Cllr. Ferguson Raises Budget Concerns

The Falcon Fight
How to play:
Knock your opponent out! Use the A and S keys on your keyboard to punch, and your up and down arrow keys to move back and forth.


Now for more serious stuff...

Growing group see massive red flags in Mayor Green's proposed budget - Councillors and public question the wisdom of it all.

The Mayor's Standing Committee on Finance have done their work and recommendations have been provided by the committee to council. The Editorial Board of the Langley Record respects the work of this committee, and most especially the three civilian volunteers. But serious questions still exist and Councillor Steve Ferguson has some very serious concerns for the impact that the recommendations will have on our community. Cllr. Ferguson was a member of this committee and all of the process, except for the closed-door meetings.

This statement was made by Councillor Ferguson upon his receipt of the committee's report the evening before. He read this statement at the March 3, 2009 joint Council Priorities Committee & Mayor's Standing Finance Committee Meeting:

Cllr. Ferguson's Submission to the Mayor's Standing Committee of Finance

I have serious concerns regarding the meanings and implications of the recommendations submitted to the Township of Langley Council.

I have had less than 24 hours to view the recommendations. I have not been involved in the compiling of the recommendations, as they were done in a closed setting outside the formal committee structure. A structure that involves an agenda, minutes, motions, questions, and requests for supplemental information. I understand that the final recommendations, including figures, were prepared without staff consultation or direct verifications. (This may lead to misunderstandings regarding Utilities, Transfers, borrowing, Staff costs, and other organizational explanations)

I do not support some of the recommendations of the committee and I have already submitted some questions to the Mayor via email. (attached to this submission)

I do not support a Township wide hiring freeze. (although not specifically mentioned, certainly suggested in Item 3 (page 9))

Although much has been said about the zero-based budgeting process, little has been presented to the committee regarding the accounting process or implementation.

I am concerned that the committee is requesting The Township go backwards in having less utilities and therefore less explanation on tax notices.

I am very concerned about comments made regarding the Fire Department. The Tenure of item 6 (page 10) suggests our Fire Department has major challenges

I am concerned about the comments submitted regarding Hybrid vehicles. We are extremely active in a Sustainable Charter Initiative, reversing the process now would be counterproductive.

I have been involved in many budget in my 6 terms as a municipal councillor and this process has been less open, less transparent, and more time intensive than anything that I have ever seen.

I look forward to hearing the comments of my fellow councillors during our OPEN budget deliberations.

Respectfully submitted,

Cllr. Steve Ferguson

The items refered to in Cllr. Ferguson's statement are related to the committee's report which you can view here. We note that although council voted to place this report on the Township website, to date this has not been done. We are not sure if someone is trying to prevent you from seeing it or not. The report says absolutely nothing, as the devil is in the details here and the mayor has done a great job in holding all of the details back from the public and his council.
Councillor Steve Ferguson's Report Comments

1. How was #6 determined given version 4 of our reports indicated a $131M figure

1(a). Where are the details of your numbers?

2. Item 2(C) indicates a policy figure of $17M, are you transferring monies above that figure to operational?

3. Item 2(D) indicates maintaining the non-statutory operating capital fund surpluses at $28M
yet I am concerned about the following?

Fire divisional deficit $1.6m
Police deficit $1.3m
One-time divisional requests of $1.1m
Solid Waste deficit $1.1m
Other short falls approx. $.7m

4. Where did the .93% tax increase come from?

5. How did you balance the budget? Item 1(c)?

6. The TOL's has had a policy of contributions to Capital to protect our fragile infrastructure what has happened to it? Why?

7. I am concerned that you have misunderstood how Utilities operate in our community. It appears as if you are unfairly redistributing funds from one utility to another. Township Residents who pay for their own solid waste (I believe you are one) are subsidizing users on the system. This appears to be true also in the Water utility.

It Is Confirmed - Mayor Green's Hearing Has Failed

This letter from a very senior Ministry of Transportation official states very clearly that if the Township chooses to reject the Mufford/64th Overpass, the funding will go elsewhere to other priorities. The letter also makes it very clear that there are no opportunities for a redesign. End of story. Mayor Green's stall tactics (perhaps hoping for a quick GVRD report?) have backfired on him. He now looks very foolish to senior levels of government for this silly stunt of his. You can be sure that this council will not be so trusting with him again. 

We have also confirmed that as of March 20th the public will have full access to more information on what Mayor Green has done and you can be certain that we will publish it all here. Stay tuned!

I - Ear and Nose Troubles Infect Township Mayor

By now the evidence is mounting that Mayor Rick Green has been operating in the back alleys to help his friends and insiders. It is far from Green's election rhetoric of open and transparent government, not being "top-down" in running the Township, et al. Here is a fair chain of events:

• Mayor Green allows the Mufford overpass to become a campaign issue, with insiders passing out materials on the overpass during the debates. This is so that he can address this issue and make it appear that there has been no previous public consultation. Obviously this is not true and Green had access to all of the documents that prove public input into the process.

• The Green/Richter slate allows friends and insiders to make delegations to council. Little does council know then, but they are being railroaded by the slate. After the delegation, Councillor Kim Richter puts forth a motion for another "public input" session and two public open houses. The two open houses are hijacked by Green/Richter insiders and becomes a circus, along with the public input sesssion with council. Green is angered by staff giving a presentation before the public input. He and Richter actually laugh out loud in council when staff are attacked by a viral older gentleman, further showing their disdain for staff.

• Green goes to the GVRD Board meeting and presents a Notice of Motion for the GVRD agricultural staff to review the Preliminary Design with regards to farmlands. He never speaks to council about this.

