Cobourg Blog

Before the last Municipal Election, it was commonly said by many - including me - that the council was arrogant and ignored the public’s request for information.  Presentations were largely ignored, information was meagre and the only justification I heard was that “we can’t help it if the papers don’t publish what we give them”.   So we elected a new council with two new faces Miriam Mutton and Stan Frost.  So what do we have now?  Basically the same except that Miriam asks the questions for us inside the council but gets the same response - deathly silence.  The council publishes a small newsletter every few months but it gives virtually no detail on the contentious issues like policing and the Frink.

Since the council obviously thinks it has money to spare (spending big on the Police and the Frink), perhaps they could spend a bit on communications.  Perhaps a paid ad in the paper or a much larger newsletter. Or a low cost way would be their web site - for example detailed answers to questions publicly asked.  If they “can’t afford this” for some reason, I’d be happy to post answers on this blog!

I support Martin Partridge’s submission to the Minister of Environment on the Frink issue mostly because I think there are still unanswered questions which the council is arrogantly ignoring.

For example:

• What is the full true cost - start to finish plus maintenance?
• How many people truly support it as it currently stands - with no pond but instead a large concrete slab for most of the year.  I suspect most support disappeared when it became just a rink.
• Why do the council think it will be used enough to make it worth all this money?  What study was done?  Hopefully it was better than the recent parking study which was an utter waste of money - but I suspect there was no study at all.

I’m sure there are more questions, but those are mine.  And the biggest question of all, why does the council ignore all these questions and related submissions to council on the subject?

To download Martin’s submission to the MOE, click here.

Tomorrow will be the last Public Meeting in Cobourg on the subject of the Cobourg Police Force being replaced by County wide policing by the OPP . As Mike Hick has succinctly described in the Cobourg Star today, there are three reasons why this is a good idea:

1. Cost saving - Cobourg would save $1.9M out of a total town budget of $17M or 11%.  Since the OPP will be providing the same service, it would be irresponsible of the council to vote against the OPP.  If they voted in favour of keeping the status quo, they would be in effect voting for a tax increase of that amount.  There would be an appeal to the Province to replace them as incompetent if they brought in such an increase in a normal budget session!
2. Improved management - the Police services boards over the past several years cannot point to any success in hring a Police Chief nor in getting co-operation with nearby Police Forces.  So it’s clear that it needs to go up one level to the County.  Recruiting a chief from the ranks of the much larger OPP and recruiting the board from the larger area of the county can only be major improvements.
3. Better job environment for the police officers resulting in even better police performance. Whether in a Police Force or in Government or in any type of employment, there are more job opportunities, more learning and more training in a larger pool than in a group as small as the Cobourg Police Force.

The items still being discussed do not change this overall picture - just the fine detail. And the objections being raised about degraded service are all speculation.  Let’s hope the council does the right thing this time at least - if not, hopefully the county will do it for them.  Their vote is June 16 and the County vote is scheduled for July.

The votes have been consistently 4 in favour and 3 against. Mayor Delanty, Bob Spooner, Dean McCaughey and Bill MacDonald in favour; with Miriam Mutton, Stan Frost and Gil Brocanier against. Agree with them or not, it’s interesting to analyze why they vote this way. Why would they vote as they do?
I suggest it breaks down as follows:

• Peter Delanty asked his Liberal friends for money, got it and now has to follow through or lose face.
• Bob Spooner is a big hockey fan and the more chances for people to play hockey the better
• Dean McCaughey - probably believes he is supporting the silent majority (the only acceptable reason)
• Bill MacDonald - maybe the same as Dean - who knows.
• Deputy Mayor Gil Brocanier - thinks it’s a waste of money - he manages the budget so is more attuned.
• Miriam Mutton - wants to delay to be sure the council really knows what the majority wants - a good thing in this case.
• Stan Frost - seems to share Gil and Miriam’s concerns.

The Rink is certainly not what was originally suggested. Originally a park was suggested with space for a natural rink with no concrete. Then the Fountain, Pond and Artificial rink were suggested when we got the grant (courtesy of Peter’s connections).

Let’s see what happens. The upside is that the Rink may turn out to be a big success - I’d be interested in a count of users through the next winter. We may even get bus tours with people marveling at the “”Rink in a Park”"! More likely it will be mostly deserted except for one or two families on one or two weekends in winter. With no fence, I can’t see hockey being played there.

Another upside is that the next council could spend a few bucks and add a border to the concrete and create our pond after all.  Council changing its mind implies the majority would (hopefully) vote for new councilors. However, I understand that at least two of the frink supporters are not expected to run again next time.  Something to look forward to!

