Comments on The Burd Report: A wail from the inside

Wally Keeler has left a new comment on your post &...

2010-07-06T06:08:45.878-04:00

Wally Keeler has left a new comment on your post "A wail from the inside":

"...she would be able to get some help in her busy time table to get her grass cut around her house which is very sorry look for the local area."

Sorry look? Really?

Whenever I pass by it I think FOLKLORE. I remember the brambles around the homes in a Grimm's Brother's fairy tale. Childhoodlum. Imagine Nation.

Eccentricity, a.k.a. individuality. In 1968 it was my aspiration to buy a house on Abbott Blvd, rip up the front lawn and plant corn. I'd pay the fine, and the following year pave the front lawn and paint parking stripes on it. Ms Mutton is uberorganic, whereas I ain't.

Mowed lawns reminds me of carpeting -- that the lawn was an extension of indoor carpeting.

Mowed lawns are skinny ties, narrow cuffed slacks and black & white tv, whereas Mutton's boulevard width of wildermess is like the rebellious multicolourfulism of hairy hippies.

Mowed lawns are like green stubble, five o'clock shadow, crew-cut butchered by loud machines perpetually disturbing the peace, whereas Ms Mutton is nesting where plants breathfully braid themselves to secure the cosy, the foxy, the cocoon where morphing and wings evolve.

In an urban centre, the inhabitants can enjoy small bits of countryside; they are called parks. Residents in rural areas cannot enjoy a couple blocks of urban centre. Ms Mutton is a threat to the mediocrity of lawncare because she sows enticement along the boulevards of the imagine nation.

Wally Keeler has left a new comment on your post &...

2010-07-06T06:08:10.139-04:00

"...she would be able to get some help in ...

2010-07-05T23:48:59.717-04:00
"...she would be able to get some help in her busy time table to get her grass cut around her house which is very sorry look for the local area."

Sorry look? Really?

Whenever I pass by it I think FOLKLORE. I remember the brambles around the homes in a Grimm's Brother's fairy tale. Childhoodlum. Imagine Nation.

Eccentricity, a.k.a. individuality. In 1968 it was my aspiration to buy a house on Abbott Blvd, rip up the front lawn and plant corn. I'd pay the fine, and the following year pave the front lawn and paint parking stripes on it. Ms Mutton is uberorganic, whereas I ain't.

Mowed lawns reminds me of carpeting -- that the lawn was an extension of indoor carpeting.

Mowed lawns are skinny ties, narrow cuffed slacks and black & white tv, whereas Mutton's boulevard width of wildermess is like the rebellious multicolourfulism of hairy hippies.

Mowed lawns are like green stubble, five o'clock shadow, crew-cut butchered by loud machines perpetually disturbing the peace, whereas Ms Mutton is nesting where plants breathfully braid themselves to secure the cosy, the foxy, the cocoon where morphing and wings evolve.

In an urban centre, the inhabitants can enjoy small bits of countryside; they are called parks. Residents in rural areas cannot enjoy a couple blocks of urban centre. Ms Mutton is a threat to the mediocrity of lawncare because she sows enticement along the boulevards of the imagine nation.

if you read the average electioneering handout fro...

2010-07-05T10:35:09.165-04:00
if you read the average electioneering handout from incumbent and aspiring councillors, you quickly get the idea that your list, "Holding the line on taxes, attracting industry, a fair, evenly applied heritage plan/program, a well defined plan for dealing with future development as it applies to the future maintenance of infrastructure and delivery of services." is the standard pitch they dangle before the electorate's eyes. ho-hum -yawn

You wrote, "I realize that these items are very "broad stroke" in nature, but those are thee areas I feel are important." I'm sure that if there were indeed simple, straight forward solutions to those objectives, we'd have seen them by now. I suspect that every time an election rolls around, we hope that someone will emerge with the answers all neatly summarized in their little brochure which devotes an 8.5" x 11" side to such trivialities (the other side tells us all about the 'who and what they are').

From the chronic complainers, I'd like to see some solid and well-reasoned ideas about what THEY would like to see, in achievable, real terms instead of wafty words and idyllic wish-lists, and certainly accompanied by a feasible suggestion of how they would be financed. It's that last part that really challenges them because their complaining usually includes the tax burden that they endure.

Of course we want some improvements in our situation locally, (when don't we?) and we've seen lots of them, but at a hefty cost. Just what can we expect from our councillors in this regard, is the question at hand.

