ELECTION 2014 – My Last, and “BEST FOI EVER”

One of the most talked about issues this term of council, is the number of town staff and volunteers, that have either resigned, or been fired.

Early in their term, council (with the exception of Keith Hull and Joe Gardhouse), voted to fire then CAO Kim Wingrove

The sad irony,  is that Kim has a strong economic development background, with strong connections at the provincial level, something that our town desperately needs.

Most of the members of the PRCAC resigned over the recreation facilities decision.  The most recent one left in April.

Rob Voigt, one of Canada’s leading urban planners, resigned last year, and I’m pretty sure I know why.

 

The one that this blog focuses on, is the resignation of PRC Director Marta Proctor.

I’m going to show you a little of what happened leading up to her resignation, then I’ll show the FOI that I believe was the straw that broke the camels back.

The beginning of the end, started July 12, 2013, when there was a Break and enter at Centennial Pool

This email was sent the very next day.

In it, you can see Ian Chadwick stating that we (council and you) didn’t get what they voted for.

This was kept secret from the public, until Ian Adams did an expose almost 2 months later called EXCLUSIVE: Councillors question Sprung Shield info

Jump ahead to January 11, 2014…

This email, is the first indication that Kevin Lloyd had been asking questions about the Central Park steering committee. Now this committee’s role had been over for well over a year and a half, so it leads me to believe that Lloyd was looking for a scapegoat, in case the Sprung decision continued to blow up in his face. “Judicial inquiry”?  Serious stuff.

3 days later, on January 14,

You can see that Kevin Lloyd has now brought Ian Chadwick and Rick Lloyd, up to speed on his “inquiry”

 

The next day, January 15, 2014 Rick Lloyd shows his true colours,

I think that’s more than a little inappropriate.

 

A few days later, on January 20, the team of Kevin Lloyd and Ian Chadwick, get a little more involved in the witch-hunt

It appears that they are willing to go to great lengths to find a scapegoat.

 

In this next email, the Triad tries to throw another dart in Marta’s direction.

It only took CAO John Brown 90 minutes to respond, and put the blame exactly where it belongs.

Kudos to the CAO.

Remember this, because Deputy Mayor Lloyd is campaigning on the platform that not only is he a “visionary”, but that “People are fed up with endless and costly studies trying to figure out what’s best for Collingwood.”

It makes me wonder whether the DM can point voters toward one successful municipal model, in which studies are not used.

You can see in this next FOI, that only a few days later, Ian Chadwick also questions the wisdom of our CAO.

These guys really don’t like listening to anyone, do they?

 

4 days later, we can see that Marta is starting to see what is really going on.

But, it doesn’t stop for Marta, because only 5 days after that, more blame gets cast,

Um, Ian….you did. Remember the whole “turnkey” thing you pitched us?

 

The very next day, you can see the effect Chadwick is having on Marta

Would you put up with this in your workplace?

 

A couple of weeks later on March 4, it continues,

Ian, cut her some slack. You’re not even the PRC rep. Can you at least go through proper channels? Why are your emails being CC’d to Kevin and Rick, but not the Keith and Dale who are the actual PRC reps?

So, what would you have done if this happened to you?

Here’s what Marta did, just 2 weeks later.

Sad. Just sad.

 

So, these are just some of the emails I fell into, that I think paint some of the picture as to why Marta left, and more importantly, how she was treated by Lloyd squared and Chadwick.

The FOI that is the centerpiece of this blog, is the list of “questions” Kevin Lloyd asked for.

Once Kevin Lloyd knew I was getting this FOI, he tried to put a spin on it  before I could go public.

August 11 2014 7:22 PM

(Kevin Lloyd) Notes there has been an FOI request related to an item of questions on a staff issue. Asks that when the person who requested the document is given the document, that it also be released publicly

 

 

Here are the results.

 

WOW. I could go on and on and on about this list. I mean seriously, compared to what I was sued over, this is a thousand times worse.

You know what the saddest part of this is? None of this would have happened, had they listened to the public, and simply paused for a few weeks back on August 27, 2012, to make sure they did it once, and did it right.

