By Pepper Parr
July 27th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
Was the tweet Mayor Meed Ward sent out yesterday a sign that she has realized many (the vocal ones that tend to speak up) don’t want what the public is now going to get, like it or not?
Members of Council all realize that this project is one that they are going to have to wear in the months leading up to the 2026 municipal election.
If it turns out to be something that people like – they will applaud and be pleased. If it turns out to be a clunker and gets a thumbs down – every one of them could be looking at the end of their municipal careers.
Those trees look great – but that is not what will be in place the day they cut the ribbon to open a several million dollar upgrade to Civic Square. When the city has added 29,000 new housing units in 2051 – the public might see what is in the renderings. Upper right is what Civic Square looks like today.
The problem is that there is really no one to take their place.
Meed Ward said in her tweet that: “Last week, Council received an update from staff regarding next steps on the Civic Square renewal project. We’re nearing the completion of the design work; however, Council has asked staff to report back in September so that Council and the community can get a better understanding of the design.
“We look forward to learning more about this in the fall and sharing further updates with the community.”
What’s to share? The decision has been made, the funds needed have been allocated and the design teams and doing what they do. Learning that $200,000 was going to be spent on public art was a bit of a surprise but you can’t have a refurbished Civic Square without some art. Would that include a Pride Pole?
The people that push back know that if you push long enough those that should be hearing will eventually get the message. Sometimes they will actually change – other than that – they throw out some crumbs.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
Just out of curiosity who is the developer that has been awarded the City Square renovation? Don’t they have different companies tender bids for these vanity projects? Or is it just the mayors “developers with benefits”. Like the two she facilitated a meeting between,to them then building the Bridgewater condo. This was around 2011/12. This was at the beginning of her Ward 2 reign. So she campaigned against massive condos, yet she is directly responsible for the now biggest condo on the lake. “Mayor-splain” Yourself out of that one.
Editor’s note: First, a contractor, not a developer will do the construction work. Two, the job will be tendered. Staff will be working on the completion of the design now that they know what it is council has decided they want.
On multiple occassions I have either visted City Hall or I have driven past City Hall. I have yet to see one person sitting or standing or gathering with others in that area unless it was a planned event. I am Burlington proud but that money could be used elsewhere at a time when so many in Burlington are needing support. Council continues to spend frivolously while property tax goes up. $200K for artwork? I am a lover of art but goodness, that money could have gone to our residents dealing with the flooding…..
Dear Marianne and Council, I would like a community conversation in the form of a Town Hall There is a lot to discuss, as many questions continue to go unanswered or answered with a non-answer.
I live two blocks from City Hall, the square looks fine as it is, what doesn’t look fine is all the weeds dirty sidewalks and general upkeep, if you can’t look after what you already have stop building new things.
Good point David. I think, like their developer pals, they purposely make the “old” site go to looking like crap so they can claim the new thing they’re building is so much better. Agree with Joe on the Mayor-splaining. Such tone deaf condescension.
Ok, so now we will be subjected to “Mayor-splaining” and how we the lowly and un-informed will suddenly “understand” that spending $200,00 on art is a good thing and that Civic Square will suddenly become the Piazza Navona complete with a replica of the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi.
In my un-informed view, our city hall and the west and east entrances “had” character. I say had as the character of the west entrance was erased and replaced by a black, cold, granite facade that has about as much character as the TRUMP TOWER building in NYC.
The entrance to a building says a lot about what goes on inside and should be inviting which the west side is not.
Time for council to take a step way back from this project.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_Tower
Really enjoying seeing the sites of Paris for the Olympics. Most esthetically pleasing to the eye is the beautiful architecture. I for one am tired of the boring structures that are being fobbed on us by the developers. As for the new but probably not improved City Square shouldn’t the constituents be able to choose what they want? More importantly it comes at a time when frivolous spending at city hall isn’t in the best interest for burlingtonians. We can’t vote for the developers but we certainly should be able to stop a poor idea as tax payers. The recent flooding is a warning that our councilors don’t have a preventive approach to the town infrastructure. The sidewalks are a mess. The timing at the stoplights isn’t long enough for challenged persons. If council members actually looked they could see more important things that need to be addressed. As an art enthusiast I’m all in on public displays, but $ 200,000???dollars. Really???? What MMW Wants MMW gets. Sure wish l had a patron pay for my education. Could this be why she has no concept of money??? Back to the Olympics. Go Canada.
Our strong powers mayor has a very poor memory in terms of what happened at the July 16, 2024 Council meeting with regard to Civic Square. Our delegation reminded council that their decision making must comply with a 1988 Cabinet Directive that demands accountability for provincial transfer recipients and corrective action to be taken by the Province when it does not. Further, “will of council” does not replace the instruction given by staff to this council December 2018 “mandatory compliance with legislation for all Council decision making”. Further, that the 2014-2018 democratically elected council decision to fix the issues with civic square and provide for such in the 2019 budget was improperly set aside.
This all occurred with the assistance of Tim Commisso and the COB Head of Legal. When at one of their earliest meetings and with the help of Tim Commisso and other senior staff placed “will of council” above legislation compliance.
The province has provided a good portion of the ballooned 7.6 million budget along with the federal government, all out of taxpayers’ pockets.. The provision of these funds opposes the 1988 Province’s requirements for prudent and accountable use of transfer funds. The corrective action the Province must take, at the very least, is to take back the transfer funds that have been held rather than being used to comply with legislation. All contrary to the 2014-2018 council decision that MMW and Paul Sharman were a part of.
This will remove the province from aiding and abetting contravention of well-known successful legislation in making our province more accessible to those with disabilities and at the same time correct the potential liability safety issues arising from the failed pavement and underground infrastructure issues.
Strange as it seems Angelo Bentivegna was the only one who seemed to get it and did not support the July 16, 2024 civic square motion before Council. He took the coward’s way, however. He failed to use his comment time to say why the change to non-support of $7.6 million cost and redesign. Echoing his original vote in 2019 of “not a penny more” than that put before council in 2019 (JUST T OVER $1 M) to get the job done July 2019.
Oh well, Bentivegna’s decision to do the right thing by taxpayers, sees the first domino dropped in getting the accountability and corrective action needed and demanded by an Ontario Cabinet Directive. I.E. to have the Civic Square put right at a cost that follows the “prudent” and “accountable” dictate of the province which clearly is the business of the Province which we intend to ensure is addressed by our MPPs, Minister and Premiere, lickety split!!!!!.
Never, ever forget municipalities are creatures of the province.