Finally, a Quarterly Review... Sort of.

When Paul Tomlinson became mayor of Kearney he promised to eliminate the "From the Mayor's Chair" newsletter and to publish a quarterly report from council. The newsletter was eliminated, but not surprisingly, the quarterly report never materialized. Mind you, if we had Tomlinson's track record, we wouldn't publish it either.

But recently we heard news that Mayor Tomlinson would be publishing a report summarizing council's activities over the last year. So instead of creating our own summary, we thought we'd see what His Honour had for us. We hate to use up space here, republishing his letter, but it's short.

On behalf of The Corporation of the Town of Kearney Staff and Council may I extend Season’s Greetings and our Best Wishes for a joyous and healthy New Year to our ratepayers near and far!

December marks the first anniversary in our four year term of office. Mindful of the old adage

You can please some of the people all of the time
And all of the people some of the time,
But you can't please all of the people all of the time…

I believe your Council has accomplished just that. We have approved our 2012 budget (a first – before the budget year actually commenced!) and for the second consecutive year we have held the line on our tax levy. What does this mean to you? Unless you have made improvements to your property affecting your property assessment, your taxes should remain the same as last year. Once we receive confirmation of our Provincial education taxes we will proceed to pass a by-law setting out our 2012 tax ratios. We have done this through a concerted effort by our staff to reduce our operating expenses and reallocate those savings to offset capital purchases, reduce debt or increase our reserves (money set aside for unforeseen events). This has also been accomplished without increasing our debt (actually reducing our debt) and absorbing a 2% tax increase to fund our share of improvements to Highway 518E. We in fact are “doing more with less” through ever-improving efficiencies.

A very good example of this is the Town’s decision to join a purchasing consortium which comprises various levels of federal, provincial and municipal governments. You can imagine the purchasing power this consortium has, and Kearney is now the beneficiary of this, with huge savings expected in many areas ranging from office supplies to equipment. The Town is now also in discussions with neighbouring municipalities to see what equipment might be shared to avoid the necessity of purchasing or leasing needed equipment often underutilised. We are currently in the process of updating some of our accounting software and here again, we expect process enhancements.

Road maintenance and improvements will continue unabated, with road reconstruction scheduled for 518E and replacement of the Higgins Road Culvert, as well as an additional $225,000 budgeted for road maintenance based on our revised 5 year plan which is to be tabled in the first quarter of 2012. We are not finished there, as money has been also set aside for improvements at the Kearney Community Centre, with our kitchen being completely remodelled thanks to a Trillium grant, and our gym floor being replaced after too many years of wear and tear.

With the continuing support and efforts of our management and staff, working as a Team with your Council, we will continue efforts to maximise use of all the precious resources available to us, in order to make Kearney an affordable place to live, work and enjoy!



PAUL H TOMLINSON
MAYOR

Mayor Tomlinson sets the stage nicely with "...to our ratepayers". Not "friends", "neighbours", or even "citizens", but "ratepayer". What is a "ratepayer"? It someone who pays the local taxes. Brings a tear to your eye doesn't it? Can you feel the love?

Then Mayor Tomlinson warms up with a nice ass-covering "old adage":

You can please some of the people all of the timeAnd all of the people some of the time,But you can't please all of the people all of the time…

And gets it wrong.

The quote, attributed to Abraham Lincoln, is actually:

You can fool some of the people all of the time,
and all of the people some of the time,
but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.

Nice try, Paul. But in your case we have to admit that either version works.

Mayor Tomlinson then gives us a bit about the new budget and tax levies and offsetting capital expenditures and tax ratios, without really telling us anything. He certainly steers well clear of discussing the 9.5% municipal tax decrease that neatly dove-tails with the 9.5% provincial property tax increase that only the Proudfoot waterfront property owners will experience. Aren't you proud of the 9.5% decrease, Paul? Why so shy?

Then he summarizes that section with "...doing more with less..." A nice cliche, but more what? And less where? 

Tax levies and tax ratios and reallocating offsetting capital expenditures and fooling all of the people some of the time...

Thanks for clearing that up, Paul.

Purchasing Consortium. Here's a good idea made to sound way bigger than it is. His Honour likes to use a lot of $20 words, but what it sounds like (we had trouble chewing through it, too) is that several municipalities (and possibly the province, or the whole country) will order stuff in bulk for a discount, or it'll be a swap-meet where municipalities can trade stuff or share stuff. But Tomlinson has a history of screwing other mayors and reeves, so this might be a tough one to get off the ground.

...Road maintenance and improvements will continue unabated...

Just like every other year, under every other council, everywhere? Way to be ordinary, Paul.