 

 

 

ELECTION 2014 – 1,482 Questions (narrowed down to 7) that EVERY Voter should ask candidate Ian Chadwick

 

1. You recently published your opinion on the current OPP investigation into Corruption in Collingwood. In it, you stated the following,

“Nor is anything expected to happen, outside of a statement of closure. “

“If anyone had done something illegal, he or she would have been charged by now“

“No one on council did anything wrong. There is no basis for any charge of any sort.”

“Everything done by this council has been aboveboard, open and transparent, completely legal and democratic.”

 

Question – If charges are laid against any member of this current council, are you willing to withdraw from the election, and/or resign from office?

 

 

2. Quotes about you, from the CBC report Collingwood town officials face OPP probe, included,

 

“Sitting councillor Ian Chadwick works as a contract employee for Bonwick’s lobbying and consulting firm, Compenso Communications.”

“When confronted about Bonwick’s business dealings, Coun. Chadwick told CBC News he didn’t recall voting to approve the sale of the public utility to Bonwick’s client, although it was confirmed in town documents that he voted in favour.”

“Chadwick also said he wasn’t aware Compenso was hired to work on the casino proposal, pointing out he initially voted against Collingwood hosting a gaming facility back in November (a vote that was reversed earlier this week).”

“When presented with town records showing he voted in favour of the sale, he told CBC News that when the vote took place he was not working for Bonwick.”, and then went on to say: “At the beginning of 2012 my contract had ended at the end of December, at the beginning of the year, for the first two months, I didn’t do any work for him.”

 

Question – The optics involved with you working for the Mayors brother, and voting at council on issues he is involved with, are at best questionable. What are you willing to do to be more open & transparent to the residents of Collingwood?

 

 

3. In the Enterprise Bulletin story EXCLUSIVE: Councillors question Sprung Shield info, it states,

October/November: Collingwood residents receive a newsletter from the municipality explaining the Aug. 27 decision and touting the benefits of Sprung buildings. The newsletter includes a graphic of the cross-section of the Sprung Shield. In an interview with the E-B, Councillor Ian Chadwick — who assisted in the production of the newsletter — says he pulled the graphic from Sprung’s website.

 

You have also stated this term, that,

 

“No individual councillor speaks for the town or for council as a whole. “

 

Question –

(a) Are you ever going to apologize to the residents of Collingwood, for sending us false information (Why Sprung? newsletter, sent in our Collus bill) and using our tax dollars to do it?

(b) If in fact, “No individual councillor speaks for the town or for council as a whole”, why did you (help) write the Sprung newsletter, and did you also assist in the “Half-time report” and the most recent “News & Updates“, which were also distributed using Collus and our tax dollars?

 

 

 

4. On May 18, 2012 local lobbyist Paul Bonwick, and local developer Steve Assaff, bought a residential property in Delray Beach, Florida.

 

See (all from a Google search)

South Florida block shopper

PBCGOV

Intelius

 

Question – Have you ever set foot on that property?

 

 

5. In April 2012, you were one of 7 (Hull, Gardhouse against) who voted to fire then CAO Kim Wingrove, and replace her with Ed Houghton. (See  CAO-Town go their separate ways)

 

Kim, who is now the CAO of The Township of Guelph/Eramosa, had impressive experience and expertise in the area of Economic Development.

 

Ed, who had no previous experience as a CAO, is currently being investigated as part of an 21-month investigation by the OPP Anti Rackets Branch.

(Read OPP investigation)

 

Question – Why did you vote to fire Kim Wingrove?

 

 

 

6. This year, you (council) passed a budget that included a 2.5% tax increase (approx. 2.2% if you don’t include asset levy). You also passed a Capital Asset Management Plan in August, which recommends a 3.6% tax levy for asset management, beginning in 2015.

 

2.2%+3.6%= 5.8%

 

Do you believe that next year’s budget is likely to have a minimum 5% tax increase?

