Will Jim Fullerton's fence be next

I hope that the beach lovers in Cobourg don't read this and take heart. Man with chainsaw hacks beach fence to cheers. The property owners on the West Beach should either build bigger fences or tear them down. Either way this story just puts pressure on the Mayor to clear up the festering political mess caused by misguided property owners.

Working this weekend

Working this weekend certainly makes one's patience with the fellow man'woman driver stretch a bit.

Just got back from towing illegally parked vehicles. What gives some people the arrogance to park wherever they want and then slough off the enforcer. I say if you park under a "No Parking " sign you deserve the tow and the attendant fines. You park where you want to and it will cost you. All the shouting and screaming will not help you - you were stupid! I towed a few stupid people today.

The Partridge file - the Frink saga continues

Just as we thought the frink saga has ended local Lawyer Martin Partidge has filed an appeal to the Minister of the Environment of Ontario. He claims that an environmental assessment of the project is neccessary as exemptions are granted to projects that cost less that $1.5 million. The Frink has cost, Martin claims, at least $5 million so far and rising. The documents that he uses to explain the reasoning are here. Check them out there are 28 pages of tightly packed reasonings and Martin is asking the Minister to examine every one of them.

The argument is simple - what is the project? Is it the concrete pad or is it the whole amount of money needed to build the infrastructure for the pad and the monies used to fund the stages of the project and more importantly is it the original cost of the land and its reclamation. One little project ;or many little parts of a big project?

The Town's reaction has been one of dismissal, just as it has been all the way along this project's path. My way or the highway!

Is there such a thing as a Heritage Crime?

From this

















To this

Because if there is this is a classic example. The reason such societies and organisations like the ACO and the Historical Society and presumably LACAC, the Town's own creation, exist is to not only make people aware that Heritage is important but those who possess Heritage properties have a responsibility to maintain them in their Heritage states.

Cobourg lays claim to many different architectural styles of buildings but none sum up late Victorian - early Edwardian better than the houses built by Reuben Jackson. Solid brick houses, usually built in clumps of four or five, based on the traditional Canadian three up three down design.

The house featured above was a designated Jackson house because it was the first of many. and the outstanding feature that seperated it from its neighbours was the decorative, rather than utilitarian, front porch. Well folks that's gone now! Destroyed by its owner, not even disassembled for return in a better state. This has happened without the Town officials not knowing and seemingly not even caring. We spend untold hours at Council meetings debating the colour of paint and the building department cannot even enforce the lynchpin bylaw of heritage conservation. Such a disgraceful event. This wanton destruction took place without a permit or variance. Try building an addition to your house and the building nazis will be all over you for the money for a permit, but do a disgracefully small reno, no permit needed, and they look the other way.

This will not go away!

I hope this is the last article for at least a year

This is the face of, by his own admission, a confused and amazed person. Deputy Mayor Brocanier standing to berate, in person, his Council colleagues who did not agree with him. In a classless venting he personally attacked the arguments of the opposition, whilst at the same time still maintaining his faith in the Provincial government to keep their promised grants, even with the lack of guarantees and assurances. Saying he was confused by the stand of his colleagues because of their inconsistencies and totally amazed that they could also turn down the alleged savings. Once again he made reference to the 20 million needed for the Seniors Centre and it was obvious to observers that the savings on the the policing bill would never be returned to the bottom line but spent by them on the Seniors Centre. What a breach of faith to the believers.

But the greatest display of spite and invective came from the Mayor when he was lecturing, not arguing or persuading, the opposition to his line, by producing three, "I didn't ask for these letters, they were unsolicited!", he said, letters from local manufacturers. These manufacturers' letters lobbied for the Council to reconsider their position and give them tax savings (hey don't they realise there will be no savings?). Whilst consistently calling for Council to make a business decision based on a business case none of these manufacturers would commit their companies to a business case based on intangible and nebulous grants from a third source as the only revenue stream. The galling fact is that two out of the three live in Hamilton Twp, did they send the letters to Hamilton Twp? In a fit of pique the Mayor abruptly called the vote immediately after he spoke and cut off debate so rebuttal to his remarks would never happen.

So what next, the lessons learned from all of this:

1. Politicians have ulterior motives and don't play their cards up front. For Instance the Mayor and Deputy Mayor did not want to give the taxpayers the savings on their tax bills but had already earmarked the money for the Senior's Centre.
2. The local Leaders had better get over the fact that they lost and start to establish a new policing model. So what if Port Hope wants the lions share of the business - give it to them and get on with rationalisation.
3. The Mayor, when he is sitting in his County chair must vote against the idea of County policing - his Council has mandated it.
4. We only have about a year to achieve the new model or else I will be forced to agree with the losers and say that the County policing model will be back up for discussion.
   

Something completely different

This is a small piece of whimsey, a dream that may be come true - a sure thing!

On the last vacation this ticket was purchased as on a whim. However as it sat tucked away in my wallet it has been looked at from time to time as I wondered just how to spend the $300 win. Ten and a half games back the dream had expired - until yesterday. The Jays fired the managing staff and brought back retread Cito Gaston. Will it work? I hope so for I have a vested interest.

