Rob:
I spent some time at Planning and Environment today. Some relief, in
that the committee passed on consent the staff proposal to refund by
way of reduced final tax bill the 8 years of overcharge to all proper
property owners of Richmond and Carp. I am querulous of the number
of homes stated at 1200, since the Village of Richmond is now at 1450
of which some 200 do not qualify but where is the number for Carp?
Oh yes CARP and DUMPS. I also spent time with Derrick Moodie today
and reminisced over the fact of PLASCO being over two years late in
working as it was described initially, and to date PLASCO has never
worked for more than 4 to 5 days and part days at that. I also
reminded Derick that I brought back to Ottawa in August 2006 an EOI
which had been offered to the city of Vancouver TWO days prior to my
being given it. That EOI was for a waste to energy (PROVEN technology
working in Burnaby B.C. since 1992) which EOI I circulated to all
councilors and the now Mayor. Councilor Brooks especially was given the hard
copy and an electronic copy as well.
Well the Transit, Trash, Taxes motto of Larry went the way of the
dodo bird and so did all my efforts UNTIL NOW when we are again facing
a garbage crisis. I renew my concerns about this and encourage FULL
council to properly evaluate PLASCO and the probability of success. I
would also encourage an E.O.I. or R F P be considered to drag Ottawa
into the modern world. I still have contacts in the waste to energy industry
and also some brochures from Veolia Montmany now known as ONYX.
Please make time to educate yourself on alternative choices for Waste
to Energy. I would be happy to discuss and I note I have no interests
nor shares in any provider. Only a wish to help.
I also listened to your words on CFRA today and am reminded of my
continual efforts to bring accountability to the employees of the city
of Ottawa. At least three times I have asked for and instituted a
protocol of one page executive summary for ANY NEW project or proposal
made by staff. I have asked for cost of program, benefits, duration
and other pertinent items as well as the proposal being signed off as
accepted by DEPUTY DEPT.HEAD or higher. I believe this protocol would
enhance councilor understanding and stop the programs such as
OTTAwater trucks and perhaps make green bin programs better suited to
our needs as a whole city. Bruce Webster 613 295 8823
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Mr. Webster,
ReplyDeleteGood memo to Rob on April 13th.
At last someone is thinking outside the box on the need for new management approaches with our garbage.
Garbage should no longer be thought of as a problem to be managed in garbage dumps. No matter how euphemistically dumps may be termed: “landfills” or “Environmental Centres”, garbage dumps are still garbage dumps ---and they’re obsolete.
Handled properly, waste is a valuable resource as put forward in the Rural Council of Ottawa-Carleton article, which comprehensively explores the theme: “Trash as Treasure – The Future” (LINK: http://www.ruralcouncil.ca/energyfromwaste.htm).
Thanks for your good questioning and balanced thinking.
We need more Bruce Websters on Council!
Richard Bendall
Ward 21 Resident
Mr. Webster,
ReplyDeleteIt is refreshing to see someone that is looking long term rather than the immediate future. Waste to energy is the direction we need to take and with people like you behind it I am sure it will find its way into the system sooner rather than later.
Thanks for caring
Ann-Marie
Councillor Brooks’ weekly “newsletters” are growing more and more irritating with each issue. Not only are they outright electioneering on the public purse, they seem to be written by a man living in a parallel universe in which everything unfolds just as he imagined it would. However in this universe, the real world, not everything happens the way he wanted it to, so he improvises.
ReplyDeleteIn his last newsletter he continues his attack on Bruce Webster, an officially declared candidate for the Ward 21 councillor position, by stating that Webster "was in support of the PEC motion limiting the reimbursement to only two years and the
consideration of previous owners was not being dealt with." This would be a significant election hit in favor of Brooks – except it never happened. That’s not what the PEC motion said. The PEC grant motion asked for compensation for all years from 2001 to 2008, 2009 having been dealt with by staff prior to the finalization of the 2009 tax bill.
Councillor Brooks would have known that had he bothered to attend the PEC meeting.
T he PEC motion did not addressed the change of ownership issue and staff did not recommend any particular action on this point. Bruce Webster did attend the PEC meeting, and responded to the passage of the motion with the words:
" I wish to thank staff for doing the right thing when they were at last informed of the issue and also I wish it noted that apparently both C. Brooks and J. Stavinga were asked about the discrepancy at the first billing after amalgamation year 2001"
Meanwhile our councillor, Glenn Brooks, is emerging as City Hall’s most prolific producer of political fiction.
The fact that nothing was done to correct the overcharges 9-years ago by the Council of the day, which included both Janet Stavinga and Glenn Brooks, tells me all I have to know, thank you, going into this election!
ReplyDeleteCathy M
Richmond