Most citizens of Welland know the month of January is the time of year the city council presents their new water/sewer rates, rates that really disturb the taxpayers of Welland as they are never realistic.
The city has yet to inform the citizens of Welland why they are paying more for water consumption and sewage treatment than the Town of Pelham when Pelham is serviced by Welland.
The city has yet to inform the citizens of Welland why they are being charged 32% for unaccountable water when the city's own engineer said it should be between 20% and 22%.
The city of Welland has yet to inform the citizens of Welland why the sewage treatment is a great deal more than the water consumption especially for the past summer when it was almost drought conditions vs. other municipalities in the Region where the differences were more realistic. The excuse of combined water and sewer lines and heavy rainfall, pardon the pun, do not hold water, as other municipalities have similar situations.
The city has yet to inform the citizens of Welland if the Town of Pelham is charged for unaccountable water and sewage overflow when serviced from Welland.
The taxpayers are entitled to answers and must rely on the media to provide this type of information, information which is not too often forthcoming for unknown reasons
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Monday, December 17, 2007
Handicap parking permits
Written on December 12,2007 and December 14, 2007
It is that time of year when all of the parking lots are jammed with vehicles belonging to Christmas shoppers.When the lots are jammed unfortunately some of the handicap parking areas are taken up by phonies. Yes, I mean phonies, those who misuse or those having altered, fraudulent, or expired handicap parking permits.
The City of Toronto for the second year in a row realizing the seriousness of this misuse started on December 1,2007 sent out their Parking Enforcement Disabled Liaison Unit to patrol shopping Mall parking lots with their blitz targeting the able bodied, any caught can be fined $300 to $5000 dollars.
Last December 2006 this unit investigated more than 6000 permits and confiscated more than 1000 for reasons outlined above.
A classic example per a spokesperson from the Toronto Unit is a car pulling into a handicap parking space with either an elderly or handicap person sitting in the passenger's seat, this elderly or handicapped person is the registered person on the permit. The driver of the vehicle gets out, leaves the passenger in the vehicle, and goes shopping. Yes, it is more convenient for the driver BUT not for the other people who may need that handicap parking spot.
Just something to think about.
This writer for roughly two years has spent an extensive amount of research time on this abuse problem followed up with letters to both the ministry and the local papers outlining the abuses. The local papers published a couple of my letters and articles, the ministry's response was one letter in 7 months "We are investigating the problems"
After almost a year the provincial government has approved legislation to crackdown on those who abuse disabled parking areas.
Starting the week of December 13, 2007 the Ministry announced their legislation to control this abuse as follows;
The Ministry has reduced the validity period for temporary permits from 24 months to 12 months
The ministry weeded out thousands of "DEAD" permit holders.
Interim permits while a permit application is being processed from 6 months to 2 months.
It has been suggested a comprehensive testing program be put in place to verify if holders of disabled parking permits really call for them.
The ticket officers who keep watch over the misuse of permits discover the permit number is not registered to the driver or the disabled passenger using the vehicle the abuser can be charged and fined up to $5000.
NOW IT IS A CASE OF ENFORCING THESE CHANGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE HANDICAPPED
Identity Theft
Article written December 11, 2007
Over the past three years I have written a number of letters and articles on "Identity theft" for the benefit of many but primarily seniors. Some of the letters and article were published and some were not which is unfortunate as Identity Theft is the biggest growing crime in the world involving billions of dollars
This crime does not discriminate as all ages are targets for these thieves.
There is an excellent book on the market "The Canadian Guide To Protecting yourself From Identity Theft and Other Fraud" that I recommend buying. The book could save you anguish,losses, credit rating, and your bank account.I have no financial interest in this book but I do have an interest in helping one on how to prevent such losses.
Over the past three years I have written a number of letters and articles on "Identity theft" for the benefit of many but primarily seniors. Some of the letters and article were published and some were not which is unfortunate as Identity Theft is the biggest growing crime in the world involving billions of dollars
This crime does not discriminate as all ages are targets for these thieves.
There is an excellent book on the market "The Canadian Guide To Protecting yourself From Identity Theft and Other Fraud" that I recommend buying. The book could save you anguish,losses, credit rating, and your bank account.I have no financial interest in this book but I do have an interest in helping one on how to prevent such losses.
Financial Bank Reports
Article dated December 11, 2007 and not published.
