Saturday, April 28, 2007
Both right and wrong.
Those who say that Plan A is decided and we must live with the conswquences areboth right and wrong. Right in that citizens voted in favour of spending $85 million on capital projects. Wrong in that nowhere did the citizens vote and approve $23.6 million, much less $30 or $40 million (since the costs seems to be growing astronomically) in soft costs.
I attended all the public meetings, read all the statements from Abbotsford City Hall and despite Mr Beck’s recent assertions the only figure cited was $85 million. When asked about other costs by those opposing the lack of planning and financial transparency in Plan A they denied any $$$ millions in such costs. It is now clear why Councillors Beck and Smith together with City Manager Guthrie, refused to personally guarantee to cover any costs above the $85 million when called upon to do so.
If Mr Beck’s statement that council had “ …always projected in the round figures $100 million for the projects” then council and senior city staff lied to the citizens of Abbotsford about the costs of Plan A. At $23.6 million and climbing, the size of these lies by omission border on malfeasance. Lies of this magnitude certainly render the results of the referendum on which council and senior staff base the legitimacy of their continuing with Plan A null and void.
If Mr Beck and all others I herein have branded liars at Abbotsford City Hall want an apology, they simply have to show me where in the public record they stated that Plan A would cost $100+ million and that the $100+ million was likely to rise (as it already has by 9%). Show me where it was they did not insist the price was guaranteed to be no more that $85 million.
Otherwise they should resign or face charges of malfeasance.
I attended all the public meetings, read all the statements from Abbotsford City Hall and despite Mr Beck’s recent assertions the only figure cited was $85 million. When asked about other costs by those opposing the lack of planning and financial transparency in Plan A they denied any $$$ millions in such costs. It is now clear why Councillors Beck and Smith together with City Manager Guthrie, refused to personally guarantee to cover any costs above the $85 million when called upon to do so.
If Mr Beck’s statement that council had “ …always projected in the round figures $100 million for the projects” then council and senior city staff lied to the citizens of Abbotsford about the costs of Plan A. At $23.6 million and climbing, the size of these lies by omission border on malfeasance. Lies of this magnitude certainly render the results of the referendum on which council and senior staff base the legitimacy of their continuing with Plan A null and void.
If Mr Beck and all others I herein have branded liars at Abbotsford City Hall want an apology, they simply have to show me where in the public record they stated that Plan A would cost $100+ million and that the $100+ million was likely to rise (as it already has by 9%). Show me where it was they did not insist the price was guaranteed to be no more that $85 million.
Otherwise they should resign or face charges of malfeasance.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Is what I heard about the pools true?
In discussing the protracted delay in completing the Centennial Pool tank with people two items/questions kept arising. Since both are well within the demonstrated behaviour of Abbotsford City Hall I feel it is important to bring these points to the attention of all citizens. Only if the voices of many citizens demand an answer is there any possibility of getting a response from City Hall.
First is the disturbing suggestion that as part of this years budget City Manager Guthrie and Parks & Recreations Mark Taylor plan to slip the privatization of life-guarding at MRC wave pool by the public. Not as a means for saving money, since any money saved through lower wages is profit for the contractor not savings for the city, but as a continuation of their practice of attacking or annoying city unions.
I have been swimming at the city pools for over a decade and a half and over that time have seen and come to know just how well trained current staff is. In spite of any kidding I may give them I trust them with my life. I want the best trained, best qualified people guarding my life when I am at the pool. Just as an aside: the staff is young people from our area, many of who use the flexible work hours to permit them to be able to afford to attend UCFV or other educational institutions; some need the part-time employment to bolster the family income.
Not only should this change not be done, if true it is unconscionable that they would consider sneaking such a big change through as part of the budget process.
The more disturbing reports are that current city co0ntracts are being stretched out or delayed in starting because of very tight city cash flow as a result of plan A’s voracious appetite for city cash flow. Contractors are being paid on a stretched timeframe with the result that project completion is significantly delayed. The start of needed maintenance and projects are said to have been delayed or not scheduled in order to reduce cash outflow.
Raising the question if perhaps part of the reason Centennial Pool is three months behind is a direct result of actions taken by Abbotsford City Hall to stretch out contract payments, in direct contravention of their claim of not knowing why the pool is so far behind.
As I said, both of these fall within the city’s recent behaviour and it is important that the city provides a clear answer on these important questions.
First is the disturbing suggestion that as part of this years budget City Manager Guthrie and Parks & Recreations Mark Taylor plan to slip the privatization of life-guarding at MRC wave pool by the public. Not as a means for saving money, since any money saved through lower wages is profit for the contractor not savings for the city, but as a continuation of their practice of attacking or annoying city unions.
I have been swimming at the city pools for over a decade and a half and over that time have seen and come to know just how well trained current staff is. In spite of any kidding I may give them I trust them with my life. I want the best trained, best qualified people guarding my life when I am at the pool. Just as an aside: the staff is young people from our area, many of who use the flexible work hours to permit them to be able to afford to attend UCFV or other educational institutions; some need the part-time employment to bolster the family income.
Not only should this change not be done, if true it is unconscionable that they would consider sneaking such a big change through as part of the budget process.
The more disturbing reports are that current city co0ntracts are being stretched out or delayed in starting because of very tight city cash flow as a result of plan A’s voracious appetite for city cash flow. Contractors are being paid on a stretched timeframe with the result that project completion is significantly delayed. The start of needed maintenance and projects are said to have been delayed or not scheduled in order to reduce cash outflow.
Raising the question if perhaps part of the reason Centennial Pool is three months behind is a direct result of actions taken by Abbotsford City Hall to stretch out contract payments, in direct contravention of their claim of not knowing why the pool is so far behind.
As I said, both of these fall within the city’s recent behaviour and it is important that the city provides a clear answer on these important questions.