Then Mayor Tomlinson takes credit for getting the Trillium Grant for the Community Centre. The kitchen isn't getting remodelled "thanks to a Trillium Grant", it's getting remodelled thanks to Councillor Yvonne Wills who went out and got the Trillium Grant. The Grant didn't just pull into the parking lot one day, Paul. One of your councillors actually showed some initiative and did something positive instead of spending all their time whining about having to be social butterflies while giving themselves raises. But Tomlinson hates Councillor Wills because she makes the Proudfoot Four look like a bunch of do-nothing suck-bags, so he's never going to give her credit. But we will: Good job, Councillor Wills!

And finally,

...we will continue efforts to maximise[sic] use of all the precious resources available to us, in order to make Kearney an affordable place to live, work and enjoy!

We don't really need to debunk this line. Just read the papers. Think, Outfitters, the Fine Dining Restaurant, and Strato Steel. The latter two packed up and moved while Outfitters continues to fight bankruptcy as they wrestle through all the new red-tape Tomlinson created for them.

So not much of a report for an entire year. And what's missing speaks more than what's included. Nowhere does Tomlinson mention the tireless efforts of Kearney's volunteers. Why not? Because he ran them all off, that's why. For the first time in Kearney's history there are no volunteers for Regatta and now he's suggesting that a company be hired (at our expense) to run it in 2012.

Stay tuned for the real Year in Review...

Masochists Only Please

This showed up in our mail today:

And that's great that the Town of Kearney is looking for a "Regatta Team Leader", except there is no Regatta Team. 

The town put an ad in the Almaguin News recently asking for volunteers and got ZERO responses. No surprise since Mayor Paul Tomlinson chased off all the other volunteers and bullied Councillor Yvonne Wills until she quit. Under Tomlinson's boot volunteers have been treated like crap. Even the so-called "Volunteer Appreciation Dinner" was invite-only and all the plum seats went to Proudfoot property-owners association fat-cats while most volunteers were snubbed.

So now Councillor Louise Wadsworth (who voted against the 2011 Regatta) is looking for a team leader who will have no team. Wadsworth would do the job herself except, like the rest of council, she doesn't want to. Councillor Wills would do it again, but after a year of being bullied, harassed, and abused by Tomlinson, she, like her volunteers, are burned out.

So if you're "an energetic, innovative leader", here's a chance to sit in a room all by yourself while Mayor Tomlinson screams at you for the shitty job you're doing. If you're lucky, Councillor Barry Dingwall might even drop in to smirk at you.

You'll have an "opportunity to reinvent this Kearney tradition". A tradition is basically the handing down of customs from generation to generation. Now that the Proudfoot Four have destroyed our decades-old tradition, you'll get to reinvent it! Under the direct, but distant, supervision of Councillor Wadsworth, who doesn't think there should be a Regatta anyway. But that's okay, because you'll also be constantly micro-managed by Tomlinson anyway.

And let's not forget, you'll have the support of "the Committee that you will build". Good luck with that.

And "a team of volunteers recruited to support the running of this event". See paragraph 3 above.

"Your entrepreneurial flair and creative genius could allow this event to take on new life with renewed energy." New life. The old life was doing just fine thanks, until Inauguration Day 2010. Councillor Wills and her Regatta team of volunteers had plenty of entrepreneurial flair, creative genius, life, and energy until Mayor Tomlinson "supported" them so much they quit. Along with pretty much every other volunteer the town had.

So sign up! Before some other genius scoops up this totally awesome opportunity!

Enjoy Kearney... from Somewhere Else

So what has Mayor Paul Tomlinson and the new council done to enhance tourism in Kearney? Read all about what Kearney has to offer tourists on the town website:

What are you doing Monday, February 21st for Family Day ? Why not celebrate it right here, in Kearney, on one of our many beautiful lakes??

Please see the links below for information on how you and your family can enjoy a wonderful winter outing!!


File: Discover Ontario Family Day Fishing Click Here to Download
File: Stay Safe On the Ice Click Here to Download

The first file lists lots of great places to enjoy winter activities, including ice-fishing. Kearney is not one of them. Hamilton, Ottawa, North Bay, Collingwood, Blue Mountain... but not Kearney.

Way to boost the tourism industry, Paul. Kearney probably has the only tourism web page on the planet that advertises how great other places are.

So, the Town of Kearney wants you to "...enjoy a wonderful winter outing..." by going somewhere else!

The second file is just a generic safety brochure.

Oh, and February 21st is a Tuesday.

Are you surprised?

Or Is It Tomlinson Who's "Bogus"

In this week's Almaguin News, Kearney Mayor Paul Tomlinson, continues to try and bullshit us about the death of the Kearney Regatta committee:

"...Nor did we restrict the membership on that committee... The issue was that there wasn’t enough staff and volunteers to organize the event. Council never refused to appoint any further committee..."

But remember this?

Just THREE members, Paul. That's the maximum limit you put on the Regatta Advisory Committee. Remember?