As for your thought "Let the new Council show me what they can do for at least two years, then let them ask about a raise", you've had not only 2, but 4 years evidence of what our council has accomplished, so what's your answer to their request, via 1 brave councillor, about a raise, even if it is at the end of their term and not in the middle? At least you have the chance to say no at the ballot box this way, instead of fuming about it for 4 years when the new bunch gives themselves one anyway.

trying2makesense said... How about some suggestio...

2010-07-03T22:32:02.180-04:00
trying2makesense said...

How about some suggestions of what they should be able to accomplish to "earn" an increase in their remuneration, otherwise you may come back and say, "not enough, try again" or something along that vein. That seems to be a fair challenge, doesn't it?

Having been on the "not enough, try again next year", I fully agree that some kind of benchmark must be set.

Holding the line on taxes, attracting industry, a fair, evenly applied heritage plan/program, a well defined plan for dealing with future development as it applies to the future maintenance of infrastructure and delivery of services.

I reailze that these items are very "broad stroke" in nature, but those are thee areas I feel are important.

I am sure that others can add to the list.

I am not sure how they can be monitored for performance though.

that BornAndRaisedHere has made a valid point and ...

2010-07-03T19:01:20.831-04:00
that BornAndRaisedHere has made a valid point and in rereading their first comment it is apparent where my annoyance was sparked. "Nope, Toronto Council is populated top to bottom with a bunch of "low effort, high reward" types that public service usually attracts." actually does not imply Cobourg Council is comparable, as my ill-considered reaction indicated it might. I retract my outburst.

"Let the new Council show me what they can do for at least two years, then let them ask about a raise." Now here is where some idea of what you expect from them would be appropriate. How about some suggestions of what they should be able to accomplish to "earn" an increase in their remuneration, otherwise you may come back and say, "not enough, try again" or something along that vein. That seems to be a fair challenge, doesn't it?

to Born and raised here, ok, tell us exactly what ...

2010-07-03T14:41:03.318-04:00
to Born and raised here, ok, tell us exactly what you want them to do. I mean specifics, not some mumbo jumbo about clearing snow or paving your road, that's public works, etc, etc, - I mean details man, c'mon, details! You've got lots of em otherwise you wouldn't think that they do nothing, right? C'mon, lets hear em!!

Read carefully. What I said was:
"The quick answer, if you are a regular here at The Burd Report is nothing."

This site is packed top to bottom with complaints about Council, yet now it is discussing giving Council a pay raise.

Read the comment again.

in response to W Keeler's last 2 comments, I, ...

2010-07-03T11:05:12.939-04:00
in response to W Keeler's last 2 comments, I, for the very first time, am extremely excited by his comments. Well said, Mr Keeler. What makes it so exceptional for me is the absence of derogation, extremism, inflammation, reactionism and general bulls*%t. It is well expressed and logical. A tip of the hat to you Mr Keeler.

As a secondary comment on the original issue, I feel entirely competent in my thought process and reject the notion that my own colour, gender, age and physical attributes have a significant impact on my objectivity or ability to understand a well reasoned argument on any subject. In addition, since the original post was about council remuneration, I will say that to be able to run for a council seat, it would require enough compensation to replace that portion of my regular employment lost if it resulted in being elected, not to mention the cost of a campaign of sorts. Service is a laudable ambition, as our esteemed mayor so heroically proclaimed, but sacrificing four years of reasonable income to meet modest living expenses is not all that attractive or fiscally responsible to my family.

One just has to pose the question 'Who would run if there were no compensation at all?'

It is not a matter of being more politicaly correc...

2010-07-03T07:41:39.153-04:00
It is not a matter of being more politicaly correct. It is a matter that those criteria (skin colour, age, gender) are bogus and irrelevent.

Diversity of perception, diversity of policy, diversity of ideas; these have no bearing on skin colour, age or gender. That is the point.

Since you had associated diversity with gender, skin colour and age, then perhaps you can describe the platform that a person with non-white skin might hold? Would that not entail stereotypes -- that people of a different age, gender or skin colour would hold particular policy values.

Wally: In attempting to be "more-politically...

2010-07-02T20:05:56.034-04:00
Wally:

In attempting to be "more-politically-correct-than-thou" you are missing the point. Nobody is forced to vote for people because they fit any specific description, but unless we have some more diversity on the council we lack any diversity of opinion and any broad diversity of skills. To have a council without any diversity is akin to only eating cabbage every day at every meal.

