Bob "Vienna Sausage" Peters - Economic Development - Cornwall Ontario

CFN –  Cornwall Ontario fascinates me.  It’s part Twin Peaks; part Peyton Place, and full bore Cornwall.   Since founding the Cornwall Free News nearly three years ago the person I have dealt with the most has been Mr. Bob “Vienna Sausage” Peters with the Economic destruction Development department.

Mr. Peters was the author of the report to council; voted in 6-3, that essentially has started the City on a slippery slope; on how it’s perceived by the public online.

At first it was Online Anonymity that was the issue; but deep down it’s more about being highly thin skinned; like say a possum…

Mr. Peters wrote the following in his report which was signed off by his boss; Cornwall Ontario’s Million Dollar Man, CAO Paul Fitzpatrick.

A review of local news websites show that only two allow anonymous posts: the Standard-Freeholderand the Cornwall Free News. Both sites have some moderation of comments, but a review of activity over the past several months have led staff to concur with the generalized assessment of the practice by the American Journalism Review: “Comment sections are often packed with profanity, and vicious personal attacks.”

We contacted the mayor; council, and of course Mr. Fitzpatrick and told them straight out.  You can’t repeat lies about a local business; especially if you aren’t going to allow us to speak before council to repudiate them.

See Syd Cuss & Swear

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CTb9UCI5KE

This was not only refused, but of course resulted in being commented on at council; picked up by the CBC and other media.    As you can imagine as we have always been moderated, and extremely RARELY as opposed to OFTEN have any profanity or vicious personal attacks on CFN this was shocking.

But the City’s new online position posed another very interesting question.  What about their Facebook page?    It had zero pre-moderation and as any facebook user can tell you there is quite a bit of profanity and attacks.

It also resulted in Mr. Peters and his sidekick Kevin Lajoie spending countless city hours at the taxpayer’s expense moderating the facebook page; which at the end is a city tool and therefore falls under usage similar to how City Hall would be.

See “some” of the elected officials and city management aren’t perfect either like the rest of us.  Some of them have funny notions as Councilor Grant had in the video below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6FIdNl7vB4

Cronyism and Bullying are not rarities to how business is done down at City Hall in Cornwall; nor unique in the world.  Here is Councilor Carr responding to a polite media question from yours truly on the mural covering the empty pit on the Corner of Pitt & Second that Heart of the City spent a minimum of $12,000 on and that the owners of the land didn’t have to pay a penny for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm9QhKWv55k

Today Kevin Lajoie posted that the city has decided to not allow users to post subjects any further.  He and Mr. Peters had been deleting comments, posts, and even quotes in the name of their terms of service which of course had nothing to do with Facebook’s terms of service.

One local lawyer last week stated that it was a gross charter of Canada violation for Messer’s Peters and Lajoie  to behave in this manner in such a heavy handed manner.  Some people’s posts would be removed and some not for the same alleged infraction.

One long thread attacking this scribbler was allowed for days.   It was all frankly; embarrassing for the City of Cornwall and we residents and business people.

What the City now has is a Facebook page where they only can post something and they pick and choose which comments to allow.

Those actions of gross censorship and manipulation of information to the public so outraged a portion of their Facebook users that a new page was created, and has had over 700 people join in less than 10 hours as of this printing.

It is now the fourth spin off page as the public reacts strongly condemning Mr. Peters actions.

You can find that group by following this LINK to Facebook. .

Here are some quotes remaining on the City’s Facebook page (many have been deleted as the city has now added two more admins)

JpVee Desaulniers I agree whether comments were rude or not the original post wasnt and as fire attacking moon she simply started she was disgusted and wouldn’t be back as a resident of Cornwall these are the types of things as well as events that I personally would like to know I urge someone to create a new group too in which the truth can be spoken about Cornwall good bad and ugly without having to ask someone if its ok to post the truth

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Chris Mellon thanks Corey Roachi requested to join this group was BS to begin with! this group is nothing but fake they wanna post all the positive but what about the negative that they fail to tell us about this town????? The admins are trying to portray this city as though nothing ever goes wrong, nothing is bad here when in fact there is alot of stuff needing to be fixed here! Like our medical care that ive seen NUMEROUS people post about but all post get deleted! It almost seems as though they are trying to hide something!

