SPEAKING FRANKLY
THESE ARE SOME OF MY ISSUES FOR AURORA
MAYOR DAWE SAID RECENTLY "THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE MORE BUSINESSLIKE" - BUT I SAY IT IS A BUSINESS AND UNTIL WE UNDERSTAND THAT, WE WILL CONTINUE WASTING THE TAXPAYERS MONEY. I WILL WORK HARD TO MAKE EVERY DEPARTMENT AND EVERY DOLLAR SPENT ACCOUNTED FOR.
1) ACTIVISTS
We work for the town of Aurora but do not understand what the people of Aurora want or need. There exists in all levels of Government, a small and varied group of activists that get every ones attention and vote. We must make a stronger effort to represent all the people in Aurora.
2) COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS INVOLVEMENT
We need more open and general meetings with voters, developers, retailers and the business community. We must then ACT decisively on the findings.
3) TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND PARKING
We do not have the simplest things working right. We have spent countless hours and money and still do not have traffic lights working to properly move traffic through our major intersections. I will make this issue a top priority when elected. While there is currently no parking on Yonge St during rush hour, which makes sense for the commuter, it does not make sense for the businesses on the street. It is time to get this issue right.
SHEPPARDS BUSH
We built this amazing activity and soccer field for hundreds of our kids to enjoy, including bleachers in several areas. Then we allowed most of what we used for parking to be sold to a developer. Now when there are major activities or tournaments there is a shortage of parking. We then decided to give parking tickets to the parents and grandparents who come out to watch the kids play. There has to be an answer to this problem.
At the very least we could allow leniency when there are large events going on.
4) PRIVATE BUSINESSES
Do not get the town involved in running or bailing out private business such as the domed stadium. If the owner cannot make a profit why did we even consider investing taxpayers money?
5) DEVELOPMENT CONTROLS
It is essential that we as a community get more control of what we allow developers to build. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but some of the things we have allowed to be built are pretty ugly and an eyesore. MORE CONTROL of the development in our community is essential.
6) CONSULTANTS
Their appears to be more and more use of consultants in Government at all levels. When I spent a small fortune changing the software for the Company I was in charge of, and no additional funds where available to finish the project, I hired the programmer on a full time basis and the problem was solved and everyone was happy. More Professional Managers not more bureaucrats. We do not need a consultant to tell us we need 4 children swings, not three, in a new play center.
7) HERITAGE DESIGNATION
Currently we have over 900 houses in the central part of Aurora designated as Historic......absolutely ridiculous. Heritage Designation must have specific goals, and strong and historic reasons for these designations. Is the house something extremely important to our History, or is it designated because it is a hundred years old. This property may now be bankrupting the owner in order to maintain it.
8) WARD SYSTEM/FULL TIME
I am not in favour of a Ward system. I feel very strongly that Aurora is better served with us working as a more productive TEAM for all the people of Aurora.
The future and changes foreseen requires us to be more productive and I believe that can be better served with 2 less councillors but on a full time basis.
Whatever is decided I will be working full time for all the people of Aurora.
9) SENIORS
It is wonderful that we have the Seniors Center with a great group of volunteers and members and a great board that oversees everything. I will be meeting with them soon to discuss their concerns and how we can improve things.
Important information that I will be reminding seniors of is that an increase in taxes, depending on their income, can be deferred until such time as they decide to sell their properties. Every little bit may help.
10) BUDGET - LAST BUT NOT LEAST
I think that when it comes time to prepare the following years budget there definitely should be reserves to cover unforeseen problems. Those reserves should not create the need for substantial tax increases and never more than inflation. Municipal Governments must balance their books every year. That is the law imposed by 2 levels of Government that have not balanced their own books for several years. We are now considering balancing ours by borrowing a substantial amount from the region, in order to pay for the new JOINT OPERATION CENTRE. I think it may be even worse to balance our budget by borrowing again from the REGION that itself is in terrible accrued debt and by paying the interest on our debt for the next 15 to 20 years. Is this a balanced budget? WE DO NOT HAVE 24+ MILLION TO PAY FOR THIS CENTRE.
I have left my comments as written above but wish to inform you that Council has approved the project and ground breaking has already proceeded.