Concerned Citizen wrote: "We need more co...

2010-07-02T19:27:05.054-04:00
Concerned Citizen wrote:
"We need more councillors who are female...","We need more councillors who are younger...","We need to at least have some councillors who are not white..."

OK, so Cobourg council needs more younger, non-white, female councillors. You seem to assume that individuals who hold any of those physical features also hold a certain package of values that would enrich the governance of Cobourg.

It's not an accomplishment to have any colour of skin. It's not an achievement to be one gender or another. Youth is a temporary condition.

Why is it impossible to vote for an individual soley on the basis of the individual's character and policy?

The LAST thing to ever, if ever, consider when entering a voting booth is the skin colour, gender or age of any candidate. This is the entry level to racism, sexism and ageism.

Wally: A good question. At the moment six out of...

2010-07-02T18:38:57.724-04:00
Wally:

A good question.

At the moment six out of the 7 people on council are retired white males.

There is nothing wrong with being white, retired or male. However a significant portion of the Canadian population is neither white, nor retired nor male.

Thus the six members of the council who get into this category are bringing a very narrow experience base to their council jobs, and can no way be called representative of Cobourg's citizens.

We need more councillors who are female, because they bring a different perspective.

We need more councillors who are younger as they will have considerably different perspective on the needs of the town and its citizens.

We need to at least have some councillors who are not white, since at the moment Cobourg gives a distinct impression that being non-white immediately excludes one from consideration in visible positions.

Hi Ben, Your site is great! I love the opinion a...

2010-07-02T15:49:12.050-04:00
Hi Ben,

Your site is great! I love the opinion articles....

I'm trying to get a community site off the ground as well, more so for growing neighbourhoods and newer subdivisions in Ontario. I've started with London but and continuing to grow it! I was wonering if you would be open to adding a link to my site? Any exposure would be great! I've already done the same in return adding your site to mine...

London Ontario Neighbourhoods

Thank you!
Luke

Concerned Citizen wrote: "since the retire...

2010-07-02T13:07:54.340-04:00
Concerned Citizen wrote: "since the retired white males seem to believe they are the natural leaders of our community..."

I'm curious how the skin colour of elected councillors plays any part in this matter. Perhaps Concerned Citizen could illuminate their racial percerption of the matter.

Today's Northumberland News presents their rep...

2010-07-02T13:00:48.794-04:00
Today's Northumberland News presents their report card grades of Cobourg's politicians.

Miriam Mutton is the only one receiving a lower marking from the previous year.

The down side, according to the milqtoast editorialistas, is that her debates occasionally "border on arbitrary and can be a waste of council's time, even eliciting obvious frustration from fellow councillors."

Let us note that all of the other councillors are underemployed on their ease. Their time should be easily open-ended, whereas Ms Mutton is a working girl, the only one holding down a full-time job.

The length of time that anything takes to get done should properly matter to her more than to the retirees.

Mayor Delanty, as the bloated bullfrog of Boast Pond, asserted that councillors run to serve the people. Well, on that score, Mutton gets the credit because she holds down a job AND serves the people.

Another thing concerns the "obvious frustration" displayed by this group of underemployed councillors. For Allah's sake, what a spoiled bunch of weenie whiners!

It was to these coucillors that Northumberland News mishonoured their credibility by increasing their marks or keeping them even, but to the sole wage-earner on council, a demotion.

It seems that Northumberland News reinforces that tiresome systemic sexism that requires a woman to work twice as hard to be considered half the worth of a man; in this case, underemployed men.

I suspect that the editorial staff of Northumberland News will realize the shallowness of their understanding of Cobourg when Ms Mutton gains more votes, rather than less, from the previous election. It wouldn't surprise me if she garners more votes than the retirees.

still waiting for a response from BornandRaisedHer...

2010-07-02T09:34:58.149-04:00
still waiting for a response from BornandRaisedHere - c'mon, speak up - don't just give us the easy stuff - put your back into it kiddo.

Good lord - what have we done to deserve the great...

2010-07-02T08:06:20.371-04:00
Good lord - what have we done to deserve the great Washburn coming down from his ivory tower to share his bombastic opinions with us today?

Thank you kindly dear Professor for your writing style, nothing like trying to take even a slightly impartial stance when we attack the Councillor in question in the first few lines...

