March 13th, 2005

From our Forum - Time for the Region of Halton to appoint a Regional Audit Commission made up of Citizens to Review Conservation Halton and report back to the public and the Region of Halton on there findings. Being a Top 100 Employers in Canada in 2004 Conservation Halton Board of Directors should not have a problem with this citizen's request.

Nobody can understand where $3,387,946.00, yes, that's MILLION in Municipal funding is spent. And an operating and Capital budget of $15 Million. We have two council members from Halton Hills sitting on the C.H. (Conservation Halton) Board, they should be asking questions and getting answers. The public has a right to understand the Budget very clearly. Look at what is going on in Montreal with Sponsorship monies.

KELSO RECEIVES MILLIONS OF DOLLARS A YEAR.

And nobody can understand what the High Priced Bean Counters are trying to do. It seems like they just want more money from the taxpayers’ pockets.

They just got $400.000 from the Apple P.C. - Old Boys Club, under Super Build Grants. Halton Region gave over $3 Million. Another $100.000 from the Milton slots. And they are looking for $300.000 from the Trillium Fund. Increase in user fees at all the parks makes it seem like it’s all about money, and not the Protection of the Environment.

Will Councillor Lewis and/or Inglis motion C.H council for an Audit Commissioner? Don't get your hopes up, they remained silent when an intergrity commissioner was suggested for Halton Hills Council.

And what about Conservation Halton's gift acceptance policy, is there one?
Sensitive Issue:
How many of the Board members are Councillors? Perhaps that is one of the problems at C.H.


How many years can a Director stay on the board? 25 Years makes it the "Old Boys Net".

The Boards clouded history:

In 1998 C.H. endorsed a design for Mountsberg Centre an Architectural firm developed the detailed plans for construction. Several years have passed since the board endorsed the plan.
 

How much money and time was been spent on a project that should have been started in 1998? Should we be asking the Architectural firm? Estimated in 1998 at 1.7, what is the cost today? And what is the cost of all the design changes? Might the design costs be out of control?

In March of 2003 letters were sent out to the Editors across Halton Newspapers,
"READER SAYS CH BUDGET IS EXTRAVAGANT" Mayor Krantz who is a life long Director at C.H. was not in favour of an increase of 16.8 %.
 

In 2003 C.H. budget $2.900.000 MILLION DOLLARS came from municipal levies. Yes that's us the taxpayers! At that time Regional Councillors were asked, as well as the Newspapers to do some homework.

 

In 2005 $3.2 Million Dollars is again coming from Municipal Levies. They just keep sliding in the increase in to the taxpayers. This year Burlington Mayor Maclsaac recommended an independent review of its financial policies. What we have here is politics fighting the bureaucrats in a C.Y.A. foray.

Over the last few years under benefits, who paid the  O-M-E-R-S top up to C.H. pension fund, was it the taxpayers? It's looking like the bureaucrats will have a better pension than the Mayor.

December 31 , 2001
Public Sector salary Disclosure

In accordance with the Public Sector Discloser Act, CONSERVATION HALTON is required to disclose the names and salaries of employees who have been paid an annual salary of $100,000 or more for the 2002 calendar year. For the year ended December 31, 2002 - CAO, Secretary-Treasurer met this criteria and was paid an annual salary of $106,166.

 

In 2002 C.H. spent $47,253 on Consulting fees the Budget was set at $24,000 according to Financial Statements ended 31 December 2002

Under Expenditures
407 ETR project $ 7,500
Roman Catholic Dioceses of Hamilton $3,796.

Under Revenue
DUFFERIN AGGREGATE REHABILITATION PROJECT
$73,330
Roman Catholic Dioceses of Hamilton $3,756.