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Cory N Ashly I think the city is AWESOME, I think the ppl trying to “run” it are in over their heads! HAVE FUN withh this! I know the media will!!

Steph Beaudette ok i understand what your saying Paul, but what about the people who are wanting to move their families here and want to know everything they can about Cornwall? Are we gunna give them false views that Cornwall is the perfect place in the world where nothing ever goes wrong? I love Cornwall personally but there is a lot of issues here that need to be resolved! Just like every other city!

David Jans Not able to post anymore? Depending on your own view of the purpose of this group, it’s value can vary quite a bit but for me and probably hundreds, if not thousands of members, this group just lost pretty much all of it’s value.

Kevin Coleman Its Censorship and everyone should be entitled to oppinions. Cornwall is famous fo an elite group controlling everything. for example

Ryan Lalonde When u put a lock on the group like this it looses way to much, when people cant post and find help for employment and many other topics i know when i posted for employment it was a big help , oh well just another thing that Cornwall should really review there policy’s on.

The internet really frightens a lot of people.   I guess in some ways it should as the flow of information can be lightning fast and ripe for opportunities for inaccuracies to be spread like wildfire.  With the median age of the mayor, Council, and the CAO hovering near where Mr. Harper wants to move retirement age for Canadians it’s understandable; especially when some of them don’t know how to turn on their computer, never mind understand the intricacies of Social networking.

It should be interesting to see whether people on City Council and management have the integrity to right their wrongs or simply make things worse?

The founders of the new Cornwall Ontario Facebook page posted that they hope to eclipse the city’s page shortly.  It should say something about social networking and the internet itself if they are successful.

What do you think amazingly valued viewers of The Cornwall Free News?  You can post your comments below.

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I understand for the most part that people don’t want to hear negative things. It’s really understandable, but standing behind the secret destruction that is going on in this city, is just shameful.

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What got me thinking wasn’t that people are upset that any of this secret destruction is out in the open and they want answers, No, it’s the fact that its exposed and that these people are angry and lashing out. Isn’t the reason we have media is to expose the good AND bad?

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How can we be upset with them for telling us what has been kept from us? It makes sense to me to have these news teams around in order to expose some of these things, but it’s up to the reader to decide what it is they want to read and whether or not to allow what they are reading to have an impact on them, but NEWS FLASH, that isn’t the publishers or newspapers fault.

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Again, the media is around to expose the TRUTH, regardless of whether or not you like what that is, it’s mandatory! My questions aren’t for council at this point in time but rather to the civilians who stand behind  council, if what you see is wrong then why not speak up and say something?

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If it’s a fear of what the truth may bring isn’t that better than the destruction of a society? Isn’t it better than losing our morals as a community?? And if your answer is No it’s not worth it, then my question is why?

We have seem to have lost sight, this town isn’t about who is running it, it is about the people who live here, work here, go to school here, we have lost our voice and I’m saddened by those who stand by, not because they agree and think it’s right, but because they are afraid of facing the truth.

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We are not just the “City of Cornwall” we are the PEOPLE of Cornwall and for that I think we owe it to each of ourselves to stop for ONE minute and ask us, what is the BIGGER picture in all of this? Is it the medias sole intentional purpose to destroy the “City of Cornwall” to gain perspective for the “People” of Cornwall, some would say yes.

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I say your delusional, the media is bringing forth these issues because it BELIEVE’s it is important and needs to be addressed, appropriately. The media is addressing the concerns FOR the People of Cornwall. That being said, let’s get this image that city council has imposed on us and take back our City.

(Comments and opinions of Editorials, Letters to the Editor, and comments from readers are purely their own and don’t necessarily reflect those of the owners of this site, their staff, or sponsors.)

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Dear Editor:

There are long waiting lists for our seniors who need affordable housing.

There are long waiting lists for our elderly who need long term care.

There are long waiting lists for people in wheel chairs that need a place to live.

With all due respect, these are the people that should be “consulted” when considering condo development on the waterfront.

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CFN – After going to Cornwall City Council for awhile you learn a few things.   One, there’s more manure spread than a farm in Spring; and two if someone is on a committee it’s because they have a vested interest or they are doing what they are told.

Council also has this wonderful trait of saying one thing in debate and then voting a completely different way.    People, and some times councilors end up voting on what was said; sometimes not even reading the documents they are voting on.

