Public Meeting on the Fountain/Rink
Martin Partridge has called a public meeting on the Fountain/rink at the Library on August 9th. He got the word out by e-mail - he did not rely on the newspapers although they have picked up the story. He says he has “information on fundamental design errors”.
Who cares? The main problem is not design flaws but the process used. In Cobourg it’s not hard to find out the real story although it is harder to prove. In case you have not heard, the story is that Mayor Peter Delanty is one of the Liberals who knows who to call (or rather, knows his call will be heard). He asked for and received part of the $32M that McGuinty handed out - this is the hand-out that the Provincial auditor general called “one of the worst we’ve seen” for documentation and accountability. So it would seem that the rush to spend it is to avoid losing it if the Liberals lose the October 10th election!
Although my initial reaction was to take the money and run, the unanswered questions are:
- What application process was used and how did Cobourg get selected?
- Why did we get the money for this project and not other worthy causes in town?
- Is this the best design?
- Should there even be an open air skating rink/fountain in Cobourg anywhere?
- If there should be, is the chosen location best? What about in Victoria Park opposite the “Park Theatre” currently being renovated? It would be downtown and use a space that is underutilized.
- What is the on-going cost? Is it truly trivial?
So I think Martin’s meeting is just stirring the pot - the issue he wants to talk about would appear to be of low importance - BUT - there are still many unanswered questions.
Oh, and one more comment - some people and councillors seem to think that councillors should look after only their own “areas of responsibility” - but if only one councillor talks about an issue publicly, then there is no council debate. Everything then happens out of public sight - this seems to me to be the whole problem with this council and the last. Only Miriam Mutton and Stan Frost seem to understand this point - especially Miriam. The system of appointed co-ordinators has to go - it does not provide transparency - or has not to date.
John Draper
August 3rd, 2007 at 1:41 am
I think it is very important to note that the fountain grant had absolutely nothing to do with the $32 Million given by the provincial government under the direction of Mike Cole’s new citizenship & immigration ministry. The Fountain/Rink project came out of the Ministry of Health/Promotions active 2010 strategy where over 70 million was dispersed to ridings like our own for worthy projects like this, and was awarded based on the reqirements and review process that has been highly publicized over the past several months.
All Heads of Municipalities lobby the senior levels of government for funding for whatever projects they want funded. You asked in your question why this project and not others…simple the head of the municipality in question must have lobbied specifically for this project. Which is as worthy as any other.
Furthermore, as we all have read in the newspaper today, Mr. Mackenzie’s futile and desperate search for anything to create the fountain into something that it is not - the Provincial auditor’s staff said, and I quote, it is “not likely” that this grant will ever be under review. He will do anthying to prevent this project again for reasons of Nimbyism. The Condo owners do not, never did, and never have nor never will own the property known as Rotary Park.
These are people used to getting their own way by virtue of their very distant past professional positions. Just look at who is involved, look at their backgrounds. They are used to getting their own way period.
John further more Martin Partridge ( the same Martin Patridge who got a plum federal appointment under the former federal liberals as he is a long time liberal) was one of Delanty’s biggest original supporters, but me thinks like others like Joe Sherman and Malcolm Wardman, Delanty might not be in their pocket anymore…
There is a great deal of quiet majority support for this Fountain which has been talked about for like 4 years. The quiet majority that was not part of a bogus petition based on innuendo bullying and half truths to get people to sign. Besides there is now a petition under way to support it.
John you are the lone voice of blogging reason not part of the “Cult of Miriam” which is based on obstructionism and the gentrification of Cobourg for wealthy retirees.
We are not going to compare governments and accountabilty. McGuinty brought in the most sweeping changes to accountability, that allows the Auditor General of this Province unprecedented powers. Why because of the 100% fact that the Harris/Eves tory government spent $5.6 Billion ( yes with a B) in hidden and undisclosed deficit spending.
