ELECTION RESULTS

I am late in getting the results posted so I am sure you have heard...and congratulations to those who won and thank you to those who put their names forward to run.

Melancthon's new Council:

Bill Hill - Mayor
Darren White - Deputy
Janice Elliott-Councillor
John Crowe - Councillor
Nanci Malek - Councillor

Mulmurs new Council:

Paul Mills - Mayor
Rhonda Campbell-Moon-Deputy
Heather Hayes-Councillor
Earl Hawkins-Councillor
Lynn Hilchey Councillor

THREE SLEEPS.....

If you haven't voted in either Melancthon OR Mulmur yet, it is not too late to do so.

It IS too late to mail it, so you must drop your ballot off at the municipal office on Monday up until 8:00 p.m.

In Melancthon, due to provincial rules and the number of ballot boxes to be counted, the entire municipal office will be designated as a polling location and will be off limits to everyone except staff and scrutineers and or candidates (one per ballot box) until after the ballots have been counted.

And here comes the sermon.....or broken record, you decide..

It is your democratic right and arguably your responsibility to vote.

If that doesn't do it for you, think about this:

A municipal government is the closest level of government to the public and the decisions they make impact you most directly and immediately.

Example: If Harper implements a foreign policy, it can take years, if ever to trickle down to impact your life.

BUT if your road doesn't get ploughed it impacts you immediately!!

PLUS, just try calling Harper on the phone at 10 o'clock at night to yell at him about something. More than 2 calls like that and you will probably have a little visit from the police, asking some polite but pointed questions.

But I bet no matter what time you call a local politician they take your call.

And I am going on the record here (and not the broken one) to say that Melancthon politicians do NOT get paid enough. That is one thing that needs to be rectified, no matter who gets in.

CHANGES

Council meeting tonight seemed very mature and a little bit sad. Sort of like high school where it is the last class in June with your Grade 12 year and even the people who have never liked each other from Grade 1 seem to realize the significance of the event.

(Well, except for Daniher. He was more like the kid who showed up in Grade 10 who never fit in with any group and no one liked but he was going home to tell his parents that all the other kids were stupid idiots which is why he had no friends.)

Best of luck was issued to all in attendance (sitting Councillors, outgoing councillors and the new comers in the gallery) and we will all wait for the results on Monday night.

MISCELLANEOUS MUSINGS

Haven't mailed in your ballot yet? No worries. You can STILL vote, just do not mail it. Deliver it to the municipal office Thursday, Friday or Monday.

Last Melancthon Council meeting before the election tomorrow night, plan to attend if you can.

And finally another evening in the series of environmental forums being hosted by the Trinity United Church in Shelburne. FRIDAY October 22, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. Wind energy is the issue being discussed.

DEJAVU ALL OVER AGAIN

Wow, great news.

County Council passed a resolution to have the former Shelburne Hospital site gifted to them.

You know, so they could use it for good things for the community.

Here is the entire article: http://www.orangeville.com/news/local/article/889425--county-wants-shelburne-hospital-site-gifted-to-it

Wait, wait, this reminds me of something.....

OH YEAH.....

Sounds like the railbed deal. CN gifted it to the "County" for a community trail and good works but when push come to shove and Orangeville with its weighted vote stands to make a $2 million signing bonus in having the railbed sale go through for a company to haul aggregate product, boom...only a matter if time before it is gone.

How about using the Shelburne Hospital site for a truly County initiative, something which the Mayor 0f Shelburne is championing....I believe it is called the DEEP plant. After all, it is completely safe because the consultants say so, and it would limit the greenhouse gas emissions because the trucks from the cities who are lining up to dump their (literal) crap there, wouldn't be hauling it all the way to the Grand Valley/Amaranth townline.

And Ed doesn't have to worry like other elected officials about losing votes, after all he never has to run.

Win, win for everybody.

If anyone else has any good idea where Ed can stick his DEEP plant, just post them anonoymously on this blog.

PLEASE GET INVOLVED

In any small way, please get involved.

This 16 year kid from Melancthon, who isn't even old enough to vote, got herself to Queen's Park to protest against the governments lack of water policies, got her picture with Maude Barlow of the Council of Canadians and got her message "out there".

If you can't do THAT, please think about helping in some, or any small way.

Donate, put up a sign, send an email, write a letter, go to a Council meeting and finally the most important thing you can do is to VOTE!!!

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Melancthon All Candidates Debate

Quotes from the Orangeville Banner (Free Press was too full of inaccuracies-I swear their reporter wasn't even sure which debate he was at)

John Crowe-absent. No excuse was provided which seemed "lame" although rumour has it this was more important than facing the electorate (your decision-but I know most of the men in Melancthon will go with John on this one-you get a a moose ticket you better use it):


Rob Uffen- “There is a perception that council is confused, or not willing, or submissive or passive, or passive aggressive when they should be more engaged with what is going on,”

Bill Hill- Council needs to “aggressively” fight against the province’s Green Energy Act, which is currently handcuffing their control over land use planning.

Darren White - council needs to start taking more initiative, “getting in front of some of these issues, not always coming from behind them.”

Barton Malloy-has seen numerous delegations from residents brushed aside by council. He argued council should have increased setbacks for turbines when they had control — before the Green Energy Act came into effect.