Mayor Bob “Destructor of Small Business in Cornwall”  Kilger and council are seeking to penetrate Lamoureux Park’s pristine parking lot by thrusting a Condo smack in the middle or to the side depending on which way you tilt your head when looking at the funny slides.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQpMwz79F2s

After spending almost all of the city’s disposable income from the Prosperity fund on the Lecky-Grant dome; an arena built near a dump, and on the water path from the old Mustard gas plant that burbles and gurgles in the spring, the Mayor and his team are frustrated and want to build something; anything; mostly to distract residents from Million Dollar Man Paul Fitzpatrick’s shenanigans.

Bob & Fitzy nodding off....

Cornwall’s waterfront and downtown have some very critical issues.    Stores are struggling or dying.   Space needs to be filled, but mostly there is no design or real plan taking place.

A large parcel of land where the old curling rink and theatre were is ripe for development with the rumor around town being that the No Frills store in Cornwall Square is next destined to leave the Ghost Mall for their own location.

The Mall is actually a major issue in this scenario.  It’s back end faces the water?  I wonder which rocket scientist thought that to be a good idea back in the day?

So the plan, and I use that term loosely is to plop a condo, any sort of condo, in the parking lot between the curling rink and Civic Complex.    The benefits?  I’m not quite sure and if you watch the next video you’ll see that some of council isn’t either.

 The Debate

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zyir9SYhHDU

I guess this means some more super secret OMB violating meetings in the future.

The good news is that some of the councilors spoke up before capitulation and the opening of Pandora’s box.  Led by Councilor Andre Rivette, Councilors Dupelle and O’Shaughnessy spoke of having proper consultations with the public.

The problem with passing this though is that there’s nothing mandatory about how this is done.  It simply is hoped to be forgotten until a local developer is given the green light to turn a chunk of parking lot into a lump of condos.

Personally; I have nothing wrong with turning Lamoureux Park into a half billion dollars worth of development. If  you look at Brockville and Kingston you can see the impact of waterfront development.  It’s a no brainer.

Wouldn’t it be great to have a waterfront Restaurant or bar in Cornwall.   We had one.  It never was successful and is now office space for the city.   No, I think the core of downtown needs to be properly revisited, and not by Denis Carr and his conflict of interest strange Heart of the City initiatives ( wow did you see how fast Keitha Fisher got HOC dollars for her fast tracked restaurant?).

I think the only true consultation, and I hope some of the 2 or 3 really ethical councilors pick up on this, would be for a motion to not allow any development during this mandate and truly consult with the voters of Cornwall until the next election.

I’d suggest adding a referendum question on the election ballot giving city council the nod to then have proper consultation over development.    This issue is so critical to Cornwall that the city can’t capitulate to a small group like they did with the Benson Centre spending vast sums on something that really wasn’t put in the right space because of private lobbying.

Likewise having  three developers and Todd Bennett and Keitha Fisher on a committee making decisions and recommendations about our city’s future also scares the crap out of me.

We need to focus on what’s best for the downtown core and Cornwall.  We need a plan that will make all work; not just a part of the way; that downtown merchants complain about getting no benefit from Lift Off.

We need to decide as a community whether the impact of two events a year is worth the other side of the coin, which is the impact of full development of our waterfront resources.

Building a condo in a parking lot because you own it and don’t have to wait to acquire land is not a good enough reason for this scribbler.    Is it for you?  You can post your comments below, and please vote in our polls.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

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CFN – I caught up with rookie Councilor Maurice Dupelle in Cornwall Ontario Saturday.      In my chats with people Mr. Dupelle has taken some flack as many don’t see him as standing for anything; but when you’re new in a position sometimes that’s the best thing to do especially when you sometimes don’t have a lot of prep time.

City management sometimes can land a file on a councilor with only a day or so notice before a vote is cast.  Mr. Dupelle also has had to go along with the secret council meetings and the whole Paul Fitzpatrick – Diane Shay mess that has cost the city an awful lot of money.

While we didn’t cover some of that ground Mr. Dupelle’s video interview below was surprisingly insightful.

It should be interesting to see how he performs in the second year of his first term as a City Councilor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXv9_oUoA8k

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CFN  -   When I started CFN nearly three years ago my Mission statement was very clear.  After being rejected by the big three media in this market I wanted to create a platform where everyone could have a voice and be heard.

That experiment and goal has had  some great results.

