You know, I am an optimistic person. I truly believe that Members of Council can set aside their personal differences and animosity and work effectively on behalf of the residents of Vaughan.
The point of the Working Together for Vaughan campaign is to restore professionalism and accountability and transparency at City Hall. As I stated on Sunday’s launch, my goal is to make the City of Vaughan the standard bearer in Canada for accountability and transparency when it comes to expenses. I don’t believe my suggestion to post receipts along with our expense claims on the City website is unreasonable. What do you think?
I believe we need to raise the bar to an entirely new level when it comes to issues such as office expenses and I will continue to work towards that goal. I hope my colleagues on City Council, including Councillor DiVona, will join me and go that extra mile. We need to ensure the issue of expenses never again become an impediment to the good work we have to do at City Hall.
As for the issue of the priorities plan for the year presented at Committee of the Whole, I didn’t receive a copy of it until the last minute and obviously had no input into the document. I am hoping that in future, we can improve the process so that all elected members are treated equally and get an opportunity to provide their suggestions. All nine Members of Council have something to bring to the table and deserve to be treated with the utmost of respect. (Even if we disagree on an issue.)
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In some ways I wish this could be a blog that speaks to some of your true feelings (though of course, "polite ones"!). It cannot be easy to have your colleagues gang up on you. Even worse to have it done so rudely and so publicly. The intiatives you added onto Divona's expense report were excellent ones. Deserving to be listened to and added on. I know you are not able to speak your mind on a blog..but, I wish you could a little bit. I will be posting your blog on Facebook etc. Good Luck and don't give up!
ReplyDeleteI do not understand why any of the politicians that represent Vaughan on the new joint utility board with the City of Barrie should receive an income for doing so.
ReplyDeleteBarrie politicians do not receive any payment.
I understand that they don't because they believe it is part of the job.
That should be part of the job for Vaughan politicians too!
Isn't that a form of double-dipping?
The Barrie councilors sure have it right.
No members of their council who sit on your now joint utility board are allowed to receive any remuneration for sitting on that board.
I believe that their council passed a by-law which causes the funds (that they would normally receive) to be deposited directly into the city's general account were they belongs.
Mayor Jackson, it is time for you to step up to the plate and seperate the men from the boys.
Introduce a motion at your next council meeting which requires any member of Vaughan Council who sits on the utility board to re-direct their remuneration into the city's general account where it belongs.
Then we will see who is here to serve and who is here to collect.
good luck,
Oden
P.S. a recorded vote would be interesting.