Patrick Reid

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Did mayor blow the lid off CAO firing controversy with 'hypothetical' scenario?

OrilliaMatters

26

Hypothetical: What of someone runs for mayor, or council, and they have no experience hiring/firing people? I'd they are elected, then the electorate decided they are competent and capable of making decisions in all matters council need to deal withThis stinks to high heaven. Deflect, deny, pr pound the table.

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Mayor 'has a lot of explaining to do' over firing of CAO: councillor

OrilliaMatters

22

"OrilliaMatters asked McIsaac what made him change his mind on the choice of CAO."I think you've already been told that," he said before abruptly hanging up the phone."This is untenable. Do the honorable thing. There is no support for continuing. This is just sad, and not what Orillia expects of their officials

2

City, Trevor Lee reach 'amicable, confidential' settlement deal

OrilliaMatters

21

No surprise it's an NDA. What isn't resolved, is, why do an authoritarian end-run, ignoring council, and the electorate, when there were ways to do it properly, and quickly, if necessary. The method still stinks, settlement or not.

COLUMN: McIsaac's dismissal of new CAO is a 'shameful power grab'

OrilliaMatters

20

Then he should have called an in camera emergency council meeting, outlining the egregious reason why this hire cannot go ahead,explained it to council as a whole, then gone ahead with council's support. The way it was done is a slap in the face to council, staff, the electorate, the incoming CAO, anx the deputy CAO. There is right way to do this, if necessary, and a wrong way. Undemocratic to the core. Save the 'he must've had a good reason' argument. If the justification was solid, he would've had councils' support. Obviously, he has disdain for their abilities.

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Automated speed enforcement cameras coming to Orillia in 90 days

OrilliaMatters

12

The city will make money from this? Awesome, can't see a downside. Put them on every street.

6

City budget will be 'entirely different' with strong mayor powers

OrilliaMatters

14

Those pesky councillors shouldn't expect to have any say in the financials...they were put in place by the unwashed masses. God save the King

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'Frustrating experience': Special council meeting on strong mayor powers cut short

OrilliaMatters

15

This just in: Good people make bad decisions all the time. I know the Mayor is of good character, but that's not the point. This is about a bad decision that voided the franchise of the voters that supported their councilors. It also puts staff on notice to tow the line with a,single power broker. SMP is authoritarian, not democratic. Regardless of what Mayor, and what belief you have in their 'goodness" I trust that had the councilors been presented with the 'illuminating' evidence of why the hire should have been halted, they would have made the right call, because they also have the cities best interest at heart. They were not consulted. That is the problem. Just stop with the blind faith argument. Follow the democratic procedures.

1

Orillia's wings clipped in bid to become bird-friendly city

OrilliaMatters

15

We call ourselves bee friendly. A few years ago, a vigorous call went out to hang the city employee that made the mistake of thinking the order to "weed" the gardens at Hillcrest Park,meant pulling up milkweed. We held a vigil for the Monarchs affected. Ans just a few years later we backhoe the very same gardens, and plant grass. Take that bees and Monarchs! Other than the usual virtue signaling, why are we doing this now? When its, in effect, meaningless. Let's call us scorpion friendly while we're at it. Now that I can feel good about.

Sweet news: Coco's Cookies staying put, encourages people to shop local

OrilliaMatters

11

If you have nothing good to say...

4

Ice storm, power outage push Orillia businesses into 'survival mode'

OrilliaMatters

14

What a ridiculous and sad comment. These folks are the best of us,and deserve to be applauded loudly, and often. Instead of working so hard to dazzle us with your cynicism, maybe work on having 1/1000 of the level of altruism amd humanity they practice.

Mayor outlines updates on speed cameras, train station, housing

OrilliaMatters

13

False. Champlain monument was gone long before the last election.

City's new stop sign policy aims to remove politics from decisions

OrilliaMatters

9

Staff will decide. Their track record is to deny, and use 'data' to deny every request. The citizen request will simply be rejected, as it always was before. Councillors have had their hand slapped for listening to neighborhood concerns. Strong Staff Powers.

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'Money grab': Petition challenges fairness of Orillia speed cameras

OrilliaMatters

7

Can we get two more cameras and put them on the routes these entitled folks use now to avoid the current cameras? They believe it is their right to speed, after all, it's not like they got tickets before. Boo hoo

5

The Social aims to breathe new life into former Fionn MacCool's space

OrilliaMatters

12

Absurd that you think an unrelated owner has a duty to rehire employees from the last business. Logistically nuts. The article doesn't say they wouldn't hire them. I would expect if they show up with a resume that impresses, they would stand a good chance of onboarding. If it was the same owner, they would be expected ethically, but not legally, to rehire those that they put out of work, and jerked around. Best of luck to the new owners, and the staff that join the effort.

Doug Ford triggers provincial election

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I sincerely look forward to flushing my vote down the toilet in this riding. Issues have never mattered. Just whose team granpappie was on. Every vote wasted since Gord Smith and doc rynard (but for one brief period) Would love to be proven wrong. But, as always, it'll be the election Blues. Go team. Do the new online Ford ' tax'on-the-poor' betting sites allow an over/under wager? The money made could help with the Ontario place wellness spa. Ontario, yours to plunder.

3

Orillia speed cameras nab over 2,000 drivers within first month

OrilliaMatters

7

Lol. What happens if you 'forget' about a stop sign, Do Not Enter, Yield sign.? I forgot the limit on hwy 400 was 100k, I was doing 140? No prob? I forgot.

3

COLUMN: Oval Office meltdown a 'truly sickening display'

OrilliaMatters

7

Carleton, hard to equate Donny's strategy and intellect with a fox. Foxes don't hunt because of hate, anger, and false machismo. With president felon, the hurt and the hate is the point, and the gift, as you point out.

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'Worst times': Single dad fighting cancer becomes homeless

OrilliaMatters

9

The article states some fraudulent activity led to the credit score issue. He's also been out of work for months due to cancer. I don't know anything about this man there than what I can pull out of the article. Your comment is uninformed amd insensitive, unless you have actual knowledge of what you state. And if you do, then you're just piling on and thats 'on you'.

1

Orillia eyes new pickleball courts, skateboard park despite funding setback

OrilliaMatters

8

If you ignore facts, it doesn't make them disappear. The skateboard community, which i have zero connection to, has been actively discussing, organizing, fundraising I believe, and generally lobbying respectfully and patiently for a new park, for many years. That's what makes them 'newer' than the pickleball consideration, not the sport. This isn't a us vs. them issue, unless you make it one. I'n my opinion, the involvement of youth in skateboarding, and the potential to create a vibrant 'circuit' with skaters from all over is a large plus. We don't seem to shy away from supporting more 'well-heeled' sports, that spin little in to the local purse. They serve only a specific demographic, and it's not kids and those 'without'.

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Mayor 'has a lot of explaining to do' over firing of CAO: councillor

OrilliaMatters

9

He is not the councillors boss, not the ceo. This was unethical.