Nancy Malek-believes council needs people like her, who have already been down to Queen’s Park regularly to advocate on behalf of residents and their concerns. “I think we need someone who has the gumption to stand up and do it,

Dennis Sanford -it is important to make sure we don’t lose any more houses and at the very least, for demolitions to happen, there should be a plan in place.

Janice Elliott - Compromising our water system will be one of the priorities that we are going to be following through, We have to be prepared and we feel that we are.”

Wayne Hannon-believes council should be working with the ministry to correct any mistakes in regards to the mapping of the area’s watershed. That is the kind of thing council should be doing and … making sure everything is in place.

Alex Banks- believes the province’s Clean Water Act may help fight threats to the town’s water supply .

See entire article at this link:http://www.orangeville.com/municipalelection2010/orangeville/article/887366--quarry-quarrel-top-issue-at-melancthon-debate

WHAT DO THEY KNOW THAT WE DON'T - WELL FRANKLY, NOTHING

At the Melancthon all candidate's meeting held this week, an incumbent Councillor advised in their closing monologue that:

"a Council can not appear to be hostile or else a proponent does not have to pay the cost of any peer reviews or studies done for or on behalf of the municipality and that the cost would fall to the taxpayers".

The basis for that statement-no idea. Council or the incumbent has certainly not provided any legal opinion or case law to back up this statement. Seems chick...I mean convenient, doesn't it?

Case law titled Save Richmond Farmland Society v. Richmond (c Twp), however provides a different view.

The point in issue in the case is whether an alderman (Councillor) can properly participate in the process leading to the passage of a by-law if his mind is made up before the real decision-making stage of the process is reached.

In fact, the appeal was dismissed when the Supreme Court judge ruled:

"It is a foolish politician who does not listen carefully to and weigh the strongly held opinions of his constituents; if nothing else it is foolish because it may cost him his seat. Mr. Mawby has been part of this debate from its inception. He has heard, I am sure, all the arguments and he has expressed his conclusion and expressed it strongly. He had the right to do so. In my view, the public life of British Columbia would be the poorer if in a matter of this kind a politician must keep an inscrutable face and a silent tongue not disclosing his strongly held opinions lest he be deprived of his vote. There should be no penalty for candour. However distasteful Mr. Mawby's opinions may be to a very large segment of the electors of Richmond, he is entitled to hold them and to express them by his vote at the council table. "

SO, according to the incumbent (based on what???) a Council as a whole can't collectively decide against a decision, but this Supreme Court decision would certainly indicate that individual Councillors can.

So why aren't our Melancthon Councillors, individually listening to their ratepayers and being the municipal Champion that ratepayers are begging for, instead what appears to be listening as a collective whole and reverentially deferring to one large, foreign backed corporation?

Read the entire case is at this link and then YOU decide

http://www.canlii.org/en/bc/bcca/doc/1989/1989canlii2718/1989canlii2718.html

GET OFF THE FENCE OR GET IMPALED

I believe we should all be off the fence now after the all candidates debate.

If you aren't, then prepared to be impaled.

AND there were all kinds of pictures of people/animals being impaled on a fence, but I considerately decided not to post one.

You are welcome.

ALL CANDIDATES MEETING

Don't forget about the Melancthon all candidate's meeting tonight at 7 at the Hornings Mills Hall.

Remember it is an all candidates meeting-Q&A's-NOT a debate.

Hope it doesn't turn out like Shelburne's though.

The Annointed, I mean acclaimed Mayor was given a seat at the table, even thought he had no need to campaign.

Did he sit back and give the incumbents and the new politicians a chance to voice their views?

Why no. Eddie doesn't want his apple cart upset, so he took every single opportunity he could to go on and on and on about how the CURRENT team (and I am paraphrasing here) works well together and gets things done and of course doesn't question Ed.

Basically, while running over on his time on most questions, he was campaigning for the incumbents.

Wow. Way to build bridges with new councillors, just in case your ratepayers decides that change is needed. Although if King Eddie says no change is needed, except change as it singlehandlely benefits him. (DEEP, YMCA, out of town children user fees in parks, etc. etc.)

But I digress. Don't forget about the all candidates meeting tonight in Melancthon at 7 at the Hall.

ECO FORUM ON WIND TURBINES

The next Eco Forum will be from 7-9pm on Oct. 22nd at Trinity United Church in Shelburne. The topic is Wind Turbine Concerns.

In the meantime, here is an article everyone might want to read:

Ted Cowan, Ontario Federation of Agriculture – Warns Farmers to be Careful When Dealing with the Wind Industry http://windfarms.wordpress.com/2008/08/19/ted-cowan-ontario-federation-of-agriculture-warns-farmers-to-be-careful-when-dealing-with-the-wind-industry/

Excerpts:

“I’ve seen over 30 leases, and there are problems with every one,” said Cowan..

Cowan said some wind power companies are not giving a fair share of their profits...

Farmers were also cautioned on assessment and tax implications. “It’s your farm – it’s your taxes,” said Cowan, noting that the landowner was ultimately responsible for taxes on their property. In addition, Cowan said there was no guarantee that the provincially imposed caps on assessments and taxes would remain in the future.
“I don’t know, taxes could be 50 times of what they are right now,” he said.

TRASH TALK

So let us not get into the science of the DEEP plant right now, because of course Shelburne Mayor Ed Crewson, the DEEP champion, wants to bully and beat down anyone who HE says isn't an expert who might weigh in on the issue with an opinion-to which I thought the Canadian Constitution guaranteed all Canadians, but I must be wrong there.

