Hi again Webbers,
Last planned posting until 14th April, 2009 – Remember the Court cases, must concentrate on them, but we will try to keep you abreast of the regularly “popping up truths” as they happen. Very busy time, per the intent of our legal adversaries to attempt to force us to defocus from all of the real issues i.e. Winston Churchill blvd $4 Million nightmare for Peel Region Taxpayers, equally burdened with the blind Taxpayers of Wellington County. We will report separately on Winston Churchill blvd (et al) later.
Today’s focus is on the ridiculous saga of the Capital Paving Pit Application at Aitkensville, in Puslinch Township. What a comedy of errors as a “silent movie,” the antics of the players would rival Chaplin, Ben Turpin, Keystone Cops and, of course, Laurel & Hardy. As a “talkie” the antics would change, depicting drama and tragedy. All parts of course, being played, not as an act, but real life straight, by our elected officials and their highly paid appointed “extras.” Not to mention the legal professionals who are “only representing our clients to the best of our ability.” That no longer cuts it guys, at least, not with Smelly-Welly.com!
To understand the long established “marriage” between “some of the Gravel Companies in Puslinch,” we have to go back in history to the time of the “first opportunity” for this industry to utilize the rich source of quality gravel, would you believe, at the time of the expansion of the highway 401 to Windsor – “What a plumb indeed, and one don’t have to haul it very far, Puslinch is midway in Phase 1!” Eureka!! “We’ve struck it rich,” the M.N.R. core samples indicate vast supplies of product under the surface of “not so good” arable land! A group of fine opportunists in Puslinch (F.O.A.) a.k.a. “Friends of Archie” (MacRobbie) bought out many of the struggling farmers and waited for the anticipated boom! Well the “fairies” delivered, and as the say, the rest is history! The gravel guys moved in, aided and abetted by “Team Archie” and made a killing! Money galore with plenty to go around! If you get my drift! Thus was born the exploitation of the many, by the few! Even with Archie gone, the process, his process, is continued to be administered and controlled by his self confessed disciples, Brad Whitcombe , who quotes “everything I am, I owe to Archie.” Come on Brad, don’t blame a dead guy! You have a lot of responsibility too! And, of course, our “smoothie” County C.A.O. Scott Wilson, who in eulogy confesses “Archie called me an “Ideas man””! You are right there, Scotty old chap. Look at James Dick and Winston Churchill blvd, then explain to Peel Regional Council and the world, what was your idea, related to this enigma we share, for $4 Million, with Peel Region? The County would like to know, Scotty old chap! Maybe Court will reveal all? You will not succeed in making deals with the Honourable M. N.R. gentlemen from Peterborough, like Stuart Thatcher et al, it will not fly!! No way! Now Smelly-Welly.com “shares your pain,” about as sincerely as “Billy Clinton,” your fellow traveller! Honest guy!
But I digress, and wish to return to focus on Aitkensville and the “display of Honourable Politics from our County Council (N.B. sarcasm), why even the dysfunctional Council from Puslinch, supported the Tenants against Capital Paving, and we will explain why and how! Revelation month did we say? Hold on to your hats folks, this is a classic “Amateur Politics” by performance, almost as bad as their acting skills, submitted in the hope that the normal “apathetic public” will continue to ignore this serious blight! Well – Not Smelly-Welly.com!!
Let’s just look at the details of the Guelph Mercury’s reporters accurate interpretation of the County’s recent decision to quote “pull out of the pit hearing,” (printed in the Saturday edition of March 28th 2009) cleverly written by Mr. Scott Tracey.
As an attendee who again sat through another long in camera meeting, (I wonder what was being discussed for so long, with Thomson of McCarthy Tétrault and Guthrie of the County solicitor’s firm? Can we guess?) Well, we know one thing, Mr. Tracey reported accurately, Warden Ross “Screwie’s” statement reference Aitkensville! How did we get here from there, Mr. Tracey’s excellent add-on “chronological statement” in his report, is critical for understanding of the milestones of events which influenced this outcome, but cannot explain the details. We shall share these details now with you all!
