Sunday, September 14, 2014

DECISIONS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS

A trio of recent decisions has vindicated certain elected representatives.  Two have been decided in the favour of the accused while a third has upheld an earlier decision.

First, The Mayor of Richmond Hill was cleared of a conflict of interest accusation leveled at him by a political rival.

Mayor Dave Barrow announced his court victory at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon:

“Today’s court decision confirms what the facts have always shown, that there was clearly no conflict of interest and no basis to substantiate that claim,” he told The Liberal, later. "Unfortunately, this ill-considered and unwarranted action’s only purpose was to attempt to discredit my reputation among residents while diverting attention away from the issues of importance." 

Now does this sound familiar? A political rival, by bringing conflict of interest charges against an elected official, hoped to cast the mayor's integrity in doubt.  The judge saw right through the attempt and completely vindicated the mayor.  Meanwhile, the man who brought forth the lawsuit,
Sridhar Methuku, who put his name on the ballot in early February, withdrew from the race this morning, in advance of a judicial decision expected later today, and just hours before the final close of nominations according to an article in a local newspaper.

Closer to home, regional councillors Andy Petrowski and Selena Volpatti were also cleared of conflict of interest charges brought to the integrity commissioner of the region.  Again, the charges were brought against Petrowski by a defeated political rival. 

In his statement, Petrowski, who has ruffled quite a few feathers at regional council said:


“I’m pleased the integrity commissioner did the right thing and dismissed it,” he said. “Unfortunately, it’s another example of the same old political gang using taxpayer money to go after people who don’t agree with them. Obviously, over the last four years I’ve said and done things they don’t agree with, so they resort to integrity commissioners to go after me."

With that in mind, we now turn to Fort Erie and the on-going dust-up over the firing of the town solicitor.  Lesley North is unable to let it go and continued her quest to have all the documents surrounding the firing made public so that she could presumably prove conflict of interest on the part of four councillors who are currently charged with conflict of interest in Superior Court by former councillor Tim Whitfield (at the behest of Mayor Doug Martin and EDTC GM Jim Thibert according to the cross-examinations of Councillor Rick Shular, Stephen Passero and even Tim Whitfield himself.) Like the cases against the mayor of Richmond Hill and the two regional councillors, this lawsuit is just a vicious attempt to discredit the four who are running in the current municipal elections.  

Well, the Freedom of Information adjudicator has thrown out an appeal filed by Ms. North.  Those documents that are currently confidential shall remain confidential.  Sorry, Lesley.  Best you get back to saving the Kinsmen Pool with your good buddy Stephen Passero (Bwah!)  At least it is a productive use of your time and, judging from the atmosphere on Jarvis Street on Saturday afternoon, you must have a lot of time on your hands.  Deserted and ignored, Jarvis Street is a far cry from its previous glory days.  Whose fault is that?  Certainly not the current council as the decline has been going on for years and it seems nearly complete as far as business and tourism go. Even the Fry Truck was lonely looking.

10 comments:

  1. And we KNOW from the Conflict of Interest court documents that were released to the public that mayor martin under oath admitted that Heather Salter was told by senior staff that she had no grounds to even go ahead to file her harassment charges against any of the councillors.

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  2. I hope someone has contacted the Integrity Commissioner on the Mayor, Schuler and Passaro! Also maybe the Law Society on Heather as she signed a disclosure contract and then blabbed about it! She should also have to return the money's she was paid!

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    1. I hope so. Tonight people will learn how the EDTC's Memo of Understanding was changed in the past few years to make it almost impossible to fire J Thibert or to even hold him accountable for his actions. The EDTC is a separate feudal kingdom that has total control over close to a million taxpayer dollars with no obligation to inform or be accountable to the people who provide its money. Thanks, Dougie.