Firstly, who ARE Ed's experts? Trevor Lewis of the County of Dufferin? Not sure when he got his science degree. Other County staff? Same thing. I know for damn sure Ed has no science degree.

So, based on Ed's criteria, if citizen's can't criticize because they aren't scientists, then staff can't be doing research to support what Ed, I mean the County, wants either.

I will go out on a limb here and suggest the ONLY scientific evidence that has been accepted by Ed, whoops, I mean the County, is by the scientists who work for the gasification people, who (altogether now-get paid for selling a product). If I am wrong, then I will stand corrected.

Secondly:Shelburne is desperate to find a place to send their garbage, because they have no landfill and haven't for almost 25 years. They were so desperate years ago that Council limited their peons, I mean ratepayers to two bags of garbage per week.

However an elected official from Shelburne, who realized his family generated more than 2 bags of garbage a week, saw nothing wrong in taking HIS trash to a neighbouring landfill (more on that another day).

Ed's logic: We should all be working for the greater good by helping HIM pay for a YMCA to be located in Ed's town and championed by one of Ed's biggest customers in his insurance business, and help HIS ratepayers subsidize the cost of disposing of THEIR garbage because we are one County and we need to support and blah, blah, blah.

BUT, this is the same Mayor who went on a rant a few years ago about HIS taxpayers were paying taxes to cut grass and keep the parks in Shelburne up to date while OUT of town kids played on HIS parks without contributing to the maintenance so he implemented an OUT of town kid user fee. He even battled an 80 year old woman in letters to editors when she questioned this decision. (Bully and beatdown for sure.)

But NOW, we are all to be one big happy family and take the financial hit because Eddie needs to keep HIS taxpayers costs down.

Think we outsiders aren't subsidizing Shelburne's garbage removal:

"Several local municipalities have objected to an initiative to have the county take over disposal responsibilities for their waste, when they have their own landfill sites where they could handle it themselves more economically."

“During the presentation at Mono, Mayor Crewson pointed out that Michigan, a destination for much of the trash generated in the GTA and other parts of southern Ontario, is poised to close its borders to such waste within the next couple of years. For those communities without their own landfills, “I expect tipping fees will increase dramatically,” speculating they could exceed $100 per ton.
http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2010-05-13/Front_Page/County_reps_talk_trash_at_council_meetings.html

Can't blame him if he gets his way. A politician should be pushing his own muncipality's agenda.

We SHOULD be blaming all the non-Shelburne and Orangeville politicians who voted for this, especially the ones who have active landfills.

To add insult to injury, according to this article, there isn't even an equalization of services. Melancthon will NOT be getting door to door pick up the way everyone else is, but we will be helping to pay for everyone else's door to door pick up.

Great, just great.

There is a blog coming in the next week about how Ed can reduce his municipality's taxes substantially and it involves the police service.

Stay tuned.

"DEEP" HYPOCRITICAL ACTIONS

At the link below is this comment posted by Peter Turrell:

Jane Pepino is doing another not in my back yard. She is part of Core who are about to fight the monster quarry in Melancthon while destroying the community of Grand Valley defending Orica Canada with an Ammonium Nitrate Storage facility next to the most significant wetland in southern Ontario (Luther Marsh). The good news is the toxic water from the quarry will have the Ammonium Nitrate from the facility she is defending.Please come and help Grand Valley on November 3/09 for our OMB hearing.Hail Queen Nimby

http://windfarms.wordpress.com/2009/02/27/not-in-my-backyard-jane-pepino/

Peter Turrell is known to be an adament opponent of Orica, because of course it is in HIS backyard. He has made many unsubstantiated public accusations against Jane Pepino, which why she hasn't sued him by now I have no idea. Probably because he is a non-entity in the big game.

HOWEVER, talk about hypocritical.

In 2006, Shelburne committeed $50,000 to have Peter Turrell do a feasibility study on a gasification plant. Eddie Crewson was supporting Peter wholeheartedly. Here is a link to the 2006 article.http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2006-03-02/Front_Page/003.html

SO it seems if Peter is getting paid for something, he has no crisis of conscience if it is in someone else's backyard, but by God, no one else better do that.

In fact when there is opposition to this project, Champion Eddie cites the ludicrous claim that the Sierra Club supports gasification plants. Why? Well because Peter, probably one of millions of people who could come up with the membership fee to the Sierra Club (now know as Environmental Defence) is a member.

Wow, who knew that because you could afford a membership or made a donation you got to individually set policy and speak for the entire organization. That would be kind of like everyone who pays taxes in Shelburne gets to speak for the corporation and their truth is the word.

But Eddie has never let the truth get in the way of getting what he wants.

I recall in the early 2000's when Eddie called an emergency meeting which was held on a Saturday.

EVERY single person at that meeting heard the same thing out of Eddie's mouth which was: If you do NOT support amalgamation today, the province will do it on Monday.

There were provincial reps at that Saturday meeting just looked at each other like WTF. As you all know, amalgamation didn't happen, despite the Champion of the day, Eddie and his "truthiness". The province's position is and always HAS been it is a local matter which needs a local solution. (And I can say that as truth, because I pay provincial taxes, which makes me a spokesperson, right Peter and Ed?)

Tommorow-watch for the TRUTH about why Shelburne Council is pretty desperate to have some way of getting rid of garbage.

