Yorkregion.com - Aurora - No Aurora byelection vote draws raucous response
No Aurora byelection vote draws raucous response
Aurora
May 15, 2008 10:03 PM
By: Simone Joseph
You have spoken, but Aurora politicians have refused to listen, according to former Aurora councillor Bill Hogg.
Mr. Hogg presented council with a petition in favour of holding a byelection after disgruntled councillor Grace Marsh resigned last month.
Despite receiving strong applause after portions of his speech, council didn’t agree.
“About 90 per cent of the voters I have seen are in favour of a byelection. After consultation and disregard for the opinions expressed, you have gone down the path leading to appointment.
Never have I seen such a blatant disregard for consultation,” he said.
Following Mrs. Marsh’s abrupt resignation late last month, council had two choices to fill the seat: appoint a successor or hold a byelection.
Council voted Tuesday night to reconsider a byelection, it was defeated when a two-third majority was not reached.
To reach the majority, six councillors would have had to vote in favour of a byelection.
Only five councillors voted this way and three were opposed — councillors Stephen Granger, Evelina MacEachern and Mayor Phyllis Morris.
Mr. Hogg believes some councillors are threatened by the idea of a byelection.
“Someone may be elected who won’t follow direction,” he said.
He verbally attacked Mrs. Morris, saying she promised more openness and transparency and has not delivered and criticized the “unwarranted” redecorating of councillors offices, including her own.
A freedom of information request had been filed to get data on the redecorating, money that would have been better spent on a byelection, Mr. Hogg said.
“You won’t spend $40,000 from reserve fund to give people a voice? Let the people of Aurora choose for themselves,” he said.
Mrs. Morris later defended herself, detailing the upgrades made.
Many people who attended the council meeting were angry at the decision not to re-consider a byelection but did not want to give their names and comments after leaving the council chambers. At least one person said Mr. Hogg represented the voice of the people. Hans Steck, a member of Aurora’s seniors centre, said he was disappointed a byelection would not be considered.
“They chose to ignore the will of the people. They could have done it differently,” he said. “With the spectacle that has taken place — the personal attacks, the disputes, the excessive time-taking, appointing would deepen the perception that the process is tainted.”
Councillors voted 5-3 last night in favour of appointing John Gallo, who placed ninth in the last municipal election.
Councillors Evelyn Buck, Alison Collins-Mrakas and Bob McRoberts voted against the appointment.
Mrs. Morris voted against reconsidering a byelection and in favour of appointing Mr. Gallo.
She defended her decision not to reconsider a byelection.
“We do not go out and do a referendum on every issue,” she said. Mrs. Morris also mentioned a byelection often attracts less interest from the community and the Municipal Act gives council the right to appoint.
The work to be done in Aurora is too great to lose the weeks or months it would take to prepare for and have a byelection, she said.
“Council is challenged by the rapid growth of the community.”