And remember when the Proudfoot Four, led by Tomlinson, voted against the 2011 Regatta at the beginning of the year? It was only after the ensuing public out-cry that the motion was re-tabled and Regatta got the go-ahead from council.

"BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Kearney approves the Event 2011 Regatta and further that the format be preserved as it had been in 2010 and previous years.   

Recorded vote requested by Councillor Wills

Ken Ball – Yea
Barry Dingwall – Nay
Arthur Murdy – Nay
Steve Sainsbury – Absent
Louise Wadsworth – Nay
Yvonne Wills – Yea
Paul Tomlinson – Nay
DEFEATED"

But Tomlinson thinks we're all stupid enough to believe "the current council was very supportive of the committee". Really? 

• Restricting the membership to just three.
• Voting against the 2011 Regatta.
• Placing a staff spy at every meeting.
• Dictating how much the Regatta committee could spend of its own funds (Tomlinson wanted the additional funds to offset the deficit his Proudfoot-friendly budget will create).

Yah. You're a great guy, Paul! So you stood in the road at Regatta holding a hat after being shamed for your lack of interest in most every other community event. We're sure that everyone who voted for you must be very proud.

Are you surprised?

Quote of the Year - 2011

It's been almost a year since the new council took over the town and we'll be highlighting some of the key moments in an upcoming article. In the meantime, we've selected Kearney's quote of the year.

And the winner is Councilor Barry Dingwall with:

"I didn’t see God on the beaches of Normandy, not that I was there."

Way to offend everybody, Barry.

"I didn't see God in Fredericksburg, not that I was there."

Tomlinson Axes Christmas Turkeys

As if morale wasn't low enough, Mayor Ebenezer Tomlinson and the Proudfoot Grinches voted to discontinue giving Christmas turkeys to town staff this year. When staff met with His Honour to express their disappointment, he told them they should just be happy they have jobs!

Nice.

Lots of money to wine and dine the Proudfoot property association executives and fat raises for themselves, but nothing for town staff. 

Or the Food Bank, for that matter.

Are you surprised?

Council Votes Itself a Pay Raise

Funny how the Proudfoot Four used to scream bloody murder about the previous council's honoraria, but now that they're on the receiving end, have given themselves a raise. All the while telling us that it's a decrease.

On paper, council makes it look like their honorarium has been deceased by creating a fixed monthly amount, instead of a per-meeting payment. That might work out to be less than what the previous council billed because the Proudfoot Four (especially Councillor Barry Dingwall) have no intention of volunteering for anything, getting involved in anything, or attending anything, other than the bare minimum of council meetings.

The previous council members attended pretty much everything and were actively involved in everything, so they were technically entitled to more honorarium payments than the current council who do next to nothing (and are proud of it). But most of the previous council either didn't collect their honoraria, or just donated it back to the town, or community volunteer groups.

But now, councilors like Dingwall won't have to show up for anything and will still be guaranteed to make $7,200 a year. Mayor Tomlinson will bag $8,400 a year, even though he's "just one voice". This after they received a $1,200-plus (or 30%) pay increase when they came into power in 2010!

At the end of the year, it looks like the town will save money, but think about it this way:

Let's say you have employees who work at least 40 hours a week and often volunteers to work evenings and weekends at no cost to you. And the employees love their jobs, work hard, and then donate their pay back to the company! After 4 years of this you fire the employees.

Now you have new employees. They show up for work when they feel like, don't bother reading any of the material before meetings, refuse to work overtime, barely put in a 20-hour work week, and have given away free services to their buddies while treating your regular customers like crap and driving new business away. Now out of the goodness of their hearts, the new employees are going to work for a regular monthly salary instead of an hourly wage. The monthly salary will be less that what the previous employees could have made each month but will actually be an in-pocket increase of over 50%, but don't expect any improvement in the new employees' work performance. In fact, they've made it very clear that they'll be doing less from now on. Oh, and they won't be donating any of their pay back to the company either.

When was the last time you got a 80% pay raise, for doing less work?

Are you surprised? 

"I ran for the job to be a councilor, not to be a social butterfly. There is no secret to the fact that I don’t live in Kearney all year round and can’t always be at these functions." - Councilor Barry Dingwall, March 2011


“I already put in about 25 hours a week. I just don’t see how the community can expect people on council to go out and do these programs in addition to the work they’ve already taken on. For me, I’m out. I will never volunteer for regatta, I’m sorry to say.” - Councilor Barry Dingwall, November 2011

Not unless Tomlinson needs you to spy on the kids at the Regatta Chalk Art contest, eh, Barry?