• Green meets with MP John Cummins behind closed doors and mentions a small line in his mayor's report that week that says they met to discuss "mutual interests", without stating what exactly they discussed. 

• Another report is issued by staff to show overall public support for the project, but not before Green orders the same public input documents to be distributed to council a total of 3 times. The slate also encourages the opponents to send vicious and threatening e-mails to council in an attempt to bully them.

• Green presents a very inaccurate view to council that the funding partners are ready to reconsider a new overpass design. Council takes Green at his word and approves the putting aside of an acceptance of the staff report and the overpass for opne week, as Green requests. We now know from this TransLink letter here, that this was an absolute falsehood and clear deception in his dealing with council. Besides having an "I" problem that needs serious attention from an "I" doctor, Green must also need a hearing specialist now. 

LANGLEY RECORD EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATION

By Guest Editor "HOUND DOG"  Interview & Investigation 

MP John Cummins and Mayor Green - Truth or Consequences for ToL

It was interesting to many councillors and public alike, that MP John Cummins would take such an interest in an infrastructure project well outside his constituency. Firstly, why would he show such little respect for fellow Conservative Party caucus member, MP Mark Warawa. Secondly, one must ask why is the Mufford/64th Overpass project of such concern to him. Through some nifty investigative work a couple of disturbing things were uncovered:

1. MP Cummins met directly with our Mayor Rick Green and it was documented without detail in Green's Mayor's Report as previously written here. But did MP Warawa get that same opportunity for a meeting when truly Langley Township is his riding and has nothing to do with an MP from Delta-Richmond, or does it, one must ask? Green's excuse of "we are old buddies" doesn't cut it, there must have been a greater reason for this unusal meeting.

2. Interestingly enough, our candid investigator discovered through a well-heeled informant that if Langley turns the overpass down, guess whose riding is about to benefit from all that cash? You guessed it, Delta-Richmond. The City of Richmond our source reports, has an infrastructure project of similar value to the Mufford overpass, yet still unfunded. Our informant reports this Richmond project is described as shovel ready and a high priority. Interesting, isn't it? Langley turns it down and MP Cummins looks like a hero as he delivers the cash from the funding partners, based on Langley's foolish decision.

3. In the report, Delta is to have a couple of overpasses built as part of the Roberts Bank Rail Corridor bigger picture project. But, they are farther down the list, and no monies or time frame are available for their construction. If Langley fails to pass this project, guess what? Delta's projects move up the list and are closer to becoming a reality. Again with MP Cummins looking like a huge hero as he delivers the goodies for his constituents.

In conclusion, what was said at that closed door ("he's my buddy") meeting between Mayor Green and MP Cummins? Was it something of "mutual interest", or was it to the detriment of the ToL? Our source tells us it is scheming to assist the mayor's old stomping grounds at the expense of his newly-adopted community.

Mr. Mayor - the sting is on and your shroud of secrecy is once again evident - transparency is thrown out the window! However, we suspect it was never part of your slate's plan. Another election promise broken.

Mayor Green Ignores His Promise of Transparency - Once AGAIN

ANOTHER LANGLEY RECORD EXCLUSIVE !

3/4/09 @ 6:00pm SEE Update I at the end of this article!

This rookie mayor just can't hold himself back from acting in secret and being anything but transparent to the people of the Township of Langley, nor the elected council. The Editorial Board of the Langley Record has just learned that Mayor Rick Green acted in secret in getting the Mufford/64th Overpass onto the agenda of the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) Regular Meeting of Friday, February 27, 2009. Mayor Green is the Township's primary representative and director. 

Cover of Agenda here (click documents to enlarge):

Note Agenda Item 4.3 here:

Mayor Green issues a Mayor's Report at every regular meeting of Township Council. In this document, which is his first report after the GVRD meeting he makes no mention of his motion at the GVRD meeting, despite the Mufford/64th Overpass staff report coming before council that very evening for review. Here is the mayor's report in its entirety.

This mayor ran on a loud and clear platform of openess and transparency. Yet despite all the rhetoric, he has called closed-door meetings that not only excluded the public and the press, but also our very own councillors that were also elected to serve our best interests.

To add insult to injury, the mayor held another secret meeting in his office Tuesday afternoon with Standing Finance Committee members Mayor Rick Green, Councillor Kim Richter, Calvin Patterson and George Luciani, just after their meeting with council. Councillor Steve Ferguson, who is also a member of this committee, was never advised of that this non-public meeting would be held in the mayor's office. Apparently this secret meeting did not require a motion in public to go behind closed doors, as was offered in the last Finance Committee meeting by Councillor Kim Richter, before the committee's report was issued. 

Secret meetings in the mayor's office. Hidden motions being put forth by our mayor when a poll clearly shows the majority of ToL residents favour an overpass.  The slate pandering to insiders and campaign buddies.

How can any citizen in the Township of Langley fault our ToL Council members for not trusting Mayor Rick Green and his slate, or for not taking him at face value? Shame on Mayor Rick Green for failing to keep our council appraised of his activities, as he purports to represent the interests of ALL of the citizens of the Township of Langley in meetings with other agencies and boards. 

Yes, Mayor Green is having a great time as stated in his Mayor's Report all right. But this great time is all at the expense of our residents, elected council and openess and transparency. 

Update I - 3/4/09 @ 6:00pm

Apparently Mayor Green has been playing Secret Squirrel at the GVRD longer than we thought. Click document to enlarge. 

Yesterday's ToL Council Meeting Recap

As expected, the arrogant were truely out in force last night. Vile people that are not articulate enough to make the case for what they believe, execpt to offer up shots of venom in the form of personal attacks and name-calling. Innuendo and suggestions of corruption spewing from their tongues, along with childish threats of election losses.  