QUICK AND EASY PUMPKIN PIE RECEIPE

Too busy enjoying the nice weather to blog. If you are rushed for time in turkey preparations tomorrow, try this quick and easy pie receipe.

ENJOY..

I DON'T THINK THIS IS WHAT OUR FOREFATHERS HAD IN MIND

I am sure anyone over the age of 40 knows the tune and lyrics to the Red River Valley. I remember in particular it being drummed into us in Grade 5.

Here is a reminder....

CHORUS:
Come and sit by my side, if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
Just remember the Red River Valley
And the cowboy who loved you so true

Fast forward to today.

This is OUR generation's Red River Valley, thanks to governments who go for the quick fix, instead of the greater good. Governments (at all levels) who have have been easily swayed by the economic development argument (and $$ backing their party) instead of seeing it for what it is:

MILLIONS of dollars for the rich who back these dubious schemes in the name of "economic development".

Good news though. The Hungarian Government says the red sludge toxicity level is dropping. Whew, that is a relief.

At this rate human habitation should occur about the same time as Chernobyl.

I believe this little guy does some contract work for hedgehog fund real estate companies in both Hungary and Russia, just in case anyone is interested in an inexpensive summer place. There is a firesale on waterfronts lots right now.

GET WELL

We need everyone in fighting form for the all candidates debate.

DATE NIGHT

Start yer engines and mark yer calendars:

Melancthon All Candidates Debate- October 12, 2010 at Hornings Mills Hall 7:00 p.m.

All qualified electors MUST attend.

But you do not have to be an elector to attend or ask questions.

Remember, what happens in Melancthon is not going to stay in Melancthon, well except for a 200 foot deep, 2,400 acre hole in the ground.

A TREND

Hey...

I spotted a trend.

Lets see if the candidates and incumbents can too.

Flamborough-proposed mega quarry (means mining below the water table, so it is NOT a gravel pit)

Action: as soon as trees started being felled a local councillor championed the cause AGAINST the proposal, even before there was a proposal in front of Council.

She rallied the health unit, the upper tier council, the neighbouring municipalities, the residents and was their visible leader in the battle. She went to Queen's Park, she held rallies, she mustered financial support from Council and worked WITH her ratepayers group. She had Council pass bylaws and implement a $100,000.00 aggregate application fee.

End result? The province stopped the proposed quarry. Never even got to the OMB stage. http://www.stopthequarry.ca/

Oakville-proposed gasification plant in the midst of a residential neighbourhood bordering Oakville/Mississauga

Action: Both municipalities joined forces with their ratepayers organization. They rallied the health unit, the upper tier, the neighbouring municipalities, the residents and provided visible leadership in the battle. They went to Queen's Park, attended rallies, did studies, set aside money for the cause and worked WITH their ratepayers group in opposition. Why they even called Erin Brokovitch in to save the day.

End result? The province stopped the plant from going forward. Never even got to the OMB stage. http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Ontario+cancels+billion+TransCanada+power+plant/3640097/story.html?cid=megadrop_story

Melancthon - proposed 2,400 acre 200 foot deep open pit limestone mine on prime agricultural land.

Action: nothing, zip, nil. Well that isn't entirely true. The ratepayers group and individual citizens have made proposal after proposal after proposal to Council over the past two years but Council has taken no action on any of those recommendations (recap: demolition control bylaw, $100,000.00 aggregate application fee, specialty crop designation, etc. etc. etc.) There has been a cautious response from sitting Councillors wherein they have stated ad nausem that they can take NO action whatsoever or do ANYTHING whatsoever until an application is in front of them. (My own comment: at which time we all know it will be too late to do anything.)

End result? Armageddon.

I BET ALL THE CONSULTANTS SAID THIS WAS SAFE TOO

"Police in Hungary have opened a criminal negligence inquiry after leaking chemical sludge caused the country's worst ecological disaster. "

Read all about it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11488386

Just to recap, several people died and over 100 were hospitalised in western Hungary after a containment dam around the waste reservoir of an aluminium plant owned by MAL Magyar Aluminium in Ajka, broke last week, spewing a river of red toxic chemicals throughout the land.

If I were a betting man, I would BET that all the consultants hired by the company to PROVE to the government that this industry would be a good thing for economic development and jobs said that this would be a good thing for economic development and jobs.

I would FURTHER bet that anyone who objected to this in the beginning were pooh poohed, saying what do they know, the "experts" know better. The companys website, when you translate it into English says:

Our company is deeply committed to minimizing the negative impacts of European standards. Modern technologies and equipment to serve the natural waters and the protection of air purity. Well localized, well-built, reliable storage system with monitor is intended for the storage of red mud. We take care of the red mud-spaces recultivation, the constant pool already filled with land and vegetation cover. The ISO 14001 environmental management system was introduced in 1999. http://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=hu&u=http://www.mal.hu/&ei=VjCtTInpE5K1ngeu4K20Bw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CDMQ7gEwBg&prev=/search%3Fq%3DMAL%2BMagyar%2BAluminium%2Bin%2BAjka%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26prmd%3Do

Honestly, how could the uninformed NOT believe this? It IS on the internet that they are protecting the environment and the company who is trying to make a kazillion dollars off this slipshod and highly dangerous facility should NOT be doubted. In fact how dare anyone doubt the technology.

