city

Thursday February 9, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday February 9, 2017

Hamilton city staff broke rules at Washington Trump protest

A group of city of Hamilton employees who took part in the massive anti-Trump women’s march in Washington last month were in breach of city policies.

The staffers used a city van without permission to get to Washington and conducted out-of-country city business without proper authorization.

Joe-Anne Priel, general manager of community and emergency services, was the ranking staffer among the seven employees.

Priel should have gotten authorization for the travel and use of the van from city manager Chris Murray. She didn’t.

In an email to Murray and councillors, Priel explained the group used the city van because they were conducting business while in Washington, specifically visiting community hubs and picking up “ideas which we are keen to implement.”

The question is, did they book the hub visits before or after the decision to take part in the Washington march?

The answer is a muddy as the optics. (Source: Andrew Dreschel, Hamilton Spectator) 

 

Friday, June 3, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Friday, June 3, 2016 Hamilton and its Parts Inspired by a letter to the editor of the Hamilton Spectator which stirred a bit of feedbackÊ If you are such big believers in one amalgamated city, why do you let people sign letters with their old suburban town names? There is no Stoney Creek or Dundas. We are all Hamilton. You should stop allowing people to live in the past. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/6696743-may-30-lrt-is-the-option-offered-preserving-the-quality-of-life-and-other-letters-to-the-editor/ Hamilton, Amalgamation, city, names, Dundas, Ancaster, Stoney Creek, suburbs

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday, June 3, 2016

Hamilton and its Parts

Inspired by a letter to the editor of the Hamilton Spectator which stirred a bit of feedback

If you are such big believers in one amalgamated city, why do you let people sign letters with their old suburban town names? There is no Stoney Creek or Dundas. We are all Hamilton. You should stop allowing people to live in the past. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Tuesday December 8, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Hamilton, city, council, gong, show, Fred Eisenberger, Terry Whitehead, Jason Farr, speech, politics Mayor Fred wants council to cork it (By Andrew Dreschel) "If you can't say it in five minutes, then you really can't say it." That's Fred Eisenberger's guiding philosophy for speaking during city meetings and, for the sake of productivity, he'd like the rest of council to follow suit. The mayor thinks too much time is being wasted with long-winded repetitive comments that don't advance the discussion or the agenda. "Let's do what we're advocating our staff to do Ñ be efficient and get the job done in a cost effective, crisp way. "Be precise, be clear, get to the point, and let's move on." Eisenberger first raised his paean to pithiness during the tail end of a wordy two-hour discussion over a road issue that council won't even vote on until late 2016 or early 2017. Judging by the reaction of some of his colleagues, it may be his most popular idea to date. "I agree with Fred. There a point where you just don't keep talking," said Robert Pasuta. Pasuta tends to be the strong and silent type, but when he does speak it's short and to the point. "I think it's more important to make your point than just go on and on because the context of what you want to say gets lost in all the BS." Doug Conley, another who tends to save his breath, also agrees there should be more lip-zipping. "It would cut down our meetings by half an hour to an hour." Conley doesn't want a speaker to be shut down right at five minutes, but he or she should be urged by the chair to wrap it up at that mark. The problem, Conley says, is four or five councillors often end up saying the same thing rather than acknowledging their points have been covered by others. According to the procedural bylaw, councillors can ask unlimited questions about a presentation or motion. But they can't comment on a subject for longer than five

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday December 8, 2015

Mayor Fred wants council to cork it

(By Andrew Dreschel) “If you can’t say it in five minutes, then you really can’t say it.”

That’s Fred Eisenberger’s guiding philosophy for speaking during city meetings and, for the sake of productivity, he’d like the rest of council to follow suit.

The mayor thinks too much time is being wasted with long-winded repetitive comments that don’t advance the discussion or the agenda.

“Let’s do what we’re advocating our staff to do — be efficient and get the job done in a cost effective, crisp way.

“Be precise, be clear, get to the point, and let’s move on.”

Eisenberger first raised his paean to pithiness during the tail end of a wordy two-hour discussion over a road issue that council won’t even vote on until late 2016 or early 2017.

Judging by the reaction of some of his colleagues, it may be his most popular idea to date.

“I agree with Fred. There a point where you just don’t keep talking,” said Robert Pasuta.

Pasuta tends to be the strong and silent type, but when he does speak it’s short and to the point.

“I think it’s more important to make your point than just go on and on because the context of what you want to say gets lost in all the BS.”

Doug Conley, another who tends to save his breath, also agrees there should be more lip-zipping.

“It would cut down our meetings by half an hour to an hour.”

Conley doesn’t want a speaker to be shut down right at five minutes, but he or she should be urged by the chair to wrap it up at that mark.

The problem, Conley says, is four or five councillors often end up saying the same thing rather than acknowledging their points have been covered by others.

According to the procedural bylaw, councillors can ask unlimited questions about a presentation or motion.

But they can’t comment on a subject for longer than five minutes without the permission of council, usually conferred by the person chairing the meeting.

That’s a rule more often broken than observed. Council microphones are designed to cut off after five minutes, but councillors just have to press a button to reactivate them.