Council Responds

Kearney councillor Yvonne Wills writes:

Dear Concerned Citizens:

To correct your recent Blog entry regarding the Change in Council Times for Kearney Council.  First, I presented a “Resolution” to Council several months ago, with reference to the Council meeting times.   I asked Council consideration to move to a Winter Hours schedule, being an earlier start time.  This was approved by Council for the winter months only.  The reason I requested this was a) because most Seasonal residents do not attend the winter months meetings as many close their cottages after October. b) An earlier start time in respect of Staff who I am sure would probably rather be at home then at a Council meeting, however, some of our staff live out town, and must travel late at night and due to Winter weather conditions, and earlier finish time for Council allows them time for travel home earlier in the evening. c) This travel time is also more practical for other attendees as well.  The 7 pm Council Start time will resume in the spring again.   This was advertised in the Newspapers over 2 weeks ago to advise all of the change in Start time.    The fact that the Website was not updated was unfortunate and we do apologize for that, and I have notified staff to make those changes on the website immediately.

Regards

Yvonne Wills

Councillor

For the Town of Kearney

Thank you Ms. Wills. It was very gracious of you to take the time to apologize personally. It did take us a bit to find the announcement, even knowing that it was there to find. An announcement on the town's website will certainly alleviate a lot of confusion.

It's ironic that the arguments put forward are the same arguments presented when the current council decided that, instead of holding meetings alternately on Wednesdays and Friday nights, to switch to Friday nights only:

• Staff and attendees would rather be home on Friday nights.
• Staff and attendee safety (Driving at night in inclement weather, a greater number of impaired drivers).
• Seasonal residents showing little or no increased attendance. (Saturday "Town Hall" meetings seem to generate better attendance and involvement)
• Increased cost in staff overtime.

I'm sure that everyone appreciates the efforts you've made. Again, thank-you for taking the time to set the record straight on this issue. I'm sure you'll be hearing from Mayor Tomlinson once he learns you've been talking to us.

More on Sidewalk Snow Clearing

Kearney councillors Barry Dingwall and Steve Sainsbury live in Barrie.

The City of Barrie clears their sidewalks.

Kearney Deputy Mayor Art Murdy lives in Sudbury.

The City of Sudbury clears his sidewalks.

Kearney councillor Louise Wadsworth and Mayor Paul Tomlinson live in Proudfoot.

There are no sidewalks in Proudfoot.

Kearney councillors Ken Ball and Yvonne Wills actually live in Kearney! 

But do not have sidewalks.

See now why Council doesn't give a rat's ass if a few stupid Townies have to clear their own sidewalks?

Are you surprised?

Council's Latest Trick

Since the new council took office last year, council meetings have been held at 7PM on Friday nights so, according to Mayor Paul Tomlinson, cottagers and working townsfolk can easily attend:

"[Weekend meetings] was a big issue that was in my campaign platform and we heard from the public, in no uncertain terms, if we are to [be] open and transparent Wednesday afternoon at 1 pm does not allow residents of Kearney to attend the council meetings."

And attendance didn't increase one iota.

At least not because of the new and improved day and time. Attendance has only increased recently because of huge delegations of pissed off residents trying (unsuccessfully) to get council to do something for the Town instead of themselves for a change. "You want Council to apply for provincial/federal grant money for road improvements the Town won't fund? We've got better things to do. Next!"

Now, Mayor Tomlinson and council are backing away from their commitment to greater accessibility and starting the meetings at 6PM, but still advertising on the Town's website that meetings start at 7. So anyone hoping to attend the Question Period will discover they've arrived an hour too late. "Gosh, Council would have loved to have answered your questions about the current mess the town is in, but you came too late. Next!"

And even if people know that meetings really start at 6PM, does Tomlinson really expect that 9-to-5ers and cottagers are going to be able to get there in time? Apparently, Tomlinson doesn't really care all that much "allowing residents of Kearney to attend council meetings" after all. At least not the Question Period part, eh Paul?

Are you surprised?

From the Town of Kearney website, today.

From the minutes of the October 28th Council Meeting

Another Voice Heard

Barrie resident, and sometimes Kearney councillor, Barry Dingwall once described his critics to the newspapers as "a small group of small-minded people". While he still might want to argue that we're "small-minded", he has to admit that the not-so-small number of critics is growing steadily.

The most recent voice of reason comes from Kearney resident Edward Dorion who wrote this Letter to the Editor of the Almaguin News.

Are you surprised?

Council Replaces Rink Attendant with Porta-Potties

Well, you won't have to pee in the bushes, unless you're disabled. The town has installed its portable toilets for skaters this winter now that the lack of a rink attendant will prevent our use of the indoor toilets. Unfortunately, the portable toilets are not wheelchair accessible, so the disabled will have wheel up the road to one of the businesses on Main Street. Hopefully, no one on Main Street went out for the day and the route is clear of ice and snow. (And we know the disabled don't skate, Paul. But they might want to bring their children and grandchildren to the rink.)