As I do battle of late with the Cliques in Cornwall, and in our third year start to expose more hypocrisy and corruption I get asked why?

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Well in our first year it was a humbling experience.  A lot was to be learned; relationships made; finding who as much about who does what, why, and when?   It was about connecting and trying to  move forward; but CFN took a lot of attacks.

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In year two the bullying really started; mostly from a clique related to our MP and from a certain radio station.  Again, the focus was on keeping it humble and moving forward; taking the hits and the high road even though our writers were being intimidated; even being told that they could not interview people as long as they worked for “That blog.”

Anonymous letters to our sponsors.   Verbal communications to our sponsors that if they supported CFN their businesses would suffer.   Nothing new or unique, but still shocking.

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In our third year we became number one online in this market; especially on smart phones and iPads, one of our fastest growing sectors.     We were the number one traffic provider to the City of Cornwall after Facebook and the search engines, and that according to City Hall.

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The Cronyism; becoming more and more visible especially after the hirings of Candy Pollard who killed our two ad plans with her department, and then the hiring of Kevin Lajoie who while with Our Home Town and teaching at St. Lawrence College allegedly intimidated our journalism intern to leave us after one week while being his instructor.

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Then Cornwall decided to enact this ridiculous Online advertising policy.  After one try they dropped the issue of Anonymous Comments, but from day one it was apparent what they were doing; and as of this writing we have no contracts any longer with the city.  In spite of sending 18% more traffic to the Choose Cornwall website we now have zero dollars in contracts with the city.  In spite of charging 1/26 for placement of the City Bulletin our contracts have not been renewed.   And refusing to remove their paragraph where they mislead the public stating that we are unmoderated and “often” filled with profanity and vicious personal attacks.

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This is nothing more than editorial financial extortion; and they wonder why Cornwall finishes 98 out of 100 in the CFIB Communities in Boom report?

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I get asked why stay?  Why invest your energy and time?  Why go through this; the lies, aspersions, two attempts to have me wrongly arrested by police, and threats?     Is it all worth it?

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The answer to that last question of course at the end of the day is that it isn’t.   And then in many ways it is.  It all depends on what your goals are in life or in a project?

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What I do know is that what turns me on most about CFN is when we can help.  When one of our stories reaches out and gives people a voice or we can help shine a light on things that rarely have lights shined on them, and that I could’t do without the support the near 100,000 of you that visit CFN each month and our valued sponsors.   I probably will never get rich with CFN.  Heck most months we can barely cover all of the bills; but not all rewards involve money.

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I get close to 300 emails a day now. Many are solicitations and offers; but every once in a while I get one that really touches me as the one below from Kevin Glover did.

That one email helps make up for all of the petty grief I go through from the Cliques here in Cornwall.  It really does.

CFN turns three on February 9th.    Contrary to more lies and rumors we’re not leaving.  We’re number one, and this year we’re going to really up the ante and really turn it on.    I hope to share that with many of you whether you’re one of our new columnists, someone that contributes a comment in a story (writers love seeing comments) or a new sponsor as we truly grow outside of Cornwall.

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I’m a simple person with very simple goals and aspirations in life.   I’ll be honest with you, amazing viewers of CFN.    Our goal to reach 5,000 pieces in three years is just about done.   That was a biggie.

Frankly it will be you that decides if  CFN continues to thrive or succumbs to the bullies and cliques.    One of our consultants keeps pushing to change our name because we’re not really just a small town local paper and we have the name Seaway Today ready to go.

Personally I like the fact that I was able to create and build CFN from Cornwall Ontario.   I’m proud that something so positive could be created from a place with so much negativity connected to it.     It’s really odd though that we get so much more applause and respect from outside Cornwall than from many circles within.    And it’s really really important to focus on how these few cliques exert more power and pressure than they should.

Most people in this town are terrific and there are some great business people as well.

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Here is Kevin’s letter that resulted in this story.

My name is Kevin Glover and I am a reader of your on line news paper, although I do not read your news page as much as I should (I am still partial to CBC and globe and mail) I find your articles about the Cornwall political landscape insightful, articulated and with a depth of gravity not found in our own established publication. Your current coverage about the Glen Stor Dun Lodge debacle, and your constructive diatribes concerning city council interesting, I particularly like the articles written by Mr Komorowski, whose environmental topics are first rate

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However after seeing your video segment with Kelsie Granger, I was slightly upset by the inferring remark of the deranged attacker on poor Mrs Granger I heard someone made the off hand remark that her attack would prepare her well as a social worker. While I do agree that social service work can be volatile and hazardous, I’m slightly dismayed at the perception that people who have social service workers are violent. I personally do not have a case worker or need for social service, but do know some people who have services need it for personal support.