 

 

7.  When you were first elected to council, the towns debt was $14.5 million. You have been on council ever since. When you were elected in 2010, the towns debt was $45 million. Our debt currently sits at approx $37-40 million.

Question – How can you campaign on lowering the towns debt this term, without accepting responsibility for getting it so high in the first place?

 

If you like this blog, please share it

ELECTION 2014 – Is there a Secret Triad running Collingwood?

 

I filed a FOI a few months ago, trying to see if I could find any link as to why PRC Director Marta Proctor resigned from the town.

That’s a story for another blog, but in the emails I was given as a result of my small request, I was sadly amused by a trend that jumped out at me.

I’m going to premise my results, by highlighting a line from an old FOI, by our soon to be EX-Deputy Mayor, Rick Lloyd.

 

If you notice the last line, Rick accuses Keith Hull, by stating,

“Councillor Hull has information as one of our Parks, Recreation and Culture representative the (sic) we the rest of Council have not had the privilege of acquiring.“

 

Now take a look at the highlights from the small FOI I filed. Please keep in mind that this was a request about only one item, so you can only imagine how much more of this has actually been going on.

I’ve sorted these in chronological order.  You can see that the results of this single topic, took place only over a short 10 week period.

 

You can make your own conclusions.  Several issues discussed. Items from committees none of them represent. Emails from the CAO and others, forwarded to each other. Meetings set up with just the 3 of them. Promises made to the 3 of them.

 

Rick Lloyd/Kevin Lloyd campaign signs often placed together. Chadwick and K. Lloyd often seen campaigning together.

Scary stuff

 

If you too are concerned, please share this blog

 

ELECTION 2014 – Two Years of FOI’s Revealed

 

I’ve posted a number of blogs the past two years, that have shared information I’ve acquired using the Freedom of Information Act.

Here are the actual requests I’ve filed. I’m not sure if this is all of them, as everything I get is immediately turned over to the OPP Anti-Rackets Branch.

These are all of the copies I could find.

 

 

 

 

ELECTION 2014 – Collingwood Politicians say they have “vision”. I’d settle for some COMMON SENSE

 

I almost choked when Ian Adams published a blog, showing Deputy Mayor Rick Lloyd’s campaign website, on which Rick calls himself a “Visionary”

 

 

I guess this must be a campaign buzzword, as I see Ian Chadwick also has “vision” on his election signs.

This made me wonder. When Ian Chadwick, Rick Lloyd, Sandra Cooper & Mike Edwards were elected in 2003, the Town of Collingwood had a debt of $14,435,000.00

The Town of Collingwood on December 31, 2013 had a debt of $36,401,776.00

(These figure came from the town treasurer yesterday)

Simple math friends. The Town of Collingwood has a debt of over 2.5 times as much as when these people took office in 2003.

Vision? More like hallucination.

 

So, what makes me different? You decide. Let me give you an example.

 

I published a blog called Throw us a bone, in which I showed an email I’d sent to ALL members of council on November 29, 2012.

The email asked all members of council, to consider 8 different steps to fixing the governance issues in our town.

This was BEFORE the CBC report on Corruption in Collingwood?

This was BEFORE the OPP began their ongoing 21 month investigation  into this issue.

 

I thought these steps would help. Here are my recommendations, and the  results.

 

1. To share with the public, their interpretation of good governance.

(Asked for on November 29, 2012. Governance review passed July 21, 2014)

 

2. Direct staff to review and improve the Procurement Policy.

(Asked for on November 29, 2012. Nothing done to date)

 

3. Develop a Strategic Plan that includes community priorities, accountability/transparency measures and a communications plan.

(Asked for on November 29, 2012.  Strategic financial plan passed February 24, 2014)

 

4. Direct staff to define best practices in public engagement/consultation and internal/external communications plan, including best practices with e-media such as Twitter, Facebook ect.

(Asked for on November 29, 2012.  No council Social media policy to date)

 

5. Form an independent body of residents to complete research with a view of implementing an Ombudsman and Ethics office (contract) for Collingwood.