THESE ARE SOME OF MY ISSUES FOR AURORA
MAYOR DAWE SAID RECENTLY "THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE MORE BUSINESSLIKE" - BUT I SAY IT IS A BUSINESS AND UNTIL WE UNDERSTAND THAT, WE WILL CONTINUE WASTING THE TAXPAYERS MONEY. I WILL WORK HARD TO MAKE EVERY DEPARTMENT AND EVERY DOLLAR SPENT ACCOUNTED FOR.
1) ACTIVISTS
We work for the town of Aurora but do not understand what the people of Aurora want or need. There exists in all levels of Government, a small and varied group of activists that get every ones attention and vote. We must make a stronger effort to represent all the people in Aurora.
2) COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS INVOLVEMENT
We need more open and general meetings with voters, developers, retailers and the business community. We must then ACT decisively on the findings.
3) TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND PARKING
We do not have the simplest things working right. We have spent countless hours and money and still do not have traffic lights working to properly move traffic through our major intersections. I will make this issue a top priority when elected. While there is currently no parking on Yonge St during rush hour, which makes sense for the commuter, it does not make sense for the businesses on the street. It is time to get this issue right.
SHEPPARDS BUSH
We built this amazing activity and soccer field for hundreds of our kids to enjoy, including bleachers in several areas. Then we allowed most of what we used for parking to be sold to a developer. Now when there are major activities or tournaments there is a shortage of parking. We then decided to give parking tickets to the parents and grandparents who come out to watch the kids play. There has to be an answer to this problem.
At the very least we could allow leniency when there are large events going on.
4) PRIVATE BUSINESSES
Do not get the town involved in running or bailing out private business such as the domed stadium. If the owner cannot make a profit why did we even consider investing taxpayers money?
5) DEVELOPMENT CONTROLS
It is essential that we as a community get more control of what we allow developers to build. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but some of the things we have allowed to be built are pretty ugly and an eyesore. MORE CONTROL of the development in our community is essential.
6) CONSULTANTS
Their appears to be more and more use of consultants in Government at all levels. When I spent a small fortune changing the software for the Company I was in charge of, and no additional funds where available to finish the project, I hired the programmer on a full time basis and the problem was solved and everyone was happy. More Professional Managers not more bureaucrats. We do not need a consultant to tell us we need 4 children swings, not three, in a new play center.
7) HERITAGE DESIGNATION
Currently we have over 900 houses in the central part of Aurora designated as Historic......absolutely ridiculous. Heritage Designation must have specific goals, and strong and historic reasons for these designations. Is the house something extremely important to our History, or is it designated because it is a hundred years old. This property may now be bankrupting the owner in order to maintain it.
8) WARD SYSTEM/FULL TIME
I am not in favour of a Ward system. I feel very strongly that Aurora is better served with us working as a more productive TEAM for all the people of Aurora.
The future and changes foreseen requires us to be more productive and I believe that can be better served with 2 less councillors but on a full time basis.
Whatever is decided I will be working full time for all the people of Aurora.
9) SENIORS
It is wonderful that we have the Seniors Center with a great group of volunteers and members and a great board that oversees everything. I will be meeting with them soon to discuss their concerns and how we can improve things.
Important information that I will be reminding seniors of is that an increase in taxes, depending on their income, can be deferred until such time as they decide to sell their properties. Every little bit may help.
10) BUDGET - LAST BUT NOT LEAST
I think that when it comes time to prepare the following years budget there definitely should be reserves to cover unforeseen problems. Those reserves should not create the need for substantial tax increases and never more than inflation. Municipal Governments must balance their books every year. That is the law imposed by 2 levels of Government that have not balanced their own books for several years. We are now considering balancing ours by borrowing a substantial amount from the region, in order to pay for the new JOINT OPERATION CENTRE. I think it may be even worse to balance our budget by borrowing again from the REGION that itself is in terrible accrued debt and by paying the interest on our debt for the next 15 to 20 years. Is this a balanced budget? WE DO NOT HAVE 24+ MILLION TO PAY FOR THIS CENTRE.
I have left my comments as written above but wish to inform you that Council has approved the project and ground breaking has already proceeded.