In 2002 C.H. spent $47,253 on Consulting fees the budget was set at $24,000 according to financial statements ended 31 December 2002

Total Halton Region Contribution

Growth in Halton Contribution
1998 = $ 2,172,893
1999 = $ 1,915,515 - 11.8 %
2000 = $ 2,003,088 4.6 %
2001 = $ 2,085,662 4.1 %
2002 = $ 2,240,137 7.4 %
2003 = $ 2,981,559 33.1 %
2004 =
2005 =
2006 = Election Year

Budget Meeting no.19-04 27-B
Meeting adopted by Council on Dec 15/04
Back to the Budget meeting.

Committee Chair J.Taylor
C.D'Amelio Member of the Board at C.H.*
J.Fogal
Gord Krantz Mayor of Town of Milton
K.Bird *
J.Savoline Regional Chair
Also Present
J.Dennison
A.Elgar *
R.Furik
B.Lee
M.Wallace

The following Individuals were in attendance to seek for their respective 2005 budget requests. Ms. Jean Williams Chair C.H.. Out-of-sight, out-of-mind was C.A.O./Secretary-Treasurer of C.H. and also Marnie Piggot the C.A. for C.H.
Councillor Brian Penman Vice Chair.

 

That Future Conservation Budget approvals by the Region be contingent on Conservation Halton conducting a review of their FINANCIAL POLICIES and format so as to effect a better alignment with the Region's budgeting practices and that Conservation Halton be REQUESTED to work with Regional staff on a revised FINANCING PLAN and REPORT back in APRIL 2005.

 

Chairman Savoline expressed a desire for staffs at Halton Region and Conservation Halton to work more closely on projects of mutual interest in order to REDUCE COST and gain efficiencies.

 

From the Halton Region files.
Investigate Reporter , Roberts

29 JULY 1994 BURLINGTON POST
BUDGET AUTHORITY DISPUTE COULD BE SETTLED IN COURT.
 

MARCH 17,1995 Spectator
BUDGET FEUD SEEMS TO BE OVER
 

10 Sept. 1995 Burlington Post
MONITOR COUNCILLORS VOTES MCISSAC SAYS.
 

BURLINGTON POST - 18 SEPT 1998
FORMER H.R.C.A.MEMBER CAST LIGHT IN SPENDING PRACTICES
 

SPECTATOR - 18 SEPT 1998
FORMER DIRECTOR CRITIZES H.R.C.A.
 

BURLINGTON POST - 16 SEPT 1998
NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM
CONSERVATION GROUP SHHOK UP.
 

SPECTATOR - 27 MAY 1998
NEW C.A.O. T.MAGUIRE-GARBER
TOP PRIORITY IS CONSERVING AUTHORIY'S CASH.
 

BURLINGTON POST - 27 MARCH 1996
C.H. HOW TO CONSERVE DOLLARS
 

MAY 24,2000

CONSERVATION HALTON FOUNDATION SHAKEUP
BOARD OF DIRECTORS FIRED FUNDRAISING ARM OF H.R.C.A.
 

11 FEB 2001 - BURLINGTON POST
PENMAN LOSES LONG-HELD CONSERVATION HALTON POSITION.
 

JUNE 15,2001 - BURLINGTON POST
C.H. WRITES OWN REPORT CARD
 

NOV 1,2002 - BURLINGTON POST C.H.SEEKING 22.5 %
 

BURLINGTON POST - 2004
C.H. ASKING FOR CONTRIBUTION BY 16.8% BUDGET

2005 C.H.REQUESTED BY HALTON REGION TO REPORT BACK IN APRIL 2005.
 

Burlington Post 12 Dec 1990
Region will aid Financially Strapped H.R.C.A.

Oakville Beaver March 1,1998
Mr.Murray Stephen General Manager for the past 27 years Agreed to step down following a meeting with the Board of Directors. Councillor Brian Penman from the Town of Milton said the change in leadership came with mixed emotions for him personally. In 1997,The Randolph Group Consulting firm was commissioned to conduct an organizational Review. that the public will never see.

February 9 th, 2005

And further that the CAO Theresa Maguire Garber engage the Randolph Group as a facilitator to the Conduct and Strategic Plan.