As many have already stated, the Council sessions are but a minor part of the overall workload. So by changing the frequency of that single meeting, does little more than window dressing. The Prof's further proposals regarding small groups working with a single Councillor, solving these matters one at a time blah blah blah are frankly laughable and reflective of your complete lack of understanding of process, the role of elected officials versus staff, not to mention basic common sense approaches.

As someone who makes their living in a government subsidized job, is this what our tax dollars buy us through your Journalism Department?

Your focus on a fairytale solution speaks volumes about your view of the world. My view, along with many others, is focused on pragmatic and achievable solutions, such as getting some talent onto Council. Not an easy job, but you know, I would far rather try and support a few talented people who hadn't thought about pursuing this, rather than lobby Lou and Uncle Dalton to change the length of municipal terms. But I guess it is just another example of where the Professor and I differ, oh well, back to the real world of having to actually earn my money now.

It is not fair to expect councillors to work for v...

2010-07-01T21:29:24.486-04:00
It is not fair to expect councillors to work for very little money and to do a good job. Yet Miriam Mutton does so.

It is also hard to accept the hypocrisy of the Mayor who earns about 6 times the pay of other councillors from his various Cobourg, county and other municipal gigs.

It is true to say that all the councillors have pensions income ( or equivalent) except Councillor Mutton. However since the retired white males seem to believe they are the natural leaders of our community, and resent any others for participating, it is very unlikely they will agree to any extra remuneration for councillors especially since Councilor Mutton suggested it.

The fairest method would to be to declare that the remuneration of councillors was $50,000 ( or any other amount) but that any pension income they receive is deducted from their council and county pay.

to Born and raised here, ok, tell us exactly what ...

2010-07-01T16:34:26.562-04:00
to Born and raised here, ok, tell us exactly what you want them to do. I mean specifics, not some mumbo jumbo about clearing snow or paving your road, that's public works, etc, etc, - I mean details man, c'mon, details! You've got lots of em otherwise you wouldn't think that they do nothing, right? C'mon, lets hear em!!

Wait just one dammed minute here! I go to my boss...

2010-07-01T15:47:56.099-04:00
Wait just one dammed minute here!

I go to my boss and tell him I want more money.

The first thing he wants to know is what I have done to deserve it.

This same question should apply to Council.

What have any of those councillors done that deserves a raise?

The quick answer, if you are a regular here at The Burd Report is nothing.

So why are we even talking about this?

Is it because we think we will get a better Council if we pay more?

That doesnt work in the private sector, so why in the hell do we think it would work with elected officials?

Does Toronto have a better Council because they pay more?

Nope, Toronto Council is populated top to bottom with a bunch of "low effort, high reward" types that public service usually attracts.

Let the new Council show me what they can do for at least two years, then let them ask about a raise.

Councilor Mutton's yard is home to natural veg...

2010-07-01T15:46:28.654-04:00
Councilor Mutton's yard is home to natural vegetation growing as it is meant to in place of a manicured lawn that requires far more frequent watering. This choice is an emerging trend in support of sustainability and conservationism, especially in areas where the weather conditions require extensive care and expensive water resources to keep lawns even semi-green in midsummer.

Manicured lawns are a throwback to times when they were displayed to announce wealth and social influence because of the care they required. In today's world, where 'greening' is almost an aphrodisiac, such extravagance is no longer seen as sustainable or impressive. As time goes on, you'll see more and more of this concept of sustainable home care.

Mr Washburn wrote "The job should not be full...

2010-07-01T15:33:08.437-04:00
Mr Washburn wrote "The job should not be full-time." but he didn't give any indication what the job should be. In making his blanket declaration, we have to assume he has a pretty good grasp of what the job is now and what he thinks it should be. Let's have him post both so that we can examine thoroughly and properly, his assertions and suggestions. After all, his point of view is no more valid than yours, Ben, or Mutton's without providing some basis for it.

As for the term, if I'm not mistaken, municipal term at one time were 1 year, and that was changed, and changed again and again to give us the 4 year term. It is the provincial government that has done this, and many voices have expressed their disagreement with this last change.

Municipal councils are the children of the province and it was likely the province's benefit that was enhanced by these changes since they have to deal with municipal officials who, if they were replaced very frequently, would make the province's problems even greater. The only way that would be mitigated would be to eventually transfer more political power to the non-elected staff and that's a dangerous slope.

Ben, Ben, Ben.... My point is reduce the workload...

2010-07-01T14:00:21.647-04:00
Ben, Ben, Ben....

