Whitby is Loser with these bunch of Dimwits!!!!

Whitby is Loser with these bunch of Dimwits!!!!

I know I was dumbfounded by the way the vote happened at Whitby Council. Who would believe this Council to turn down a $750,000 dollar win fall which probably would have balanced the budget in the years to come. It would have had a great capital impact for roughly 20 years.

Voting against the offer from Ajax, which I thought was pretty generous offer, Ken Montague, Tracy Hanson, Lorne Coe, Michael Emm and Milk Carton Pat Perkins. Michael Emm I understand as he only supports losing money for the town of Whitby and basically doing what ever Pat Perkins tells him to!

Voting in favor of accepting a $750,000 dollar win fall for Whitby, and basically only having to vote to support this option were Don Mitchell, Joe Drumm and Liz Roy.

Just to show you I am not the only person disappointed in the decision of the Mayor and Company and their greediness to throw away a guaranteed Cash flow for nothing is ridiculous and makes no sense.

This is what happens when 45% vote gives us a Mayor that does not care about her constitutes and only her own agenda.

This smells of Performing Arts Centre all over it... Could there be ties that lead further up the latter... maybe Federally.. one never knows!!!!

Comments by Whitby Residents!!!

rfoster:

Casino Vote-whats next?

First of all, it won't be the Mayor doing any work. She will hire the best consultants that our money can buy and tell them this has to be done in a very short time frame so of course, money is no object.Our money is never a concern for Pat Perkins.It would appear that the Mayor is spending Town money like a drunken sailor:that is hard earned money in the bank by past administrations managed properly on behalf of the Town citizens.One big hurdle is how is the Mayor going to explain that the location for the Casino could be adjacent to the Abilities Centre.Sure wouldn't like to live in Whitby Shores if this is picked:what's that knock on the door?, its 3 am:why it a hooker wanting to use our washroom.Call the Mayor at home, not her problem, call the police.One just has to go up to Rama, its a 24 hour continuous coming and going of people, white limos, and problems.And to think, all this crap could have been avoided. The Mayor could have just accepted the $ 1 million per year. I think its time to call the Province and have them step in and take over the running of the Town.The Mayor and her past decisions have made Whitby a laughing stock. We are not being managed properly, the Staff is excellent, but they have to listen to what the Mayor says,their hands are tied.Its time for the Mayor to call it a day before she bankrupts the Town.

Whitby Mayor blows $1 million

For sure politics is in play here, at the expense of Whitby taxpayers.Councillors Coe, Emm,Hanson,(don't know about Montague) and our inept Mayor Perkins are all card carrying Conservatives. We must thank Councillors Roy, Drumm & Mitchell for putting the residents first in voting NO.Its a bloody shame the Conservative councillors put themselves at the front of the line in putting their careers first by possibly accepting future considerations from the Mayor so she can count on their votes. Is it legally possible that we can recall the Mayor. She has fumbled the ball from the start, our past Mayors must be shaking their heads that the Town has fallen in stature in only 6 years.Hard questions must be answered: is the Mayor up to the task;does she have a drinking problem;has she health problems that affect her job: she must have something going on as she sucks. Anyone who turns down $1 million annually needs an assessment.

Conorm:

What did you expect from this council?

The decision by Whitby council, minus Elizabeth Roy,Joe Drum and Don Mitchell, shows what a morally bankrupt bunch of of incompetents we have running the town. What's a million dollars right? The only way this council attracts new business is to steal it from your neighbours. Remember these folks at election time and hopefully our fine Mayor will be put out to pasture.

Rocky99:

Simply incredible?

Mr Parrish and Joe Drumm said it best... There is not a chance in hell the Liberals will turn there back on Ajax (Liberal MP Joe Dickson) , a community that has done a terrific job with the slots, and give it to a Community that has elected Conservative after Conservative. Like it or not this is very Political. WE should have taken the guaranteed 15% and run...Thanking Ajax Council every year at budget time. With the exception of Drumm, Roy and Mitchell....ITS CLEAR Whitby Council blew this big time and I hope you all remember this in 2014....It is because of decisions like this that make folks like me run......In the words of Lucille Ball....you councillors that voted for turning down this guaranteed $750, 000 to 1,000,000 a year have alot of splaining to do....We really need changes in town

Gambler777:

Whitby rejects offer.