Eisenberger points out that since council tends to hold public delegations to the five-minute rule, they should be sticklers themselves. (Continued: Hamilton Spectator)

 

 

Wednesday May 27, 2015

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Wednesday May 27, 2015 Wynne promises $1-billion for Hamilton LRT, GO transit Premier Kathleen Wynne got a sustained ovation when she announced up to $1 billion to build a light rail line from McMaster University to the Queenston traffic circle, with an eye to eventually reach Eastgate Square. But Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca earned the best response when he stopped to note: "Yeah, I said 'L'. You heard me say 'L.'" The line will also send a spur to the new James Street GO Station and connect with the existing Hunter station via a Òhigh orderÓ pedestrian connection that will prioritize walking traffic. While the funded line will end for now three stops short of the edge of Stoney Creek, east enders will see a new GO Train station built by 2019 at Centennial Parkway, Del Duca announced. ThatÕs also the year construction is slated to start on the LRT line, although procurement is scheduled to begin in 2017 Ð before the next election. Wynne joked Òby the time all this is built, I wonÕt be in this job,Ó but later added responsible governments have to Òthink beyond the next election cycleÓ and make longterm investments. ÒThis is monumental for Hamilton,Ó said Mayor Fred Eisenberger, who called light rail transit a Òsensible, affordable transportation system that lifts our entire community.Ó City council will eventually have to sign off on a master agreement with Metrolinx that will spell out everything from who operates the system to what costs will be covered by the city to how a long construction period will be phased. Eisenberger acknowledged a years-long build Ð a prime concern for city councillors opposed to the project Ð Òis going to be a challenge.Ó ÒThere will be disruptions É but over the long term, the result is going to beneficial to everybody,Ó he said. ÒThe hard works actually starts now.Ó The mayor doesnÕt believe those challenges will scuttle the project, however, despite i

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay – Wednesday May 27, 2015

Wynne promises $1-billion for Hamilton LRT, GO transit

Premier Kathleen Wynne got a sustained ovation when she announced up to $1 billion to build a light rail line from McMaster University to the Queenston traffic circle, with an eye to eventually reach Eastgate Square. But Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca earned the best response when he stopped to note: “Yeah, I said ‘L’. You heard me say ‘L.'”

The line will also send a spur to the new James Street GO Station and connect with the existing Hunter station via a “high order” pedestrian connection that will prioritize walking traffic.

LRT Waiting Game 2010-15

While the funded line will end for now three stops short of the edge of Stoney Creek, east enders will see a new GO Train station built by 2019 at Centennial Parkway, Del Duca announced.

That’s also the year construction is slated to start on the LRT line, although procurement is scheduled to begin in 2017 – before the next election. Wynne joked “by the time all this is built, I won’t be in this job,” but later added responsible governments have to “think beyond the next election cycle” and make longterm investments.

“This is monumental for Hamilton,” said Mayor Fred Eisenberger, who called light rail transit a “sensible, affordable transportation system that lifts our entire community.”

City council will eventually have to sign off on a master agreement with Metrolinx that will spell out everything from who operates the system to what costs will be covered by the city to how a long construction period will be phased.

Eisenberger acknowledged a years-long build – a prime concern for city councillors opposed to the project – “is going to be a challenge.”

“There will be disruptions … but over the long term, the result is going to beneficial to everybody,” he said. “The hard works actually starts now.”

The mayor doesn’t believe those challenges will scuttle the project, however, despite increasing opposition from some councillors.

“For those who would push back on a billion dollar investment in the city of Hamilton, I would be very surprised to have them do that,” he said.  “The province is actually delivering what council has asked for.”

City manager Chris Murray said he will report back to council in several weeks to outline the negotiations needed for a master agreement. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

Thursday March 26, 2014

Thursday March 26, 2014Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday March 26, 2014

Hamilton’s heavy truck fleet gets a failing safety grade

A troubling spike in collisions by municipal garbage trucks and plows has downgraded the city’s provincial safety rating — and even threatens its legal ability to put those vehicles on the road.

Hamilton’s roughly 400 “commercial” vehicles — those weighing more than 4,500 kilograms, but excluding transit and emergency services — were involved in 120 collisions and 29 convictions over the past two years, according to Ministry of Transportation data.

That’s left the city with a “conditional” provincial safety rating and a violation rate of 87.4 per cent — one of the highest rates among Ontario municipalities. The problems have spurred a warning letter, safety rating downgrade and Feb. 11 meeting with the ministry.

The province considers 35 per cent or less to be “satisfactory,” while violation rates approaching 100 per cent can spur sanctions as severe as forcing an operator to park its fleet.

“It’s a high violation rate,” acknowledged Geoff Lupton, director of energy, fleet and traffic, who said the majority of collisions come from garbage trucks and plows. “I wouldn’t say we’re unsafe; I’d say we’ve had too many incidents and we’re working to address that.”

Public works chair Coun. Sam Merulla called the city’s record “unacceptable,” but added he’s confident in the city’s new plan to tackle the troubling trend.

The plan started last fall when the city formed a committee to tackle the issue and now includes a revamp of Hamilton’s driver safety manual. Lupton said a driving trainer has been working with waste collectors since January and three yet-to-be hired trainers will soon be “embedded” in the roads department. Meetings with drivers are also being held at various public works yards.

Lupton also noted many city vehicle collisions are weather-related — for example, plows clipping cars in storms, or garbage trucks reversing in snow-choked side streets. “A lot of our (staff) are out there in the absolute worst conditions,” he said. “We’ll always have accidents, but we definitely need to make sure there are as few as possible.” (Source: Hamilton Spectator)