in the hands of those who had something to say.
An east end resident, Jim Barnett, who has delegated often and is certainly not shy about letting you know what he thinks got to the point real quick. “I have lived in Burlington for 55 years”
Mayor Meed Ward announcing new buses that were paid for by the federal government.
1: Forget about free transit
2: Get rid of Service Burlington
3: And tell us what the job descriptions are for the Administrative assistants every member of Council is assigned.
The resident saw no need for a $6 million transit expense for a service that wasn’t needed – “people aren’t using the buses” he said.
“Service Burlington doesn’t do anything. They are rarely able to answer any questions they are asked – needless expense.”
“As for the Administrative assistants: Do we know what they actually do? Is there a job description? I gather they don’t work at city hall, ” said Barnett.
Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte could have explained what the Administrative Assistant do – she has had more than her share of working with a couple of them.
Mayor Meed Ward did say that she wasn’t sure if there was a job description – she’d look into that.
Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte was in the room and she certainly has experience with what administrative assistant do and don’t do. For some reason she didn’t take the opportunity to explain what her administrative assistant does; she might have been able to make a comment.
It was a good question – let’s see what the public gets in the way of answers. We’ll track this one.
“Mayor Meed Ward did say that she wasn’t sure if there was a job description – she’d look into that.”
Meed Ward has been part of Burlington Council since 2010 and she doesn’t know whether there is a job description for a position that has been in place longer than she has?! Her answer should be – “There is a job description for every position within the City of Burlington”.
How can the City determine what skills and expertise are required and how can they establish an appropriate range of compensation without an accurate description of what the job does? And without a position specification, how is a performance management plan established etc., etc.?
Two or three years ago, the Director of COB Human Resources revealed that the organization did not do performance appraisals of its employees; an admission that was shocking beyond belief. Is it possible that they also operate without position specs as well??!!
With Mayor My Way anything is possible.
People are not using the buses because it takes forever to get somewhere without having to transfer or having to wait for a connecting bus.
As long as the bus schedules remain the same, with reduced weekend service etc. only those who do not have a car will use the transit system.
I am tired of hearing that the public needs to cycle, walk, or take public transit. Anyone who cycles in Burlington takes their life in their hands. The bicycle lanes are too narrow, and disappear in some instances.
The idea of cycling to the grocery store in the middle of the winter is a joke. Does the City expect seniors to be cycling in the middle of January with a backpack to the grocery store?
The City is always sending out surveys. I would like to see a survey of Council and staff indicating the mode of transportation they use to get to work and do their errands.
My question to them is would they change the way they operate for free transit?
We called Service Burlington a few weeks ago to confirm the name of the current Internal Auditor and obtain a phone extension. We were told they do not have a listing for such a position. We told them to check with the CAO’s office. They could not get an answer.
We got the answer from Google. Rang back with info and were told they don’t use Google. There was no extension listed. Got in touch with incumbent who advised he has never been allocated an extension and gave us his mobile number.
After Joan Little calling Service Burlington “the wall” and hearing other bad experiences they should be gone, licketyy split. Never could identify who is in charge of this Group. Anyone know?