The financial report for the C.I.B.C. and Scotia banks make for very interesting reading as follows;C.I.B.C's net income for 2007 $3.296 billion vs $2.646 billion for 2006
Scotia bank's net income for 2007 $4.05 billion vs $3.55 billion for 2006
A few of these increases are the result of diverse service charges that seem rather small to a bank but in fact amount to a great deal of money over the period of one year and than relate these seeming small service charges to the very, very minute interest rate on a savings account.
Recently the TD bank announced their intentions of increasing their visa card interest rate from 18.9% to 19.75% which is a stretch of 14.65% over the bank rate. No doubt the two banks mentioned above will follow suit.
Were you holders of fixed term mortgages that are tied to five year government of Canada Bonds with a spread of 2.44% aware the spread has grown to over 3.5%? one is now paying 1% more than one should be when one has a locked in mortgage?
Having documented how well off these two banks seem to be lets' glance the employee's state of affairs. According to most current news releases the employees are filing class action suits against both banks for not paying overtime.C.I.B.C. was faced with a class action suit in June 2007. Scotia bank has just been slapped with a class action suit this week. There are rumors employees of the other remaining banks are considering doing the same.The effects of these class action suits will be closely watched especially if the banks lose.
Please note for the most part this information was obtained from the bank's financial reports and business articles in most of the national newspapers over the past days and few weeks.
The financial report for the C.I.B.C. and Scotia banks make for very interesting reading as follows;C.I.B.C's net income for 2007 $3.296 billion vs $2.646 billion for 2006
Scotia bank's net income for 2007 $4.05 billion vs $3.55 billion for 2006
A few of these increases are the result of diverse service charges that seem rather small to a bank but in fact amount to a great deal of money over the period of one year and than relate these seeming small service charges to the very, very minute interest rate on a savings account.
Recently the TD bank announced their intentions of increasing their visa card interest rate from 18.9% to 19.75% which is a stretch of 14.65% over the bank rate. No doubt the two banks mentioned above will follow suit.
Were you holders of fixed term mortgages that are tied to five year government of Canada Bonds with a spread of 2.44% aware the spread has grown to over 3.5%? one is now paying 1% more than one should be when one has a locked in mortgage?
Having documented how well off these two banks seem to be lets' glance the employee's state of affairs. According to most current news releases the employees are filing class action suits against both banks for not paying overtime.C.I.B.C. was faced with a class action suit in June 2007. Scotia bank has just been slapped with a class action suit this week. There are rumors employees of the other remaining banks are considering doing the same.The effects of these class action suits will be closely watched especially if the banks lose.
Please note for the most part this information was obtained from the bank's financial reports and business articles in most of the national newspapers over the past days and few weeks.
Thorns
An article written on December 8, 2007 and never published.
I disagree with the Tribune's nominated "THORNS" award to our city council for not seconding councilor Alexander's motion to develop a downtown partnership. The council should have been awarded "ROSES" As the councilors knew from the past this motion would not hold water. How many times have such ventures been tried with little success? How many plans, suggestions,, and ideas are there sitting on the shelves in city hall collecting dust that were never used?
I attended a similar gathering back in 1996 hosted by former mayor Reuter for the local business people, professionals, some of the public , and a gentleman from Toronto who was to put on an excellent presentation of revitalization in a Toronto area. There were a lot of good ideas, most of them sitting on a shelf collecting dust.Things were changing in the core as noted by the numerous businesses that continued to start up and than close. Another similar meeting was held by former mayor Forster at the city market where a young architect presented some very intriguing drawings depicting the downtown core centred around the proposed civic centre. The civic centre became a reality but not too much more out of that architects vision and of course the core was still having businesses opening and closing. I believe a few years later the Tribune tried to create some interest by inviting the public to submit suggestions on how to improve the core. The suggestions were published but the core businesses were still opening and closing.
Maybe councilor Alexander should get together with councilor Belcastro and BIA chair D'Amico for the purpose of going to those dusty shelves and study the suggestions, As I recall there were some excellent ideas.
I disagree with the Tribune's nominated "THORNS" award to our city council for not seconding councilor Alexander's motion to develop a downtown partnership. The council should have been awarded "ROSES" As the councilors knew from the past this motion would not hold water. How many times have such ventures been tried with little success? How many plans, suggestions,, and ideas are there sitting on the shelves in city hall collecting dust that were never used?