I wonder if anyone from the County and DEEP is listening? Nah, probably not.

VOTE BY MAIL

Many people in Mulmur and Melancthon have received their vote by mail kits already.

If you don't have yours, contact the Clerk of your municipality to get one.

Be sure to vote by mail on or before the date indicated. Your ballot is only guaranteed to get to the municipal office on or before October 25 IF you mail it on time.

If you decide to wait until after the mailing cut off time, deliver your ballot to the municipal office. Do not mail it or it may not arrive in time to be counted.

MUST BE AN EASIER WAY

Honest to God JD, there must an easier way to get out of helping with the fall harvest!!

Be well and behave.

SOMETHING STINKS IN THE STATE OF NEWMARKET

The Town of Newmarket, a fairly sophisticated municipality, with loads and loads of staff, legal team and experts, bought into the Halton Recycling mantra of great technology PROVEN somewhere else.

However, Halton Recycling has created nothing BUT problems (and legal bills for the taxpayers) since they arrived.

Some headlines at the link attached at the bottom:

Newmarket Mayor meets with Minister of Environment about Halton Recyling

Peer review identifies ways to reduce fugitive odours at Halton

Halton must pay Town $192,574

Halton Recycling ordered to close

Click the links to read it all.

http://www.newmarket.ca/en/townhall/updateonhaltonrecycling.asp

And I am NOT for a minute suggesting Eddie Crewson's DEEP plant will have the same problems as Halton Recycling, but I am suggesting that the subject matter experts in the DEEP plant are NOT the politicians or County of Dufferin staff.

I am saying, however the supposed subject matter experts are the highly paid media spin gurus paid by the owners who want to sell this technology to unsuspecting customers.

FUN GAME

Here is a fun game.

The fliers and websites have been coming out fast and furious.

Can you match the statement with the Melancthon candidate who uttered it?

Your choices are:

Bill Hill- Mayor
Rob Uffen - Mayor
Darren White - Deputy Mayor
Nanci Malek - Councillor
Dennis Sanford -Councillor
Alex Banks - Councillor
Bart Malloy-Deputy Mayor

These excerpts are word for word with spelling intact from their literature/websites:

"I am not a one issue candidate. As a Councillor, I will be your ears, eyes and conscience with decisions being made about the present and the future of our community."

"I believe that the next council for the Township of Melancthon must work closely together with the residents to prepare for and properly deal with the challenges we are facing in the coming months and years."

"Will not be scared to voice my opinion and the residents opinion of Melancthon in all issues that concern us all. Will thank you in person for your support as I see you in our daily activitys

" I will be a strong, effective, and principled voice for the people of Melancthon, and a competent manager of the Township's affairs"

"Council is elected by the people for the people. We all don't always agree with an approach taken or for that matter the outcome.

"I am deeply concerned about the environmental, social, cultural and economic problems we are facing and the critical need for a proactive Mayor and Council that truly represents us at a time when provincial policy is, increasingly, assuming authority and being influenced by corporate industries, including ones currently operating in our township, and their agendas."

In 2010, Melancthon residents have the challenge of making change. One that they can control. The election a new council. One that will be focused on working for the citizens, keeping citizens aware of Municipal affairs and creating a vision for the future"

PLEASE NOTE:
Janice Elliott-Councillor
Wayne Hannon-Councillor
John Crowe-Councillor
are not included here as I have not yet, seen web postings or Mailings from these candidates.

NOT A DONE DEAL

Another example of IT IS NOT A DONE DEAL..EVER...

Excerpts:

The Government of Canada will not be moving forward with any authorizations as the proposed project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects that cannot be justified under the circumstances," said the Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

Click here for the entire article:
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/npress-communique/2007/hq-ac61-eng.htm

MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL

Wow, this article coulda/shoulda been written about Melancthon.

Here are some selected excerpts:

"First a few large landowners, usually farmers who have been in the area forever, are approached about signing up. At the same time, town supervisors and members of the town planning board, who are often landowners themselves, are targeted. Those who are approached are asked to sign a confidentiality agreement that prevents them from telling their neighbors what is going on. The result is that when the news does get out, an aura of inevitability has already been established; the feeling is “this is so big and so far advanced that there’s nothing we can do.”

That’s just what the wind-energy forces planned. They look for relatively poor areas that display the desired population demographic — farmers with large landholdings and newcomers with large incomes — and then they pit the two constituencies against each other.

There is a David and Goliath aspect to these battles between heavily funded corporate interests and citizen activists who come out and stand in the rain with home-made signs."

You can substitute the word quarry/DEEP/ rail bed for turbines throughout.

Click here for a link to the entire article:

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/20/windfall-in-new-york/?partner=rss&emc=rss

A friend of mine (and yes, I DO have friends) keeps reminding me: Keep your eye on the prize.

The Prize?

That would be the land which has sustained itself with agriculture for generations and the way of life that comes with it-close knit community which, believe it or not are accepting of all newcomers.

COULD BE WORSE-CHECK OUT THIS MEAFORD BLOG

http://www.francisformayor.blogspot.com/

CONDOLENCES

Condolences to Dorothy Matthews, whose loss is felt by the community.

Garry, our former Mayor, will be missed.

UPDATE ON MELANCTHON PUBLIC MEETING ON STRADA'S APPLICATION

Melancthon Township held a public meeting on September 23, 2010 on Strada's application for expansion.