(Asked for on November 29, 2012.  Council voted to hire an Integrity Commissioner on December 16, 2013)

 

6. Create a detailed Lobbyist Registry for Collingwood.

(Asked for on November 29, 2012. Nothing done to date)

 

7. Publish individual Councillors monthly expense accounts on the Towns website.

(Asked for on November 29, 2012. Nothing done to date)

 

8. Inform the residents of the town’s current debt, approved debt tolerance level, the long-range capital plan,  and plans to address longer-term infrastructure needs.

(Asked for on November 29, 2012.  BMA Financial report “verbally” received on February 24, 2014.   Capital Asset Management Plan passed August 25, 2014 )

 

 

Do I have “vision”? Personally, I’d prefer to call it common sense.

 

 

 

ELECTION 2014 – 6 Questions that EVERY Voter should ask candidate Sandy Cunningham

 

 

1. From January 1, 2013 to present, you have taken part in 58 recorded votes at council meetings.

Of those votes, you have voted the same way as Mayor Cooper 100% of the time (58/58)

Of those votes, you have voted the same way as Deputy Mayor Rick Lloyd 100% of the time (58/58)

Of those votes, you have voted the same way as Ian Chadwick 96.4% of the time (54/56)

Of those votes, you have voted the same way as Kevin Lloyd 100% of the time (55/55)

In fact, going back to 2012, you have voted the same way as Kevin Lloyd on 91 consecutive recorded votes.

(Read Is there a Voting Block within Collingwood’s Town Council?)

 

Question – Is there a voting bloc on our current council?

 

 

2. In May of 2013, you questioned the legality of a fellow councilor voting against paying an accounts receivable,  asking staff for a “legal interpretation” of a councilor voting against paying a contract that’s already been approved by council.

(Read Councillor call-out)

You also stated…

“a contract and it’s been approved, and signed by council. This (the payment) is just a formality.”

 

Several of the payments made by the town, were different from what was agreed to in the contract.

(Read Sandy Cunningham vs. Keith Hull)

 

Question – Were you aware of the changes to the contract payment schedule, when you suggested using taxpayer money on legal advise?

 

 

3. On May 18, 2012 local lobbyist Paul Bonwick, and local developer Steve Assaff, bought a residential property in Delray Beach, Florida.

 

See (all from a Google search)

South Florida block shopper

PBCGOV

Intelius

 

 

Question – Have you ever set foot on that property?

 

 

 

4. In April 2012, you were one of 7 (Hull, Gardhouse against) who voted to fire then CAO Kim Wingrove, and replace her with Ed Houghton. (See  CAO-Town go their separate ways)

 

Kim, who is now the CAO of The Township of Guelph/Eramosa, had impressive experience and expertise in the area of Economic Development.

 

Ed, who had no previous experience as a CAO, is currently being investigated as part of an 21-month investigation by the OPP Anti Rackets Branch.

(Read OPP investigation)

 

Question – Why did you vote to fire Kim Wingrove?

 

 

5. This year, you (council) passed a budget that included a 2.5% tax increase (approx. 2.2% if you don’t include asset levy). You also passed a Capital Asset Management Plan in August, which recommends a 3.6% tax levy for asset management, beginning in 2015.

 

2.2%+3.6%= 5.8%

 

Do you believe that next year’s budget is likely to have a minimum 5% tax increase?

 

 

6. You voted in favour of the Recreation facilities, the add-on therapy pool, the add-on enhancements, and all of the other motions regarding this project.

 

Question – IF the OPP lay any charges in relation to this council’s, or an any individual Councillors role in the purchase of these facilities, will you resign from this council, or the next if you are re-elected?

 

 

Election 2014 – I will fight for YOU, your FAMILY, and for COLLINGWOOD!!!

 

When you decide who to cast your vote for in the 2014 Municipal Election, you will probably look at what you think each candidate will bring to the table.

I have always felt, that the most important question voters should ask themselves about the candidates is…

 

WHO DO I TRUST?

 

I would like to be your answer to that question, AND, I would also like to be the answer to this question:

Who will fight for ME, and, for the best interests of COLLINGWOOD?

