Thinking Out Loud

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Council needs to adopt social media, tweak council reports

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By Robert Washburn

The council reports at the end of the Cobourg council meeting need to be reconsidered, if not thrown out. During regular council meetings (every second week), Cobourg council ends with an agenda item called council reports. It is where each member rhymes off all the various activities done over the past two weeks as the audience from the local cable station looks on. The list includes meetings, dinners, public appearances, and tidbits of interesting news, research, and so forth. If it sounds boring, that is because it is. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Thinking Out Loud, Politics

Response to Cobourg deputy mayor’s report to council on meeting times

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By Robert Washburn

Thanks to the BurdReport for posting the report Deputy Mayor Stan Frost will present to council tonight defending the proposal to switch council’s meeting time to 4 p.m., from 7 p.m.

First, the mayor argues the change is part of the strategic plan, under the objective calling for improved municipal policies and practices. Sorry, this is not an improvement. He says the gap between the end of the workday and the start time of council meetings is not an optimum use of time by staff and the public. There is not sufficient explanation why that is motivation enough for the change. Public servants have done this for years. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Thinking Out Loud, Politics

Deputy mayor needs to rethink meeting time proposal for council

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Cobourg council truly dropped the ball when Deputy Mayor Stan Frost proposed moving its weekly meeting to 4 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. Monday nights. The BurdReport did a great job deconstructing the issues around the consultation process regarding this announcement. And, his comments were spot on. Just a few points to add. This is one of those moves by a group of politicians where it signals how the council is out of touch and isolated. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Thinking Out Loud, Politics

Arguments against electoral boundary changes from some pretty smart people

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By Robert Washburn

As the number of politicians opposed to electoral boundary changes in Northumberland-Quinte West is growing, the public still remains passive. However, some pretty smart people from inside the political class in the county are making compelling arguments against the changes. Here are some of them: (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Thinking Out Loud, Politics

The special place at Trent for journalists

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By Robert Washburn

When setting up the first round of face-to-face meetings with my students in the Trent-Loyalist Joint Journalism Program, a room was needed. Thanks to Jeff Langevin, at Trent, an open room was found at Otonabee College. Built in the early 1970s, the architects used a lot of poured concrete in a very innovative way. However the feeling of the interiors can be quiet strange. The room for our use is OC171, which sits at the end of a very long hall. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Thinking Out Loud, Academic

Northumberland United Way should consult community before announcing goal

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By Robert Washburn

With much fanfare, the Northumberland United Way campaign announced its $950,000 goal for 2012. But before anyone gets too excited, a moment of reflection on this year’s goal is needed. Campaign co-chairs Mark Holmes, of Northumberland Today, and Peter Dounoukos, of Northumberland News, rallied the troops during the traditional campaign kick  off event, the Showcase of Delectables. There was plenty of confidence as both chairs provided quotes to their respective newspapers filled with optimism. As publishers/managers of the local newspapers, the United Way will not need to worry about ensuring press coverage – an astute move by executive director Lynda Kay. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Thinking Out Loud, Community

The Old Washburn Family Cemetery (Abandoned)

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By Robert Washburn

I stood on the sacred ground of my ancestors Monday. After two years, I finally visited the Old Washburn Family Cemetery near Athens, Ontario to see the graves of my family who came to Upper Canada in 1794 to accept a land grant for 1,000-acres. The site is located just off Washburn Road, near the intersection of County Road 42. The exact location of the lands was Con. 13, lots 1 and 2 in the Rear of Lansdowne Township. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Thinking Out Loud

Disagreeing in order to agree about Port Hope council

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Thanks to the Burd Report for its mention of my recent posting on the conflict of interest allegations at Port Hope council. The Burd Report wants to disagree over the interpretation of the provincial conflict of interest legislation, saying Deputy Mayor Jeff Gilmer is denying he has a conflict of interest over the policing issue because his brother-in- law is an OPP office. The laws under the Municipal Act limit the definition to those related to pecuniary interests – in other words: you cannot profit from a council decision. Fine. As state in the posting, Consider This has no interest in debating the deputy mayor’s status since there are far more qualified people who can do it and will be correct. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Thinking Out Loud, Politics

Port Hope Mayor Linda Thompson’s conflict of interest over a conflict of interest

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Port Hope Mayor Linda Thompson is not in a position to be deciding what is a conflict of interest when it comes to the OPP policing debate as she did recently. Deputy Mayor Jeff Gilmer is denying he is in a conflict of interest when voting on the future of the Port Hope police department because his brother-in-law is an OPP officer. Whether this is truly a conflict will not be decided here. But, what is far more disturbing is the mayor reaction. She agrees with Gilmer’s interpretation and has failed to call him on it. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Thinking Out Loud