Timmins Taxpayers Association unable to present at council

The Golden Manor saga continued on at council Monday night.

While the Timmins Taxpayers Association weren’t able to present their views, plenty of talk was had around the table.

Mayor Steve Black says when it comes to finding ways to work the numbers to save taxpayers money, it needs to be done at budget time.

“If you look at the set up we have with the Chamber of Commerce or the BIA, we meet with them too outside of the formal council meeting to discuss different things throughout the year,” he said.

It’s not to say council doesn’t want to hear the TTA out, as Black explains they voted to have the presentation heard by the Golden Manor Board first.

McMeekin and former councillor Todd Lever spoke to council during 2015 budget deliberations in early February, where they suggested privatizing the home.

City CAO Joe Torlone says with the 2015 budget already approved, any changes being recommended by the TTA would have to wait until 2016 budget talks.

Black adds he met with TTA President Logan McMeekin last week, and agreed to setting up a couple meetings throughout the year to exchange thoughts that could culminate in a council presentation at budget time.

A couple councillors argued not allowing the TTA to present goes against Freedom of Speech.

“We have the responsibility to hear them out,” said Councillor Rick Dubeau.

The other to vote for hearing the TTA out, Joe Campbell, says he reviewed the power point presentation, and while it’s not inflammatory, it raises suspicions that the Manor is ran properly.

Campbell is on the management board of the Manor.

He says he has no trouble hearing presentations at council, but adds he would like time “to meet with the management board, formulate where we could go with this thing.”

“The good points, the bad points, the ones we agree with and the ones we don’t agree with,” he said.

Councillor Mike Doody, who is also on the board for the Golden Manor says the TTA was asked to meet, and they refused.

“I’m very comfortable for what we pay for the service that we offer to the taxpayers of the City of Timmins through the Golden Manor,” he said.

Dubeau says the whole discussion has been whether or not they should present, not about the contents of the presentation.

Nonetheless, the vote was put through and the TTA will go to the Golden Manor Board.

Doody says the board will go over the presentation, and promises to make a response.

After council, McMeekin sent the following in an email to media.

“On behalf of the Timmins Taxpayers Association, Alex Szczebonski, was denied a presentation tonight to Council,” it read.

“Contrary to some of the comments made by Councillors, this presentation was not to find fault with the management of the Golden Manor. The presentation was to discuss an annual report prepared by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, updated by Alex, which discussed the sustainability of municipally run long term care homes and to discuss options that other municipalities have explored.”

“We want to ensure that our Seniors get the quality care they deserve now and in the future, while also ensuring that it is affordable to the taxpayers of this city as others have in Ontario.  The report also discussed transparency of the information readily available on websites for all types of long term care homes.”

“We would like to thank Councillors Dubeau and Campbell for expressing their support in hearing this presentation. We look forward to discussing this item in the future with members of the Golden Manor Board.”