But even if you can use the portable toilet, will it be stocked with toilet paper? Where will we wash our hands? (Alcohol hand-rub is not a substitute for handwashing and you can bet it won't be heated.) Is there a change-table for infants? Lights? Hopefully, Who knows, Tough luck, and you probably don't want to see anyway!

Kearney's Lions Club worked hard and raised all the funds through the generosity of the good people of Kearney to build the park pavilion and its washrooms. Didn't cost a single tax-dollar. Previous councils, through good fiscal management and community spirit, provided a part-time rink attendant so that families could enjoy the rink to its fullest. 

But Mayor Paul Tomlinson promised his masters a 9.5% decrease in their municipal property taxes to offset the MPAC increase of 9.5% on their Proudfoot lakefront properties. Then he pissed off every other mayor and reeve within a 100 miles, forcing the town to hire a full-time CBO instead of sharing a CBO with other municipalities, as did every other council before him.

It just goes on and on.

Are you surprised?

Kearney can afford a full-time CBO, but not a rink attendant

We hope skaters don't mind peeing in the bushes this winter. Mayor Paul Tomlinson and his three minions have axed the part-time Rink Attendant job at the Lion's Park skating rink. No attendant, no public washrooms. 

Last year, the attendant did a great job helping young children learn to skate and making sure that older kids didn't get too rambunctious around the younger ones. All the while keeping the washrooms neat and clean, the garbages emptied, and the ice maintained. Not that Proudfooters ever use that stupid Townie rink anyway.

Are you surprised?

Another Good Point

The sidewalk clearing issue seems to have struck a cord with many concerned citizens of Kearney. Another wrote in with this excellent point and a great suggestion:

"The current Council can afford to hire a full-time CBO [It was always a part-time position under previous councils], so why not let Henry Hess earn his $100,000-plus a year and get HIM to shovel the sidewalks? Or, if he's too busy wallpapering the town with tickets and bureaucratic red-tape, or running new businesses out of town, maybe Council can hire someone. They certainly act as though there's money to burn. Like the overtime they spend on town staff for weekend meetings that no cottagers ever attend. Or the money they WILL spend [again] if someone slips on ice because some little old lady's pension check couldn't cover the cost of having rock salt delivered with her groceries. A**holes."

Will Mayor Paul Tomlinson, or any of the other Proudfoot Four (Councillors Steve Sainsbury, Barry Dingwall, and Louise Wadsworth) step up and declare they were wrong? Never. Tomlinson has never admitted to being wrong about anything and in the end he'll just continue to whine about how he's "just one voice" and how it's everyone else's fault. As for the other three boot-licks? Well, we all know whose drum they march to. And, of course, Tomlinson would never have Henry Hess out shovelling snow when he could be out ticketing the crap out of the townsfolk or chasing off new business (unless they're planning to do business in Proudfoot). No sidewalks in Proudfoot...

Are you surprised?

Consider This:

A concerned citizen wrote us with some additional thoughts on the Sidewalk Snow Clearing bylaw issue.


Scenario 1:

An owner or tenant of a property, worried about being fined, is outside in the middle of a winter storm, furiously shovelling snow and chopping ice on the sidewalk.

He or she would certainly not be doing this miserable job (which the Town is responsible for under provincial law) were it not for the bylaw and the ever-circling Henry Hess. What happens if the homeowner or tenant is injured? He or she may suffer a disabling back injury or a heart attack from lifting the heavy snow. Would the Town be liable?

If so...


Scenario 2:

An owner or tenant of a property throws out his back while carrying firewood. In agony, he or she grabs a snow-shovel and stumbles out front to collapse on the sidewalk, where they wait for Mayor Tomlinson to show up with his chequebook.

Tomlinson's Winter Cash Cow

This week's Almaguin News ran an article on Kearney's new by-law that requires citizens to clear the sidewalk adjacent to their properties. Like the roads, sidewalks are municipal property, but no one expects residents to clear the roads in front of their properties. But Mayor Paul Tomlinson is already counting the bucks that By-law Enforcement Officer (and sometimes CBO) Henry Hess will be able to pull in when Townies are away and can't shovel the snow off municipal property.

And as usual, Tomlinson doesn't care that in 2000 the Ontario Court of Appeals ruled that sidewalk clearing is the municipality's job regardless of by-laws or fines:

“snow and ice accumulating on public sidewalks . . . are the legal responsibility of the municipality, not the property owner.”

Councillor Barry Dingwall - who doesn't live in Kearney and probably won't be seen much after he closes his cottage -  whines:

“It originally came to us based on some concern by the senior citizens’ club and that’s why we took some action on it and put a bylaw in place. But since that time many of the people who were supposed to be people who were demanding this have come forward and said they would prefer that this bylaw didn’t exist.”