PS you can spell whimsey as whimsy, tell me which is correct

Not quite the last word

Stan Frost maintains his rep as the "taxfighter" to the end. Despite saying prior to the vote he would respect "direct democracy" he voted to go OPP even though an online poll showed a majority of respondents against the idea.

The online poll had been hacked with one computer locking more than 300 extra votes. For the non-techies - the poll can be hacked by removing the Town's "cookie" from your computer and then voting again. A time-consuming affair. That guy wasn't as smart as he thought because the IP address was still the same. Waaaay too much time on his hands!

Anyway Stan was not convinced that the poll meant much of anything - way too small a result to be representative so he voted his conscience. Convinced that the level of service was "at least equivalent" the OPP was the way to go.

As one commenter said, "I can't believe that I agreed with something Bill MacDonald said", I too agree. The masterful line of the night was that the Cops are costing us an extra $4.00 a day. I'm willing to pay that. But the PSB had better get off their arses in the next year and get something going with Port Hope!

Two observations, each to do with the Mayor. How will he vote at the County now that his Council has ut the boots to the idea and what was he thinking when he mused that the savings should go to the Seniors' Centre. Those savings are the taxpayers savings. They wanted to see the $4.00 a day put back in their pockets not used to build the "Peter Delanty Memorial Centre".

So The King of Northumberland - Big Hec, looks pretty lonely so far. Three votes taken - One Yes (Trent Hills) two Nos (Brighton and Cobourg), Port Hope presumed to be a NO, Hamilton Township rumoured to be NO and Haldimand/Alnwick and Cramahe fence sitting for the trend and it could be said that this idea is dead in the water.

Cobourg 4, OPP 3

I was not at the meeting last night, (unloading a corvette in downtown Toronto). But a couple of emails explained the events at Council last night. Apparently the audience was a little one, "A sparce contingent attended the meeting, half dozen police and staff, the whole PSB, Hamilton Twnsp Lovshin and Woods, Port Hope Jeff Lees and 3 or 4 unknowns." - emailer A

snippet from emailer B

"Frost made the motion to approve transfer of policing powers to the county. He spoke first and indicated that his ultimate intention was to do what it takes to save money for the taxpayer - he supported the motion saying he had not received a mandate from the public to turn down the opportunity to save 1.9 million a year. The results of the web survey were not released for reasons I could not make out ( Stan mumbles too much - at one point he was asked to speak up)

Brocanier supported the motion spitting out more of his funny numbers and odd calculations - as evidenced by some snickers in the gallery. His approach seemed rather simplistic and may I say shallow.

Mutton spoke at great length and made some interesting observations, reaching far deeper into the issue than Mr. Broc.

Spooner did his dance awkwardly stepping on both sides of the fence but landing on the no side, rejecting the motion.

McCaughey said very little, 45 seconds worth and voted against the motion

McDonald said less but explained that he had to support the local police because that's what he promised in his election platform.

Delanty made a passioned plea to support the 2 million a year savings, which he would suggest "banking" for use in building the 20 million rec centre (banking - as in keeping to spend in other ways rather than reducing taxes - a true conman)"

But the puzzler concerned the online vote, one emailer stated that a sheet of results were handed out:

For the CPS 296
Against the CPS 137

A resounding No to the resolution. Stan Frost was last quoted saying he was waiting to see the results of "direct democracy". He will now have to explain why he thought that the vote was "erroneous".

So what now? The County will take note, Delanty will vote yes at the County, in direct conflict with his Council, Port Hope will vote on the issue soon and Brighton will either support or defy the wishes of its PSB and Hamilton Township will be a puzzle until the vote. Whispers are getting louder about a No vote coming from Camborne. And, why were the Mayor and the Chair of the Township's PSB at our meeting? Answers to come later - stay tuned!

The Northumberland News has already written a story here

The essence of the debate

In a letter to the CDS a taxpayer writes in to support the OPP taking over. Retired Cobourg Detachment Commander Terry McDermott writes and I quote, "Another question was raised about maintaining a four minute response and there is no reason why a reasonable response time will not be maintained. We must consider that not all incidents that officers are despatched to need the same level of response......."

If we have a four minute response now and the retired detachment commander talks about that level of service not being maintained, because not all calls need a quick response, then it must be true that he is saying that the same level of response we have now will not be maintained. Perhaps the four minute response is overkill but that's what we have now. Not to get it from the OPP is a lower level of service!!

Let's have the Cobourg Police cost a lower level of service and see if the savings are still there.

You want a fountain - this is a fountain

The Khaleej Times reports here:
Emaar Properties has unveiled a world-class permanent water fountain with an integral light and sound show in Downtown Burj Dubai. This new iconic feature is set to be a global water-engineering marvel and will be one of the city's major tourist attractions, expected to draw over 10 million visitors annually.

Here's what the Council will be voting on

This is a strange one. Normally each proposed resolution in the agendas come with their individual recommendations. Not this one: it sits there like a deflated soufflé that is almost ashamed to be on the plate.