Hopefully Whitby's greed comes back to bite them with no casino and no profits from Ajax.

macforjustice:

I smell something...

Looks like the Provincial MPP will have to use her muscle to rescue town council and the Chamber. Remember, as in life, it's who you hang with that gets you the job. History shows that some powers magically get Whitby what it wants!!

Sleadbetter:

Disappointing

Extremely. Councillor Joe Drumm was quite correct - a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. I and others tried to persuade council. It was evident that the jib was up even before the meeting started. Tracey Hansen said that it was a choice between capitalism and socialism - it wasn't - it was a choice between the people of Whitby and the ambitions of the majority of council. The people of Whitby lost. I want to commend Councillors Roy, Mitchell (although he was against reserving 20% for Social Service Agencies like the Distress Centre Durham, he and I will have words), and Drumm for standing up for what is right. Councillors Drumm and Roy were very passionate in the defence of the people of Whitby.

CNDGRL:

Pure Greed!

So disappointed in Whitby! Ajax took the risk, spent millions to upgrade the infrastructure as did the Picov family and now they are reaping the well deserved rewards. Ajax was more than generous to offer Whitby 15% for nothing and the greed of some Whitby Councillors & Mayor blinded them. Ajax is one of the top earners for OLG and has full support support from Council. Don't come back begging for 15% when it's all said and done Whitby. This silliness is one reason I moved out of Whitby!

I really can't say anymore that hasn't been said...

Let's see the Picov who own Picov downs and Ajax slots and supported Jim Flarhety to the tune of almost 100k over his Provincial and Federal election are being ambushed by Milk Carton Pat... I smell something and it's not the Mushroom farms from north Whitby, but the stench of Burning Money from the Town of Whitby..

90k wasted on a Study regarding the 1.1 million dollar losing venture in the so called Performing Arts Centre and now the Casino... It smells like this could lead to deeper waters in Toronto.. maybe that story will break soon as well!!!!

2014 is just around the Corner and its time to get rid of these money wasting, money burning Buffoons !!!

The Biggest Disappointment is Ken Montague and Tracy Hanson and of Course Michael Emm but we all expected him to follow Milk Carton Pat!!!!!!!!!!!

I guess this could put a damper on Lorne Coes Run For MAYOR in 2014 since he supported this Crap!!!!!!!!!!!!

Making 'Cents' of the Arts Centre

o        Making ‘Cents” of the Arts Centre – Metroland Article by Parvaneh Pessian

Yes, by all means, let’s keep the dream alive of wasting $1.1 million in net loss of taxpayer’s money. Town staff has already reported that’s the amount that would be the annual loss of building and maintaining the Performing Arts Centre. If you bring in a partner at 50% you are still going to lose $550 thousand of taxpayer’s money. If you know any business people who need a large TAX DEDUCTION call them, because this could be it. I am in the business where building the Arts Centre probably would be financially beneficial to me but not at the cost of paying more taxes to maintain an ongoing loss. I am pretty sure there will be a licensed restaurant inside this Performing Arts Centre and we all know how well the Town handled the Sports Garden Café; oh wait, another losing venture!

To top it off Michael Emm, our one term Centre Ward Councilor, wants to build it downtown on the site of the old fire hall, where the parking will be inadequate for this endeavor. Even if you build an Underground parking lot you will have to charge people to park so it justifies building the Parking lot. I’m sure it would be free parking at first but then the town will look at it as a revenue generator and guess who will pay again? You guessed right YOU and ME! For the past  20 years I’ve heard the same rubbish about revitalizing the downtown core. It’s looking better than it has in the past, but if you want to revitalize the downtown core have your shops open a little longer, clean up the mess that hooligans create every weekend and give people a reason to go downtown again.

