By Pepper Parr
December 27th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Anne and David Marsden decided that they would set out to arrange a meeting with City Manager, Tim Commisso, Blake Hurley, City Solicitor and Interim Executive Director of Human Resources Sue Evfremidis, to see if they could resolve the problems the Marsden’s were having with emails that were being re-routed to the Office of the City Clerk. There were also problems with access to reports that were several years old.
The Marsden’s were asking for a two hour meeting and expected her Agenda to be used. She had also planned to have a note taker in the room.
How is it that going so far?
Decide for yourself.
Ann Marsden delegating before City Council
Anne Marsden was were very specific with their needs, however, so far it has not worked out that way they had hoped.
Evfremidis replied:
Interim Executive Director of Human Resources Sue Evfremidis,
We are unable to extend the January 24 (2:30pm-3:30pm) meeting to 2hrs due to Mr. Commisso’s schedule. An agenda, along with room details, will be shared prior to the meeting, however I can assure you that one of the topic items will be the diversion of emails.
Marsden comes back with:
“As I am sure you are aware your response is very disappointing.
However, we will just have to do our best to have the city work towards resolution at this one hour meeting that we are going into without any indication that the meeting is an appropriate effort to avoid an expensive Ombudsman Report.”
Is anyone aware of a complaint taken to the Ombudsman that came back with comments that the city could do better? We have heard from a number of people who are working on a complaint. Ann Marsden is unhappy with the city decision to have all her email to people at city hall routed to the Office of the City Clerk where they decide who the email will be sent along to,
Marsden adds in a note to Evfremidis: “I am sure you are aware, the privilege of setting the agenda of a meeting, we called is ours. The agenda will be circulated one week prior to January 24, 2024.
They meet on the 24th – will it actually take place? Only time will tell.
Marsden has to be given credit for reaching out and asking for a meeting. Will there be a resolution that keeps Marsden happy?
the amount of frivolous complaints by certain members of the Burlington Gazette are part of the reason we pay such high taxes.
If I were a councillor I’d add certain chronic whiners to my Junk Folder
Editor’s note: I just love this guy. Doesn’t have the courage to put his name on the comments he makes and thinks that elected members of Council should knee cap people they don’t like.
Best mid sized city in the Country?
The complaints the Ombudsman has been notified are coming, if resolution not reached that city staff and council are aware of, are much more extensive than described above. (The publisher is not at fault as he does not have all the information.)
The complaints also have a financial impact of millions of dollars that council and staff know should not be in the 2024 budget. A first time occurrence as far as we are aware of in terms of Burlington Ombudsman complaints. Our latest effort to address these matters in the best interests of Burlington and Halton families if we fail to see an effort to resolve these issues. If no resolution is reached we believe at least two of the complaints will be first time complaints for Burlington.
Some of the complaints, however, are repeat complaints put fowrard n the past, some immediate past, from other taxpayers. At least one of the complaints saw the Integrity Commissionerer note city contravened the Municipal Act. It was never addressed by Council and has repeatedly occurred since. The city and thus the Clerk and Council were appropriately notified of such decision.
The city senior staff and council must also understand that previous decisions of Marin and Dube as Ontario Ombudsmen still stand. I.e the city and council must ensure they are compliant with their Procedure By-laws that are required by the Municipal Act.
The City has also been notified through OLT and appellant witness Andre Marin of the consequence of holding Council and Committee meetings that are not compliant with the procedure By-law. I.e a loss of power to make decisions at such meetings. A perfect example of this is a committe or council meeting where a quorum is not present that contravenes both city by-law and Robert’s Rules of order.
We hope this will enable the publisher and readers to understand why a 2 hr. Meeting was determined as necessary by us in order to reach resolution and avoid what we believe will be a very expensive investigation. We believe we have done everything possible to ensure best interests of taxpayers in these matters in the least expensive manner.