 

 

Here is a summary, using media stories, of what I’ve fought for over the past 2 years. I’ve only listed stories in which I’m named or quoted.

 

13/11/2009 (E-B) Clippers’ Coach Comments On Pool Inappropriate

8/10/2010 (E-B) KIDS HAVE INTERESTING PERSPECTIVE ON IMPORTANT LOCAL ISSUES

 

(Those 2 were from before the recreation facilities hit the fan)

 

 

12/9/2012 (E-B) Big crowd out for town hall rally

18/9/2012 (Bayshore Broadcasting Radio Interview)

18/9/2012 (Bayshore) Protest March in Collingwood

27/1/2013  (Blog) Town considers suing me over blogging FOI results

28/1/2013 (Bayshore) Published email could cause scandal at Collingwood town hall

8/3/2013 (CBC News) Exclusive: Collingwood town officials face OPP probe

8/3/2003 (CBC News) Political writer says someone is warning him to stop digging at Collingwood Town Hall

8/3/2013 (Bayshore) National Media Comes to Collingwood

10/3/2013 (Bayshore) Blogger organizing rally in front of town hall in light of reports of a police investigation

11/3/2013 (Ontario Morning Radio) Blogger Steve Berman organized a protest at Collingwood townhall yesterday

11/3/2013 (Yourmunicipality.ca) Collingwood Protesters Upset Rogue Municipal Government

11/3/2013 (E-B) 130 turn out to town hall rally

13/3/2013 (Connection) Residents protest at town hall

9/4/2013 (Blog) Separate calls to the OPP & the SCDSB regarding my blog

13/5/13 (Blog) The blog that prompted Larry Irwin to sue me

7//7/2013 (Bayshore) OPP Investigation Confirmed in Collingwood

4/1/2014 (Connection) 2013: Year in Review

30/1/2014 (E-B) Local municipal campaign underway — slowly

30/1/2014 (Connection) Berman to seek Collingwood council seat

22/8/2014 (E-B) Candidates educated on legislation, role of municipalities

 

Which candidate will fight for you, your family, and your town?

 

I WILL

 

If you believe in me, please share this blog.

 

ELECTION 2014 – 5 Questions that EVERY Voter should ask candidate Mike Edwards

 

I didn’t plan on publishing this blog until early next week, but seeing as 2 (yes 2) of the over 1,000 readers of this morning’s Dale West blog, seem to think I singled Dale out with a loaded question, here it is again in my Mike Edwards blog.

Questions 2, 3 & 4 in this blog, are questions that I would/will ask every member of council.

 

 

1.  In November of 2012, council heard an oral presentation by Dr. Mike Lewin, of Friends of Central Park.

(Read ‘Friends’ bring recommendations to council)

Here is an excerpt from the above article;

Councillor Mike Edwards also demanded a clarification, as it appeared the written presentation questioned the credibility of council, while those comments didn’t make Lewin’s presentation at the lectern.

“My credibility, and that of council, has been compromised by this document,” he said.

 

Given the current 21-month investigation by the OPP Anti Rackets Branch,  do you still stand by the credibility of every member of this current council?

(Read OPP investigation)

 

 

 

2. On May 18, 2012 local lobbyist Paul Bonwick, and local developer Steve Assaff, bought a residential property in Delray Beach, Florida.

 

See (all from a Google search)

South Florida block shopper

PBCGOV

Intelius

 

 

Have you ever set foot on that property?

 

 

 

3. In April 2012, you were one of 7 (Hull, Gardhouse against) who voted to fire then CAO Kim Wingrove, and replace her with Ed Houghton. (See  CAO-Town go their separate ways)

 

Kim, who is now the CAO of The Township of Guelph/Eramosa, had impressive experience and expertise in the area of Economic Development.

 

Ed, who had no previous experience as a CAO, is currently being investigated as part of an 21-month investigation by the OPP Anti Rackets Branch.

(Read OPP investigation)

 

Why did you vote to fire Kim?