Of course the brute mentality is directly in line with the rookie mayor who basically sat back and allowed the circus to carry one, with mild and timid injections of "order. He can certainly belt out orders with those who oppose him, but he gets very meak around his love fest. These were formal delegations to council and people were allowed to applaud and carry on. The rookie mayor has allowed all decorum to be thrown out and calls to order by fellow councillors are of no avail, so they don't bother to call them these days.

At one point, one very outspoken critic that is VERY arrogant actually stood up during council discussion in an attempt to debate them. This is the kind of cricus this mayor breeds, imagine that! This civilian who rose up has said that he has worked various professionals, but apparently he is CLUELESS as to how to have professional tact and respect for process and parlimentary procedure. Might we say another arrogant bull here? The first bully of the evening topped the cake with personal and vile attacks on Councillor Bateman and others. But this man should now feel like a fool (putting it mildly) after last night's vote was taken, eh?

Despite all the direct negative statements of BC Liberal connections and their power hold over ToL council, it was very apparent that Councillor Bateman and others had no prior knowledge of the mayor's discussions with provincial staff. So much for conspiracy theory folks!

The Editorial Board of the Langley Record must commend Mr. Wally Martin for his delegation and respectful submission. Unlike the others, Mr. Martin was respectful of council members and calmly made his case and campaign for the removal of heavy rail from Langley. We have heard complaints from people that signed his petition to removal heavy rail, as in his ToL delegation he then used this petition to ask council to reconsider the overpass vote and stated that these two issues are very much inter-related. But those that signed can call Mr. Martin and voice those concerns. Wally Martin stuck to the issues and did not bully or call anyone names. Good on him. 

Despite all the arrogance and smug its-a-fact predictions by a certain L*P "editor", the entire council with the exception of "no tell Mel" (Councillor Mel Kositsky) actually voted with the mayor to wait one week for clarification on what overpass changes may be do-able with the funding partners. Apparently Mayor Green had a conversation with a government staff member that verbally said that the Township could ask the funding partners for clarification on possible changes. The mayor did not have this in writing, but council was reasonable and supported the mayor's motion to go back to the funding partners for this clarification. Council took the mayor at FACE VALUE. Let's hope the mayor has his facts straight, but mayor and council should be commended for working together last night. This should also signal to the mayor that he needs to find more opportunities like last evening to work with the council that the electorate voted for.

MUCH praise must also go to Township staff who have had to endure constant attacks on their credibility, credentials and integrity. The public optics of the mayor's disdain for Township of Langley staff have not gone unnoticed by the electorate. The mayor's body language when staff are presenting materials is appauling. A fidgeting mayor who puffs out his cheeks and shuts what staff is saying, as he just can't wait for them to finish speaking, so that he can take over the microphone and be King of the Jungle again. What arrogance! This week even some Green supports complained to these editors about the mayor's attitude and interactions with council and staff.

Perhaps all of the senior ToL staff should get medical documentation and all file for stress leave.  It would be highly warrented under the circumstances and we are sure that medical professionals would agree that staff are just being bullied and stressed out. Then we can see what this mayor is made of. Maybe he can round up a team of his arm-chair engineers to run the Township into the ground? Time for Mayor Green to chill out and respect the ToL staff.

Flip Flop in the Works

Councillor Jordan Bateman is Now Batman Super Hero
- LF* Editor

According to the wannabee editor of the "other blog", it is pretty clear that the Green-Richter slate will support turning down the Mufford/64th Overpass, while continuing a very dysfunctional relationship. Who can figure. This represents another significant flip-flop by Councillor Kim Richter who clearing stated during the campaign last year and earlier this year that an overpass is needed and that it would be difficult to turn down this level of funding. Looks like the bully overpowered her and got his way.

As usual, the schizophrenia is very obvious, as they slate's blog vacillates from Councillor Jordan Bateman being insignificant, to now being the all-powerful super hero that bends the minds of his fellow councillors.

Maybe the slate should remember this information from the professional poll commissioned by the ToL:

Upcoming ToL Council Meetings

Township of Langley Council will meet tomorrow for the 4:00 pm Special Meeting and the 7:00pm Regular Meeting. The Special Meeting are always quiet, but usually contain good presentations, delegations and reports.

Tomorrow night's Regular Meeting of Council will see council chambers filled with the usual Mayor Rick Green Love Fest crowd that will be out in force for council's vote on the Mufford/64 Ave Overpass report from staff. The hallmark of this administration has been to service the needs of friends and insiders.

We shall see if Mayor Green does his job and keeps the meeting dignified and in order, as it should be. Since this mayor has taken office, professionalism and decorum have not been a hallmark, as he has allowed hooting, shouting, ongoing debate after delegations, and applause. All in what should be a civil meeting that is conducted decently and with proper order. But Mayor Green is no student of procedure and decorum for sure. The sideshows and allowing of sideshows just signal a total lack of respect for the office and the civil process. Watch for the carnival atmosphere folks, as the cotton candy salesman will be sure to greet his love fest at the doors upon entry.

It was interesting to note that Mayor Green had the Township page (ToL paid advertising) run a large picture of himself (yes, the 12 year old photo) on our dime, for his Mayor's Forum that was held (where else?), Milner Chapel Hall on Saturday. The very same advertising that both Green and Richter have complained about time after time. The next three Mayor's Forums will be held in the same place in Milner, so we have a before the Mufford Vote, and then two after. The rest of council knew what he was up to, so when he asked about a name for these meetings, council allowed the mayor to declare they are his meetings. We suspect as is the case with all of his hidden agenda items, that there will be little council participation. Why would you go as a councillor when it is clearly his game with the Love Fest groupies?

