The CTA received a copy of this correspondence from Bill Thompson to Mayor Brocanier
To mayor and council
I am 100% opposed to this waiver of $303,623.00 of development fees requested by a private enterprise for a new medical building.
Being a private enterprise ,it should not be granted this gratis waiver which may reflect solely on Cobourg taxpayers while all Northumberland County residents may avail themselves of the medical services provided.
Why is the rest of Northumberland County not involved in this financial issue?
As there appeared to be three options re this waiver,(including none) why would the council decide that the maximum amount of waiver be granted?
Bill Thompson
Cobourg
_______________________________________
Lydia Smith Calls Out the Mayor
Dear Gil
I am writing to tell you that I take issue with your comments as quoted in Northumberland Today on Dec. 22, 2015.
For your convenience, I have reproduced them here:
The money will come from a reserve fund generated by revenues from the Northam Industrial Park and HOLDCO, money coming from the town’s public utility company. While these are public funds, the waiver will not impact the town’s property taxes.“It is not added to the (property) tax base,” Brocanier said.
Since both of these companies are owned (Holdco at 99.9%) by the Town of Cobourg, the profits created in these companies belong to the people of Cobourg. It is not somehow, “free money” like winning a lottery.
When you make a decision for Northumberland Medical Arts Inc. (to give them $312,000.), it could be argued that you are making a decision against the taxpayers of Cobourg; i.e. you could have chosen a different priority – to directly reduce taxes.
Sincerely
Lydia Smith
________________________________________
Andy Tesluk’s Letter to the Editor of Northumberland Today.
Mayor Brocanier is so out of touch with reality thinking that the money they dole out to the NMAI does not affect the taxpayers! “It is not added to the (property) tax base,” Brocanier said. Does he not understand that it is the taxpayers that own HOLDCO and Northam Park? These reserves should be used to reduce the taxpayers tax bill and not giving handouts! Does he not realize that the reserves are supported by the high hydro bills?
Henderson told council Monday night. “We are going to do our due diligence.” Why was this not done before any attempt to vote? Why is it that the public has come up with the 18 + 6 questions that the mayor wants answered? Why did not the mayor, deputy mayor, councilors and staff come up with these questions? Thanks to the CTA and the public for raising this issue!
The only rational decision that the council can make it to decline this waiver! The money would be better served to give directly to the hospital!
Thank you,
Andy Tesluk
________________________________________
The CTA received a copy of this correspondence from Bryan Lambert to Mayor Brocanier and Councillors:
Mr Mayor and Councillors:
I looked at the new NMAI website http://www.northumberlandmac.ca/ and have some questions regarding the fees waiver.
The NMAI business case indicates that the land rental payments will be $50K per year in the first two years, $75K per year in years 3-10, $100K per year in years 11-13 and $100k+ thereafter. There is a caveat that all payments are subject to available cash flow.
For me this indicates uncertainty and RISK.
Is there a written agreement between NMAI and the Hospital outlining the payment schedule?
How do the waived fees fit into this?
Is there a separate payment schedule?
Over what term?
Are the payments guaranteed?
When would the payments to the hospital start?
My understanding is that NMAI requested a fees waiver in whole or in part. Has a partial waiver been considered? In what amount?
I read on several online sites that legal advice has been received as to whether NMAI is truly a non-profit corporation.
What is the relevance of this?
What statutes are involved?
As noted above, it is difficult to see how the waived fees would flow through to the hospital.
It seems that the rational for granting the waiver is to provide the hospital with much needed funds; that the hospital is in financial trouble. I don’t understand this.
The hospital’s March 31 2015 financial statements show a surplus of $1.3M for the year ended March 2015 and a surplus of $437K for the prior year.
Wouldn’t the hospital’s needs be better served by providing a grant (single or multi-year) directly to the hospital and avoid the uncertainty and risk involved in using an intermediary?
Towards a better Cobourg
Bryan
________________________________________
CTA received a copy of this correspondence from Terry Robb to Mayor Brocanier:
Hey Gil,
Don’t want to keep beating this horse, but I still don’t get some of your points leading up to your (and most of council’s) decision on this thing. I’m a pretty simple guy, so you might have to walk me through some stuff. Attached is a copy of your word document stating your decision making process. Questions I have are in red after your points and I’ve added a couple of points at the bottom. I hope you can clear this up for me.