I attended a similar gathering back in 1996 hosted by former mayor Reuter for the local business people, professionals, some of the public , and a gentleman from Toronto who was to put on an excellent presentation of revitalization in a Toronto area. There were a lot of good ideas, most of them sitting on a shelf collecting dust.Things were changing in the core as noted by the numerous businesses that continued to start up and than close. Another similar meeting was held by former mayor Forster at the city market where a young architect presented some very intriguing drawings depicting the downtown core centred around the proposed civic centre. The civic centre became a reality but not too much more out of that architects vision and of course the core was still having businesses opening and closing. I believe a few years later the Tribune tried to create some interest by inviting the public to submit suggestions on how to improve the core. The suggestions were published but the core businesses were still opening and closing.
Maybe councilor Alexander should get together with councilor Belcastro and BIA chair D'Amico for the purpose of going to those dusty shelves and study the suggestions, As I recall there were some excellent ideas.
Hospital Mortality rate
This article was typed on December 14, 2007. I felt it should follow my earlier article.
Last week the Canadian Institute for Health Information ) CIHI) published the mortality rates in hospitals all across Canada, a list which included St. Catharines General Hospital as one of the five worst hospital for mortality rates in Canada. This week Health Minster Smitherman introduced some very interesting requirements Ontario Hospitals must follow starting in 2008
Starting in April of 2008 the ministry will require all hospitals involved in Ontario Wait Time Strategy to report infection rates in the areas.
By the end of July, 2008 the Ministry will introduce a regulation for all provincial hospitals to inform patients about medical errors.
By 2008 the Ministry will have passed a regulation that would require all hospitals to report their mortality data without exemption to ensure this information continues to drive much needed improvements to patient safety.
For years Canadian Hospitals Administrators have known the death rates inside their hospitals but they were never publicized.
All hospitals along with all forms of media have no reason whatever for not informing the public of these regulations
Canadian Hospital Mortality rates
Other than the National papers the local community papers did not publish all of the information released by the The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) . This is an article I wrote on this subject on December 7, 2007 and was not published???
November 30, 2007 the CIHI released a report covering a list of mortality rates to the public involving 85 large Canadian Acute Care Hospitals and 42 Health Regions. For years hospitals have know the death rates but did not make them public. The rates should be released as the taxpayers are allowed to know them per CIHI. The following is an exert from the CIHI report
Canada;s Best and Worst
The hospitals as listed excluding Palliative care had mortality rates that ranked at the top-and-bottom- of the pack nationally in CIHI survey of hospital deaths in 85 larger acute hospitals and 42 Health Regions across Canada excluding Quebec;
TOP FIVE
The Moncton Hospital N.B. 56
Foothills Medical Centre Calgary 61
Regina General Hospital 71
Peter Lougheed Centre Calgary 73
Saint John Regional Hospital Saint John N.B. 74
BOTTOM FIVE
Grand River Hospital K.W. Health Centre K.W. Ontario 142
Niagara Health Centre St. Catharine's General Site St. Catharines, Ontario 135
The Scarborough Hospital General Site Toronto, Ontario 134
Burnaby Hospital Burnaby B.C. 125
Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre Red Deer Alta 125
An interesting statistic states "Over the past three years- the period covered by the new data--more than 254,000 patients died in Canadian Hospitals outside Quebec
I was in touch with CIHI this past week to see if I could obtain Welland hospital figures, the reply" Because the Welland Hospital did not have at least 2500 qualifying cases during each of of the years in the study period it is only included in the Regional results, not the individual results. Due to its lower volume the results for it individually would not be statistically precise."
I am sure if one were to ask the Welland Hospital for the mortality rate it would be supplied as it is classed as public information.
Writers comment:
I am shocked at the response stating Welland
did not qualify as Welland Hospital did not have at least 2500 cases.
Are there bench marks and brownie points if one reaches 2500 or more to get on the list good or bad?????
Welland's downtown Core
Another article dated December 4, 2007
A few weeks ago councilor Belcastro made an announcement in council stating things in the downtown core were progressing nicely; it's 150% better than it was 10 years ago. This past week in an insert titled "Downtown Welland" BIA chair D'Amico in his article " A place to live, work, and play used some very remarkable but hard to believe graphic adjectives of the downtown core such as "Buzzing with activity", "Crowds flocking to city events", and "The surrounding core stores are full of ideas and treasures". D'Amico goes on to say the downtown core is constantly growing and thriving with new businesses starting up all of the time." I have to ask these two gentlemen if they are indeed talking about the Downtown Welland Core? Have I missed something? It appears to me these two gentlemen are using the same script writer.