Monday, March 2, 2009 - Meetings of Township Council

Special 4:00pm Meeting (open to the public after the 3:00pm In-Camera)
Agenda here
Minutes from Last Meeting here

Doc 1
Doc 2
Doc 3
Doc 4
Doc 5
Doc 6
Doc 7
Doc 8
Doc 9
Doc 10


Regular 7:00 pm Meeting (open to the public)

Agenda here
Minutes of Last Meeting here

Mufford /64 Overpass Report Doc 1
Doc 2
Doc 3
Doc 4

With the recent mixed signals from the Green-Richter Slate on open and closed doors meetings and such, it will be very interesting to see how Councillor Richter votes on the Mufford/64th Overpass. If she votes against the overpass this will be significant, as she will have fallen behind the mayor and his slate and she also will have flip=flopped on statements she made during the campaign.

Slate Breakup?

The Green/Richter slate seems to be bursting at the seams. Here's a little game to ease the pain and provide a little slate therapy. You know the tune, "Breaking up is hard to do". Poor Rick and Kim.

Game Instructions: Use your arrow keys to adjust the cannon and space bar to shoot.

Hint: Don't shoot Rich Coleman or Mary Polak as they give you ammo and health.

Richter Supports Ward

In this unusual Langley Advance article by Matthew Claxton, Councillor Kim Richter admits to not attending the mayor's closed door workshops and says that basically she support's Councillor Ward in his bid to take notes in the committee workshop.

"In recent years, the Township budget process has been under control of a committee composed of the entire council. Richter said she just wants to get down to business, but had some reservations about Tuesday's events. "I was concerned as well that Coun. Ward was excluded," she said."

We can only take Councillor Richter at her word here and assume this was an honest comment. Therefore, The Langley Record must be fair and congratulate her for doing the right thing. Might Councillor Richter be tiring of Mayor Green's leadership style or the way things have been going? Only Councillor Richter can tell us and we hope she does.

Lots of money in staff time has been spent on this Standing Finance Committee and the jury is still out on the value we are getting. Next Tuesday's council and committee joint meeting should see the presentation of a report to council. The editors of both papers have now mused that a zero-based budget is nothing more than wishful thinking, and the committee will be hard-pressed to keep things much the same without any service increases, while still being able to recommend no tax increases. However, The Langley Advance goes on to say:

"Richter said she just wants a budget with zero tax increases this year."

Committee member Calvin Patterson has stated at least twice that he views the committee's job strictly as looking at efficiencies and possible budget cuts, disagreeing with Richter that the committee should also look as ways to increase revenue. Patterson views this role as a ToL Council function. Stay tuned.

Langley Record Exclusive - Mayor Green & Coun. Ferguson Secret Budget Game

More Pitfalls For Property Endowment Fund

The more we learn about the Property Endowment Fund (PEF) architected for the City of Vancouver, the less Langley appropriate it seems to get. Just read this article on the latest hit to Vancouver's PEF here.

In vancouver, non conforming billboards are a revenue generator for the PEF (maximize property use):

• A total of 13 non-conforming billboards are actually on City of Vancouver property
• The removal of the 13 billboards on City property will cost the treasury about $200K per year in lost revenue.
• In addition, there will be a loss of $157K to the City's Property Endowment Fund.
• Staff predict an additional $50K in costs to cut lawns and remove garbage that will also be added to the tax bill.
• In total, this will be a hit of over $400K per annum.

Is this the kind of Langley we want?

February 24, 2009 Standing Finance Committee Unmeeting

Guest Editor Commentary

The “Workshop” Fiasco

The latest Finance committee meeting began with an explanation, kindly presented by Mr. Bakken. Regarding the difference between a meeting- to which the public would be granted access to, unless meeting strict rules of exceptions (none of which this finance committee meetings would pertain to) and a “workshop” or “Social Gathering”- to which the Mayor and his committee could decide who was given permission to attend. To be considered a “Workshop” it must meet some criteria, it is informal, with no recommendations made and no decisions made by committee members. After everyone was made clear the differences, Mayor Green gave a recommendation of having a private “workshop” and clarified with Bakken that they could hold this “workshop” and speak informally. Green then explained to the committee that they would have this “workshop” then meet again once more having a formal committee meeting on March 3rd, just prier to (that same day) their recommendations being presented to council. They would then formally vote on their recommendations allowing for the report to be finalized.

Now I am just a Langley Township citizen and have no council experience, but even to me something does not add up. How could the committee have a “workshop” where no recommendations where made and no decisions were made, that allowed the committee to then only require a short meeting to formalize things by a vote? From what I could see they were in need of a lot of recommendations and had a lot of decisions to be made. In fact, Counsellor Richter asked for Mr. Bakken to attend. To assist in all those decisions? maybe make a few recommendations? To which Mr. Bakken responded, he would be “cautious” of that. Adding: “ My fear is if staff is present for a protracted time it may appear we are doing business”

Committee member George Luciani reiterated the need for some help in the matter and in not so many words, added the need for someone who knows what they are doing. How does a committee go from that, to being prepared to submit their recommendations to council? All from a “workshop” where no recommendations were made and no decisions. Seems a little suspicious to me!

I sympathize with the committee, and would certainly not want to be in their shoes. There is no arguing they need a “ roll up your sleeves meeting” but the point is, to gain any head way, it would have to come in the form of a meeting, not a “workshop”. And it is clear the public and media should be allowed to be there to witness it. Why hide behind closed doors? What is the secret?

Read Al Irwin's Account of today's meeting here and last Saturday here.

The Full Statement Delivered Today By Councillor Steve Ferguson Read to the committee before excusing himself from today's unmeeting

Submission to the Mayor's Standing Committee on Finance

Over the last few months and approximate 9 meetings we, the finance committee as a group, have had the opportunity to view the Township of Langley's 2009 budget and beyond. There have been submissions from the staff at the Township of Langley from various departments by means of hard copy (printed materials), overhead/video presentations, and general dialogue.