Kearney Dogsled Races 2012

Well duh, Barry. The by-law discriminates against the elderly (and disabled) who would be forced to hire someone to chop ice and shovel snow from their share of the sidewalk, or struggle to do it themselves if their fixed-incomes can't bear the cost. The elderly who asked the Town to keep the sidewalks cleared didn't expect the Town to pass a by-law making them do it! All because (according to Tomlinson) the big, burly men at the Public Works Department can't figure out how to shovel around a lamp post.

Not that the Proudfoot Four or their Fat-Cat buddies care one way or the other. Tomlinson and Wadsworth need every cent they can shake out of Kearney and its citizens to get that 9.5% for the ruling-class in Proudfoot; Everything else is our tough luck.

Mayor Tomlinson caps off his interview with the Almaguin News by saying that a new sidewalk plow would cost about $100,000. Sure, if you're planning to plow the sidewalks with a Ferrari. The truth of the matter is that a used machine can be purchased from a reputable dealer for a fraction of that (around 10 to 15 thousand), which would be fine given that Kearney has a relatively short run of sidewalk.

But with Mayor Tomlinson it's never about solutions. It's always about why it can't be done: There's a stupid lamp post in the way, stupid snow shovels cost millions of dollars, I'm just one voice. Or who's to blame: The stupid previous council put the lamp post in the wrong place, the stupid seniors won't shovel the town's sidewalks, the stupid taxpayers don't want to pay taxes, I'm just one voice.

Are you surprised?

Footnote: It's since been confirmed with the original engineering firm that the lampposts are exactly where they were supposed to placed per the plans. Nice try, Paul.

The Hole Just Gets Deeper

Remember how Mayor Paul Tomlinson and Councillor Louise Wadsworth reduced the 2011 tax rate by 9.5% to offset the 9.5% increase in Proudfoot waterfront property taxes? As you may recall, Tomlinson and Wadsworth had to take money out of town's Reserves and forced a 5% reduction in departmental budgets. Then, when it was discovered that there was a huge surplus from 2010 (thanks to the previous council), this money was rolled into the 2011 Budget as "Working Capital".

This sounds a little complicated but basically it means that Tomlinson and Wadsworth skinned the 2011 Budget to the bone. They are not getting the revenues they expected and the departments can't meet the 5% reduction. That budget that Tomlinson had promised to deliver in 60 days (it actually took him more than 3 months) is a FAIL.

So, they have already sacrificed our town's future by taking from Reserves. Now the surplus the previous council gained last year, which should go into the Reserves, is being used up as so-called 'Working Capital'. 

Think of it like this:

In 2010 you worked extra hard and saved a lot of money (for home repairs, a new furnace, your kid's education, etc.). But then in 2011, you decide to put your feet up and not to work at all and just use your 2010 savings to pay the bills. Hey, the bills are getting paid, so what's the big deal, right? And if your spouse asks you if your spending your kid's college fund, you say, "No, honey! It's 'Working Capital'". 

Welcome to Kearney.

We are still 3 months away from the end of the year and the town's out of money, so stay tuned. It will be interesting to see how Tomlinson wiggles out of this one. Or who he blames for this monumental screw-up.

Are You Surprised? 

Tomlinson Admits He's No Leader

"I'm only one voice, y'know!"

On August 27th, Mayor Paul Tomlinson concluded the Town Hall meeting by washing his hands of any leadership and responsibility as mayor of Kearney. Tomlinson claims that he is but one voice out of seven at the council table and takes no responsibility for any of the council's decisions. If the public don't like the way the town is being run, they should blame council, not him.

So why did you become mayor, Paul? So you could strut around wearing the Chain of Office to impress your UK visitors and nothing more? Did you not realize that the mayor is Head of Council and is supposed to be a community leader? All the glory without the guts, eh?

And funny how you claim that as mayor you have no power, yet last term you repeatedly, and publicly, declared that Mayor Johnston was a "dictator". So are you lying now when you say you, as mayor have no power over council, or were you lying last term when you kept calling Mayor Johnston a dictator? Wasn't Mayor Johnston just one voice of seven?

So, which one is the lie, Paul?

Applying for a Building Permit, Proudfoot-Style

Hot on the heels of our last article, "Tim Brown is Back... Again... For the Fourth Time", a reader sent us a copy of the Town of Kearney's guide to applying for a building permit. The guide lists the various things you must have when applying for a permit, including the site plan, which is to be reviewed and approved by the Chief Building Officer. There's nothing in the guide about coming to council as a delegation to get your site plan approved by your buddies.

What should happen is this: Brown files his site plan with the town, and staff (including the CBO) review it and makes a recommendation to council. If the site plan is overly complex or controversial, then council should seek public input through a public hearing. Having someone address property development through "delegations" to council is not the proper process.