I believe the public is entitled in knowing a few statistics to support their statements of constantly growing, thriving, and new businesses starting up all of the time. Where are they so all of us can partake in this growth? I certainly would not say both sides of East Main from the bridge to the Tribune are what one would call a shoppers' paradise to find new ideas and treasures.I will say one should not overlook the stores on Cross Street between East Main and Division as they do fit the picture of a shoppers' paradise.
While these two gentlemen mull over their statements and prepare backup for them they should also sit down and sum up all of the businesses that opened and closed over the past ten years.
LET'S HAVE A LITTLE SHOW AND TELL.
A few weeks ago councilor Belcastro made an announcement in council stating things in the downtown core were progressing nicely; it's 150% better than it was 10 years ago. This past week in an insert titled "Downtown Welland" BIA chair D'Amico in his article " A place to live, work, and play used some very remarkable but hard to believe graphic adjectives of the downtown core such as "Buzzing with activity", "Crowds flocking to city events", and "The surrounding core stores are full of ideas and treasures". D'Amico goes on to say the downtown core is constantly growing and thriving with new businesses starting up all of the time." I have to ask these two gentlemen if they are indeed talking about the Downtown Welland Core? Have I missed something? It appears to me these two gentlemen are using the same script writer.
I believe the public is entitled in knowing a few statistics to support their statements of constantly growing, thriving, and new businesses starting up all of the time. Where are they so all of us can partake in this growth? I certainly would not say both sides of East Main from the bridge to the Tribune are what one would call a shoppers' paradise to find new ideas and treasures.I will say one should not overlook the stores on Cross Street between East Main and Division as they do fit the picture of a shoppers' paradise.
While these two gentlemen mull over their statements and prepare backup for them they should also sit down and sum up all of the businesses that opened and closed over the past ten years.
LET'S HAVE A LITTLE SHOW AND TELL.
Food Fest
This is another earlier article dated November 22, 2007
Mr. Clark of Food Fest made an announcement in City council stating the deficit of $120,000.00 had been erased from last years Food Fest while another member of Food Fest stated Food Fest was now in the black.
This announcement concerns me and should concern others in the city of Welland,
First of all it was this writers' understanding the deficit was in the area of $134,000.00 which is not too close to the area of $120,000.00. If the figures were available to make this announcement one has to presume there is a financial statement which should also indicate the amount in the black. It surprises me that not one councilor questioned this announcement by asking for a more financial depth to support the figure given.
Having said this I'm wondering if any of the following questions were put to Mr. Clark, if not, they should have been plus the council representative on Food Fest should have also made a report, very strange;
What was the total of all donations including the City of Welland?
What was the total of all vendor permits?
What was the total expenditures?
What was the overall receipt total excluding vendor permits and donations but including beer sales and empties?
Who was the city's representative?
Mr. Clark of Food Fest made an announcement in City council stating the deficit of $120,000.00 had been erased from last years Food Fest while another member of Food Fest stated Food Fest was now in the black.
This announcement concerns me and should concern others in the city of Welland,
First of all it was this writers' understanding the deficit was in the area of $134,000.00 which is not too close to the area of $120,000.00. If the figures were available to make this announcement one has to presume there is a financial statement which should also indicate the amount in the black. It surprises me that not one councilor questioned this announcement by asking for a more financial depth to support the figure given.
Having said this I'm wondering if any of the following questions were put to Mr. Clark, if not, they should have been plus the council representative on Food Fest should have also made a report, very strange;
What was the total of all donations including the City of Welland?
What was the total of all vendor permits?
What was the total expenditures?
What was the overall receipt total excluding vendor permits and donations but including beer sales and empties?
Who was the city's representative?
Welland Councilor's comments re- downtown core
Another earlier article dated November 16, 2007
I wonder if councilor Belcastro would care to elaborate his statement" Things have progressed nicely as it is 150% better than it was 10 years ago" applying to the downtown core of Welland. Would the councilor care to provide a list to support this statement?
Would the councilor care to give to the public the number of businesses that started up and closed over the past 10 years to justify saying"People are quite happy in the core?" For example councilor how many businesses have opened and closed at the corner across from the Tribune over the past 10 years or even across from Brown's jewelery store? Those people were not quite happy. The locations certainly don't signify any noticeable improvement.
