By Pepper Parr
February 13th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Something very suspicious going on at the City Council level.
At just after 12:30 pm on Tuesday, Mayor Meed Ward adjourned the scheduled City Council meeting. A second after that she said:
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward
Wait a second, don’t go anywhere yet – we have to reset the room for a Special Council meeting.
Huh!
They had just adjourned a Regular Council meeting. Why a Special Council meeting that was not on the City web site and for which there was no agenda that we could find?
So why would the Mayor tell her Council colleagues to stay in the room?
Got a note out to the Communications people – nothing back from them yet – but they seldom, if ever, get back promptly.
The Gazette, along with colleagues at other Burlington based media experienced what the Gazette was trying to deal with. Their calls to the Communications department were not returned. Same with the Clerk’s office.
Why would the Mayor say publicly that there was to be a Special meeting of Council when there was nothing in the calendar?
A meeting must have an agenda and that Agenda has to be public and approved before a meeting can commence.
Are we overly suspicious? With this Council we certainly are.
Stand By
Did you ask “CoBy” maybe it knows!!
You may get the correct information??
Editor: CoBy never heard of the meeting
We also double checked the calendar looking for the Special Meeting video to watch and there was nothing. We also did some research on the delegation from Albert Faccenda as we were very concerned with regard to his statement concerning the city’s failure to comply with planning legislated framework in terms of a zoning by-law to permit semi-detached homes in low density areas of our city.
This by-law is apparently in place in multiple Ontario municipalities but not Burlington despite numerous attempts over the last 20 years. The delegate pointed out that despite 20 years late and a request from the lectern that the last Council and this Council in 2019 heard from the lectern, the city has refused to address this with the appropriate bylaw in place. When the video is up exactly what he said can be checked.
In the meantime readers can go to November 5, 2019 Planning and Development at 28.1 on the Calendar and hear for themselves this Council in 2019 fail to respond to the request of Messrs Faccenda and Rapini to comply with such requirements. A requirement that would support the ability to deal with build out and produce what the delegates in 2019 advised would be more affordable dable homes in all areas of Burlington.
Could this be one of the secret closed council meetings to select a new city manager?
See the special council meeting of January 12, 2024.
Editor’s note: That would be my take on it.