So why is Mayor Paul Tomlinson illegally avoiding proper procedure... Again?

Footnote: This abuse of process has also had another side-effect; Because there are only three "delegations" allowed per council meeting, many legitimate concerns are not being brought to council. As long as Mayor Tomlinson keeps clogging the meetings with his friends (Tim Brown and Jim Skelton this Friday), other legitimate groups are forced to wait months to be heard. Not that Tomlinson gives a rat's ass about anyone but himself and his buddies.

Are You Surprised?

Tim Brown is Back... Again... For the Fourth Time

Remember Tim Brown, Dingwall and Sainsbury's campaign manager and fund-raiser? We first introduced him here and spoke about him again here.

Well this Friday (August 26th), Tim will be back before council as a "delegation" to get the Proudfoot Four's approval on his revised site-plan for 4290 Chetwynd Road.

Must be nice to not have to file this stuff with the Chief Building Officer like everyone else. Heck, if this has to be dealt with at a council meeting, he should at least be on the agenda under "Public Hearings". A public hearing allows council and the public to ask the petitioner questions and express any concerns they might have. But Brown and the Proudfoot Four don't want questions asked or opinions expressed, so they've scheduled him as a "delegation" (for the FOURTH time). Under council meeting rules, the public and members of council are not allowed to ask questions (except for clarification) or express opinions. Convenient, huh? Do you think the Proudfoot Four will allow everyone who is applying for a building permit or building plan changes to come to council as a "delegation" and by-pass the CBO and the regular permit process? 

Yah, right...

Proudfooters: Get council, which is controlled by the Proudfoot Four, to approve your building plans.

Townies: Get stuck with CBO Henry Hess who will declare your permits invalid and your building inspector unqualified so Tomlinson can make up the budget short-fall on your backs.

Are You Surprised?

Tomlinson is at it again

We didn't really expect Mayor Paul Tomlinson to defer to us; That was just a bit of fun on our part.

So it's no surprise that this just popped up on the Town of Kearney website:

But there's a couple of problems with this announcement:

First: It says "CALLED BY THE COUNCIL". Council cannot (legally) call a meeting without a resolution first being passed at a prior council meeting. The mayor is the only one with the authority to call a Special Council Meeting otherwise. So this is yet another illegal meeting or Mayor Tomlinson is trying hide the fact that he called it.

Second: Tomlinson's campaign included changing the meeting times to Friday nights to make them more accessible to cottagers and working locals. But this meeting is at 8:30 AM. Like the last illegal meeting, it looks like Tomlinson is trying his best to discourage the public from attending.

Third: Why schedule a Special Council Meeting in order to hold a closed session when there's a regular council meeting that evening at 7:00 PM? Just have the closed session during that meeting and save the taxpayers $350.00 in honoraria for the morning meeting. Maybe they could donate the $350.00 to the Food Bank instead.

So it's back to the Ombudsman's Office.

Or is it?

After getting their wrists slapped by the Ombudsman's Office, the Proudfoot Four are planning to table a motion at the regular council meeting at 7:00 PM that would allow them to hire a private "Ombudsman" (at the Kearney taxpayers' expense). So instead of having their shenanigans investigated by an objective (and free) provincial Ombudsman, they're going to buy... er... hire their own. 

So there's no money for the Food Bank, but lots to spend on thwarting the efforts of those who try to bring justice to Kearney.

Are You Surprised?

Council Defers To Concerned Citizens

After the Concerned Citizens of Kearney published an article on August 18th about the illegalities of the council meeting scheduled for Friday the 19th, Mayor Paul Tomlinson cancelled the meeting.

Just doing our civic duty, Paul. You're welcome!

Good News!

Remember when we reported that council will be implementing a 9% municipal tax decrease to offset the 9% provincial property tax increase for the property owners in Proudfoot, and how this would necessitate drawing on reserve funds and bankrupting the town?

Well, good news!

Chief Building Officer Henry Hess, who's already been raking in the cash with his ridiculous building permit "violations", is now the By-Law Enforcement Officer. So now our full-time CBO will have to put in at least 20 hours a week to earn his 40 hours of pay! And Evil Prince Paul has given the Wicked Sheriff of Kearney the thumbs up to ticket and permit the crap out of everything that moves and bring in those big bucks. Except up around Grass and Loon Lake, Henry. Paul has already personally checked those properties and everything there is just tickety-boo (wink, wink)!

So mow your lawn, pull those weeds, clean out that septic tank, hide the dog, tell the kids to keep "the damn noise down", and dust off an old Vote Tomlinson sign to "accidentally" leave leaning against the front porch, cause there's a new sheriff in town.