A few years ago another Welland councilor made a similar statement to that of councilor Belcastro only that councilor went as far to say more than 30 businesses had started up in the core He has yet to come foreword to support those figures.
I wonder if councilor Belcastro would care to elaborate his statement" Things have progressed nicely as it is 150% better than it was 10 years ago" applying to the downtown core of Welland. Would the councilor care to provide a list to support this statement?
Would the councilor care to give to the public the number of businesses that started up and closed over the past 10 years to justify saying"People are quite happy in the core?" For example councilor how many businesses have opened and closed at the corner across from the Tribune over the past 10 years or even across from Brown's jewelery store? Those people were not quite happy. The locations certainly don't signify any noticeable improvement.
A few years ago another Welland councilor made a similar statement to that of councilor Belcastro only that councilor went as far to say more than 30 businesses had started up in the core He has yet to come foreword to support those figures.
O.H.I.P. HEALTH CARDS
Another article dated November 14, 2007.
Five years ago, if I'm not wrong, the Ontario government made a first rate move when the O.H.I.P. card was redesigned to show a photo of the holder and owner. This was a move in the right direction as it prevented identity theft. There was however one fault when the card was designed, the card did not include the address of the holder which I found out is not accepted as I.D. The point of this article is to advise those holding the new photo type Health card has an expiry date described on it which if one will note is not on the old red and white health card still in use by thousands.The red and white card if kept in good shape will outlive the holder.
The expiry date is a real nuisance for those senior citizens 65 and over whom in many cases have no means of getting to the local O.H.I.P. office or because of health reasons are restricted to their place of habitation. Eliminating this renewal date for seniors over 65 would certainly be appreciated.
Please note the expiry date on the cards is one's birth date. You are forewarned of expiry by one month before one's birthday.
Five years ago, if I'm not wrong, the Ontario government made a first rate move when the O.H.I.P. card was redesigned to show a photo of the holder and owner. This was a move in the right direction as it prevented identity theft. There was however one fault when the card was designed, the card did not include the address of the holder which I found out is not accepted as I.D. The point of this article is to advise those holding the new photo type Health card has an expiry date described on it which if one will note is not on the old red and white health card still in use by thousands.The red and white card if kept in good shape will outlive the holder.
The expiry date is a real nuisance for those senior citizens 65 and over whom in many cases have no means of getting to the local O.H.I.P. office or because of health reasons are restricted to their place of habitation. Eliminating this renewal date for seniors over 65 would certainly be appreciated.
Please note the expiry date on the cards is one's birth date. You are forewarned of expiry by one month before one's birthday.
Deceased Cards
This is a letter dated October 8, 2007 again never published
One will notice almost on a daily basis the media reports abuse of credit cards,O.H.I.P health cards, Handicap Parking Permits, and Social Insurance numbers (SIN) belonging to either deceased family members or friends.
After the death of a family member there are a number of duties the executor of the will must carry out as soon as possible to avoid exploitation and identity theft of the above. If the deceased had credit cards and a debit card they must be cancelled by taking them to the financial institution that issued the cards along with a copy of the death certificate or in some cases the original death certificate. The financial institution has forms to be filled out by the executor.If the deceased had a driver's licence and a handicap parking permit they must be cancelled by taking them to the local licence bureau along with a copy of the death certificate. It is most important one has the handicap permit cancelled as The Ministry of Transportation reported earlier this year these permits that belonged to a deceased person were being misrepresented. The ministry made an announcement stating their intentions to correct this predicament by matching up the death records with the handicap records. The ministry informed me this move is still being considered.
The health card of the deceased must be returned to the Ministry of Health and Long Turn Care along with a form titled 280-82 and a copy of the death certificate. This form is available by contacting the local ministry office to have one sent to you. One can also send a letter to the local ministry office providing deceased person's name, sex, health card number, a photo copy of the death certificate, and the actual health card cut in half.
If the deceased had a Social Insurance Number (SIN ) it must be cancelled to guard one against identity theft. The executor should contact the local Service Canada Centre or the SIN call centre at 1-800-206-7218(E) to inform them the owner of the SIN is deceased.
To close I should mention the funeral home that was handling all of the funeral arrangement provides these services free of charge.
One will notice almost on a daily basis the media reports abuse of credit cards,O.H.I.P health cards, Handicap Parking Permits, and Social Insurance numbers (SIN) belonging to either deceased family members or friends.