Instead my perspective on this, check out this link under September 24 for highlights of the meeting:

http://sanfordformelancthon.blogspot.com/

VOTING IN MELANCTHON AND MULMUR

Thanks to candidate Heather Hayes, who is running for Mulmur Council for posting this excellent, step by step guide as to how to vote in Mulmur (AND Melancthon).

As Melancthon and Mulmur are voting by mail in 2010 I have posted some of the information on Heather's site:

Election Day - Monday October 25th 2010

How do I vote in the upcoming election?

Expect your ballots to come in the mail after October 2, 2010. If, by October 10th you have not received a ballot, please contact the Township of Mulmur Office at 705-466-3341 or the Township of Melancthon office at 519-925-5525 (depending on where you vote)

How do I know I am on the voters list? What if I am not on the voters list or I am new to the area?

Call the township office-see contact numbers.

Note: The Melancthon Township website has posted an excellent video outlining “voting by mail ” in the upcoming Municipal Election.

Click here to see it : http://www.datafix.com/tutorials/vbm/MIVTutorial.html

PECULIAR PECUNIARY INTEREST

Just to recap:

A pecuniary interest is also called a conflict of interest.

In a nutshell the legislation provides that if an elected politician stands to gain OR lose financially in any decision made by Council (direct-themselves; indirect-a spouse, child or parent) they MUST declare a pecuniary/conflict of interest and not take part in DISCUSSIONS or votes. If the discussion or vote takes part in a closed meeting, they must leave the room-that is the ONLY time they must leave the room.

The September 13 post has details on Melancthon Mayor Fawcett's conflict.

The September 14 post has details on Shelburne Deputy Mayor Bennington's conflict.

The September 23 post has details on Mulmur Deputy Mayor Snider's conflict.

Today's post has details on Shelburne Mayor Crewson's peculiar pecuniary conflict.

Crewson declares a conflict on Highlands issues as Highlands is a client of Ed's insurance company. Fair enough. The Act provides for that.

EXCEPT Ed doesn't declare a conflict when discussing "policy" issues as it relates to a Highlands issue.

Example, Ed sat at the "policy" discussion table, and took part in the discussion at the committee level when the issue of Highlands clear cutting thousands and thousands of trees, in contravention of the County's tree cutting bylaw and ratepayers ask the County to enforce the bylaw. The County refused to do that, but decided in their infinate wisdom to draft a new bylaw, the discussions of which Crewson took part in.

I would argue that a sitting politician making their wishes known at the policy level about an issue as it relates to your biggest customer who caused the issue in the first place which brought about the drafting of a new bylaw, MIGHT be construed as taking part in the discussion and MIGHT lead other elected officials to know how you MIGHT vote, if in fact you could, but of course you don't because you declare a pecuniary interest-when it comes time to vote.

Hm...very confusing. And to be clear, if I feel that any sitting politician has a conflict and hasn't declared it, I have six weeks to bring a court action after I know about the conflict and it is only up to a judge to make a decision. Fair enough, but as a ratepayer I do have the right to question and make my OPINION known.

(NOT: to date FXXK all has happened with the new bylaw-lots of meetings, and staff time but nothing has been birthed through the two year process so it is business as usual for the County).

EXAMPLE OF OUR COUNCIL (AND TAX DOLLARS) AT WORK

Just received this email from a ratepayer who asked the following questions and received the following answers at the September 23, 2010 meeting of Council:

QUESTION:
Has Council directed staff to prepare a comprehensive costing on planning fees compared to the hours spent by a consultant versus a full time planning employee?

Answer: No.

QUESTION:
When was the last time Council issued a request for proposal for Planning Fees.

Answer: We have never asked for a request. Jorden and Jones were the Planners when she first came on board (Mayor Fawcett). Council is very satisfied with Mr. Jorden and he is now in the office two days per month. At the moment, he is being under utilized and some days, has no appointments but he does work on Melancthon stuff when he is here.

Just to recap, the 2008 budget show that planning "consultant" fees, meaning this guy works for other people too, average about$66,916.17. This was when he NEVER had to set foot in the office. Now we get him twice a month, but according to Council he is under utilized.

Funny how when he ISN'T in the office, he can find something to do to bill ratepayers $66,916.17 a year.

Wonder now that he actually has to show up twice a month if we, the taxpayers, are paying for his travel time and gas?

And he has been working on the five year Official Plan Review for oh, about six years now.

For this kind of money the ratepayers of Melancthon would be better served by a full time planner/legislative coordinator who may actually even be able to write a bylaw, which most in house staff in municipalities can do, instead of farming them out to lawyers.

COMMENT ON THIS BLOG

Someone posted the following comment on this blog:

"I attended Mulmur's all candidates meeting. The quote of the evening was, "We have learned from the mistakes made by our neighbours (Melancthon)." That statement was made by an incumbent in response to residents' questions regarding heritage home demolitions and turbine issues. The sentiment was reiterated by other incumbents and candidates. Melancthon's present council is NOT leaving a good legacy. "

And I know this is going to seem like a backhanded compliment, but...

If councillors in Mulmur know that Melancthon Council has made mistake, god help all of us in Melancthon.

WHAT MAKES HEATHER RUN

For those who are eligible to vote in Mulmur, you might be interested in this article:

http://inthehills.ca/current/features/what-makes-heather-run/

LESS CONFLICTED ABOUT A CONFLICT

Another sitting politician who declared a conflict over the Highlands issue was the Deputy Mayor Sue Snider.

