This is no tempest in a tea pot!

This notion that people are sick to death of the Peggy Chapman affair is plain wrong. Every where I go people ask, "what's up with the Mayor?". Even for those people who would rather talk about anything else than a significant pay increase for the Mayor's Executive Assistant here's why this story needs to be seen out to it's conclusion hopefully tomorrow night, and why it's important for our city.
Number one, I think everyone would agree that upon further review back in December the Mayor in his efforts to lay blame elsewhere for a 33 per cent pay increase or 30 thousand dollars for Ms Chapman gave himself a black eye. This was a self inflicted punch to the face. His office leaked the amount and when people began asking questions he tried to suggest that Human Resources approached him about a review of the EAs pay. That was patently false and when staff called him on it, he backed down and admitted he instigated the review and then made the decision. It really wasn't about the money, it was more about the Mayor once a little bit of heat was applied to the front burner trying to slide away and blame someone else. When council heard the details they called the Mayor to task which is point two of this discussion. In January thoroughly upset that the integrity of a department and it's senior manager had been tarnished by the Mayor's original stance council threatened to censure him at that point in time. Behind closed doors for several hours the Mayor argued back and forth with councillors asking them to look beyond the process to the money he was saving in his department. He finally accepted the will of council and admitted to them he had done wrong and he apologised. Some two months later after going off the deep end over a cartoon in the editorial pages of the Spectator the Mayor went ballistic in an email he assumed wouldn't be released by the managing editors of the local daily. Naive or what? If you've read the email you know how vitriolic it was, claiming the daily was out to get him and his family. This episode number two erupted not only because of the cartoon but because of the imminent publishing of the "sunshine list" across all of Ontario from Provincial to Municipal and Health Care executives we by law were about to learn who made over 1 hundred thousand dollars. Peggy Chapman's name was going to be on the list because she cashed in vacation time pushing her from 90 thousand bucks to just over 1 hundred thousand dollars. Rumours had been swirling and thus the Spectator's Andrew Dreschel picked up the phone and asked the Mayor to comment. Not only did he comment he spilled the exact beans which the Spectator did not have until that point in time. Thus the e mail to the Spec which published on a Wednesday just before the next GIC meeting (General Issues Committee). At that meeting Councillor Sam Merulla who had read Dreschels column where the e mail was printed for the first time put forward a notice of motion of censure because in that e mail the Mayor once again reiterated that he had not been the one to promote a pay raise for Chapman in the first place. Wow. The reaction, the body language as the ramifications began to dawn on Councillors was an amazing sight to see.
The ramifications were clear, the Mayor had back tracked from the apology he had given only two months before. Censure was on again. Censure indeed will take place tomorrow evening but beyond censure what can council collectively do to punish the Mayor who by the way went on an email rampage over the weekend sending nasty notes including some filthy language to those he perceives most want to take him down a notch. The buzz is all over the city about what the Mayor was saying in those emails which began this past Friday evening. This afternoon in camera, council discussed a personnel matter. I have no doubt they concluded exactly what their collective approach will be tomorrow evening and I can assure you that from two sources I have spoken to, they have the votes to censure this Mayor.
So what are the ramifications in detail?
The Mayor, Bob Bratina on two occasions has not told the whole truth and nothing but the truth on the process regarding the pay increase.
He has privately and publicly now either forgotten his apology (I'm being nice here) or with a huge streak of stubbornness has decided to revoke his apology to his council colleagues.
He has recently and privately attacked select members of council for daring to challenge and/or punish him for his attitudes.
He has unilaterally demanded that senior staff, those who could possibly have known what names were on the sunshine list to sign sworn affidavits that they in fact did not leak information that was going to be public within a week of leaking. He can not do this and nor can any other individual member of council. Only through a vote at council can such an action proceed legally.
He has dug himself a hole that he is not apparently prepared to climb out of.
What are the ramifications for the city of Hamilton? Across the country people have a certain perception of Hamilton don't they? This will reinforce that won't it?

