By Pepper Parr
August 14th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
It was both a tough week and a political disaster for Mayor Marianne Meed Ward. That was last week.
This week Mayor Meed Ward has a meeting with the Premier of the province (if not this week – soon) during which he will ask – where do you have shovels in the ground.
Mayor’s don’t attend events like this on their own. Meed Ward will take some weight with her – most likely City Manager Tim Commisso, who isn’t likely to add much to what the Premier will want to hear.
Executive Director Sheila Jones.
Were I the Mayor, I would take Sheila Jones, she is the most articulate presenter the city has and can explain the problem in language the Premier will understand. Not likely to happen though.
The public will probably not hear all that much about the meeting with the Premier. Mayor Meed Ward tends to not make mention of anything that doesn’t shine the bright lights on her.
Media across the country are now taking up the naturalized gardens issue – the Mayor missed that one as well. A piece in the Hamilton Spectator today makes it clear that the naturalized gardens and an issue that is not going to go away. The LINK will take you to that story.
Later in the month the Mayor will attend the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario A(MO) conference – wonder how her peers will wonder – what is it that isn’t working in Burlington.
That’s a question that is being asked more and more around town.
Why is the property at Ghent and Brant allowed to be left un mowed. This is a main artery and looks terrible.
I have sensed that there is a lack of direction by City Council of the city staff. The naturalized garden issue was allowed to get out of control and the Mayor and Council seem to be unable to do anything to correct the issue nor to make Burlington a national laughing target. I wonder who controls the city; Council or the city staff?
Marshall, in our humble opinion working as Pro Bono Health, Safety and Access Advocates with multiple Councils since the early 90’s under different titles eg Access for All, it is the current Mayor that is the problem.
Her ability to control everything she puts her hand to, starting with her appointment to the Joseph Brant Board pre her election to Council: during the time of an unnecessary 98 deaths from a hospital infectious disease that the Board knew about from day one but denied such; the Downtown Business Association expansion in 2015 right after the 2014 election that nobody knew about going into the election,; the Seniors Board fiasco that saw seniors .lose out in terms of a first class economical meal plan Bistro; the changes to Procedure By-laws that started in Goldring”s day when she was permitted to lead a Committe that was set up outside the Procedural Bylaws and never minuted discussions; corporate policies way behind the Council ordered review dates ; huge safety issues connected to failed fire drill exercise and a Civic Square full of fall hazards; the total misunderstanding of the city in terms of their authority to issue Trespass Letters; the Bateman asbestos secret until after purchased; misuse of Consent Agenda and now the blatant mistreatment of two, that we know of citizens over their natural gardens supported by the Mayor in Opinion Pieces.
Our only suggestion to put this behind us as a very bad memory is to encourage Penny Hersh et al to resurrect ECOB under the title Enraged Citizens of Burlington and all our local print, TV and radio media to accurately report what is going on at City Hall that should not be.