She probably had the most valid declaration, in that she worked for an organization who may have been in some legal issues with Highlands over the rail line.

She no longer has this conflict and will be at the table, voting on all things Highlands should she get re-elected.

Good to know.

OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH THE TUPLING FAMILY

Condolences to the Tupling family at this difficult time.

There is a public meeting being held on September 23, 2010 at the Township of Melancthon offices at 7:30 p.m. regarding Strada's expansion and their application for an Official Plan Amendment and Zoning bylaw Amendment. (The regular Council meeting starts at 5:30 pm)

Your written objections to the OPA and ZBA must be received by Melancthon on or before September 23-you can turn them in at the meeting if you want. Here is link to the objections already filed.
http://melancthontownship.ca/10council/publicmeeting.sept23.pdf

Remember-this is for the OPA and ZBA so your objection needs to be on the change of land use. The time for objections about the aggregate expansion has already passed.

Please attend this meeting if possible.

THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX

I just received a copy of an email that was forwarded by a ratepayer to all Melancthon candidates:

"Here are two articles on how municipalities are thinking about other ways to work around provincial policies relating to the Green Energy Act.

I would suggest with some creative thinking some of these ideas could be implemented with respect to aggregate as well.

The Aggregate Act and the Green Energy Act are NOT the be all and end all, although they can be if you take a defeatist attitude, or have a lack of staff/consultant expertise.
http://www.wellingtonadvertiser.com/index.cfm?page=detail&itmno=6849

http://www.kincardinenews.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2755453"

Someone is thinking outside the box.

Hope the next Melancthon Council starts doing some innovative thinking, or at least asking a paid professional/"CONSULTANT' for some innovative thinking, on some of these issues.

This should not be the responsibility of individual ratepayers to research this stuff, this is what Council and staff are paid to do.

FORMER MAYOR

Thoughts for former Mayor Matthews as he goes through a difficult battle.

DATES FOR ALL CANDIDATES DEBATES

All debates start at 7:00 p.m.

Amaranth: Monday September 20 -Amaranth municipal building

Mono: Wednesday September 22 - Monora Park

Mulmur: Thursday September 23 - Mulmur municipal building

East Luther/Grand Valley: Wednesday September 29 - Community Centre

Orangeville: Tuesday October 5 - Westside Secondary School

East Garafraxa: Wednesday October 6 - Marsville Community Hall

Shelburne: Thursday October 7 - Grace Tipping Hall

Melancthon: Tuesday October 12 - Hornings Mills Hall

AFFAIR

See, got your attention didn't I?

I didn't mean to imply anyone was HAVING an affair.

What I meant was a fair, specifically the Shelburne Fall Fall, is on this weekend.

Come on down!! Have some fun.

If you are a candidate, kiss some babies, hand out some ribbons (and your party platform of course) and just enjoy.

Motto-"If it is the Shelburne Fair, we will be there!!"

(thanks B.R.)

P.S. I think there might be puppies there.

HERE COME THE JUDGE

Just to be clear, while I am questioning some sitting politicians declared (or lack thereof) declared conflict of interest as part of my right to free speech, NO ONE, not a member of the public, not any member of Council or municipal staff can tell a politician that they have a conflict of interest and force them to resign or move away from the Council table.

It is up to the individual elected official to make their own determination, either on their own or under the guidance of a legal opinion they might have sought as to whether they have a conflict.

The ONLY person who can determine if a sitting politician has violated the Municipal Conflict of Interest legislation is a judge. A person who feels a contravention has occured can bring an application to the court for a ruling. The application must be made within 6 weeks of knowing about the alleged contravention and no later than six years after the alleged contravention has occured.

The judge hears the evidence and makes a ruling.

So my speculations in this blog are made in the court of public opinion, which doesn't really count for anything.

CONVENIENT CONFLICT (OF INTEREST)

Conflict of Interest is the same as a pecuniary interest which is really - will the elected official be impacted financially (either positively OR negatively) by making a decision as an elected official. Click the link and read for yourself:

http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90m50_e.htm

As promised, I will be "outing" incumbent candidates who have declared a Conflict of Interest on everything Highlands. I will of course be adding my own opinion as to whether the conflict is a true conflict.

Here is the first candidate who runs from the room screaming, I mean declaring a Conflict of Interest every time the name Highlands is mentioned:

Ken Bennington-Deputy Mayor of Shelburne

Reason for declaring? It is recorded in the Dufferin County minutes that Deputy Mayor Bennington declares a conflict because his sister owns a property next to the rail line-which we all know Highlands is hot and horny to purchase.

EXCEPT, the Municipal Conflict of Interest legislation provides:

"For the purposes of this Act, the pecuniary interest, direct or indirect, of a parent or the spouse or any child of the member shall, if known to the member, be deemed to be also the pecuniary interest of the member."

I do NOT see where it mentions a sibling (sister or brother) would cause a politican to have a pecuniary interest, forcing a politican to declare.

So why isn't he voting? There can only be three reasons, in my opinion.

1. He doesn't understand the legislation
2. He got a crappy legal opinion
3. He just doesn't want to vote on a controversial issue

Why do we care if someone on Shelburne Council doesn't vote? Well, because the Deputy Mayor of Shelburne, by virture of the position, sits as a voting member on County Council-the entity who wants the quick cash from the sale of the rail line.

