HawthorneVillager.com

NO, I have a Councillor and I let him know of my concerns.

I agree with you Zeeshan about their businesses and the people running them. I promote them as well for free via Twitter / forum posts etc because I believe in them as an individual. That part is fine.

Its my personal choice for not getting their financial help to release a newsletter and that's fine as well. Nothing against Fred or Niraj as people because we know them.

I choose not to accept corporate donations/developers/local businesses etc because I want to remove all doubt in the perception of the public.

You've mentioned before that we have to keep our 1/3 tax free status on our salary to make up for the fact we don't have an expense account and that small expenses we incur during our time as councillor can be covered.

Do I print things out? Yep and I use ink for that purpose and in turn ill have to buy paper and supplies to do that. We don't have expense accounts and the 1/3 tax free on our salaries goes towards that. This newsletter is just another example of us going above and beyond the job description and communicating with the residents.

If down the road we were to get an expense account we can then discuss removing the special status on our salaries but that's a debate for another time.

There are issues at other levels of govt that have similar ramifications. Unions donating to political parties...law firms donating as well. That's why I supported Jean Chretien in the changes to federal political donations only being allowed by individuals and making a limit of $1100 per person. Its so that banks lawfirms etc can't influence political parties and eventually goveernment members.

For me its clear...its what I believe. I'm not here to judge anyone.

_________________
Mike Cluett
Local/Regional Councillor
Wards 1,6,7 & 8

Website | Email mike@mikecluett.ca | Cell (647) 888-9032 | Facebook Page | | Twitter @Mike_Cluett

Same councillor you were saying does not update you regularly via your choice of medium despite him having updates via several others?

Funny how you can find him when you have concerns or complaints but not when you want to find out what's happening in the ward.

I am telling him about things that need fixing in my ward. It has nothing to do with the stuff you are writing.

Minor edit by admin

Mike, you bring up good points above.

Anger management classes not working for ya?
Isn't that post in violation of some sort of rules on this forum?

Dude, you were the one who said your councillor did not post regular updates here and that you don't follow him on twitter or where else he does post. I'm not making this crap up. This crap is all yours.

I completely agree. Nothing wrong with having a local business sponsor you, and as you say it can also be seen as promoting the local business.


This is also a good point. I'm against taxpayer funded expense accounts for councilors partly for this reason, but also since the newsletter -- with the councilor's name in big huge letters of course -- is largely for name recognition to assist with the next reelection campaign. Nothing wrong with doing that at all, in fact it's smart politics (and maybe there are even a few households who'd actually read the content ) but it definitely shouldn't be double-funded through a tax free salary plus a taxpayer funded expense account.

Personally I think Zeeshan has struck the right balance, but I respect your position as well.

So as long as we get a newsletter (sponsored or otherwise) from our councillor(s) then we're OK with construction workers digging up gas pipelines every few months? No one has answered what if anything is being done to avoid further "accidents" with pipelines by these guys. Hopefully the newsletters will include upcoming dig locations and dates so we can steer clear until the hole is filled back in then.

I would take your complaint to Mattamy. Those fences are so poorly painted when they are put it, they will never hold paint properly.

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Geer

I would take your complaint to Mattamy. Those fences are so poorly painted when they are put it, they will never hold paint properly.

_________________
Geer