After the death of a family member there are a number of duties the executor of the will must carry out as soon as possible to avoid exploitation and identity theft of the above. If the deceased had credit cards and a debit card they must be cancelled by taking them to the financial institution that issued the cards along with a copy of the death certificate or in some cases the original death certificate. The financial institution has forms to be filled out by the executor.If the deceased had a driver's licence and a handicap parking permit they must be cancelled by taking them to the local licence bureau along with a copy of the death certificate. It is most important one has the handicap permit cancelled as The Ministry of Transportation reported earlier this year these permits that belonged to a deceased person were being misrepresented. The ministry made an announcement stating their intentions to correct this predicament by matching up the death records with the handicap records. The ministry informed me this move is still being considered.
The health card of the deceased must be returned to the Ministry of Health and Long Turn Care along with a form titled 280-82 and a copy of the death certificate. This form is available by contacting the local ministry office to have one sent to you. One can also send a letter to the local ministry office providing deceased person's name, sex, health card number, a photo copy of the death certificate, and the actual health card cut in half.
If the deceased had a Social Insurance Number (SIN ) it must be cancelled to guard one against identity theft. The executor should contact the local Service Canada Centre or the SIN call centre at 1-800-206-7218(E) to inform them the owner of the SIN is deceased.
To close I should mention the funeral home that was handling all of the funeral arrangement provides these services free of charge.
Pelham/Welland water and sewer
A letter dated July 20, 2007 directed to residents of Welland and never published.How many are familiar with what a homeowner has to shell out for water consumption and sewage treatment compared to other municipalities?
As nearly all know ALL water and sewer treatment for the Town of Pelham is provided through the City of Welland. Are you conscious of the fact a Pelham resident pays $.889 per cubic meter of water while a Welland resident is paying $1.1294 per cubic meter of water?
Are you aware a Pelham resident pays $.909 per cubic meter for sewage treatment while a Welland resident is paying $1.6679 per cubic meter for sewage treatment? Both municipalities pay the Niagara identical rates; water $0.512 per cubic meter, sewer $0.613 per cubic meter.
Are you aware Welland inhabitants pay for all unaccountable water while Pelham people pay?????
We have been told there are meters, not residential but Regional, in Pelham that record consumption, if such is the case WHERE ARE THEY.? Others have told me there are no Regional meters?????Pretty remarkable????
Are you aware in 2006 Welland's consumption of water was 8,521,546 cubic meters when only 6,605,248 cubic meters were accounted for and paid and 1,916,,298 cubic meters of water equals 22.53% that was paid for by the citizens of Welland that was not used and shown as 32%, a figure according to engineer Shantz should be around 22%.
All of the above figures were taken from the Regional and municipality records, the same records city staff uses to create their numbers such as the water and sewer services rate structure for 2007, the Town of Pelham 2007 water and sewer rates, Welland by-law 2007-33 fixing of water and sanitary services rates to be paid by consumers for 2007 effective April 1,2007, and consumption figures from the monthly Regional spread sheets.
There are those who feel these facts and figures are not right and straight, may I recommend it only takes a phone call to city hall to confirm them.
If the present council has a water rate increase in mind I believe the council should seriously reflect on cutting the expenses elsewhere, regulate the water and sewer rates to a more tolerable and truthful level and use actual unaccountable water figures, not 32%.
As nearly all know ALL water and sewer treatment for the Town of Pelham is provided through the City of Welland. Are you conscious of the fact a Pelham resident pays $.889 per cubic meter of water while a Welland resident is paying $1.1294 per cubic meter of water?
Are you aware a Pelham resident pays $.909 per cubic meter for sewage treatment while a Welland resident is paying $1.6679 per cubic meter for sewage treatment? Both municipalities pay the Niagara identical rates; water $0.512 per cubic meter, sewer $0.613 per cubic meter.
Are you aware Welland inhabitants pay for all unaccountable water while Pelham people pay?????
We have been told there are meters, not residential but Regional, in Pelham that record consumption, if such is the case WHERE ARE THEY.? Others have told me there are no Regional meters?????Pretty remarkable????
Are you aware in 2006 Welland's consumption of water was 8,521,546 cubic meters when only 6,605,248 cubic meters were accounted for and paid and 1,916,,298 cubic meters of water equals 22.53% that was paid for by the citizens of Welland that was not used and shown as 32%, a figure according to engineer Shantz should be around 22%.