We have also had one presentation from Mr. Bruce Maitland regarding a Land Trust Fund, and Community Amenities Contributions. Out of that presentation brought many questions about including a Cost of Growth Study, and how a Land Trust (endowment) Fund could be established.

We have followed a structured meeting schedule, minutes were taken, and a time line of logistical next steps for proceeding were followed. We have been told by Council that they wish an initial presentation on the recommendations of the committee at a joint Finance Committee/Council Priorities meeting on Tuesday March 03, 2009.

An array of questions have been asked, and supplemental information has been requested of staff and consequently received at other meetings. Staff have made themselves available either by telephone (which I have taken advantage of) or by email to answer any questions or queries that committee members may have had during our meetings.

Committee members have been asked to provide input/thoughts and or recommendations (as I have done) that can indeed be forwarded to Township Council for review. These suggestions will form part of the general discussions that Township Council can consider when discussing the entire budget for 2009 and beyond.

Members of the community and media have attended our finance committee meetings. Many of them have respectfully, outside of meeting times, asked questions regarding both process and information presented during the meetings.

The public has been made aware of some of the discussion by means of the local media. The minutes and reports presented during the meetings are available upon request from the clerks office.

I am more than prepared to continue meeting with the Mayor's Standing Committee of Finance under the same format that we have used during the last 9 meetings, however, I am NOT prepared to meet behind closed doors where the public is not invited.

The Township of Langley Budget process has always had an OPEN door environment. Those that were interested or were concerned about the way items are budgeted and accounted for in the Township have attended the meetings. The media has always kept the public aware of our findings and for the most part kept up accountable.

I believe in Open and Transparent government. This makes me accountable to the very people that elected me, the Taxpayers of the Township of Langley. I do not support Closed door meetings where the public is kept in the dark as to what is being discussed.

I am more than prepared to meet and discuss recommendations during our regularly scheduled meetings of the Finance committee, however, as stated above, I will not attend any closed door meetings that do not include the public.

Respectfully Submitted,

Steve Ferguson
Councillor - Township of Langley

Note to Township of Langley 3:15pm - The Slate Likes Closed Meetings

At 3:15 PM ToL Administrator Mark Bakken presented the rules for a "workshop". They include "informal discussions with no decisions being made". Listen to the recording from the other day and tell us that in preparing a report for council this committee will not funnel things down and make decisions on what will be sent to ToL Council? The committee gets 9 weeks to chew on the budget and what can be done and ToL Council only get 3 weeks and they are the only ones that can make final budget decisions? What's wroing with that picture?

The great thing is, the entire Township of Langley now knows that Councillor Kim Richter and her slate sidekick Mayor Green totally favours closed-door meetings. It was fully evident in her motion today to take the Standing Finance Committee meeting into a closed meeting and a vote that included support from Mayor Green, with ONLY Councillor Ferguson opposed to a closed door meeting.

Our Guest Editor is preparing an article on this meeting and we are going to wait and let the other blog spew their spin first. I can assure you that our guest is far more articulate and bright than the wannabe editor of that other blog ever will be.

Langley Advance Editor Offers Strong Rebuke to Mayor Green

In today's Opinion column entitled QUIT SQUABBLING, Langley Advance Editor Bob Groeneveld put's the blame for Saturday's Finance Committee fiasco "squarely on the shoulders of Mayor Rick Green".

"While the two councillors involved in this latest bout of bickering need to stand in the corner and think about how they might have handled the situation differently, the chief responsibility for this one falls squarely on the shoulders of Mayor Rick Green.

The newbie mayor has had three months to start to get his act together. He should be trying to find ways to work with all his councillors, to make his council work. That's his prime job as mayor - not to drive wedges. He gets no extra points for his citizens' finance think tank, if all it does is stir the council pot further.

He did unseat the previous mayor, but seven of his eight councillors were re-elected last fall, most of them on campaigns that did not include rhetoric locking them into 0-0-0 tax increases at any cost. And he, himself, did not campaign on promises of secretive meetings - quite the contrary."

As was predicted, with the slate reeling from their latest big blunder, they mobilized a couple of slate recruits that included Sonya Paterson, to write some letters. You will recall that Paterson ran unsuccessfully for council in the last election, and lost to incumbent Councillor Grant Ward. She was also endored by the Green-Richter Slate blog, so the response is predictable. It is amazing that these people who were not present for the meeting appear to know it all. A couple of writters clearly got their instructions from the slate, as both focused on Ferguson's Blackberry. What these uniformed pawns do not comprehend is that the Township has an official message alert system that advises mayor and councillor on their Blackberry devices of ANY changes to meetings and locations. Ferguson was making reference to this message system and protocol in the audio below. 

As the Advance Editor points out, now is not the time for the mayor to drive wedges between his slate and council members. The economy is in the toilet and this man ran on a plateform of ZERO tax increases over the next 3 years. Time to get over his ego

The Scoop on Municipal Meetings

The Editorial Board of the Langley Record has now called and visited with a large core group of mayors, former mayors and some municipal lawyers to get the scoop for you on meetings. This was sparked by the Green & Richter slate's attempt to shut the public and two councillors out of a meeting that was originally schedule to be at the mayor's private residence and was switched to the Township Facility after an e-mail error.

The core group of elected officials, former elected officials and lawyers with much experience say that although "workshops" are rare for a committee, most municipalities allow for public observers. The normally vote in open meetings to go into a closed meeting ONLY when legal/litigation, land or labour issues are involved and they admit they never discuss such sensitive issues with non-sworn members of the public for obvious reasons. Most of the core group listened to the recording presented here on Saturday and all commented that the mayor switched from "private committee meeting", to "workshop of the committee", and back to meeting when Green adjourned "the meeting".

