Category Archives: Perks and Expenses

Conflict over Kitchener councillors’ potential $55,000 lawyer allowance

Posted on January 17, 2017 by

Read it and weep as council strums the budget blues During recent sessions, councillors faced the unpleasant but necessary prospect of raising costs of storm water by 9.2 per cent, sanitary/sewers by 10.8 percent and water by 7.6 per cent. … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Perks and Expenses, Transparency, Ward News | 1 Comment

Council transparency: Appearance or substance?

Posted on April 26, 2016 by

When it comes to efforts by Kitchener council to improve accountability and transparency, appearance of change is not enough. Such efforts must have clear, meaningful results and a motion from Coun. Scott Davey last night achieved no such thing. The motion … Continue reading →

Posted in Journalism, Perks and Expenses, Transparency | Leave a comment

Small but very symbolic budget decisions

Posted on February 27, 2015 by

It didn’t surprise me that two small but very symbolic issues attracted little media attention during a recent 13-hour budget meeting where Kitchener councillors grappled with some multi-million-dollar issues. What did come as a very unpleasant surprise was that both issues — additional money for a leisure … Continue reading →

Posted in Leisure activity subsidy cards, Perks and Expenses, Ward News | Leave a comment

Public deserves more budget information

Posted on February 3, 2015 by

“Public engagement is a key component of the annual budget process.” So reads the high-flying introduction paragraph on a 2015 council document distributed last night at a public-input budget meeting staged by Kitchener Council. At the end of the meeting I complimented members of … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Centre in the Square, Leisure activity subsidy cards, Low-Cost Housing, Perks and Expenses, Transparency | Leave a comment

Front-porch politics in Kitchener’s vibrant Ward 9

Posted on October 26, 2014 by

Your vote counts. That’s the powerful lesson learned when I was elected by a single vote in 2010 that I would like to communicate before tomorrow’s election. And, based on subsequent conversations with hundreds of people convinced that they each cast … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts & Culture, Democracy Ward 9, Giving thanks, Heritage, Jobs, Light Rail Transit, Low-Cost Housing, Neighbourhoods, Perks and Expenses, Transparency, Vibrant Downtown, Voter Turnout, Ward News | 2 Comments

Meet your candidates at city hall forum

Posted on October 19, 2014 by

All candidates will be transparently accountable I can safely predict you will hear frequent mention of the words “accountability” and “transparency” at a meeting for all Kitchener candidates at city hall Tuesday night. Nothing wrong with that unless the 25-30 … Continue reading →

Posted in Perks and Expenses, Transparency, Ward News | Leave a comment

Cost of councillor conferences

Posted on April 9, 2014 by

First off, I would say that I recognize the potential learning experience gained from some conferences attended by councillors. At the same time, I believe the amount of money council approves for conferences and the apparent lack of control on … Continue reading →

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Trimming home-office expenses

Posted on January 31, 2014 by

What’s a mere $629.55 while councillors wrestle with a $104,450,374 annual budget? That question and suggestions I was media grandstanding were among comments heard during Jan.30 final budget session as I brought up items like the home-office technology allowance for … Continue reading →

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Use councillor perk to help low-income families

Posted on November 28, 2013 by

As you read this, councillors are immersed in budget meetings, trying to find ways to control taxes while maintaining services. It’s during this budgetary balancing act  I compare items like the home-office technology allowance for councillors with Kitchener’s fair-access subsidy program for … Continue reading →

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Ward 9 time of the signs

Posted on September 10, 2010 by

Today’s the day Kitchener’s election bylaw permits municipal candidates to put up lawn signs. Members of our campaign crew — recent experts in the use of boltcutters required to snip metal prongs that support signs — were out braving blisters … Continue reading →

Posted in Amalgamation, Greener City, Heritage, Jobs, Low-Cost Housing, Perks and Expenses, Rockway Seniors, Speeding Traffic, Transit, Transparency, Vibrant Downtown, Victoria Park, Voter Turnout, Where's Frank | Leave a comment