Resistance is Futile

What Goes Around, Comes Around... As If Tomlinson Cares

During the last term of council, then Councillor Paul Tomlinson and his Proudfoot cronies ran crying to the Ombudsman's Office at every opportunity demanding openness and transparency from Mayor Johnston and council. Fast forward to August 5th, 2011 and Mayor Tomlinson has to read out to the public a letter from that same Ombudsman's Office chastising him for 2 breaches; One breach of town by-laws, and one breach of the Municipal Act.

Tomlinson scoffed at the Ombudsman's findings saying it was "much to do about nothing". But Tomlinson's new-found disdain for the Ombudsman, by-laws, and the Municipal Act didn't stop there. This week Tomlinson called a "Special Council Meeting" without specifying the reason, which is a violation of Kearney's by-laws. And this "Special Meeting" will include a "closed session". But Tomlinson's not telling the public the reason for the closed session, which is a violation of the Municipal Act and the very thing the Ombudsman just finished chastising him for.

But Tomlinson doesn't give a rat's ass about the Ombudsman. He doesn't want the public coming out to this meeting and he's trying to advertise the meeting like there will be nothing to see, even though council will have to start the "open session" by explaining the reason for the "closed session" and then report again in an "open session" once the "closed session" has completed. 

And so the Ombudsman's Office will issue another admonishment and the Almaguin News will implore us all to just "Gee Whiz! Give them a chance, will ya!", 'cause Tomlinson's only been a member of council for the last five years and is still figuring things out, right?

Tomlinson and his Proudfoot cronies have been running slipshod over the rules, regulations, and the law since taking over council. And they're doing it with virtual impunity because the Ombudsman's Office is really all bark and no bite. They'll investigate this latest breach and write another polite letter, but in the end The Proudfoot Four will continue to do as they please and the people of Kearney will grumble behind closed curtains and do nothing.

Are You Surprised?

Would You Like A Second Opinion?

So few people want to incur the wrath of Mayor Paul Tomlinson or the other members of the Proudfoot Four, for fear they would suffer repercussions, that the Concerned Citizens of Kearney often stands out as a lone voice, at least publicly. And because we are just one voice, it's easy to dismiss us as a minority, or a bunch of cranks.

But with increasing frequency we are seeing the main-stream media reporting on issues very similar to ours.

Back in October 2010, Paul Tomlinson set the tone for the next four years in his negative and ungracious statements as he bragged to the press how he "built his electoral success by sowing and nurturing the seeds of anger amongst seasonal residents". Even the editors of the Almaguin News were disgusted that he pitted Kearney residents against Proudfoot residents and said so in this article.

Then in March 2011, the Proudfoot Four were making the papers when this article appeared about Dingwall's motion to council, divvying up the community events so the Proudfoot Four wouldn't have to rub elbows with the Kearney Townies all the time. Dingwall also managed to be blasphemous, insult Kearney's war vets, and make it perfectly clear that he ran for the job "to be a councillor, not to be a social butterfly". We did notice that he showed up for Regatta, but spent all his time sulking in his lawn chair (except for the 5 minutes he spent spying on the Chalk Art contest for Tomlinson).

Then there was the article on the Town of Kearney hiring a full-time Chief Building Officer (to replace the part-time CBO they lost when they dissed Perry Township) who "comes in a couple of times a week". Nice gig for a guy who was fired from his position as Magnetawan's CBO. Triple pay for a Magnetawan reject who shows up twice a week. More Proudfoot economics in action.

And on July 28th, the Almaguin News ran this article and this article on the bureaucratic mess the Proudfoot Four have created in Kearney (but not in Proudfoot where you get your zoning fees waived) and the nightmare it's creating for small business investors in Kearney (but not in Proudfoot where developers/campaign managers get to build all over the place without environmental, water, or sewage surveys and self-proclaimed tree-hugger Louise Wadsworth won't say "boo").

 
So are we really "a small bunch of small-minded people" as Councillor Barry Dingwall would have the newspapers believe? Or are we just the most vocal (as is the Almaguin News) of a much larger group? Either way, at least we're not trying to %@*! our neighbours.

Tomlinson and Dingwall Find "Blind-Judging" Workaround?

When Mayor Paul Tomlinson and his wife Joan were selected to judge the children's sidewalk chalk art contest on Saturday several citizens complained that Tomlinson is well known for playing favourites and would likely judge against children of those who don't tow the Proudfoot line. So it was decided that the judges would stay away from competition and judge the artwork without knowing the identities of the artists.

But while the artists were still working on their pieces, Councillor Barry Dingwall, who hadn't moved from his spot next to the rock-climbing wall all day, went over, watched the artists for about 5 minutes, then returned to his seat where he entered into discussions with Tomlinson.

An innocent coincidence? Maybe. But the Proudfoot Four are not known for playing by the rules and why would Dingwall choose that event alone to take note of, and no other?

Are you surprised?