This issue before County Council as to whether or not they, the County, would seek full participant status in the then, upcoming O.M.B. pre-hearing between Capital Paving, legally represented by Mr. Peter Pickfield and C.A.R.A. (residents) represented by Mr. Rodney Northey! Much debate was conducted and a presentation of argument was conducted by both lawyers to the Planning Committee of County Council in January 2008. In March 2008 County Council voted against the 3rd Reading of the Official Plan Amendment – in principal siding with the C.A.R.A. group!
In April 2008, Capital Paving withdrew its then current application, then a few weeks later, submitted a modified version, identified by Pickfield the lawyer, to close a “loophole” in the matter which could be the tool used by the residents in Court.
In November 2008 in Puslinch, local Council vote by a 3-1 margin (the Mayor was the (1) vote against) to support the residents C.A.R.A. (a major milestone!) Our worthy Mayor Whitcombe, visibly upset by the vote loss, and per witnesses to the event, lectured his Council on the costs of the O.M.B. Hearing in “party status,” which would be borne by the Taxpayers of Puslinch. A good try Brad, but doomed to fail! You as Mayor should support the legitimate claims of the residents. Oh, by the way, “your aggregate slip is showing.” What have you promised Capital? If anything, does not look clean Bradford! You are the leader of the group who were elected by the same people who put all of your Council in office, why didn’t you consult them? I think many know why.
However, there are many other facts which need to be recorded in the public forum to enable a true understanding of the continued lack of Governmental responsibility and adherence to the terms and conditions of the Municipal Act, which are totally ignored by Wellington County Council! They have their rules, “and screw anything else!” Great democratic principles, eh Webbers?
Under these conditions, Wellington County Councillors were forced to make a decision – Will they continue to support the Official Plan as written or reverse their decision, in spite of their refusal to pass the Official Plan Amendment, agreed for non-passing at the third and final reading?
“Oh my, what have we here? You mean to say that by doing what we did, when we did, that we have interfered with an Agreement between Puslinch Township Mayor Whitcombe and Capital Paving?’ “Oh my, how can we stop this? Oh,” they say, “we’ll set it up so that it is seen as a huge expense to the County Taxpayers if we support our own Official Plan and protect that by seeking the status quo via the O.M.B. Hearing! If we can come up with some intimidating numbers, not necessarily based on a staff report, requested by the Planning Committee.” (Are you listening Councillor Walter Trachsel? You are, after all, Committee Chair – How about Mr. Maieron’s Motion Proposals, all not to receive a single seconder – remember the cost sharing proposal on this issue? Are you proud of yourself Walter?)
Webbers, to have witnessed this as I, and others did, would move even the most apathetic amongst you to say “Hold on there, something is wrong!” No kidding? The crunch came before full County Council, where we were subjected to a pre-rehearsed (1) act play, a drama, preformed by the Wilson/Whitcombe Travelling Theatre, which would make a high school production of “Our Town” look like Oscar potential! Picture the scene in open Council, all actors primed, lines rehearsed, timing a bit rough, but after all Webbers, even though recently they have preformed regularly of late, they are still very rough amateurs (although you will never convince them.) Pretty “Poopie’s.” I would say – Here is why!
Understand at this time Whitcombe is faced with “a defeat of potential great magnitude.” He does not have his Township on board, (lost 3-1), he does not have County – what can he do to change that? After all, he, as Mayor of Puslinch, has made commitments! “I know,” he says “we need another travelling theatre performance to convince the County to reverse their decision on the grounds of costs to the Taxpayers, for County’s decision to support their own Official Plan, and by association, support the C.A.R.A. residents.
Act 1 – Scene 1. Open Council Meeting. Issue of Aitkensville Pit comes up…what is County’s official position? Can we establish this now? We look around the County horseshoe – Who will speak first, and what will they say or ask? Well, we did not have to wait long as, right on cue, up stands the “always participating” Councillor Mark MacKenzie (pseudo Scot) to ask the pre-rehearsed question “Do we know how much it would cost to the County Taxpayers for our involvement in the O.M.B. Proceedings referencing Aitkensville Pit?” ( He was word perfect, and perfect timing as rehearsed). Well, you talk about stimulus Webbers, the chamber came alive with activity – Wow…oxygen at last!!