The core group all said without exception or coaching that rookie Mayor Rick Green does not understand process and was not very politically wise. A few admit that early on in their terms they mistakenly called some closed meetings. One former mayor admitted that a particular councillor had leaked in camera information to the media about a meeting with staff in one instance. The reaction? That mayor simply called for that meeting to move to a larger room and declared an open meeting with an appology. There was no intent to shut the public out this mayor admits.

This brings us to the two keys that caused a major failure this past Saturday. The first failure was caused by the intent of the slate to hold a closed meeting. Had an email not mistakenly been copied to Councillor Steve Ferguson, the slate would have been successful with a closed meeting on the mayor's private property. That was the original intent and the slate can deny all they wish,and threaten all they want on their blog. It is all but a smokescreen. They have been caught red-handed, plain and simple and they had better hope that Councillor Ferguson doesn't go public with the shameful documents that clearly prove the intent. No notice to the clerk two weeks prior, no notes on the mayor's calendar, no vote in public to bring the meeting in camera and no public notice of specifics why the meeting needed to be closed. All required by Bylaws or the Community Charter.

The second failure was a total lack of political wisdom. Mayor Green should have fessed up to the fiasco and called for the meeting to move over to the presentation theater with the public and the press present. All of the well-qualified people we spoke with said this was very poor political wisdom on the part of Mayor Green, and all agreed they would not have handled this meeting in that manner.

What is so secret that the Green-Richter slate must keep so hush, hush? An overwhelming consensus of the politically-savvy we spoke with all agree that Mayor Green will have to raise property taxes or plunder Township reserves. He will do so under the guise of a downturn in the economy. If this is attempted by the Green-Richter slate, the public better really research the facts, because this is FAR from the truth. The Township operated in a lean manner, there was no fraud or waste and there were more than adequate reserves left for this mayor and his slate. The slate had access to all kinds of information prior to and during the campaign, yet they hyped a zero-based budget to win the election.

We hear that the slate will take the previously schedule Tuesday public meeting of the Finance Committee for February 24th and bring this meeting in camera. Again, what is being discussed that is so secret?

If you have trouble with this meeting situation and agree that meetings should not be held in secret, then call Councillor Richter and Mayor Green and let them know that you don't appreciate secret meetings in OUR Township.

You can also e-mail them manually at: mayorandcouncil@tol.bc.ca
Sorry, but sometimes Blogger does not do what you want it to, like open e-mail links!

Address Mayor Green and Councillor Richter in your opening. But using this address will also allow the other councillors to see you message to these two slate members. Don't take excuses from them and don't allow them to intimidate you. After The Langley Advance photo was taken Mayor Green moved even closer to Councillor Ferguson in a typical Green attempt to intimidate the councillor. Don't let him bully you!

Sunday Update on Green-Richter Slate Secret Meeting

Make certain you hear the shameful audio of the mayor below as he tries to run damage control after the slate got their hands caught in the cookie jar!

More disturbing details have emerged regarding this secret meeting that should cause the public GREAT concern...

Informed sources have confirmed with the editors of the Langley Record that yesterday's Standing Finance Committee secret meeting had first been intended to be held at the home of Mayor Rick Green, and without the notification or knowledge of Councillor Steve Ferguson. Obviously meetings at the mayor's home would also preclude public and media involvement. 

The slate's secret plot fell apart, when during an e-mail exchange between the slate and the committee, a member of the slate inadvertently copied Councillor Ferguson on an e-mail. The slate then scrambled to run damage control, quickly changing the venue to a Township Civic Facility meeting room. A very poor attempt to legitimize the meeting and cover their tracks. It all makes sense now, as one will hear Councillor Steve Ferguson in the audio recording tell Mayor Green that he has e-mails and such that prove the Green - Richter slate tried to keep Ferguson out of this meeting. They did everything they could to keep him away.  

It is very shameful and disturbing that Mayor Green and his slate publically appear to enspouse openess and transparency, while behind closed doors they plot secret meetings and exclude the public. On Saturday, February 21, 2009, twenty-six members of the public and the press were denied access to a meeting and information that we as taxpayers have paid for. All because this mayor believes he rules the Township with an iron fist and his fellow slate members back him up, instead of objecting on behalf of the public. The "transparency" is 100% optics and is nothing but a sham. 

MEETING NOTES *** UPDATE ***  

• No council meetings this week
• Tuesday, February 24, 2009 - Finance Committee Meeting - 3:15pm - 5:15pm Salmon River Committee Meeting Room Although this meeting does not appearing on the ToL online calendar. Is this meeting at Rick's home or Kim's place?
• No other details on any other secret meetings of slate insiders.

Public Shut Out of Meeting - Mayor Declares Meeting Adjourned

*** BREAKING NEWS ***

*** Update II *** Langley Advance article and picture here.

*** Update III *** Hear the action - Audio File

24 Members of the Township public and two members of the press were denied access to the Finance Committee meeting by Mayor Green. A meeting that should have been an advertised public meeting from the start.

Mayor Rick Green declared a meeting of his Standing Finance Committee today to be adjourned after Councillor Ferguson and Ward presented evidence that the meeting violated Township Bylaw, Community Charter and the Terms of Reference for this committee. The mayor had words with the two councillors before storming out of the meeting.

Twenty Township Fire Fighters, three civilians, a Langley Advance reported, a photographer and Councillor Ward had hoped to find an open meeting, despite the various Bylaws and procedures being ignored when the Green Richter slate established this meeting. While Councillor Richter was not present and had advised members she would be late to this meeting, informed sources report that Richter was instrumental in the establishment of this meeting and its agenda.