Back in 1997 PENMAN said, the restructuring allowed us to consider the definition of the organization and how this organization would be best represented to do business in the 21st Century, also a less adversarial approach is needed toward Funding Partners, including MUNICIPALITIES. The budget has been $12 MILLION in 1991 but mike Harris Brought that amount down to 5 million.

 

Burlington Post 18 JULY 1997
TAX-Payers Foot the Bill for H.R.C.A. Cars.

 

With all this information on the table.
I suggest that the Chairmen and Members of the Administration and Finance Committee and also J.E. MacCaskill, Commissioner of Corporate Services & Regional Treasure, make a request and control a public inquest and audit under - Code of Conduct and Policies set out by the Region of Halton. Or perhaps we should get our Municipal Affairs Minister John Gerretsen to look into it?

 

Oakville Beaver 20^th of August 1995
Burlington Councillor Rob MacIssac ( Mayor 2005 )

TOE THE POLICY LINE
Councillor MacIssac wants Halton Chair Joyce Savoline to MONITOR REGIONAL APPOINTEES at Conservation Halton. People we appoint aren't puppets, but part of their role is to represent the will of this council.
 

Burlington Councillor Bob Brechin said, "People who can increase a levy should be accountable to the public. It's very elementary." MacIssac Agreed, "You shouldn't have people increasing taxes who we can't throw out of office.

North Halton Compass 28 Feb 2001
Rookie Councillor Appointed to the Board of Conservation Halton
HIGH PROFILE YEAR concerned users on Conservation Halton facilities filled the Milton council chambers on Jan 8 To see who would be serving on the C.H. Board.

 

March 2000 Decision to disband the Conservation Halton Foundation, the fundraising arm of Conservation Halton, Two Milton Council members came under scrutiny. For the past three years Milton Council has been represented by Councillor Brian Penman and Mayor Gord Krantz. Councillor Penman served as Chairman of Conservation Ontario. Councillor Penman was on the Board for 23 years until Conservation Halton's dismissal of the Foundation Members. With the Municipal election, protocol dictated that Council select two members to serve on C.H. for 3 Years.

 

Dec 18,2000 at Council meeting in Milton, three members threw their hats in the boiling water for two spots:

Mayor Krantz, Councillor Penman and Councillor Lunau.

Krantz was elected into one of the spots but the Council was dead locked in deciding who should take the remaining seat. Council decided to hold over the appointments over until Jan. 8th as Councillor Rick Day and Barry Lee were absent at Council that night. The formal vote which followed saw a easy election for Mayor Krantz by a narrow margin of one vote. Keates graciously thanks Councillor Penman for years of service at C.H.

Comment by Councillor Penman was reflective about the end of 23 Year stint on C.H. "Every time you either close a door or have one closed for you, there's always the opportunity to open another one". Conservation Halton left Mayor Krantz shaking his head, commenting, "In all the years, I've never run into such foolishness, believe me".

Quote from the forum Reporter:
"Well Mayor Krantz, you should eat your words. You're so out of touch with the real world, you have just put conservation back another 25 years.
It's all about that Old Town Boys Net. Perhaps you need to do what Jean did up in Ottawa and retire before the new Club is formed".

Could contributions be a conflict of interest?

Who's filling our politicians campaign pockets?

Why are Dufferin Aggregates so interested in helping?

How many past Directors and Politicians at Conservation Halton were given contributions by Dufferin Aggregates?

 

Regional Councillor Clark A. Somerville's election campaign received a substantial contribution from an aggregate company.

Current Directors at Conservation Halton.

K.Bird
A.Elgar
Bob Inglis
Bryan Lewis
Gord Krantz
Brian Penman
C.D'Amelio
 

May 28,2000
Independent & Free Press
Four former C.H. Foundation Directors gain Re-Appointment.