When council censures the Mayor tomorrow evening and the news makes it's way across the nation people will say, "take a look at this, there goes Hamilton again". "They couldn't get the Pan Am stadium right and damn near lost the Ticats now their Mayor is getting spanked in public". It isn't going to look good and that's a fact, but here's the good news. Despite the antics of this Mayor this city is on the move. Wherever I go I see new development, new initiatives, new ideas and new blood pushing this city forward. We not only have  turned a corner we are pressing the pedal to the medal on a number of economic fronts. Rest assured, from what I have seen of this council there are more than enough leaders and qualified people who won't let this city tumble off the tracks

Spread the news!

There is a re-birth happening at the Head of the Lake. Hamilton is expected to generate close to 900 million dollars in building permits this year, it's second highest number dating back to 2007.  Today at the General Issues Committee which had a lot on it's plate Neil Iverson Director of Economic Development gave his annual update. All the 2011 numbers are in and here are the highlights; building permits 731 million. The number of industrial buildings available to the market place decreased from 6.1 per cent to 3.4 per cent outperforming Burlington, Oakville and Mississauga. Downtown Hamilton office space for properties with at least 5 thousand square feet has dropped from 15 to 13 to 12 per cent since 2009. Assessment growth held at 1.3 per cent despite the fact 2011 came in three hundred million dollars shy of the record building permit year of 2010.
What does the future look like? In 2011 over 3 hundred companies were extensively interviewed by the department to find out what shape we are in. Fourty six per cent of companies said they will be hiring in 2012 with 37 per cent reporting room for expansion with 62 per cent of the companies suggesting in the survey they are growing. Over 77 per cent reported they would be introducing new products over the next two years.
Although steel and steel related industries remain a big player, Hamilton Health Sciences remains the largest employer with the Agra business becoming a very large player especially in the Red Hill Business Park and on the Harbour. The only area of concern was raised by Ward 5's Chad Collins who suggested that although he has been a supporter of banking business park lands around the airport he needs to know from airport officials themselves what they foresee in the short and long terms before he is willing to put any more financing into that particular portfolio especially with expansion of business park lands currently at an expensive OMB hearing. Staff has been asked to bring all interested parties together for a presentation before GIC sooner than later. By the way the Ward Councillor for the airport will be our guest tomorrow on "For the Record, Council Edition". Brenda Johnson will discuss airport development, PFOS contamination, economic development in her ward and of course the story of the week another paranoid implosion emanating from the Mayor's office. More on that is still to come. #HamOnt

A toxic relationship!!!

Toxic is a strong and harsh word don't you think? At what was a very polite and more often than not amiable Planning Committee meeting this day Ward 4's Sam Merulla used that harsh word to described the ongoing problems at the City Motor Hotel on Queenston Rd a story I'm sure most of you are aware of. From prostitution to drug deals to a recent public shooting incident with police calls every day, Merulla is pushing for an amendment to city bylaws that would place hotels and motels in the same category as bed and breakfast businesses currently covered. The motion was unanimously received and you should watch for it on the March 28th City Council agenda.
As well that evening keep an eye out for mention of this issue regarding sub licensing of taxi cabs. Representatives from the cab industry went before planning to ask that bylaw enforcement of what is an illegal action be stepped up or else there would be dire consequences for the cab industry in this town. When city legal staff were asked for input they advised that they had tried a prosecution under the existing bylaw and won the case only to lose on appeal. The reason, the current wording is "antiquated" and needs revising. Those revisions will be back before council before the end of the year.
Also before planning this day a proposal to expand the development at 401 Rymal East and 1620 Upper Wentworth better known as the Village of Wentworth Heights. There had been some design concerns that have been favourably resolved between staff, the developer and Councillor Scott Duvall who attended committee to explain his approval of the revised plans. This expansion is worth 60 million dollars with the committee voting unanimously to accept. As I mentioned this meeting was civil and business like with next up the General Issues Committee tomorrow morning at 9.30am.

Sentiment but no cigar!