 

 

4. This year, you (council) passed a budget that included a 2.5% tax increase (approx. 2.2% if you don’t include asset levy). You also passed a Capital Asset Management Plan in August, which recommends a 3.6% tax levy for asset management, beginning in 2015.

 

2.2%+3.6%= 5.8%

 

Do you believe that next year’s budget is likely to have a minimum 5% tax increase?

 

 

5. You voted in favour of the Recreation facilities, the add-on therapy pool, the add-on enhancements, and all of the other motions regarding this project.

IF the OPP lay any charges in relation to this council’s, or an any individual Councillors role in the purchase of these facilities, will you resign from this council, or the next if you are re-elected?

 

ELECTION 2014 – 5 Questions that EVERY Voter should ask candidate Dale West

 

Some of you know me better than others. My past 2 years, as well as my campaign, is all about a complete change at the council table. A new Mayor, a new Deputy Mayor, and 7 new Councillors…whether I’m one of them or not.

This is the first, in a series of blogs about the incumbent council candidates. My hope is that it will remind people of some of the serious low-lights, from each Councillors current term.

If you are like-minded, please share these questions with anyone and everyone, that tells you they are considering a vote for one of the incumbents.

 

 

 

1.  On August 29, 2012, you wrote, regarding your decision to vote for the 2 Sprung structures,

“I can honestly say on my part that I didn’t have my mind made up. If I had to pick a moment when I think I actually knew what my vote was likely going to be, it was probably when Treasurer Leonard answered the questions about what the tax implications would be if the residents decided they didn’t want the town to put the 8 million dollar portion of the COLLUS/Power Stream partnership toward this project.”

Yet, on August 22, 2 days before Councillors even got a first look at the staff report recommending Sprung, you emailed Jason Henry (Minor Hockey). regarding this issue, asking “We do need something, if you could write a letter focusing on the urgency it might help.”

 

Please explain?

 

 

 

2. On May 18, 2012 local lobbyist Paul Bonwick, and local developer Steve Assaff, bought a residential property in Delray Beach, Florida.

 

See (all from a Google search)

South Florida block shopper

PBCGOV

Intelius

 

 

Have you ever set foot on that property?

 

 

 

3. In April 2012, you were one of 7 (Hull, Gardhouse against) who voted to fire then CAO Kim Wingrove, and replace her with Ed Houghton. (See  CAO-Town go their separate ways)

 

Kim, who is now the CAO of The Township of Guelph/Eramosa, had impressive experience and expertise in the area of Economic Development.

 

Ed, who had no previous experience as a CAO, is currently being investigated as part of an 21-month investigation by the OPP Anti Rackets Branch.

(Read OPP investigation)

 

Why did you vote to fire Kim?

 

 

 

4. In November 2013, the Collingwood Library appointed Ken Haigh, CEO. The CEO position is a legislated requirement, which the library had ignored since 2011.

(read Library board appoints new CEO)

 

As a council representative on the Library Board, were you (a) unaware of this breach for the approximately 2 years, or (b) did you willingly accept this neglect?

 

 

5. This year, you (council) passed a budget that included a 2.5% tax increase (approx. 2.2% if you don’t include asset levy). You also passed a Capital Asset Management Plan in August, which recommends a 3.6% tax levy for asset management, beginning in 2015.

 

2.2%+3.6%= 5.8%

 

Do you believe that next year’s budget is likely to have a minimum 5% tax increase?

 

 

One Issue – One Promise: Elect Steve Berman for Collingwood Town Council

enough is enough

“Any change is resisted, because bureaucrats have a vested interest in the chaos in which they exist” – Richard Nixon

It’s been exactly one week since I filed my nomination papers for the 2014 election, so I figured it’s time I start making campaign promises. Well, really just one promise. If fact, it’s the only promise that I believe really matters.

I won’t be coming out with a campaign platform, because most of them end up being either generic, or an eventual list of broken promises. If you want to know where I stand on things, you can take a look at my 140 or so blogs. I stand behind every word I’ve written, and it will give you an idea of my take on local issues.

My intent is not to belittle the efforts of the candidates I will be running against. I am simply…

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