Also: “In my conversation with some citizens I have found they don’t have all the facts on the Northumberland Medical Arts proposal, so I have put together the attached document.”
Your Word document contained all the facts?
Thanks,
Terry Robb
Concerned Citizen
Mayor’s Response
Terry Robb’s Response
________________________________________
CTA received a copy of this correspondence from David McIntyre to Councillors:
Mayor and Councilors:
With interest, I note in this letter the Mayor’s concern around the % of Cobourg population over the age of 65, now at 26.5% and going up considerably in the future. I am sure you are all aware that a great % of these individuals will not experience future earnings growth of mid life workers. In fact many will experience a significant decline in disposable income moving forward as they are on non indexed fixed pensions and if indexed, tied to inflation. We have had to swallow a electricity increase of approximately 21% in the last 12 months and with the blended elimination of the debt retirement charge and the clean energy benefit, another 7% increase next month. This is obviously not a doing of the town of Cobourg, but only an example of Government waste and mismanagement. As you move forward with your budget planning and big money give away’s, keep in mind the increasing financial pressure many, many residents and tax payers are facing.
When the 2016 property taxes are finalized, Would you please consider a pamphlet in the notification indicating the dollars and cents impact to the average tax bill of each of your initiatives. This would include both expenditures and savings.
Many Thanks
David McIntyre
Cobourg
________________________________________
A copy of correspondence from Ted Williams to Mayor Brocanier:
Mr Mayor,
I wish to say I’m against the waiver of Dev./Building etc costs for the Clinic. I feel it is inappropriate on so many levels:
• the presumed mandate of Council to decide for residents, where their voluntary contribution are spent
• the requested amount of waiver of money is audacious
• the profit potential for doctors, many of whom are on the NHH board, is open
• the history of doctors dabbling in development / building projects is often questionable ( see Bobcaygeon)
• your own reputation as a “big spender” is enhance
• the signal of “apply to Council for money” is broadcast loud and clear
In addition, when you bring forth issues like this, which so mis-read town residents (another example the Marina expansion) there are countless hours of wasted councillor and public’s time.
I’m not asking you to agree with me – I’m asking for you to represent me.
Thanks for listening and for your hard work for Cobourg
Ted Williams
The CTA received a copy of this correspondence from Bill Thompson to Mayor Brocanier
To mayor and council
I am 100% opposed to this waiver of $303,623.00 of development fees requested by a private enterprise for a new medical building.
Being a private enterprise ,it should not be granted this gratis waiver which may reflect solely on Cobourg taxpayers while all Northumberland County residents may avail themselves of the medical services provided.
Why is the rest of Northumberland County not involved in this financial issue?
As there appeared to be three options re this waiver,(including none) why would the council decide that the maximum amount of waiver be granted?
Bill Thompson
Cobourg
_______________________________________
Lydia Smith Calls Out the Mayor
Dear Gil
I am writing to tell you that I take issue with your comments as quoted in Northumberland Today on Dec. 22, 2015.
For your convenience, I have reproduced them here:
The money will come from a reserve fund generated by revenues from the Northam Industrial Park and HOLDCO, money coming from the town’s public utility company. While these are public funds, the waiver will not impact the town’s property taxes.“It is not added to the (property) tax base,” Brocanier said.
Since both of these companies are owned (Holdco at 99.9%) by the Town of Cobourg, the profits created in these companies belong to the people of Cobourg. It is not somehow, “free money” like winning a lottery.
When you make a decision for Northumberland Medical Arts Inc. (to give them $312,000.), it could be argued that you are making a decision against the taxpayers of Cobourg; i.e. you could have chosen a different priority – to directly reduce taxes.
Sincerely
Lydia Smith
________________________________________
Andy Tesluk’s Letter to the Editor of Northumberland Today.
Mayor Brocanier is so out of touch with reality thinking that the money they dole out to the NMAI does not affect the taxpayers! “It is not added to the (property) tax base,” Brocanier said. Does he not understand that it is the taxpayers that own HOLDCO and Northam Park? These reserves should be used to reduce the taxpayers tax bill and not giving handouts! Does he not realize that the reserves are supported by the high hydro bills?
Henderson told council Monday night. “We are going to do our due diligence.” Why was this not done before any attempt to vote? Why is it that the public has come up with the 18 + 6 questions that the mayor wants answered? Why did not the mayor, deputy mayor, councilors and staff come up with these questions? Thanks to the CTA and the public for raising this issue!
