LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Time for the CAO to go
RE: ALL THE CHAIR’S MEN, AUG. 30
According to the site Plagiarism.org, plagiarism is “to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own,” and “to use (another’s production) without crediting the source.”
As a taxpayer of Niagara Region I include the above definitions in order to demand termination of the contract of Niagara Region CAO Carmen D’Angelo without further compensation after this current calendar year.
I base this on the fact he was awarded the position upon the false premise that answers to questions assigned by the Phelps Group, the firm chosen to lead the hiring process, were his own, when in fact much of the work was done by Jason Tamming.
Tamming at the time was director of communications for current Chair Alan Caslin, and while it is possible Caslin knew nothing about the involvement of Tamming, it stretches belief that this is not so considering Tamming worked for and reported to Caslin.
In other words, D’Angelo was awarded the position through plagiarism and his appointment should be deemed null and void.
This council under Caslin has become nothing more than a costly farce, what with: paying two police chiefs because someone had a personal issue with the past chief; a bridge coming in tens of millions of dollars over budget and no report made public or anyone held responsible; councillors billing taxpayers for trips to Toronto; a councillor being paid for not being present at meetings for almost a full year; and councillors billing taxpayers to promote their own re-election campaigns.
It is time for many of these self-serving individuals to be voted out and have a slate of councillors elected who actually have the best interests of this region at heart. Richard Ciupa
Welland
A better use for Region cash?
It’s too bad all the taxpayers’ money that was wasted on the Huberman and Sancton investigations of the tainted hiring of the Regional CAO wasn’t better spent.
It would have made more sense to erect a bronze statue of Grant LaFleche outside of Regional Headquarters titled, Truth, Justice and the Canadian Way. Robert Milenkoff
Welland
Ode to the sidewalk
With all the attention at the Region, there is a troubling issue at St. Catharines city council that speaks to a critical social issue in our city. That is accessibility, specifically sidewalks. It has become an occurrence to have some in new developed neighbourhoods bring forward ‘grievances’ about sidewalks. Some want an exception as it hinders parking options, when it is clear these homes offer two or more spots for vehicles.
I am speaking as a parent of a special needs child that has mobility issues. We are blessed to see our child do well in his walker and wheelchair. Every step means so much to us and to know we can practise this safely on a sidewalk away from traffic means the world to us. We travel to neighbourhoods with sidewalks for this reason as our neighbourhood does not have them.
The plain fact is sidewalks make our neighbourhoods safer, slow traffic and are convenient for seniors. I understand sidewalks can’t be installed everywhere, but new neighbourhoods provide this opportunity.
Council should continue the good works that have occurred as a result of smart, accessible planning. But it is very easy to fall into the trap of pandering to individual, ward-focused conveniences without realizing the greater good. Let’s not waste the hours of work city staff and taxpayer dollars invested in creating this policy. If we continue to make exceptions, what is the point? Let’s not just talk the talk, but walk the walk for the sidewalk.
Now, back to the Region ...
Tyler Sanders
St. Catharines