WHEN YOU FAIL TO PLAN, YOU PLAN TO FAIL

As posted on the June 21, 2010 blog, the Mayor of Melancthon advised in an open meeting of Council that we, the ratepayers of Melancthon, have paid approximately $20,000.00 a year over the past six years for the planning consultant, Jerry Jorden to "work on" the five year Official Plan review, which is still not complete.

We are operating under an OP from the 1970's.

And the $20,000.00 is just PART of the planning consultant fees we pay him. There are many, many more fees for which Jorden bills the taxpayers.

Both the province and ratepayers were promised by this Council over the winter that the OP would be complete by June 2010.

THEN we heard from the Deputy Mayor awhile ago that the mapping company that had been retained by Jorden, but paid by taxapayers through Jorden's invoices went bankrupt and there would be yet ANOTHER delay.

At the July 22, 2010 meeting of Council, a ratepayer submitted, in writing and in advance, the following question(s):

What is the name and address of the firm that went bankrupt while working on Melancthon maps for Mr. Jorden;

What was Mr. Jorden's bill to Melancthon for the work they did;

What maps were recovered for the money they received;

In a prepared answer from which the Mayor read at the meeting, she started by admonishing the ratepayer for putting in writing that the mapping company went bankrupt because it wasn't true.

In fact, according to the Mayor, the owner of the company was ill and was no longer in business. (Bad ratepayer)

Notable: At this point the Deputy Mayor advised that he did state that the company went bankrupt, because that was what he was told. (Insert deep calming breath here)

Anyhew the answers to the questions provided by the Mayor were:

Question 1: Name of mapping company?
Answer: Everlasting Letting in the Light, Barrie Ontario.

The only information I can find on a company with this name in Barrie is for an artist for god's sake. A phone call revealed that the individual at that number was in fact the individual to whom was referred to in the Melancthon Council meeting.

NOT a freaking mapping company. An artist.

And nowhere on the artist’s website does it indicate this “business” is out of business due to illness. My understanding is the artist was away on vacation until early August.

Or for that matter does the bio/website ever indicate this person WAS in the mapping business. Just a very talented artist.

Check it out for yourself. http://polarartists.com/artists/RMcDonald/RMbio.html

So in our highly paid planning consultant's infinate wisdom, he retained this “company/artist” to do his professional planning mapping. And billed us ratepayers, don’t forget.

Question 2: How much did this mapping company cost ratepayers?
Answer: Just under $1,400.00

Final question: How much of the maps were used in the final product?
According to the prepared statement read by the Mayor, the maps which were never produced, but which we taxpayers paid for, formed the "basis" of the mapping which we were looking at during the meeting.

No wonder people have meltdowns at public meetings. I am having one RIGHT NOW. As I am sure you are reading this. Who in the hell is looking after the interests of the taxpayers in Melancthon?

And the Mayor has advised that some people need to get a grip and accept change, because change is coming.

That is good advice, particularly for the current Council and our current planning consultant. Change IS coming.

Get out and vote on October 25, 2010 OR when your vote by mail ballot arrives in the mail.