At NO time were civilian members of the Standing Finance Committee attacked or spoken to during this attempt at open meeting access that is reflective in a transparent government. The electorate will recall that Green's slate ran on an openess, accountability and transparency platform and accused former mayor Kurt Alberts of running the Township with a "top down management style". Who is the real top down manager?

*** Update IV ***

Councillor Grant Ward was in the committee room today and files this report...

Guest Column By Councillor Grant Ward

Further to Matthew Claxton's Langley Advance article, I have the following comments

Today Mayor Rick Green attempted to hold a secret and a closed Standing Committee of Finance meeting, contrary to the Rules of Procedures Bylaw 3694, the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the General Council Standing Committees Policy (that mayor and council endorsed a month ago, and the Community Charter Section 90 to 92.

The Terms of Reference allows for the public and council members (TOR para. 2.2) the ability to attend all such meetings as observers only and 'the committee must conduct their business in accordance with the authority approved to them and the terms therein.

'Under TOR 13.3, ' All changes to meeting dates, times, location must be reported to the Township Clerk a minimum of two weeks prior to the effective date so the necessarey notifications can be issued.'

The TOR 14.1 states "All meetings are open to the public, unless excluded in accordance with Section 90 of the Community Charter" (basically items of Land, Labour or Litigation). If these items were to be discussed, would the entire meeting be required to be in camera? Also, The Community Charter requires in camera meetings to be approved by resolution by council in a public meeting, just as we do with our weekly special closed meetings of council.

There is no reference to any so-called legal 'closed workshop' styled meetings. This meeting, although stated to be a 'workshop meeting', is nontheless 'a meeting' that the public is entitled to attend, especially any elected official. Further, the two civilian members of this committee are not sworn public officials and therefore would have no cause to discuss privileged information (land, labour or litigation) with Mayor Green, as they should not be privy to such things. This meeting being called on short notice (this week) and was likely designed to leave the rest of council without any 'preemptive assessment' of what was to be forthcoming from this committee, for whatever reason deemed by the mayor.

Mayor Green's statement about today's occurrence, 'that it's about Rick Green. It'ss about fighting the last election', is purely a red herring. He erred with this hasty call to meeting and he knows it was a mistake. Conversely, he could have stood his ground (based on his statements) and carried on with his meeting, had he been on solid legal ground in his mind. In summary, this is all about doing the right thing within bounds of accepted protocols, principles and policy. The mayor is not above the rules, policies or Bylaws. That is NOT open and transparent. The public has the right to attend municipal meetings, and most especially when our decisions impact their daily lives in any significant way such as taxation.

Vancouver Wises Up - Langley Township Gets Dumb?

In the City of Vancouver, councillors are wising up to the fact that it may not be good for the city to be in the real estate business. Fortress Investments is not going to restructure the loan on the Olympic Village and the city will now assume the full burden of that loan, in the hope that these condominiums will product a healthy profit after the Olympics. It has also been reported that what was to be one of Vancouver's largest social housing program will be cut, as the City of Vancouver does not have the funds available to finance all that.

Frances Bula reports on a council discussion with staff here. 

"But as you can read in the last line of Rod’s story, the city’s manager of business planning, Ken Bayne, made the fatal error of saying the following about the city’s use of $400 million of its current working capital reserves as a loan for the Fortress project:

“In fact, it may actually benefit our operating budget, because of a higher return than we normally get on our investment projects.”

Councillor Kerry Jang rose to reprimand him. “That’s a pretty dangerous point,” he said. “We have to make sure we are not into real-estate speculation. I don’t think we as a city are into real-estate speculation.”

Ken then had to apologize, I’m sorry if I appeared to be making light of the situation blah blah blah. Very squirm inducing."

Our very own Township of Langley real estate consultant Mr. Bruce Maitland is also mentioned on this Frances Bula blog:

"As former real-estate division head Bruce Maitland (now retired) told me recently, that was the policy the division pursued as a way of continuing to grow the city’s assets. The city didn’t want to get into development itself. But by acquiring strategic pieces of land and then doing the preparatory rezoning work itself, it got to capture some of the profits as the land gained in value. Now other cities are seeking his advice on setting up property endowment funds so they can do the same thing."

As you may know, Bruce Maitland just delivered a presentation on a Vancouver-style Property Endowment Fund (PEF) to a joint meeting of Township Council of Priorities and Standing Finance Committee meeting just last week. After this same meeting, Councillor Kim Richter was overheard saying to Standing Finance Committee member Ken Baker, "Do you see the mentality of this council?" This after several council members asked Maitland some very direct questions pertaining to the operation of such a PEF in the ToL in a market such as the one we find ourselves in. Council members also expressed concerns that upzoning might work in Vancouver, but would be certain to outrage Township residents.

"Do you see the mentality of this council?"

-- Councillor Kim Richter

We see other municipalities taking a very cautious approach to creative funding like PEF's, and the City of Vancouver having to eat a major loan with $319.5M in City of Vancouver money now going into this project.  One has to wonder why the Green-Richter slate is ramming this PEF down the throats of Township taxpayers and council. Maybe its because there was no signs of fraud or waste discovered by the Standing Finance Committee? Maybe its because the Standing Finance Committee has discovered that in order to have a zero-based budget for 2009 they will have to steal from reserves and cut services in a municipality that already has one of the lowest tax rates and service levels that are adequate, but not over the top? Maybe its because maintaining the status quo (keep things as they are), they will have a shortfall of $1,675,745 in 2009 that will balloon to an $8,681,599 shortfall in 2011 that will then require a 15% increase in ToL Property Taxes to resolve, unless major cuts are made now. Bruce Maitland said that in order for the PEF to work, the municipality must take on risks and invest in servicing lands to be sold to developers. How will we have a zero-based budget, adequate services, and take on risks to make money on lands in a time of serious economic decline? Do you see the mentality of this slate?