The motion; Whereas the Caterpillar Corporation has breached the Investment Canada Act, and has been subsidized by Canadian taxpayers who have been betrayed by the closure of its Caterpillar Plant in London, Ontario, be it resolved, the City of Hamilton review its policy related to any business relationship with the Caterpillar Corporation and boycott Caterpillar and encourage all Hamilton, Ontario and Canadian businesses from doing business with the Caterpillar Corporation. Pretty clear right? Not so much. The issue of course the Caterpillar pullout from London. The sympathy for the workers who have now lost their jobs was palpable. The sentiment is to naturally support those workers and that was expressed by the majority of those who spoke at Hamilton City Council this evening. But. And there's always a but the motion failed 10 to 4 with Councillor Lloyd Ferguson not involved due to a conflict of interest. Voting for a boycott were Duvall, Collins, Merulla the author and McHattie. Why didn't this go through? Several councillors believe that if a boycott were put in place companies who have relationships with Caterpillar would then be hurt with job losses resulting, companies like Toromont who had appeared before the General Issues Committee. Some felt like Councillor Brad Clark that this was not a municipalities purview, that although pressure should be applied and concerns expressed to higher levels of  government cities are not in the business of worrying about the Investment Canada Act. Others thought if the motion had used the word condemned instead of boycott they could have supported. In the end this long and sometimes tedious debate almost erupted into open warfare when on a second go round mover Merulla tried to imply that Councillor Clark a former Provincial Conservative Cabinet Minister and former federal conservative candidate somehow in the same sentence was related to robocalls in Hamilton East and Stoney Creek in the last federal election. Like where was that going? The Mayor stepped in to caution Merulla at that point and then finally after some byplay ruled Merulla out of order who then suggested an amendment or was it a new motion, or was it an amendment to an amendment to a new motion, who knew? We were all looking at each other as Merulla continued to chirp and the Mayor appeared to be ready to blow. Finally the Mayor ruled everyone knew the intent so lets get on with the vote which failed.
In other news, baseball as far as Pan Am baseball or softball is concerned is dead. A recommendation to refer to the GM of Public Works for a report to the GIC on any interest the city of Hamilton might have was lost on a tie vote. The Mayor who received through his office the request for expressions of interest pleaded with councillors to at least gather information from staff to see if this request made sense for Hamilton to even consider. Leading the charge against was Ward 1 Councillor Brian McHattie who said he had no stomach to revisit any Pan American games initiatives based on how Hamilton he felt had been treated in the past regarding the stadium debate and the Velodrome. Voting against gathering any information at all were McHattie, Merulla, Morelli, Collins, Clark, Pearson, Johnson and Partridge. The Mayor asked the clerk plaintively do ties mean a loss? "Yes". The correspondence was received. Good bye.
In brief the expanding where you can't smoke bylaw has been put off for further study and input until October. A motion to appoint Farr and McHattie to a special committee comprised of city and Hamilton Wentworth District School Board trustees and support staff was passed unanimously. They should report back within a month re potential sites that will keep the school board downtown. And finally a little kfuffle near the end when a motion to forward some monies to Opera Hamilton enabling them to sign a significant guest performer in the fall raised a few alarm bells since Opera Hamilton has had some fiscal problems in the past. In the end the motion to make sure they were forwarded monies to sign the deal even though the 2012 budget has not been passed and won't be until March 28th was passed with two dissenting voices, Whitehead and Jackson. Good night.

When unanimous means thanks but no thanks!