My point is reduce the workload to make it more accessible and more affordable.

The job should not be full-time. Then, review the compensation in light of a reformed workload.

Yes, let's see more young working class people running for council. But, we have to move away from making local politics into a career. If Mutton can't afford it, then step down. That way people can rotate through single terms. Another suggestion might be to reduce terms to one or two years down from four. That way, it is less punitive in terms of time. Maybe people would sacrifice time and money, if it was just for 12 or 24 months.

The system is geared to retirees who use it to fill their time and pockets.

that Delanty's reported council remuneration w...

2010-07-01T14:00:21.646-04:00
that Delanty's reported council remuneration was under $30,000 but his total take from the taxpayers amounted to more than two and a half times that, because he holds several directorships at several thousand each plus county warden pay which he has collected twice so far at a tidy amount; absolute Hypocrite!

I absolutely agree that a pay raise should be cons...

2010-07-01T11:40:55.721-04:00
I absolutely agree that a pay raise should be considered ... for Cobourg councillors. The same should not even be a remote consideration for Cramahe Township Council, where the collective accomplishments of the five burghers have amounted to about 0.8 per cent real growth in Cramahe since they took office. And four of them ... Tim Gilligan Junior is the sole exception ... were veterans of the municipal council wars for many years before the last term began.

Since taking office, this collective of clowns has managed to reduce the once-potentiated Keeler Centre into a clubhouse for the local Gods of Hockey; chased away a Public Works Supt who had a PEng (not bad for a municipality of less than 6,000 souls), and basically handed him to Cobourg; has gone through three Rec managers, the last of whom they have slotted in as the decidedly unqualified fill-in for the departed Public Works guy (the current Rec manager's previous claim to fame was booking events for Exhibition Place in Toronto); "promoted" the part-time By-Law Enforcement Officer, a retired Metro cop, to the full-time job of Fire Chief, complete with uniform, epaulettes and braid, even though he has zero fire-fighting leadership training; increased the hours for the formerly part-time Tourism Manager (a person who had previously been dismissed from a similar job in Port Hope) to full-time, with no corresponding noticeable increase in either tourism or new events to draw those visitors; and basically handed over control of the once promising Colborne Creek subdivision to the local builders, even though it was designed to be a municipal project. And they want a raise too!!

A municipal committee was recently struck in Cramahe to determine what (not if) raise would be proper. The self-styled chair of this committee .. oh, sorry, the CAO this week shut down the committee, essentially because one member wasn't getting his way ... has suggested the Mayor should be paid $25,000 annually, but that amount should be increased "gradually" over the next four years. When everyone else is lucky to get 2.5 or 3 per cent wage increases, this community member ... who also happened to do a lot of the marketing for the current Mayor when he ran four years ago ... is advocating annual increases of nine and ten per cent. Where is the value, where is the performance that earned this type of salary bump?

The committee should hold a public Q&A, and ask each member of Cramahe Council what they have done for the community over the past four years that even begins to deserve consideration of a pay raise. Not an in-camera session; a public forum where they are put on the spot. And let them justify ANY raise for council, until the citizens of Cramahe actually REAL growth in both the residential and industrial sectors. To be frank, this bunch deserves a pay chop!

Comments on The Burd Report: A wail from the inside

Wally Keeler has left a new comment on your post &...

Wally Keeler has left a new comment on your post &...

"...she would be able to get some help in ...

if you read the average electioneering handout fro...

trying2makesense said... How about some suggestio...

that BornAndRaisedHere has made a valid point and ...

to Born and raised here, ok, tell us exactly what ...

in response to W Keeler's last 2 comments, I, ...

It is not a matter of being more politicaly correc...

Wally: In attempting to be "more-politically...

Concerned Citizen wrote: "We need more co...

Wally: A good question. At the moment six out of...

Hi Ben, Your site is great! I love the opinion a...

Concerned Citizen wrote: "since the retire...

Today's Northumberland News presents their rep...

still waiting for a response from BornandRaisedHer...

Good lord - what have we done to deserve the great...

It is not fair to expect councillors to work for v...

to Born and raised here, ok, tell us exactly what ...

Wait just one dammed minute here! I go to my boss...

Councilor Mutton's yard is home to natural veg...

Mr Washburn wrote "The job should not be full...

Ben, Ben, Ben.... My point is reduce the workload...

that Delanty's reported council remuneration w...

I absolutely agree that a pay raise should be cons...