County Council at its most expedicious
County Council was always known in my day for leisurely sessions and long lunches. Boy have things changed. If today's meeting is any indication of how government works in the new age I'm not sure I like it. And I know Bill Finlay, Mayor Alnwick-Haldimand doesn't. First off the agenda is trimmed to the scalp, only the barest of reports of monthly or quarterly action get the eyes of the councillors, for example I never did hear how many people are on the Social Assistance rolls this month and that's a stat all councillors use to wait for. This month had no correspondence worth talking about on the agenda, there was a letter proudly passed around as it contained news of substantial funding to Social Housing. Nope the agenda was full of delegations and the bare minimum of governance bylaws. The Growth Study item was just a report on bureaucratic process and Bill Finlay stated bluntly that his municipality will not be supporting it. The presenter then retorted with the biggest news of the day, "Because the County has no planning function it cannot legally accept this report, it must receive it" Then why the heck are we spending money on it if it has no legal status at the end of the day? Especially if the members of Council have unanimously condemned the premise set out by the province as unrealistic.
In the Broadband report Bob Davey of BarrettXplornet had a PP and stated that the potential customer base was 7,279. He then went on to explain that as of yet, halfway through the build he has 193 prospective customers, and 215 people have contacted dealers and an existing customer base of 250. A far cry from the potential. But in his defense he says that it is policy not to market the program until the towers are in place. I hope so for all of the whiners about the lack of broadband this investment is looking like the GM fiasco.
The Canada Assistance Fund application was the subject of a question, "In the light of the fact that this program is designed to alleviate unemployment how many unemployed people will be put to work on this project?" The question was received by people who resembled deer caught in the headlights of a Mack truck. Mr Pyatt knew the answer - sort of, "The proposal states 13 full time people for 4 months, how many of those will be unemployed we don't know because we will be using consultants and contractors" So there you have it folks another kick in the arse for the unemployed.
In another report congratulations to Hamilton Twp residents, they picked up 153 kg per volunteer in the latest garbage pickup challenge. Either they worked really hard or the Township was full of trash!
In the Broadband report Bob Davey of BarrettXplornet had a PP and stated that the potential customer base was 7,279. He then went on to explain that as of yet, halfway through the build he has 193 prospective customers, and 215 people have contacted dealers and an existing customer base of 250. A far cry from the potential. But in his defense he says that it is policy not to market the program until the towers are in place. I hope so for all of the whiners about the lack of broadband this investment is looking like the GM fiasco.
The Canada Assistance Fund application was the subject of a question, "In the light of the fact that this program is designed to alleviate unemployment how many unemployed people will be put to work on this project?" The question was received by people who resembled deer caught in the headlights of a Mack truck. Mr Pyatt knew the answer - sort of, "The proposal states 13 full time people for 4 months, how many of those will be unemployed we don't know because we will be using consultants and contractors" So there you have it folks another kick in the arse for the unemployed.
In another report congratulations to Hamilton Twp residents, they picked up 153 kg per volunteer in the latest garbage pickup challenge. Either they worked really hard or the Township was full of trash!
8 comments:
Ben, if you are planning to continue posting on County matters, please learn to spell the CAO's name: it's PYATT according to the County website. You wouldn't want us calling you Ban Berd now would you?
Regarding your comments about a County employment project hiring consultants and contractors rather than garden variety out of work types, I can only suggest you ramp up your cynicism meter, or else get it fixed. It's not like you to fail to recognise this program for what it is: jobs for the boys, as usual!
Call me anything you like, most have, but not late for dinner. Sorry to Billy P I'll get his name into spellcheck and then I can blame Bill Gates for the misspelling
There is a great letter to the editor in the daily paper today about the broadband internet service being pushed by the County. Looks like Ben is right again.
I wish we could read realistic and insightful reports like this about local government in the local papers. Do you think they would contract you to provide it, or even pay you for a column?
If not, what?
I wish we could read realistic and insightful reports like this about local government in the local papers. Do you think they would contract you to provide it, or even pay you for a column?
If not, what?
note to anonymous. The local media will not have anything to do with the writer of this page. I was a columnist for the Cobourg Daily Star once, for about two years, and an editor,three times removed from the present one took exception to a non-journalistic activity of mine and refused to reinstate my column, I had to take a leave of absence to be a candidate in an election, and his successor took exception to some things that I had written about the daily strike goings on at the CDS. So apart from the odd letter to the editor you will not see me in their pages. Read it all here
I can commisserate with Ben's non-relationship with the local CDS aka Northumberland Today. The management is extremely petulent. When buying one of my stories last year (still not appearing) I was told that they were looking for Cobourg content, something about old days.
Earlier this year, I did a series in my blog about CDS, and a photo of a police bust that upset them and I am persona non grata ever since.
Aside from the fine writing of Dan Christie, the local MSM offers nothing but out-of-towner columnists; Grahame Woods writes about his old days in communities far removed from Cobourg -- he's not an original Cobourg with much, if any, Cobourg experience.
The other columnists are part of the SUN media chain. It's as if the local paper is nothing more than the Toronto Sun Lite.
It is worth adding that Ben Burd's articles on local issues are incisive, insightful and thorough. As long as he is here doing his blog, Cobourg and area will be well-served.
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