The fountain Rink is going to happen and the NIMBY Mackenzie’s ( I want a Versaille Fountain in my private park but no rink riff-raff rink users, will lose. The same with the ” I was Peter Delanty”s biggest supporter crew now i hate him bunch” will also lose because no matter what happens October 10th Peter D. and the current Council which was duly elected is in for 3.5 years and it will not change, and Miriam will continue to vote against, well everything, Stan Frost will be the Nimby/anti Delanty current council’s actual choice for mayor ( sorry Miriam you are not one of them and never will be. The only hope will be for Sue Glover to make it on council so she can be a bombastic pain in Stan Frost’s a** and Miriam his Deputy Mayor’s a**.
People are getting sick of arrogant, pompous retiree’s coming to Cobourg and literally thinking they know what is best for us lowly plebes.
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:37 am
The story I heard was that in late October Rinaldi came to Town to talk to Council and one councillor objected to being missed from the usual largesse and pork that the Fiberals have handed out and Looooo asked if they had a project that could stand a quick injection. BUT it was not to be infrastructure - no votes in that! No discussion no submission. And the F/R project being a figment of the Mayor’s imagination and a perfect legacy project fitted the bill entirely. So no application form to fill just tell the MPP we have a project. If one uses the Cricket club example perhaps all Council asked for was money for a fountain and they received much more than they asked for.
I agree with you the elephant in the room is going to be the operating costs and ancillary startup costs. But on your most fundamental observation that the coordinator system is not working, many of us (those who tend to be regarded as opinionated busy bodies too busy to run for Council) have been saying just that for years because it encourages lazy councillors and back room politics. I think it is wonderful that if one of the lessons learned in this fiasco is a rejuvenation of interest in civics and how we are being governed.
August 4th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
Sorry - was that the story you heard or the story you created? It seems that the majority of the time with you, Mr. Burd, it is the latter.
August 5th, 2007 at 8:38 am
I would say that if you want to make accusations do it in person and introduce yourself, just so that I can see that you are real and not a created person a la Cobourg Curmudgeon and Medici.
My source was a Cobourg Councillor who is a legend in his own mind, much like you I’m afraid! And he believed it to be true, because he told me that he made the request of Rinaldi. BTW please quote me a report that is not true that has appeared on this site or any other under my name. The truth is not pretty and maybe like Tom Cruise you can’t handle the truth.
August 5th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
I do apologize for those personal comments I made, it was offensive of me to do and doesn’t help any situation. I was merely venting in frustration having chatting with one of these NIMBY’s for over an hour last week whos motives are so disturbingly clear.
What I am concerned about is the rumour mongering that is going on, especially since you noted that it is a Cobourg Councillor of all people that you are hearing these things from. The fact that this rink/fountain is being turned into a watergate is appalling … even the people who are against the funding want a fountain but not a rink. Its preposterous. There may be some questions gone unanswered, yes, however - this has been exaggerated to the point where it seems like the entire town is going to crumble beneath this issue, as if the apocalypse is coming, being blown entirely out of proportion.
August 6th, 2007 at 8:40 am
Ryan
Apology accepted, I do understand the frustration one accumulates when speaking and dealing with obdurates. However I do agree with you about the confusion of the oppositions arguments, some want a fountain, some don’t. Some want a rink, most don’t. Some want both but put it someplace else. Some don’t like the procedure and planning process. Some don’t like the contradictory position of the P&R coordinator assuming a Planning function. Some don’t like the way there is no public discussion of the issue by the Council due to the governing system. What a lot of confusion. As with others I think we have to go back to basics and through a series of public meetings discover what it is that we really want. And that brings us to the topic of the presentations being organised by Martin Partridge (who cares about the background of the motivators just look at the results) for Thursday evening. All should attend and see if there is any new material and then decide the next move.
ben burd
August 15th, 2007 at 7:33 am
So much passion and intellectual firepower wasted on such a paltry cause!
Town and cities around the world are proud of their civic ornaments such as fountains. But not Cobourg, the ‘feel good town’.
This whole brouhaha is not about a rink nor a fountain, but about bruised egos and the settling of political scores. There is a clique of former insiders who now have nothing but time on their hands to promote their vision of municipal government by petition, public meetings and letter writing. Almost anything will do as long as there is political blood on the floor.
Being Mayor or Councilor in such a bear pit is a daunting prospect for years to come.
August 15th, 2007 at 5:44 pm
Name the clique, all the speakers were not the usual suspects, most unusual if all the usual suspects were behind this!