You get what you pay for
CTA calls for major changes to Council remuneration. And Council kicks the can down the road
Update 5/25/2018:
Council on May 22, 2018 rejected the Ad-hoc Renumeration Committee’s proposed increase. Although not fully accepting Paul Pagnuelo’s recommendation of increasing Councillor’s salaries by 100%, a motion was passed to at least increase the Councillor salaries by a quarter of what Paul recommended.
Improving the Planning Process
In the Regular Council meeting on April 30, 2018, two delegations were presented to Council.
Cobourg Taxpayers Association (CTA) Director Paul Pagnuelo presented a request to establish a review that is independent, time-bound, and inclusive of the public, and to consider the establishment of a temporary Ad Hoc Committee to direct the review proposed by Councillor Burchat.
Public Engagement Policy Failure
Council, CAO, Municipal Clerk and staff are not following the Town of Cobourg’s Public Engagement Policy. They are not listening to the public. Lydia Smith, Cobourg Taxpayers Association president gave that message before council on April 30, 2018.
Although the delegation focused on the 2 years and 12 missed engagement opportunities with respect to the Council’s recent approval to put a water playground on Cobourg Beach, Lydia was quick to point out that the policy was not followed during the New Amherst School re-zoning either.
Waterfront Playground Update
The water playground was approved April 9, 2018 at the regular council meeting.
These members of council supported the motion:
Mayor Gil Brocanier
Councillor Aaron Burchat
Councillor Brian Darling
Councillor Forrest Rowden
These members of council voted against the motion:
Deputy Mayor John Henderson
Councillor Debra McCarthy
Councillor Suzanne Seguin
The Cobourg Taxpayers Association (CTA) and President Lydia Smith received copies of 27 Emails sent from the public to waterfront@cobourg.ca