The only rational decision that the council can make it to decline this waiver! The money would be better served to give directly to the hospital!
Thank you,
Andy Tesluk
________________________________________
The CTA received a copy of this correspondence from Bryan Lambert to Mayor Brocanier and Councillors:
Mr Mayor and Councillors:
I looked at the new NMAI website http://www.northumberlandmac.ca/ and have some questions regarding the fees waiver.
The NMAI business case indicates that the land rental payments will be $50K per year in the first two years, $75K per year in years 3-10, $100K per year in years 11-13 and $100k+ thereafter. There is a caveat that all payments are subject to available cash flow.
For me this indicates uncertainty and RISK.
Is there a written agreement between NMAI and the Hospital outlining the payment schedule?
How do the waived fees fit into this?
Is there a separate payment schedule?
Over what term?
Are the payments guaranteed?
When would the payments to the hospital start?
My understanding is that NMAI requested a fees waiver in whole or in part. Has a partial waiver been considered? In what amount?
I read on several online sites that legal advice has been received as to whether NMAI is truly a non-profit corporation.
What is the relevance of this?
What statutes are involved?
As noted above, it is difficult to see how the waived fees would flow through to the hospital.
It seems that the rational for granting the waiver is to provide the hospital with much needed funds; that the hospital is in financial trouble. I don’t understand this.
The hospital’s March 31 2015 financial statements show a surplus of $1.3M for the year ended March 2015 and a surplus of $437K for the prior year.
Wouldn’t the hospital’s needs be better served by providing a grant (single or multi-year) directly to the hospital and avoid the uncertainty and risk involved in using an intermediary?
Towards a better Cobourg
Bryan
________________________________________
CTA received a copy of this correspondence from Terry Robb to Mayor Brocanier:
Hey Gil,
Don’t want to keep beating this horse, but I still don’t get some of your points leading up to your (and most of council’s) decision on this thing. I’m a pretty simple guy, so you might have to walk me through some stuff. Attached is a copy of your word document stating your decision making process. Questions I have are in red after your points and I’ve added a couple of points at the bottom. I hope you can clear this up for me.
Also: “In my conversation with some citizens I have found they don’t have all the facts on the Northumberland Medical Arts proposal, so I have put together the attached document.”
Your Word document contained all the facts?
Thanks,
Terry Robb
Concerned Citizen
Mayor’s Response
Terry Robb’s Response
________________________________________
CTA received a copy of this correspondence from David McIntyre to Councillors:
Mayor and Councilors:
With interest, I note in this letter the Mayor’s concern around the % of Cobourg population over the age of 65, now at 26.5% and going up considerably in the future. I am sure you are all aware that a great % of these individuals will not experience future earnings growth of mid life workers. In fact many will experience a significant decline in disposable income moving forward as they are on non indexed fixed pensions and if indexed, tied to inflation. We have had to swallow a electricity increase of approximately 21% in the last 12 months and with the blended elimination of the debt retirement charge and the clean energy benefit, another 7% increase next month. This is obviously not a doing of the town of Cobourg, but only an example of Government waste and mismanagement. As you move forward with your budget planning and big money give away’s, keep in mind the increasing financial pressure many, many residents and tax payers are facing.
When the 2016 property taxes are finalized, Would you please consider a pamphlet in the notification indicating the dollars and cents impact to the average tax bill of each of your initiatives. This would include both expenditures and savings.
Many Thanks
David McIntyre
Cobourg
________________________________________
A copy of correspondence from Ted Williams to Mayor Brocanier:
Mr Mayor,
I wish to say I’m against the waiver of Dev./Building etc costs for the Clinic. I feel it is inappropriate on so many levels:
• the presumed mandate of Council to decide for residents, where their voluntary contribution are spent
• the requested amount of waiver of money is audacious
• the profit potential for doctors, many of whom are on the NHH board, is open
• the history of doctors dabbling in development / building projects is often questionable ( see Bobcaygeon)
• your own reputation as a “big spender” is enhance
• the signal of “apply to Council for money” is broadcast loud and clear
In addition, when you bring forth issues like this, which so mis-read town residents (another example the Marina expansion) there are countless hours of wasted councillor and public’s time.
I’m not asking you to agree with me – I’m asking for you to represent me.
Thanks for listening and for your hard work for Cobourg
Ted Williams