Immediately Councillor Whitcombe is on his feet. “Good question Councillor MacKenzie” (as if he wasn’t expecting it), “Maybe our Solicitor, Mr. Hugh Guthrie, could enlighten Council with this cost,” says Whitcombe.
“Well,” says Guthrie, as if just awakened. “I would say $100,000 would be close,” and promptly sat down and went back to sleep, having said his lines.
“Oh wait a minute,” says Councillor Robert Wilson, “I don’t like to disagree with our Solicitor Mr. Guthrie but from my experience of these O.M.B. Hearings it would be anything up form $300,000 to $500,000.” The hysteria caught fire and exploded immediately to prompt Councillor Lynda White to stand up at once and say “Oh my, I want to support the residents in this matter but I just can’t justify spending Taxpayers money like this.” (She had no problem in paying Taxpayers money to “buy off” Councillor Andrew Johnson) – of course that was only $1,200 Lynda! But still Taxpayer’s money!
What now? You may ask from the viewing audience. Just hold on, there is a twist, you thought this was not Agatha Christie like drama! Fooled you! On cue, Councillor Chris White, screws up and proposes the issue be sent back to Committee for the purpose of accurately establishing accurate costs from staff (God forbid) or any other consulting body with experience in these matters. Good for you Chris, I believe you are following process. But immediately having received the “evil eye” from the chamber, in a very rapid panic stricken voice you declare “I withdraw! I withdraw! I withdraw!” I think we got your message after 1 notice of withdrawal. You didn’t ignore the script again Chris, did you? Again you’ll get Hell from the “play” director!
What a farce! What happened? Was there a vote? Yes! What did they agree? Hell, I’m confused! I know this much though, that would be the last time the subject would be discussed in “open” Council! I wonder why that had to be, wasn’t the issue a Public one? Not in Wellington County! Well, you know Webbers, I think that, in light of the upcoming Notice of Intent by me, to be filed with the Court, as a Cross claim against the Corporation for the County of Wellington for $6 Million, as being justified, all things considered, it would be very professionally correct and ethically correct, for me to restrict my comments to the following. I would say to the folks of C.A.R.A. – “folks, consider this, It is abundantly clear, yes, even to you, that you are being played as suckers, and honestly speaking, I believe you have made the bed in which you find yourselves. I would suggest you get (50) signatures from Taxpayers in Puslinch, give notice by way of a signed petition to Mr. Jim Watson of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing that you desire, and frankly demand, a Forensic Audit be conducted in these matters, to learn the truthful facts. You cannot go forward without this truthful information. Instruct Mr. Northey accordingly I would suggest. You know this is to be true, you got many gifts from the “various fairies” but ignored them! It’s time to waken up or lose!”
Mr. Whitcombe’s plan was to use the County’s decision to withdraw, as a justification to submit to his Puslinch Council, a Motion for Reconsideration of its 3-1 vote to support the Residents, and to use the total cost of the O.M.B. as a reality check – Remember there are (2) O.M.B.’s on the radar screen, i.e. Preston Sand and Gravel, and, of course, our favoured friends at Capital Paving (Little Tract and all)! Unfortunately for Mr. Whitcombe, his timing was, well, disastrous may be the best adjective, considering the revolt in his Council Chamber over the questionable firings of the father and son Quinnell’s! Talking about timing, here is another gift to you from the “fairies” – Waken up, the fairies are getting “peed-off!” Enough is enough C.A.R.A. Do you really expect them to do everything for you? No, I think not!
We at Smelly-Welly.com have now added Aitkensville Pit to our radar screen, for no other reason than it belongs to be there!
You will notice that this long report has been printed in Court sized font and double spaced format to serve as an evidentiary source to be included in our Court Documentation to be submitted when appropriately, under our claims and charges under Section 122 of the Criminal Code! If you don’t know what it is – Go look it up!! And for God’s sake waken up people!!
Keep watching and webbing. Remember, to talk is to share. God bless!

Bill Manderson
PS Is this prolific or what?

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