More tomorrow.

CONFLICTED ABOUT A CONFLICT

At the August 7, 2008 meeting of Council, Mayor Fawcett was questioned about any potential business dealings with Highland Companies and whether she had a conflict of interest. Click the link for the minutes: http://melancthontownship.ca/08council/minutes.august7.pdf

In a nutshell, she determined, and probably rightly so, that she was NOT a sitting member of Council while a business deal with a family member occured with Highlands.

Okie, dokie, so "technically" - remember that word, you are going to need it when you piece all this together, technically she was NOT in conflict because she was not on Council at the time.

Recap: Ron Dillman opposed Debbie Fawcett in the 2006 municipal election and Ron won. Tragically Ron died in January of 2007, leaving a race for Mayor all over again, which to be fair, Debbie won.

At the September 9, 2010 meeting of Council, Mayor Fawcett not only announced that she was not going to run again for Council, but the reason she was not running, was...she has a conflict of interest with respect to the Highland Companies and she wanted a Mayor sitting at the table who did not have to declare whenever the Highlands issue reared its ugly snout (okay, okay, so I paraphrased the "ugly snout" comment).

Why is the Mayor NOW saying she has a conflict? She explained that because Highlands has purchased the property (or several properties) directly across the road from her she now has a conflict. I am still not convinced that this means she has a conflict of interest as defined in the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, but the Act is very specific that it is up to each municipal councillor to make their own determination and their own declaration. If I feel she is in contravention of the Act, I personally would have to bring a court action, within six weeks of learning of what I feel is a conflict and have a judge make that determination.

So why am I conflicted about this "conflict". Well because there is a technical conflict and then there is the perceived conflict. I personally feel the sale of land by a family member of the Mayor to Highlands in 2007 is MORE of a perceived conflict than living across the road.

Hell, if anyone in proximity to Highlands had to declare a conflict, that would make almost every single ratepayer in Melancthon between Shelburne, Hwy 24, Hwy 10 and Badjeros in a conflict.

Check tomorrow for a list of who NOW declares a conflict as it relates to Highlands and who SHOULD, in my esteemed opinion be declaring a conflict and don't.

VOTER QUALIFICATIONS

You can vote in your municipal election IF on October 25, 2010 you:

reside in the local municipality or are the owner or tenant of land there, or are the spouse of an owner or tenant;
if you are a Canadian citizen and you are at least 18 years old

Corporations can NOT vote. (e.g. Highlands or Strada).

You can only vote once in each municipality, but you CAN vote in more than one municipality if you meet the above noted criteria for each municipality.

For instance, you might live in Toronto, and also own a place here-you can vote in both places. (not applicable to time shares)

You should check to ensure you are on the voters list by calling your municipal Clerk-website links are on this site. If you aren't on the list, you will need to complete an application to amend the list-check with the Clerk as to how you do this.

And DON'T call the County of Dufferin. Upper tiers to do not have elections, only the lower tiers.

And REMEMBER-the only wasted vote is a vote not cast, so in the words of Richard J. Daley, "vote early and vote often"!!

CANDIDATE LINKS ARE NOT ENDORSEMENTS

You will notice a new feature in the sidebar at the left.

I am providing links to candidates in Mulmur and Melancthon who are running.

These are not endorsements (mostly because I do not want to ruin anyones chances by endorsing them) rather they are there because they are the ones I could find on the internet.

If you are an elector, please inform yourself on the issues and get out and vote on October 25, 2010.

Those candidates who do not have a website but are running for Council, please get with technology and put a website up. It is a new century.

Just a thought....but running for Council in 2010 without a website would be like running for Council in 1890 without a horse & buggy.

FACT OR FICTION????

"FACT"
Mayor Fawcett announced at the September 9, 2010 meeting of Council that she would not be running in the 2010 election.

RUMOUR:
After a particularly "vocal" and "closed" meeting of Council, Mayor Fawcett submitted her resignation the day after the September 9, 2010 Council meeting, effective immediately.

FICTION:
Mayor Fawcett has NOT resigned, effectively immediately and will be our Mayor until after the October 25, 2010 election. And more importantly, will remain the Mayor until a new Council is sworn in.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post, however, about questionable conflict....

TESTING THE WATER....GENTLY

Here is the FINAL list of candidates that are running for Melancthon Council in the 2010 municipal election- TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 25, 2010.

For the first time, Melancthon is holding aVOTE BY MAIL system...if you do NOT receive a ballot in the mail on on or before, say....September 25, GO directly to the Township of Melancthon.

And please, do NOT be afraid. The vote by mail method is as tested and true as the vote by status quo and/or questionable means method.

It might EVEN, dare I say, increase voter participation.

Here goes

One to be elected:
Bill Hill – Mayor (Incumbent Deputy Mayor)
Rob Uffen – Mayor

One to be elected:
Darren White – Deputy Mayor (Incumbent Councillor)
Barton Malloy – Deputy Mayor

Three to be elected:

Wayne Hannon – Councillor
Dennis Sanford – Councillor
Nancy Malek – Councillor
Alexander Banks – Councillor
Janice Elliott – Councillor (Incumbent)
John Crowe – Councillor (Incumbent)

I AM BACK....

I seriously can NOT take it anymore.

Does anyone have any idea what is happening in Melancthon right now?

Check this blog tomorrow.