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  3. In regard to comments about the lack of activity on Jarvis street on a Saturday afternoon, compare this to the number of businesses along the highway 3 where big stores such as Wmart, No Frillies, and others are very busy at that time of the day and week. Other than an Avondales on Central there is no other place people that live in the Jarvis St. area can buy food. Almost a food desert as its called in some city enviroments. You can see what was a food market building about half way down the street. A couple of auto dealerships went out of business and stand empty. The fry truck at $3 to $4 minimum per serving ("the best frys in Fort Erie", cough, cough...). Walmart, big food, booze, bank, all on the same patch of parking lot?? What next!! Deep fried fishy outside the Tired Canadian for $10??? Oh yah, got that covered too. What a classy town. Maybe the strip clubs will reopen.

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  4. ain't seen nothing yetSeptember 15, 2014 at 8:23 PM

    Yeah, I like how the Jarvis businesses always blame everyone else about their struggling "business district". They can't even work with each other but of course have all the answers for how to run the town...as seen in their in-depth conversations on their facebook pages, where more time is spent accusing each other of lying. I would say that they act like a bunch of 10 yr olds but that would be insulting to 10 yr olds everywhere. Then there is one "business owner" who is too arrogant to see what is happening there. A couple months ago, in an attempt to boost his ego, he posted a photo to show how "busy" Jarvis street was, although he chose to only show one end of the street. Interestingly enough, just a hundred feet up the road, there was a food truck handing out food to those in need and multiple police cars breaking up a fight ...all this before the wee hours of 8pm. Not exactly the type of environment that draws patrons! This is not a knock on those local residents struggling to get by, its just an example of how some people manipulate the facts to get people on their side and fall for their agenda. Show the whole picture...not just what you want to see/believe!

    On a side note...any candidates who are going to campaign on sites that consist of people harassing eachother can kiss my vote goodbye. I realize you are trying to get exposure but you may want to use discretion with where you post your info. Why would anyone take you serious when you are just getting lumped in with the few other jackasses in FE.

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    1. So true, "ain't seen nothing less"! Surely Fort Erie has some classy citizens that can hold a debate, rather than those that just bash others that don't agree with their point of view. When you just look at some of the sites, it's something children would do, na, na, na, na, na, no disrespect intended towards the children.

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  5. Luckily, most concerned voters avoid Facebook because of the childishness.

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  6. The dark side asswipes are trying to get as much mileage out of the COI case as they can even suggesting corruption in an effort to discredit their opponents. The gall of them is beyond any measure of decency and they will stop at nothing to ensure control is returned to those who have and will exploit this town the most for their own benefit.

    In a town known for backroom deals going back decades and in recent times trying to control the media to put forth blatant lies while slandering repeated 4 good men of conscience( swimming in the cesspool of our local politics) I say to hell with judges and integrity commisionners, just put a couple good men in a locked room with them for a short while. End of problem.

    I for one am very tired of their lies and theft of this community's future.

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  7. Does anyone really think one short evening of prescreened questions and the council candidates all lined up like petulant schoolchildren is enough to help voters make an informed choice as to who to vote for?? The usual blab put out by the paper and various flyers appearing in the mail box has worn pretty thin. Lets not forget signs on lawns and a large billboard or 3 showing up along a well traveled road.That really helps?? Catchwords and phrases like "work for the people", "leadership", and "listen to the needs of the community" are being thrown around like they were for the last 200 years. How about "a clean sweep" (1830's), or "a breath of fresh air" (1890's). Heck I might even vote for the candidate that will put "a chicken in every pot" just because of the amusement factor. 2 to 3 hours of a staged question period wont be enough.It never is.Can almost smell all the cheap perfume and meaty dinner breath that comes with such a lame event. At least the dry cleaners in town will benifit. Will be a few suits to be polished up before the big evening.Might be the one factor that determines the election outcome, as it wont likely be the prescripted responses to the prescreened questions

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  8. I am positive that I or anyone will not vote for people who have aligned themselves with the negative Nancys on facebook..big eye opener on the political site. I just shake my head and say how can they align with people who so viciously attack others? Smarten up! The ones who are the most vocal does not mean they are the most powerful or influential. They definitely do not represent the majority. The majority have enough sense and class to not post it on social media. Oh yes and they have friends and family and lives!!!!

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