Because of this,  I have written a personal article which deals with the subject of mental illness. Now with the clap down of Health care cost by the Cons and Flaherty leading to tightening control on Premiers decisions, (an unprecedented act which only highlights their continual abuse of the judicial system) I feel that I must make the effort to make a personal case for why health care must be protected, because as far as I can see, no one in this country seems to give a damn.

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Attached to this email is a letter that I have written detailing my own account of mental health issues, several recent events have determined that I need to write this. If you find this too long or inappropriate for your website then I understand, I only wish you take the opportunity to consider that not everyone who is “mentally ill” is a danger to society, and that your readers are informed that people “ill” are not a disembodied “other”.

 

And that ladies and gentlemen is real.  Kevin’s story is from the heart.  It’s a plea and at the same time something for us all to think about.  That’s the magic of CFN.  Our readers and contributors.

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CFN – Local Musician Graham Greer was announced today as the Communications Coordinator of Aultsville Theatre in Cornwall Ontario.

cro·ny·ism

   [kroh-nee-iz-uhm]

noun

The former Barstool Prophets lead was quoted on facebook today:

It’s official! I AM the new Communications Coordinator for Cornwall’s Aultsville Theatre. I’m VERY excited to be taking on this new challenge! The line for requests for free event tickets (which I will subsequently ignore) forms on the left. Wait times may vary.

Here is the release from newly appointed President, Cornwall City Councilor Syd Gardiner:

Aultsville Theatre Board of Management is pleased to welcome Mr. Graham Greer as Communications Coordinator for Aultsville Theatre.

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As Communication Coordinator, Graham will focus on marketing Aultsville Theatre and its
clients to the public, while contributing to the development of partnerships and external
resources to support the ongoing operations at the Theatre.

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“As a board we are excited about the direction Graham’s enthusiasm will take us in.” Said,
newly elected President Syd Gardiner. “The funding through the Ontario Trillium Foundation
for this project will continue to expand Aultsville Theatre’s market and increase its visibility.”

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As a professional musician/songwriter for the past 20+ years Graham is familiar with the arts
industry and has attended Music Seminars/Conferences, such as, NXNE(North by Northeast) and
Canadian Music Week.

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Over the past several years, as a member of this area’s artistic community, Graham has strived to
increase the viability and visibility of the Art Sector, both inside and outside of the Cornwall
area. He has championed and promoted the economic benefits of a community’s strong artistic
foundation.

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Aultsville Theatre is located at 2 St. Lawrence Drive (formerly 2 Belmont St.) Cornwall ON., on
the campus of St. Lawrence College. Since 1976, Aultsville Theatre has hosted community and
world class performances in its spacious, 658-seat theatre.

Mr. Greer is a fine performer as this scribbler has mentioned many times before here on CFN, but again, we have a member of a close circle of people being given yet another tax payer supported position.   For Mr. Greer and his friends it’s a day of celebration.  For those that would’ve wanted to apply for this position I’m sure they may be scratching their heads.

There was no call for applicants.  Aultsville Theatre is supported by the City of Cornwall to the tune of about $100,000 per year, and received a Trillium grant this year as well.

If tax, and public dollars are used shouldn’t any position of this sort be by fair recruitment process?   Is this just another incident of the same committee people giving perks to the same people that support them?

If this city is to ever truly grow it’s not that people like Mr. Greer who would be a fine candidate shouldn’t have the option to apply for this sort of position, but to the 45,000+ other residents of Cornwall who didn’t have a chance for this opportunity to have chances to contribute and shine.

Cronyism isn’t unique to Cornwall.  But if this city truly wants to grow and evolve perhaps it’s time to change?   One just has to look at most of the names on his facebook page announcement to see how tight some of the circles are in this town.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTQ4vLpCVmY

My question is would his announcement even had been made if not for missives sent to us, and our our query to Mr. Greer and the Aultsville board who neglected to mention that this was a paid gig in their release; and not a volunteer position.