Interesting start to Hamilton's General Issues Committee budget discussions this day. The Mayor's Executive Assistant Peggy Chapman had a quiet conversation with Councillor Brad Clark who is in the chair for the month of March. As the meeting got underway a piece of paper was circulated for discussion, receipt or whatever council wished to do with it. What was in the piece of paper you wonder? It was the opinion of ex city clerk Kevin Christensen recently hired by Mayor Bob Bratina as his Municipal Adviser that on the issue of decorum at last Friday's meeting of the GIC  (perhaps better known now as "gavel gate") that the Chair, Brad Clark had done nothing wrong, that even his very loud use of the gavel was appropriate. When Clark asked what anyone wanted to do with the opinion from the Mayor's office he received this opening salvo from Sam Merulla, "I'm not willing to accept it, it usurps the position of the clerk's office. Ward 5's Chad Collins joined 4's Merulla pointing out that going down this road could be very dangerous. Around the table it went to the point a motion was put forth by Merulla to "not receive" the advice. It passed unanimously. One wonders what the Mayor or his office was thinking by putting this opinion forward. Clearly the clerk of the committee is in charge of decisions regarding what is in order and what is not. It is their opinion that matters under law and no one else's. Clearly the Mayor who ought to know better or someone else in his office who should know better interjected themselves into council business and pretty much got smacked up the side of the head for sticking their nose where it wasn't wanted.
Onto other business now. Just what is going on with the controversial "swing space" that McMaster University claims is integral to their three way deal with the city and the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board. As you know the University has given its other two erstwhile partners an ultimatum to either get this issue resolved by the end of the week or else "Mac" is walking away from the deal. The latest events went something like this;  withdrawn from today's agenda was the entire issue of "swing space" since it now appears according to representatives of the Right House where Public Health currently leases space that the City Centre is now part of ongoing talks. And we also know that the Right House itself has been in discussions with city staff and will be allowed to make a more formal presentation to the GIC either Thursday or Friday of this week. We are well beyond the 11th hour on this one.
As for the budget discussions we are told now that city wide the current preliminary budget increase has dropped to 1.3 %. However because of reassessment and area rating Glanbrook this year will see a 4.4 % increase Flamborough 3.5, Dundas 3.1, Stoney Creek 2.8 and  Ancaster 2 %. But the budget is still not done and will not be completed until at least two more budget meetings take place after the March break for presentation to council on March 28th.
Oh, and one final note and you can see the sides lining up on this issue GIC did today authorise the General Manager of Public Works to move forward on the Accessible Transportation Services program enhancement to the tune of 850 thousand dollars in 2012. I'll back up and explain. This enhancement becomes law Province wide in 2017. It allows those people who are cognitively disabled and unable to get on a DARTS bus without a companion to qualify. In total the program implementation could cost 5.7 million dollars to comply. Councillors were quite happy to provide the funds and applauded staff on their prudent planning but then those dividing lines started to appear. Several councillors are questioning some of those who currently qualify with Russ Powers of Dundas suggesting everyone around council knows of individuals who abuse the current system. Others namely Merulla and Jackson have stated clearly during past discussions on this that they do not require any review of current qualifications because they don't want to see "that can of worms opened up". Tomorrow evening a full city council beginning at 5pm with a tape delay broadcast on Cable 14 at 7, and I'll be there arming myself  for a chat with Councillor Clark on Thursday's "For the Record, Council Edition".

The art of gavelling!

Crack!  Most of us jumped six inches.  You're out of order sir! No you're out of order! You are out of order councillor, crack again. Oh boy we've got two very angry men going at it. Finally silenced Ward 10's Loyd Ferguson after the second use of the gavel by Deputy Mayor of the month Brad Clark half rising out of his chair wanted to know if Clark wanted him to come over and use the gavel on Clark's head. Ferguson then saying I've had enough of you, picked up his budget documents and left the General Issues Committee meeting not to return. This followed an angry confrontation between Clark and Councillor Terry Whitehead their third in two meetings. Is there something in the drinking water at the hall? Is this information overload during the budget session that is bringing on the heated exchanges? Don't know, but although it was entertaining for the media I do know this, today's lack of decorum has tongues wagging and social media buzzing. Clark at the end of today's session calmly explained why he had to bang the gavel so hard. What couldn't be explained however was the abruptness of the confrontation seemingly out of nowhere. Councillor Clark by the way will be my guest on "For the Record, Council Edition" next Thursday at 5pm on Cable 14.
Couple more GIC notes from today with the first revolving around a request from the Pan Am games organising committee who have asked communities if there is any interest in hosting some baseball and softball games in 2015. This was brought forward by Mayor Bob Bratina. Immediately glasses were tinkled. First up Ward 1's Brian McHattie who suggested he wanted nothing further to do with the Pan Am organisers after their handling of the Velodrome and stadium files. Ward 5's Chad Collins suggested that if the Pan Am people wanted to rent Bernie Arbour stadium for a couple of weeks then they should get in line with the rest of community to do so. Tom Jackson from Ward 6 suggested if there is one extra dollar of impact on the community he would not be supportive. Ward 8's Terry Whitehead on the other hand pointed out that the city does have recreational needs and so at the very least should listen to what the Organising Committee has to say for the needs may align with the proposal. Staff will get back with a report. Speaking of staff many thanks were expressed for the hard work they have done on getting budgets down. Currently the operating budget sits at a 1.4 per cent increase but again several councillors said they were not prepared to sign off on the budget at next week's city council meeting without further attempts to get the budget under 1 per cent. Last year for example it came in at .8 per cent. The next budget session is set for March the 6th.