So what comes next? Each and every member of Council will have to say something, after all the voters want to hear what each other has to say. The public has been heard from and the the first member to speak in support will obviously mention that those who spoke at the public meeting were not representative of the public and nobody cares because only a hundred people came out. After all 2500 signed the Frink petition demonstrating real participation.

But the big impact will be the effect of the PSB's presentation outlining their opposition to it. Who will have the courage to diss a 164 year old institution?

Early betting has the resolution failing 4 to 3, but anything can change, there is a member of Council that is an habitual vote switcher who swings according the last opinion held and he can be got at by the Mayor. Expect a lot of pressure from the Mayor's office on this one.

Maybe this thing isn't a slam dunk after all!

The PSB of Brighton has unanimously opposed the County Policing Plan. Makes for an interesting discussion at Brighton Council. Local board (Brighton) says no to county police plan

Nothing like a hanging to focus the concentration. The local control is going to be the 800lb gorilla in this argument. When one looks at the composition of the County PSB, there will only be ONE citizen from the whole County. The others will be politicians (2) Provincial appointees (2) and the lone County citizen. No wonder the the PSB of Brighton feel beleaguered and ignored.

Note to Brocanier

Hey Gil, read this and then tell us we are spending money wisely. Cities use pricey perks to lure doctors. I have always thought that using municipal money on health care is a total diversion and waste of real tax money. This story about the escalation of incentives just proves to me that the Province has to step in and stop this nonsense.

Too good to be true

"If somebody offered you exactly the same service for 36% less why wouldn't you take it?" Very good question, one riddled with incredulity perhaps? We have been warned for years that if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. Millions of seniors have been swindled and scammed with the same logic. But in this case what makes it worse is that it is the government offering this. "I'm from the government and I'm here to help you!" - the third lie in the trilogy of "the cheque's in the mail".

The question in the first para was asked by one of the two people who spoke in favour of the motion - shall we switch to the OPP. The other twenty odd speakers all spoke against the idea. For various reasons but mainly because of the fear of the unknown level of service that will replace the Cobourg Police Service. Most of the speakers either spoke from experience or quoted the experience of others and were not complimentary to the OPP level of service. Even Inspector Borton the Northumberland detachment Commander chose his words carefully and didn't commit to anything other than all complaints will be answered. The dispatchers spoke about the lack of local knowledge the OPP communications possess and question whether it would improve.

A fruitful meeting

The bravest man at the meeting

Cobourg's Chief of Police took the mike last night and laid out the way he saw things about the County's policing study. Speaking publicly, especially when it is criticism of a Mayor's pet project is usually a CLM (career limiting move) but in this case his remarks were needed to be part of the public record. The audience appreciated it and the community should applaud his courage.

Chief Sweet took to the microphone after many others gave Council their views about local policing. He pointed out that not only was the general public excluded from specific consultation, he and the local polices services were excluded in contravention of a Provincial protocol. This protocol, ironically had been designed with the help of Chief Sweet, was ignored by the consultant who went off in his own direction. Chief Sweet further alleges that the consultant wrote his report including incomplete and inaccurate information. The end result is that the consultant's report is flawed and cannot be relied on. How much weight his comments will have remain to be seen but a fuller presentation will be made on June 16 when he and the Chair of the Police Services Board will speak before Council.

Note: a fuller report about last night's meeting will be posted later.

At last the DBIA has woken up or has the Chair's political ambitions ballooned? At a Council meeting the Chair of the DB1A, and rumoured candidate for the next elections Sue Dingsdale-Glover asked for a referral of the decision that Council is set to make - the expansion of the Walmart store.

Leaving aside the contradiction that Downtown is striving to be unique and a ''niche destination'' as well as trying to attract mainstream stores (a food store would be nice). Let's look at the bargain Walmart struck last time with the DBIA. A three year payout to the DBIA of $60,000 and a sign that acknowledges the presence of Downtown on the Walmart property. Both would appear to be failures in execution. The payout was not on time and the sign is too small and insignificant to have a bearing on traffic direction.

But the biggest failure this time around is to point out the shaky premise of the application. As all geeks know the justification for expansion is based on a ''Market study", This study is supposed to prove the need that the Town can handle additional commercial capacity and will not lead to the demise of existing businesses, this is an OP requirement. Last time around it was acknowledged, at an OMB hearing no less, that the Town's commercial capacity was maxed out, Now several years later, with little additional population growth, and a depressed business climate and presence, what has happened to create commercial capacity that can sustain the addition of an extra 60,000 square feet of commercial space? Where is the demonstrable need that can sustain another 60,000 sf?

This question has been ignored and obfuscated by the Town Planner (just tell me what to do and ! can dress it up) Glenn McGlashon. In a report to Council he sees the Market Study (written by one firm and peer reviewed by Walmart’s in house planner) as meeting the intent of the OP, l guess all the keen OP watchers have been worn down and can't a: bothered to point out the obvious this time. Pity.

Who says the young are wastrels?

Read this and rejoice. The young people at St Mary's are at least doing something - standing up for what they think is important today. Cobourg students rally for Khadr