My Point is if you know it’s going to cost taxpayers around $1.1 million in net losses why would you even suggest the idea or support it?  Would you?  Apparently our Centre Ward Councilor does!!!!!

Thanks Councilor Emm for playing Monkey See Monkey Do!

Whitby Gives go ahead to Direct Election of Regional Chair

It should not have come as a surprise as Whitby Councilors voted in favor of the Direct Election of The Regional Chair.

Yes Everyone, Even Milk Carton Pat who was at this meeting voted yes to listening to the voters from the last election.

There were a few Deputations at the Special meeting of Council, each supporting their reason for and against. But in the end the vote that mattered most was yours the Voters of Whitby. You mandated what you wanted your councilors to vote and they had no choice but to pass the resolution.

Congratulations Council for listening!

Mayor "Milk Carton Pat's" trip to France ruffles feathers as Reported By Parvaneh Pession

• Parvaneh Pessian
• |
• May 26, 2012 - 4:30 AM
• |

Whitby mayor's trip to France ruffles feathers on council

Members should have been informed prior to the trip, deputy mayor argues

Whitby mayor's trip to France ruffles feathers on council. WHITBY -- Mayor Pat Perkins says she wasn't attempting to conceal from council details of her trip to France in March for an international real estate trade show. The mayor was part of a local delegation that attended the event to help draw foreign investors to Durham. May 22, 2012. Metroland file photo

The only thing I'd argue with is that I should have known and indeed, council should have not only been aware but should have had some input. Councillor Joe Drumm

WHITBY -- Mayor Pat Perkins' trip to France in a bid to draw investors to Whitby is causing a stir in council, two months after the fact.
Regional Councillor and Deputy Mayor Joe Drumm brought up the matter at a May 7 meeting, citing his concern with the lack of communication to council members prior to the trip in March. He said he was "deeply hurt and embarrassed" after hearing from a resident at a coffee shop that the mayor was in France, and not from the head of council herself.
"I've spent 35 years on this council and for someone to come and say to me, 'You're a fine deputy mayor, you don't know what the hell's going on', really hurt me," said Coun. Drumm.
"I had no problem with her going," said Coun. Drumm, in an interview with This Week, following the meeting.
"The only thing I'd argue with is that I should have known and indeed, council should have not only been aware but should have had some input."
Coun. Drumm filled in for Mayor Perkins at a March 5 council meeting while she was in France for an international real estate trade show. This year's event, held from March 6 to 9, attracted nearly 20,000 participants, including more than 4,000 real estate investors.
The mayor said she had phoned Coun. Drumm on March 4 -- the night before the council meeting she would be absent from -- to ask him to fill in for her. It was a brief exchange during which he consented without inquiring into why she would be away, she said.
"It was a very quick conversation, really, so he didn't ask (and) I didn't tell him ... there was no intent to not speak of it; it just was not part of the discussion."
Mayor Perkins said she was confused at the implication that she was trying to conceal details of a trip that was so widely attended by representatives from across the province. The local delegation at the event included Regional Chairman Roger Anderson, Kathy Weiss, the Region's director of economic development and tourism, and Cindy Symons-Milroy, director of economic development for the City of Oshawa.
"There was no secret about it; look at all the people that were there," said Mayor Perkins, adding she was simply doing her job to help boost economic growth in Whitby and informed council about the results of the trip via e-mail, upon her return.
"You don't miss opportunities like that if you can avoid it ... economic development is high on our list and the foreign direct investment strategy that everybody's going into right now is (what) we're all focusing (on)."
There is no legislation or policy in place that requires the mayor to advise members of council on her schedule, according to Town of Whitby Clerk Debi Wilcox. About $8,000 in travel and accommodation expenses for the trip was paid out of the Town's economic development and marketing budget. Registration for the mayor was covered by the event organizers.
"It should be noted the attendance by the mayor provided the Town with access to special sessions that we otherwise would not have had access to," said Ms. Wilcox.
Whitby's commissioner of community and marketing services, Peter LeBel, who accompanied the mayor to France, said the Town is currently following up with an investment lead from the event.
"We were there for the purpose of marketing the municipality, as was the Province there to market the province, for investment attraction purposes," he said.
Mr. LeBel said the mayor's presence at the event played a key role in securing the lead, which he declined to comment further on.
"There were meetings that included investors and developers that if you weren't a head of council, you had no opportunity to be there, so that was very, very important."

