Keep public in the loop: Millar

News release from Ray Millar October 12 2010
Tiny Township mayoral candidate Ray Millar thinks the public’s business should be conducted in public.

The sequence of events regarding the Georgian Drive development, as recently revealed in the Midland Free Press, appears to be that Mayor Peggy Breckenridge met with a developer on Sunday last week to discuss a Committee of Adjustment approved development agreement. Mayor Breckenridge then discussed the matter with the township’s CAO later the same day, called the developer back leaving a confirmatory message on Sunday evening; discussed the matter a second time with the CAO on Monday morning.
When at the last minute of a Council meeting on Monday evening, the Mayor introduced a Notice of Motion without ever having discussed the matter with her colleagues on Council.
Millar thinks Tiny Township’s Mayor Peggy Breckenridge’s denial of lack of transparency and motives for her behaviour are at best implausible. “This is yet another example of Mayor Breckenridge’s inability to conduct herself in a manner respectful of the duties and responsibilities owed to Council”.
“If I am elected, this is not the way I will operate,” said Millar, a Tiny Township councillor from 2003-2006. “I will ensure that procedures are followed and that all of Council is in the loop as soon as possible if any changes to agreements the municipality has entered into are proposed. Not only that, I will ensure that the public is in the loop.”
“I am well versed in municipal law and the activities of Council”Millar said, adding “it is not uncommon for individuals or groups to bring their concerns directly to members of Council. However, in this case where the developer pursued business in a normal way, it was up to the Mayor to ensure that appropriate processes were followed.”
Millar pointed out that Mayor Breckenridge has often compared her position as Mayor to that of a corporate CEO. There are, however, important differences he said. “As public servants, we must never overlook the need for transparency and accountability to the public that is demanded in government.”
“If you cannot appropriately import business skills to government, there is a danger that the public process is undermined. It looks as if that is what happened here – and we might never have known – had it not been for that errant email to Deputy Mayor George Lawrence.”