When the Fountain/Rink project was proposed, it was a plus for Summer and a plus for Winter. In summer, the green space would be enhanced with a moderate sized shallow pool with a small fountain in the middle. No one imagined a large fountain (e.g. like in Las Vegas) - so the pool was the main feature. In winter, the pool would become ice and there would be skating. At all times, an attractive feature in our “downtown” park. Budget issues were covered by the Provincial Government grant (except for maintenance). We can argue about the actual usage of the rink but it would not be ugly.

Now, because of budget restrictions, the winter part stays much the same but the summer part becomes ugly - a large slab of concrete will certainly be ugly unless it is 100% covered with planters - I think the plan is just some planters. And lots of planters adds significantly to the maintenence cost (do we know the number?). I’d rather spend the extra cash up front to save on maintenance and end up with the original project. The bastardized version now proposed is no longer the original project - it will be plain ugly and awful in summer. We’ll start to look forward to the Rotary tent covering it!

All we need is one more councillor to recognize this situation and speak up.

John Draper

The revised Frink design was released today and is on the agenda for approval at Monday’s Council meeting. The new design is staggeringly atrocious. The pond is gone. The concrete basin will be simply that — a bare concrete basin — during all the warm months of the year. This is approximately what will be in the centre of the concrete oval:

Can you believe it — a self-contained crappy little fountain surrounded by bare concrete. The concept of a year-round water feature has been completely discarded. What we end up with is a skating rink for a number of months per year and for the rest of the year a huge patch of concrete sitting there in the middle of our beautiful new waterfront park. Does anyone else think this is insane?

I cannot understand why we have a religious ceremony to start our Council meetings. I am not offended, I think the Lord’s prayer is as close to independent of religion as you are going to get. But it is a religious thing! OK, it’s also a tradition. But that’s not a reason to do something if it’s inappropriate. If we had a priest come in and bless the councillors or everyone had to use the “sign of the cross” every time they said anything, there would be objections. But it will continue because “there is a consensus” according to Peter Delanty. Consensus amongst whom? Certainly I was not asked - nor was a survey done in the town - there was not enough time. As Miriam says, it’s a personal thing and I say that personal things and religious things do not belong in council meetings.
“Render unto Caesar..”

Our Town Council announced with much fanfare that parking would not be permitted on certain roads in winter.  The reason given was that snow plowing can’t be done if cars are in the way.  So we just had a snow storm that meant plowing was needed - and Hibernia street had cars parked and the plow went around them.  But no tickets were issued and no cars were towed!  So why make a law if it is not going to be enforced?  It just makes sure there are empty parking spots for people who ignore the law.  I wonder if there was enforcement for any roads on the list.  The Police can’t do the enforcing on a stormy night - they are busy with other problems.  So who enforces?

“Does it make any sense for councils to employ economic-development staffers, and then allow competitors from beyond our borders to come in and usurp business from our taxpaying merchants who support everything from local charities to minor sports?” asks the editorial in the Cobourg Star.
Yes, it does!
The largest amount of Cobourg’s tax revenue – by far! – comes from residential assessment, not commercial. Cobourg residents are consumers and it is in their economic interest to spend their dollars where they get the most value and selection; just as it is in the economic interest of the merchants to restrict competition to get the highest prices for their goods.
As far as supporting local charities and minor sports is concerned, for Cobourg’s business people that is a form of advertising. As the old saying goes, “they want to do well by doing good”. But Cobourg’s residents contribute countless hours volunteering for community activities without seeking economic gain. Without them the business community would not have any events to sponsor.
Now what about the huge ad for an Oshawa jeweller on our Cobourg buses?

“Trauma counselors have been called in to work with employees of Northumberland County Council, shocked by the news that a senior manager had been charged with fraud.
The trauma counselors were available to the 500 county employees on a round-the-clock basis for as long as they are needed.” Brighton Independent
Haven’t we come a long way in shielding our public servants from the stark realities of life in Northumberland County?

Even in winter when the weather can sometimes be miserable, Cobourg is a great town to live in. Who else has a Santa Claus parade, lights in the park, a New Year’s Eve “First Night” and a Mayor’s levy? The season kicks off with a Santa Claus parade - yes I know it’s commercial and lots of other towns have them - but we do have one. Then Victoria Park has so many lights decorating it that bus tours come to see it! And for New Year’s eve, we’ve had a “First night” celebration for many years where several restaurants and other venues have entertainment with a great fireworks display over the harbour. Everyone said this year’s was the best ever!

Above is the Wagon used for a Hay-Ride to transport between venues on First Night. More photos here: Cobourg photos

Then the next day, the Mayor and all the councillors, put on a reception (levy) to meet and greet anyone who came. The Cobourg Concert Band had a concert and a “good time was had by all”.  Some reasons why they call us a “feel good” town.

The moral of all this? A blog does not have to be all negatives!

John Draper