---

Reporter Parvaneh Pessian covers the town of Whitby for Metroland Media Group's Durham Region Division

Special Meeting Of Council

Early meeting would you not say! 

Instead of discussing just have a vote and put this Dinosaur to bed!

Hopefully Milk Carton Pat attends this meeting!

Special Meeting of Council Details: 

When: Tuesday May 29th, 2012 - 6:00pm

 Where: Whitby Municipal Building, Council Chambers, 575 Rossland Road East, Whitby ON 

Contact Name: Town Clerk Contact Tel: (905) 430-4315

Contact Email: clerks@whitby.ca 

Description: Note(s): Minutes will be posted at a later date. 

Purpose: To review the request from the Region of Durham with respect to the Regional Chair Election By-law and the lower-tier municipalities being requested to pass resolutions consenting to the by-law on or before September 1, 2012.

Milk Carton Pat

Seems "Milk Carton" Pat is trying to hide the facts again according to Davina Jones our Political Watchdog! 

 "Council meeting Monday May 7…the part that people are talking about: the first unsettling thing I noted was that during a discussion on economic development, Councillor Drumm mentioned that 3600 jobs have been lost in Whitby and I felt that the Mayor’s response was extremely unprofessional. This was surprising to me because it seemed that everyone on the “TV stage” were on their best behaviour in front of the cameras. Councillor Drumm next raised the issue of the $94K (which we know was infrastructure money that was re-directed from much needed projects to the performing arts feasibility study), this was in September 2009. Councillor Drumm also mentioned another study for performing arts that was convened in 2010. Peter Lebel advised that the results of these studies will be available before the summer. Apparently the studies are going to pinpoint a site (whether taxpayers want it or not and can afford it or not doesn’t seem to be of concern). Then Councillor Drumm commended the Mayor for going to France to find economic opportunities, but mentioned that he was embarrassed that as Deputy Mayor he was not advised that the Mayor was leaving the country and that, Councillor Drumm was taken back when a member of the public approached him in a coffee shop asking why he wasn’t in France with the mayor. The Mayor, who doesn’t appear to want to answer some things, became openly hostile. She tried to turn it around by saying that Councillor Drumm didn’t have the courage to come to her when to me that was exactly what she had done to him by taking off the way she did. It was rather stunning to watch the mayor behave in what I felt was a very unprofessional manner. The lack of respect was surprising, especially when you consider that Councillor Drumm has been one of the best, most trustworthy, hard working and caring Councillors representing the taxpayers of Whitby admirably for over 35 years now. It just further goes to demonstrate what I have been telling everyone…TRANSPARENCY, MY FANNY!" 



 The above post is not necessarily the opinion of the Administrator of this site!  But damn close!!!!!

Vote just happened for step 1. Step 2 should be even easier than step 1 as now Regional Council has agreed with the people of Durham Region and thus all municipalities should follow their lead. It passed 24 - 2 ( two no shows ) and one of those no-shows was our Whitby Mayor Pat Perkins the people of Whitby need to ask their Mayor why she was not there to vote. The empty seat below belongs to Whitby Mayor Pat Perkins during the public deputations and of course before the vote. She magically appeared after the vote was recorded. Before:

Opps there she is of course the vote was already recorded before she took her seat!

This again is the easiest vote the Municipal Councillors should ever have to make as they have been told which way to vote.

Direct Election Vote should be no Brainer!!

Any politician that votes against the clear mandate of the people should be recalled. Seriously folks if they accepted the job, took the pay as they are entitled to do based on the election results, why would they not accept this result also. PUT your personal views aside and vote as your electorate overwelmingly want you to... OR QUIT ! This should be the easiest vote you have ever had to make as the people have made it for you!!!!!!!