Congrats Graham.  Make Cornwall proud!

Jamie Gilcig – Editor – The Cornwall Free News

UPDATE

Aultsville Theatre sent in the following regarding funding for this position.  Again, curious that it wasn’t posted locally.  No ads in the Free Holder, Seaway News, Corus Radio, CFN, or even the Seeker Chicks!

Hi Jamie

This position is funded in part by an application made to the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) last July.  The application to OTF has several components to it one of those being the hiring of a communications person. The grant we have received is for a two year period in the amount of$72,200.   http://grant.otf.ca/grantlistings.aspx?year=2011&catchment=Champlain&lang=en&id=2

The job posting was done in late November through to early December through various media including, the Government of Canada Job Bank, Workopolis,and the Aultsville Theatre web site.  We received over 100 applicants for the posting.

(Comments and opinions of Editorials, Letters to the Editor, and comments from readers are purely their own and don’t necessarily reflect those of the owners of this site, their staff, or sponsors.)

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Cornwall's Million Dollar Man Paul Fitzpatrick

CFN –  Irony can be a funny thing.    We received a release from the Community Action Group here in Cornwall which wants lower taxes.

Of course everyone wants lower taxes, but this group of some of the areas most successful companies has made some strong points, and grown to over 300 members.

It’s controlled tightly by a leadership of Gerry Benson, Sandy Cameron, Dr. Michel Dubuc, Roy Perkins and a few others.

These folks are used to getting what they want, and I’m sure City Hall gives them some TLC when they come calling.

They want a zero % tax increase while the city is presenting a 2.38 increase or about $1,261,701   and they’d probably get that if not for the Diane Shay case which is still racking up victims and costs to Cornwall.  (let’s not forget the Pilon case too which can add as much as six figures of extra cost by the time that’s finished.)

Ms Shay sued the city over her wrongful dismissal over whistle blowing; court costs were incurred; settlement was made which resulted in a big chunk of money.

Btw, the person in Cornwall in charge of Whistle Blowing for the City; where the buck stops; is Mr. Fitzpatrick.

Ms Donna Derouchie left as administrator of Glen Stor Dun Lodge; see, connecting the dots….   and estimates which haven’t been confirmed including the city refusing Le Journal’s Freedom of Information Act request peg her parachute for resigning as high as $300K.

Now Robert Menagh, the HR Manager, was let go without cause.  Mr. Menagh, whose income put him on the Sunshine list, could cost the city as much as $500,000.  Why let go of a senior manager in a time of fiscal concern without cause?

It all adds up, and of course it’s the taxpayer that foots the bill.    At what point do you go to the CAO and say something?

At what point is the guy at the top held accountable?

It’s these questions I’d be very interested in hearing from the CAG about; and of course the mayor and council who are reacting and making decisions on this case that are allowing tax payers to be gouged during a time of great financial concern in our area.

Here is the Community Action Group’s Release:

Citizens cannot afford a tax increase…………

The members of Community Action Group of Cornwall are against any tax increase in the 2012 budget. During these difficult economic times the citizens of the City cannot afford a tax increase.  All household and business budgets are stretched to the limit and any new tax at any level of Government would not be acceptable.The City budget as it stands today will have a 2.38% increase in taxes which represents a $56.13 increase(as reported) in an average home owners tax bill. This is not in the best interest of the taxpayers of the City of Cornwall and we urge members of Council to look for savings in the 2012 budget documents to ensure a minimal 0% increase (with hopes of a decrease) in taxes for all taxpayers.

The CAG is also 100% in favour of using the new assessment revenue to decrease the tax rate and build new infrastructure to benefit all citizens. It has been reported that there is an extra $483,000.00 in new tax dollars and if we add in our $600,000.00 surplus from the 2011 budget (taxpayers’ dollars) there must be a way to ensure we do not have a tax increase in 2012.

As the CAG has stated in the past few months it is time to “Live within our Means”, which translates into reducing costs across all departments.

Bottom line.. If Council chooses to follow the recommendation to use new development or increased assessment revenue along with the 2011 surplus to reduce the tax rate and build new infrastructure then the only way to get to a 0% tax rate is to find efficiencies within all City Departments. We hope Council will be able to find a way to accomplish what we feel is best for our City.

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CFN –   The Kinsmen and Lift Off Cabal reacted to our story on Lift Off and put a release together.  While it finally answers one of many questions; which is a great thing, it also spawns a few more questions.

