Q. How did you arrive at this list of priorities? A. The list of priorities was derived from an open review of over 200 existing, pending and new project priorities which account for approximately 10-20% of the city’s resources and capacity. The two review meetings took place in the fall. Meeting 1: October 19, 2007 […]
Category: Transparency
Ward 2 Town Hall Meeting Update
Councillor Beard and myself would like to thank all of those who attended our first Ward 2 Town Hall meeting. It was a great success with approximately 80 people in attendance. We would also like to thank our valued staff for their participation. Martin Lavictoire and Wayne Galliher presented an overview on Guelph’s water conservation […]
Scrutiny Upped for Closed Meetings
The following article appeared in the January 1 edition of the Guelph Tribune: City council meetings that are closed to the public are expected to come under closer scrutiny, starting today. As of Jan. 1, any person will be able to ask that an investigation be done to determine whether a municipality or local board […]
Ombudsman vs, Advisor
Obviously the recommendation to hire an advisor rather than free service from a Provincial Ombudsman is aware of the old saying “He who pays the piper calls the tune”. If this recommendation is passed in Council, there will be proof that Council are more interested in protecting their own butts than in providing a free […]
Guelph City Council introduces electronic voting
System improves transparency by recording each member’s vote Guelph City Council used an electronic voting system for the first time last night at its Council meeting. Under the system, members of Council vote in favour or against a motion by pressing the appropriate button, and the overhead screen displays how each individual voted. All votes […]
2006 Mayoral Inaugural Address & update
The priorities identified in the Mayoral Inaugural Address were well-debated before and during the election and represent the interests and concerns of Guelph residents. We have built on the priorities captured in the Inaugural Address through a collaborative strategic planning process that engaged members of Council, City staff and residents. To view address and update […]
Councillors Straddle Conflicts of Interest
The following article appeared in the September 11 edition of the Guelph Tribune: At least a couple of Guelph’s new city councillors are finding the city hall terrain to be tricky when it comes to conflict-of-interest concerns. Ward 2 councillor Ian Findlay, a longtime downtown business owner, and Ward 4 councillor Mike Salisbury, whose wife […]
Letter To The Mayor and All City Councillors
First of all let me start by saying that I do not envy you the monumental tasks that you are facing in the coming months, and years, of your Administration. I watched with some interest the last televised council meeting, at which there was prolonged discussion regarding the leasing of the Loretto Convent for the […]
Communication Change at Council
The following article appeared in the July 20 edition of the Guelph Tribune: City council is changing the way councillors speak and vote at council meetings. Instead of responding when their names are called for recorded votes and just raising their hands for other votes, council agreed Monday to start using an electronic voting system […]
Tony Leighton writes on the first 6 months of this Council
The following editorial appeared in the May 12th edition of the Guelph Mercury. We appear to have voted in real leaders this time It’s time for some shameless cheerleading. Lots of people think one government is pretty much like any other, and voting doesn’t matter much. Guelph’s new city council has already proven them wrong. […]