Read this on Facebook and it makes complete sense!! Thanks RV

Durham gets dirty in fight over top position

This is an article that needs sharing!!!!!

Durham gets dirty in fight over top position

March 16, 2012 00:03:00

Kate Allen
Staff Reporter

In a 2010 referendum, the good people of Durham voted overwhelming to directly elect their regional chair, rather than appoint the powerful position.

The story sounds straightforward, if not downright dull. Durham — the GTA region whose biggest city Jann Arden blew off as “the middle of nowhere” last Sunday — chose democracy, and now the process of change is chugging along.

Woo hoo.

But a faction of politicians from Durham’s north want to kill the proposal, and the fight is fracturing the region along its very own Mason-Dixon Line.

Four of the urban, densely-populated municipalities in the south — Ajax, Pickering, Oshawa, and Clarington — support electing the regional chair. Ajax mayor Steve Parish has been the movement’s biggest advocate.

“It’s simply about democracy,” he says. “What those people who oppose direct election are doing is trying to change the channel, and put up what I say are bogus arguments to justify defying the will of the people.”

Politicians from Durham’s three rural, northern townships — Brock, Uxbridge, and Scugog — have said they won’t vote to carry out the referendum’s non-binding results. They believe it will weaken their communities’ voice.

“It’s unanimous. We’re against it,” says Brock mayor Terry Clayton.

And some paint the issue as a thinly disguised blood feud. In 1997, Parish ran against rival Roger Anderson to be mayor of Ajax, and won in a landslide.

A month later, Anderson was chosen as regional chair — essentially the mayor of mayors — and holds the job still.

“I think it’s been sour grapes ever since,” says Uxbridge regional councillor Jack Ballinger. Uxbridge mayor Gerri Lynn O’Connor has publicly described the direct-election issue as a “grudge” between Parish and Anderson.

Parish calls those claims ridiculous, and accuses those against direct-election of playing politics.

“It’s strictly a power play. There are certain councillors who feel that if the decision of who is regional chair is made by the people, and not them, they will lose power and influence.”

Durham has a “two-tier” government, as do many other Ontario regions. In a two-tier system, citizens of each municipality vote to elect a local council. Members of those councils — usually the mayor plus at least one other local councillor — then sit on a regional council, which attends to regionwide issues like transportation and police.

Some regions directly elect the chair of their regional council — Halton, Waterloo — and some don’t. In Peel, York, Niagara and Durham, the elected representatives on regional council vote for anyone who puts themselves forward for the position. (York has also considered moving to direct election.)

The job is profitable as well as powerful. Anderson, as Durham’s regional chair, collected a salary of $185,038 last year, while Parish earned $78,052 as mayor plus $48,984 for his seat on regional council, slightly less than most of Durham’s other mayors. Anderson did not return interview requests Friday.

Though the 2010 referendum results were clear — almost 80 per cent of Durham voters supported direct election — whether the change will eventually happen is not.

Switching to direct election will require a “triple majority.” A majority of regional council must vote in support of it, which will happen April 4, after a public forum. If it passes, a majority of all eight local councils must vote for it. Of the councils that do pass it, they must represent the majority of Durham’s constituents.

Durham’s three northern communities, which represent six seats of 20 on regional council, have already indicated they will not vote for direct election either on April 4 or if the matter comes back to local councils, though they will need help from a municipality in the south to kill it.

“I feel that with the changes, we would be swallowed up,” says Uxbridge’s Ballinger. His community, like Scugog and Brock, is sparsely populated. Any politician running for regional chair would naturally campaign on promises that benefit the vote-rich south, he believes.

“I know it sounds like the best, most democratic way to go about things, but when you think of the makeup of the region of Durham, it’s really not good news for the north,” agrees Bobbie Drew, regional councillor and deputy mayor of Scugog. Durham region covers four separate federal ridings, she points out. The idea of electing one person to represent all of it seems “a little bit ridiculous.”