What happened to the monies from 2010?    

Are the Kinsmen still sponsoring Lift Off for 2012?  

Who is on the Lift Off board as of this date, and why is it such a secret??

Why did Lift Off pull their funding request from Cornwall off of the table?  

Why have the 2010 Lift Off web pages been deleted but the site not updated?

Why did the CAO ram through the $30K  unsecured loan in 2011, and the biggie for the hundreds of volunteers who are the real victims of this mess; will there be a Lift Off fest in 2012?  

Why did City Council and the Mayor Support the Unsecured $30K loan?

Why is Lift Off refusing to show their books?  

New Question; feel free to post your own  questions to add to the list below:

Why when queried by the Media did Mr. Galvin simply not  say a release was coming out shortly instead of behave the way he did?

The bottom line is that people want Lift Off to happen.  I would like to see Lift Off happen because I think it truly is great and can be even better for our fair city.    We just need the clique that’s running it neutered or to realize that it’s not their private party on tax payer dollars.   You’d think Paul Fitzpatrick runs it!

Here is their release announcing that Rick Shaver, of the Seaway New and past chair of Lift Off last year for 5 minutes is back.  Lift Off is still not announcing or releasing who is on its board…

As part of their ongoing commitment to Cornwall’s largest multi-event festival, the Kinsmen Club of Cornwall is pleased to announce their sponsorship of the 2012 event.

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“The Kinsmen Club of Cornwall is pleased to be able to provide our support to this very worthwhile community event and we look forward to another great festival this July”, says Michael Galvin (President), “At the Team Cornwall “Year in Review”, the City of  Cornwall estimated that the Lift-Off annually generates an economic benefit of over $2,000,000.

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This certainly fits with in our organization’s mandate of serving the communities greatest need.”

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Festival Co-Chair for Business, Jason Jesmer echoed the sentiments of The Kinsmen Club, adding “We are very excited to have the Kinsmen returning as the Title sponsor for another year. We have a lot of greatnews coming shortly for the 2012 festival including the design and launch of a new website that will feature social media applications so that our guests can get up to the minute information on the festival as we get closer to July.”

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Pictured signing the sponsorship agreements are (L-R) Jason Jesmer,
Festival Co-Chair (Business), Mary Marleau, Festival Co-Chair (Events),
Rick Shaver, Kinsmen Vice President, and Michael Galvin, Kinsmen President.

And of course you may partake in our Poll:

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

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CAO Paul Fitzpatrick - student of the Pierre Gauthier school of higher management.

CFN –  Robert Menagh was thrown under the bus   relieved as Human Resources manager

Former Cornwall Manager Robert Menagh

by the City of Cornwall.

The City via CAO Paul Fitzpatrick released a brief memo today to the media.

Mr. Menagh had a low profile using up his vacation weeks after the stir before the holidays when news of the Diane Shay settlement hit the media.

It was suggested that the secret city council meetings that violate the Ontario Municipal Act were dealing with this mess that has cost the city as much as One Million dollars between settlements and penalties to Ms Shay and legal bills as well as the possible

Former GSDL Manager Donna Derochie

connection to Ms Donna Derouchie leaving her position at Glen Stor Dun Lodge; the Senior’s residence where  the drama started.

The city has also been in the news of late regarding its Online Advertising policy that has been suggested to be a penalty for newspapers like CFN for publishing stories about this and other issues?

Mr. Fitzpatrick had not responded to email queries about any settlement with Mr. Menagh as of press time.

The City of Cornwall has relieved Robert Menagh, Manager of Human Resources, of his duties effective immediately. The termination was without cause.

Mr. Menagh has served as Human Resources Manager since January, 2005.

Mayor Bob Kilger said: “Council has decided to seek new direction in the corporation’s Human Resources Department. We thank Mr. Menagh for his years of service, and wish him well in the future.”

What do you think Cornwall?  Is the firing of Mr. Menagh the solution or simply throwing someone who followed orders under the bus?  Would you like to know how much of a settlement Mr. Menagh was given?  Do you think the city should with hold this information?   You can post your comments below.

UPDATE

Within minutes of our story going live a source confirmed that there was another SECRET City Council meeting which looks to be in violation of the Ontario Municipal Board Act at 4 PM Tuesday January 10, 2012

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