Another Shameful Slate Sideshow

************ UPDATED FEB 17, 2009 *************

Tonight's meeting televised to the masses on cable TV was a shameful display of disdain and hatred that the Green/Richter slate have for this current council. Councillor Charlie Fox had received a huge pile (24"/2 feet high - see below) of budget and related materials that the Mayor's Standing Finance Committee had either received or requested from staff as research. With this huge pile of materials and no idea where the committee is going with conclusions and recommendations, Coun. Fox put forth a Motion to get the committee to issue an interium report.

Councillor Richter was the first to take exception to the Fox motion as she accused the councillor of discrediting the three civilian volunteers on this Mayor's Standing Finance Committee. Councillor Fox NEVER attacked any volunteers in his motion or discussions about it. Next, Councillor Steve Ferguson made it clear to mayor and council that this committee had private meetings in the mayor's office (after the official meeting) and never invited him. Mayor Green said he took exception to that comment and suggested that Coun. Ferguson was always invited to every meeting. Ferguson disagreed with the mayor on that point.

Mayor Green also went into a big defence regarding his finance committee and their credentials. Again, there were unsolicited comments because no one attacked the committee's credentials. The Editorial Board was speaking with a well-seasoned investigator who opined that generally guilty people end up defending things that have never been questioned in the first instance. It is a basic rule of structured interview/ interrogation and investigation. Looks like The Slate has been caught red-handed. Secret meetings and a grossly unqualified committee.

It is interesting to note that standard committee volunteers in the Township have always submitted full resumes and have the been interviewed by mayor and council. Members of this Standing Finance Committee are insiders and campaign supporters - individuals hand-picked by Mayor Green himself. No extensive resumes, no interviews, nothing. Our Editorial Board has been doing some research and we have serious questions about the credentials of the majority of Finance Committee members.

To add insult to injury, Mayor Green said for the second time that perhaps the people on this committee have more budget experience than some members of council. What a slap in the face to his fellow council members! How arrogant! The man does not understand that he must work WITH council and not just with his slate. What Once again he was seen huffing and puffing each and every time a council member disagreed with his viewpoint. The body language is very clear with this mayor - he and his insiders know everything and this council is just plain stupid.

The Editorial Board took a telephone poll of a large cross-section of people we know who had been watching the meeting on TV. Our council monitors were also present for the meeting. All agree that the bully was back in the playground and the slate are clearly running damage control BEFORE anyone has struck out against their committee (with questionable qualifications). But it will soon be time to Roll Up The Rim and then we will see how the slate tries to turn this committee's findings into ammunition against the remainder of council. But tonight was nothing short of a slate Gong Show for sure. Meeting process has now been thrown out the window and the sideshow is in full swing. Stay tuned and watch the moves of this slate!

*** FOX MOTION & NOTICE OF MOTION***

Motion #1

Whereas the Mayor’s Standing Finance Committee has now been meeting one day short of 7 weeks, and there 13 weeks left prior to final date for approving this years budget, and for 3 of those weeks Council does not meet, and

Whereas to date Council has received only Notes, Minutes and comments made in the local press without a report or recommendations from the Committee, and

Whereas most, of not all, neighbouring communities have gone to third reading on their budget and in some cases completed the public consultation which we in the Township have yet to formally begin,

Be it resolved that a preliminary report from the finance committee be presented to Council in the afternoon meeting on Monday, March 2nd, and this outline the progress made to date and updates on any recommendations forthcoming to Council for consideration.

Final approval by amendment– Tuesday, March 3rd


Notice of Motion

Whereas Mr. Maitland made a presentation to the joint Finance and Council Priorities Committee meeting on the background and basic tenants of the Property Endowment Fund as it works in the City of Vancouver which is governed by the Vancouver Charter,

Be it resolved that Mr. Maitland be contracted to review the Township Land inventory of non ‘DCC’ lands and prepare a report to Council recommending which lands would be available for re-sale purposes, and

Be it resolved that Mr. Maitland review the Township policies and processes as to land holdings and disposition and recommend amendments to the Township's current bylaws, policies and procedures to make the necessary recommendations to transform the Township's Land Reserve fund to a Township Property Endowment Fund,

And Further, that once the regulatory framework is known, that Staff and Council schedule a workshop to review the recommendations and the Possible Surplus Properties that could be developed in accordance with such a Fund.

THE TOWNSHIP POOP PILE

Councillor Richter used to proport to be the finance & budget watchdog on council. Now it appears that watchdogism has been abandoned with the new Green/Richter Slate and left to The Langley Record.

HOW MUCH STAFF OVERTIME DID ALL THIS WORK COST THE TOL TAXPAYER?

A big thanks to Councillor Charlie Fox for exposing this waste, and providing a photo of the pile of poop to all of the media.

Upcoming Monday ToL Council Meeting

The following meeting Agendas and Reports are provided for reader information and participation at the February 16, 2009 Township of Langley Council Meetings.

Special Meeting - 3:00pm

Agenda

Previous Minutes

Doc 1

Doc 2

Doc 3

Doc 4

Doc 5

Doc 6

Doc 7

Doc 8

Doc 9

Doc 10

Regular Council Meeting - 7:00pm 

Agenda

Previous Minutes

Previous Minutes - Public Hearing

Previous Minutes - Public Input - Mufford/64th Ave Overpass

Doc 1

Doc 2

Doc 3

Doc 4

Doc 5

Doc 6

Doc 7