Citizen responds to Integrity Commissioner’s decision
Sir: I am furious at the Integrity Commissioner's latest letter to the mayor, council, and media!
He states I have broken the requested confidentiality on the complaint that I submitted about Councillors Bev MacDougall, Andy Bruziewicz and Cindy Scholten.
The commissioner also states he dismissed my complaint on Nov.18. This is not true. He didn’t send his dismissal e-mail until Monday, Nov. 21, requesting that I remain confidential about its content, something I definitely did.
I have NEVER broken any confidentiality about his dismissal of my complaint. I can be trusted implicitly and respect all requests for confidentiality! In fact, I was still waiting for the IC's communication saying I could now release this information, when I saw his letter on the front page of the Sarnia Journal’s website.
This is definitely a 'breach of confidentiality' by the Integrity Commissioner. I kept my word. He didn’t!
Now, in view of a recent article about the City Manager and possible information leaks 'on the inside,' I view what has just happened as a definite 'leak from the inside.'
Who else would have known that I filed a complaint through the city clerk's office to the Integrity Commissioner?
In both cases, I did not know anything about this until the media called me for interviews. Therefore, there is an internal leak of information - City Hall to councillor(s) to the media!
I have never, nor will I ever, break a confidentiality request until I personally receive the release to do so.
Therefore, if city management, councillors, and the Integrity Commissioner don't want information going to the general public, they should stop leaking critical information to the media.
Now that the information has been released, the media are now free to publish and air the truthful side of this scenario.
My final comment on this 'breach of confidentiality' is that this current council definitely needs to be dissolved.
Mayor Bradley, and the community, deserves a clean slate to be able to move forward, a team of people in whom we can all trust for our future!
Margaret Bird
Bright’s Grove
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Your daily dose of fluoride
Sir: With regards to the debate of fluoride added to Sarnia-Lambton’s water supply, I wish for you to ponder three questions.
1 - Why does fluoridated toothpaste carry the warning, "Do not swallow," and, "in case of accidental ingestion, contact the poison control centre?"
2 - Why does water NOT carry the warning when it is intended to be ingested?
3 - Are you getting your eight cups of water a day? One cup of tap water contains as much fluoride as a pea sized serving of toothpaste (about ¼ milligram). Remember you are not supposed to swallow one of them.
As for the alleged claim fluoride in drinking water benefits the teeth, I do not believe it. Having it applied topically at the dentist, brushing our teeth with it daily, ingesting it in our eight cups a day, and cooking with it seems to be an overexposure if you ask me.
Nick Wallace
Sarnia
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Christmas card rationale doesn’t wash
Sir: So our mayor is not allowed to send Christmas cards to City Hall employees except to their desk – where the city manager or some councillors may censor them.
The argument that privacy issues are involved does not wash: The mayor can use the telephone book, or last year’s list, to get the addresses.
Sending the greetings to their desks is only good to save
postage.
When will this orgy of persecution stop?
John Timar
Bright’s Grove
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A suggestion for mayor’s greetings
Sir: As a follow up to the Dec. 1 article regarding the Mayor of Sarnia having to curtail his holiday messages, I would like to suggest that Sarnia citizens who appreciate the great job that Mike Bradley has done for Sarnia over the years, and who see the frivolous nature of council's actions toward His Worship, to please send the mayor your greetings in a card with a return address.
I am forwarding mine today!
Marti McFadzean
Tiverton, Ont.
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Dog owners are taxed through licence fees
Sir: I would like to respond to Alan Palmer's letter of Dec. 1 with the headline, “Need a higher fence."
I have been visiting the dog park on Blackwell Road for a long time and I have never seen any dog jump the four-foot fence around the park.
Large and small dogs are more interested in playing and having a good time with the other dogs than trying to escape.
As for taxpayers paying for the new dog park in Germain Park, he should remember that many of us have paid for dog licences year after year.
Enjoying a dog's company, getting exercise at the same time, and socializing with other dog-lovers is great for one's mental heath as well.
We have other venues that only a portion of taxpayers support, so why not a dog park?
Thank you to everyone involved in creating this dog park for the people in Sarnia who cannot drive to Blackwell Road.
Trina Smith
Bright's Grove
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Dog tag fees could pay for park fencing
Sir: Re: The article regarding the dog park (Nov. 24) and how council must find $20,000 in the budget for it.
A simple solution would be to raise the cost of a dog licence a dollar or two for a year or two.
This would certainly help contribute towards the cost of the fencing.
Randy Grant
Sarnia
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Car club has raised $207,000 for Pathways kids
Sir: The Sarnia Street Machines is a car club that formed in 1985. The group is much more to the Sarnia-Lambton community than most people are aware. Since its beginning, the S.S.M. has aided the children of the area and contributed to organizations such as Rebound, Wheelchair Sports, and Sunshine Dreams for Kids.
Since the early 1990’s, members have delivered hundreds of carnation for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, volunteering their gas, time and vehicles.
In 2005, the Sarnia Street Machines partnered with Pathways Health Centre for Children. Two events are put on each year with proceeds going to Pathways.
Planning begins in January for Cruise In the Park, held the last Sunday in June. Sarnia-Lambton businesses have gone over and beyond to help the group obtain what it needs. Donations of door prizes, trophies, advertising, etc. help relieve some of the cost and allow proceeds to go directly to our charity.
Hot August Nights is held on the first Thursday in August with two bands, Border Line, and Scott Manery and the Barn Burners, playing the summer evening concert. The club is thankful to both bands, which donate their time to this worthy cause.
Past contributions have been used to supply Pathways with lifts for its therapeutic pool, equipment for the audiology lab, and different programs to aid children.
On Nov. 19, we proudly presented Pathways with a donation cheque for $23,000. It is with tremendous pride that I can announce that to date, the Sarnia Street Machines have donated $207,000 to Pathways Health Centre for Children.
The club would like to thank all those who join us at Cruise in the Park, and/or the Hot August Nights events. You, along with Sarnia-Lambton community support, help make our dream to Pathways possible.
Sincerely,
Jo-Ann Thorne
Vice-resident, Sarnia Street Machines