Sarah Lowe from Dufferin Aggregates sits on the Board of Directors at Conservation Halton Foundation.
Who's Filling whose pockets?
Talking about a conflict of interest.
Why are Dufferin Aggregates so interested in giving several $1000's of dollars to Conservation Halton and the politicians that sit on the board?

Committee Recommends Quarry Expansion!
Please Remember that Conservation Halton's Strategic Plan Mission and goals, accountable governance and management. "To Protect and Enhance the Natural Environment from Lake to Escarpment for the benefit and Enjoyment of present and future generations".

Perhaps it's time for a regional cabinet shuffle? The Region can appoint and the Region can make a shuffle on appointments. Directors can stagnate if they spend too much time on a board.

We only have look around the Board Room table to see what Directors have been around for over 10 years. New Directors are like mushrooms and just follow the 'Old Boys Club', and if you make waves, your out at the end of your term.  They call it the democratic way, others are calling it board control.

We can ask the Minister of Natural Resources and the Premier of Ontario to appoint someone who can conduct an audit that has some financial ability and is objective and responsible to the public.

That's why a public audit is required!

Lets bring back integrity to our boards.

"Ontario believes in listening and responding to the concerns of the people of this Province".

With the law suits unfolding in the east between the council friendly Pickering developer who is challenging McGuinty's Greenbelt, this is an excellent opportunity to rally McGuinty into doing away with corporate political campaign contributions, or private campaign contributions from those who reside outside the wards from which the local politicians run.

We think he would definitely consider it. How could he not? He would come out as the lion slayer, the David of Goliath. It's his only option. If he doesn't, we'll see an enormous effort to run him out of office by special interest groups in his next election.

Write;

Premier of Ontario
Hon. Dalton McGunity
e-mail - dalton.mcgunity@premier.gov.on.ca

Others are saying; let's start a Public Audit Commission and do the job for the Region, free of charge. It'll take about 15 citizens from across the Region, they must have some type of management/audit experience. All the information is available under Freedom of Information Act.

Another consideration is for us all to put pressure on our locally elected officials for answers. And if we don't get the truth on the table, we boot them all out the next Election in 2006.

The environmental mandate in Halton should be to protect Watershed residents and ratepayers. We can't give in to large aggregate companies that destroy the Watershed with their dust, blasting, property, eco-systems, drinking water, and the list goes on. No new rehabilitation projects should be accepted.
 

Use smart growth in our Watershed.
Ontario Greenbelt has started, conservation should follow. It's a good time to gain the publics trust and open the books to the residents that pay the taxes to do the job the way we meant too.

We all can write an email to the office of The Premier - Dalton McGuinty and copy The Honourable John Gerretsen asking why the Government of Ontario stopped the audits of all Conservation Authorities in Ontario.

Demand the Audit

Premier of Ontario
Hon. Dalton McGuinty
dalton.mcgunity@premier.gov.on.ca
 

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Hon David J.Ramsay

dramsay.mpp.kirklandlake@liberal.ola.org

Deputy Minister Gail L. Beggs
e-mail

Michael Bryant, Minister ATTORNEY GENERAL
Responsible for Democratic Renewal
Citizen's JURY on political finance.

Ministry of the Environment
Hon. Leona Dombrowsky
Deputy Minister
Ms.Vigiria M.West
Toll Free 1-800-565-4923

Ask the Ontario Government start the Audit Control by the Ministry as it was done in the past.

Contact Halton Region and request the audit, one that is not be held in camera. The findings need to be made public.

Contact: REGIONAL CHAIRMAN JOYCE SAVOLINE.
1866-442-5866 TOLL FREE. 

e-mail is savolinj@region.halton.on.ca

Another thing we can do, pressure our own politicians to get more involved.

NOTICE Of MOTION
BY THE Mayor
TO REQUEST THE REGION OF HALTON TO APPOINT A
CITIZENS AUDIT COMMISSION TO REVIEW
CONSERVATION HALTON Dated March 6, 2005
2nd by Mr.Somerville
Show of Hands if Council accepts the motion.
Motion Carried?

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