Ajax, Pickering, Clarington, and Oshawa are likely to vote for the change, with Parish leading the charge. Parish recently apologized after the city of Ajax set up a website promoting direct election of the regional chair, www.accountabilitystartsatthetop.com, without making mention of Ajax’s involvement in the site or informing council first.

He is sorry for the perceived lack of transparency, but not the message. “We took it upon ourselves to do it as a public service,” he says.

Parish will not rule out the possibility of running for chair himself. “I haven’t made any plans for 2014,” he said. Anderson, the current chair, has not said whether he will run.

Whitby may be the kingmaker. Mayor Pat Perkins says she feels obligated to uphold the referendum results and will vote accordingly, but doesn’t believe it’s the right move.

“We owe the public a much better opportunity to be engaged and involved in a whole process, rather than just asking them one very curt question,” she says.

She believes some other councillors from Whitby, however, won’t vote in favour of the change.

“I wish this had been done in a much less contentious manner.”

My Comments:

I am glad the Pat Perkins feels obligated to uphold the Referendum as she included in her 2010 campaign to support the Direct election of Regional Chair as did Don Mitchell and Lorne Coe.

I will be sending to each member of Whitby Council the same question if they want to uphold the vast majority of voters and support the Direct Election of the Regional Chair or go against the Majority?

81.37 per cent of Whitby Voters were in favor ready the link the below to see how you municipality voted.


http://www.durham.ca/departments/clerk/election/QuestionElectionResultsOfficial.pdf

If she believes some other councillors from Whitby won't vote in favour of the change, can she name them? I think this would be fair as then public also has a chance to question them after all those that voted for the Direct election are among the vast majority that voted them in?

As for the curt question? The curt question seems pretty clear to me!Are you in favour of the Council of the Regional Municipality of Durham passing the necessary resolutions and by-laws to change the method of selecting its Chair from the appointment by the members of Regional Council to the election by general vote of all electors in the Region?


Proposed by-law:

http://www.durham.ca/departments/clerk/election/ProposedBy-law.pdf

Reports:

http://www.durham.ca/departments/clerk/election/2012-A-8.pdf

This has been in the makings for years and its time to put this baby to bed. Contact your Regional Councillors / Local Councillors and remind them that your voice was heard and recorded by the clear question on the election ballot in 2010 by the vast Majority and need this upheld and made into a by-law!

Why the secrecy?

It appears that Whitby Mayor Pat Perkins and entourage (including possibly Roger Anderson) have been attending a real estate convention in lovely Cannes France during the past week. All expenses paid by us taxpayers. The biggest question in everyone’s minds is: why all the secrecy? Is it because certain people knew that this mystery trip would cause us all to pause? Not to mention that we need to be careful during the current economic climate (in spite of which we already got hit with yet another household tax increase)! The only real consistencies that Mayor Perkins has demonstrated during the 5 years that she has occupied the town’s politicalleadership seat is raising our property taxes every single year and her pro-development stance. Mayor Perkins campaigned on the promise of “transparency”. How does sneaking off to France demonstrate transparency? Mayor Perkins appears to thumb her nose at taxpayers in other matters as well. For example, she continues on a quest to create a performing arts centre and also a completely unnecessary new municipal town hall, both of which taxpayers have objected to time and time again. We already have a town hall and additional office space is available within our implausibly empty downtown fire hall. We presently cannot sustain a performing arts centre. Unbelievably, under Mayor Perkins leadership, $94K of federal infrastructure funding was diverted toward a study of this performing arts centre which the masses clearly don’t want (at least in this day and age). This unnecessary expense on the consultant study came back listing the same concerns that taxpayers have been raising. Among other issues…that primarily there are future ongoing costs of such endeavours that will inevitably fall back on the taxpayer. But that’s not stopping Mayor Perkins…she seems to believe that it’s perfectly okay to keep raising our taxes every single year and so if she envisions creating something that will become a burden to the taxpayer, this doesn’t worry her.

More examples of wasted taxpayer’s hard earned dollars and demonstrating what appears to be a total lack of concern for the masses she pledged to serve.

Concerned Citizen Kane