All of the above figures were taken from the Regional and municipality records, the same records city staff uses to create their numbers such as the water and sewer services rate structure for 2007, the Town of Pelham 2007 water and sewer rates, Welland by-law 2007-33 fixing of water and sanitary services rates to be paid by consumers for 2007 effective April 1,2007, and consumption figures from the monthly Regional spread sheets.
There are those who feel these facts and figures are not right and straight, may I recommend it only takes a phone call to city hall to confirm them.
If the present council has a water rate increase in mind I believe the council should seriously reflect on cutting the expenses elsewhere, regulate the water and sewer rates to a more tolerable and truthful level and use actual unaccountable water figures, not 32%.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Comments to my articles
In the past few days I've received a number of E mail letters stating they would like to comment on my articles but are unable to do so because they are not members.
I was not aware of this when I started but rather than make an issue if one wishes to comment on any article please do so by going to the following;
don_smith@sympatico.ca
I will respond to you on my blog.
Thank you
I was not aware of this when I started but rather than make an issue if one wishes to comment on any article please do so by going to the following;
don_smith@sympatico.ca
I will respond to you on my blog.
Thank you
Friday, December 7, 2007
The Welland Downtown Core
A few weeks ago councilor Belcastro made an announcement in council stating things in the downtown core were progressing nicely; it's 150% better than it was 10 years ago. This past week in an insert titled "Downtown Welland" BIA chair D'Amico in his article "A place to live, work, and play" used some very remarkable but hard to believe graphic adjectives of the downtown core such as"Buzzing with activity","Crowds flocking to city events", and the surrounding core stores are full of ideas and treasures. D'Amico goes on to say the downtown is constantly growing and thriving with new businesses starting up all of the time.I have to ask these two gentlement if they are indeed talking about the downtown Welland core. Have I missed something? It appears theses two gentlemen have the same script writer.
I believe the public is entitled in knowing a few statistica to support their statemnents of constantly growing, thriving, and new businesses starting up all of the time.Where are they so all of us can partake in this growth? I certainly would not say both sides of Easr Main from the bridge to the Tribune are what one would call a shoppers paradise to find new ideas and treasures. I will say though one should not overlook the stores on Cross Street between East Main and Division as they do fit the picture of a shoppers paradise.
While the two gentlemen organize their upcoming statements with statistics they might think about the number of businesses that opened and closed over the past years?????
Let's have a little show and tell
Mill Street Apartment Building Welland, Ontario
The affordable Housing Apartment site that sits on Mill street has been like that for many months as I recall writing about it being closed a few months ago and now it is being scrutinized??? This is like closing the barn door after the horse has been stolen.
The estimate on this building was pegged at $5 million dollars. The contractor was able to obtain $1,799,000.00 combined from the province, the federal government, the Region of Niagara and the City of Welland leaving the contractor responsible for the balance of $3,200,991.00. When a building shuts down like this one has the first thing one should be doing is to find out if the trades and suppliers have been paid and are there any liens on the building. If it is found the trades and suppliers have not been paid and there are liens there is a serious problem. These functions should be carried out as soon as it was noticed construction had stopped on the building. The question is "Were they?"
The estimate on this building was pegged at $5 million dollars. The contractor was able to obtain $1,799,000.00 combined from the province, the federal government, the Region of Niagara and the City of Welland leaving the contractor responsible for the balance of $3,200,991.00. When a building shuts down like this one has the first thing one should be doing is to find out if the trades and suppliers have been paid and are there any liens on the building. If it is found the trades and suppliers have not been paid and there are liens there is a serious problem. These functions should be carried out as soon as it was noticed construction had stopped on the building. The question is "Were they?"
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Dental Plan
It will be announced McGuinty will be giving $45 million for dental care for the working poor who are unable to afford private insurance coverage for their teeth.
I believe this to be a good move however in the process of setting this up there is noticeably a person missing. That missing person is the senior citizen who in many cases falls under the status of fixed income depending on , in many cases, Old Age Security and Canada Pension plans as their only source for support.Some I must remind you only receive Old Age Security.
What about considering these seniors who are no doubt in the same position as the working poor?Seniors also have to, in most cases pay for rent, hydro, phone, and groceries Are the seniors not entitled to the same privilege??
The same old story over and over again "Seniors don't count in this day and age."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)