Haldimand "There seems to be a Pattern"

In light of the recent lawsuit that has been launched against Haldimand County and the Mayor for $1.375 million dollars plus court costs, I would like to take you on a stroll down memory lane. The following are a few examples of issues that were in the news in Haldimand County at the same time frame in which this law suit is about (2004-2005). This might give you a better understanding of what happens when some believe that the following events were just normal everyday issues.

It is funny how we forget so quickly things that have happened in the past. I certainly had forgotten a few things I was involved in, so make a coffee, and relax.

The following are a few issues that took place at about the same time frame the above lawsuit is referring to. This will give you a little bit more of an understanding on the manner of thinking of our elected officials and senior staff.

After the 2003 election I spent about a year and a half going to council meetings to educate myself on procedures and the workings of Council as a whole. I certainly learned a lot, the best lessons learned, "what not to do", "how not to treat people".

The first issue I would like to talk about was during the time that Haldimand County Council and Staff decided to try and sell Haldimand County Hydro. Besides going behind closed doors for almost four months, a few paid the ultimate price for their public involvement.

There does seem to be a pattern, if you don’t agree with council, you pay the price. There are many other issues that happened during this time frame, but I will just talk about a few things, as you will need a whole pot of coffee if I rant on about more than I already have. So here we go.

In December of 2004, just one month after Councilor Boyko was voted in as Deputy Mayor, his fellow council members ousted him, and Councilor Sloat took his place. Why you ask? In November of 2004 at the only public meeting held regarding the potential sale of Haldimand County Hydro, Councilor Boyko took the stand and stated that the process was wrong and he didn’t agree with the sale of Haldimand County Hydro. Because of this his peers reprimanded him almost immediately.

The public was once again outraged, and demanded council to reverse their decision. As stated in one letter to the editor titled "Treatment of Lorne Boyko was just shameful". I think it is shameful that his fellow councillors have "punished" him for speaking on behalf of the citizens of the whole county. Every member of council has spoken out on behalf of some issue or other (and rightly so) and Councilor Boyko has done nothing different. Petty politics has no place at the municipal government level.

Councilor Boyko was never reinstated as Deputy Mayor.

The following is a letter I wrote to Council, regarding some issues that came up at the January 17th, 2004 Special Hydro meeting. There were eleven speakers that night and we were all very respectful and followed the rules. Council on the other hand was very defensive and angry that we had forced them to let us be heard.

While I was doing my ten minute speech (that’s what you are allowed) we found out that important decisions were being made on our behalf, and that no minutes had been taken at these meetings. By the way a friend of mine timed my stint at the podium, 44 minutes! My speech was 10 minutes; I spoke on behalf of the residents of Haldimand County and handed in a petition with 3,267 signatures! The rest of the time (34 minutes) certain members of Council attacked me with question after question and tried to convince me that they had the right ideas.


Mayor Marie Trainer
Haldimand County Council Members
45 Munsee Street Cayuga,

January 18, 2005

Dear Mayor Trainer and Councilors.

One of the issues that was presented at last nights Special Council meeting was in regards to the lack of minutes taken at County Meetings.

CAO Bill Pearce stated no minutes had been taken at the meeting on November 30th 2004, as President of the South Cayuga Hall Committee, we are mandated by the province to take minutes of all our meetings.

On November 30th there was approximately three hundred residents of Haldimand County present, with no minutes taken, there is no record of that Meeting taken place. This is unacceptable.

Further more Councilor Buck Sloat revealed that the Hydro Committee has not taken minutes of their meetings.

I would ask at this time that a full investigation into this matter is looked into, this is a very serious issue, as important decisions are being made regarding the future of Haldimand County.

I would also say that I am investigating the legal aspect of this serious issue, and would request at this time that the Haldimand County Hydro Committee be disbanded. With no official records of these meetings and decisions being made regarding the divestiture of Haldimand County Hydro, I would regard these meetings as being out of order and therefore any decisions that have been made be nullified.

Donna Pitcher

The following letter was a follow up letter, in relation to issues that were brought up during my presentation at the Hydro meeting on January 17th, 2005.

Haldimand County Administration Office
45 Munsee St. Cayuga, Ontario

April 29, 2005

Madam Mayor and Council Members.

I am following up on an issue that was brought forward during the Special Council Meeting of January 17th, 2005.

On January 19th, 2005 I hand delivered a letter addressed to the Mayor and Council Members regarding the lack of minutes taken at Public Meetings. I took a copy of this letter to the Mayors Office and one to the Clerk's Office.

On January 27th, 2005 I received a letter from CAO Bill Pearce in response to my above request. In this letter Mr. Pearce noted that the Mayor asked him to respond to my questions. My understanding was that members of Council received my above letter the same time that they received my response from Mr. Pearce.

I am requesting at this time that Council members address the issue of not taking any minutes at Public Meetings. Mr. Pearce notes in his letter that a "stenographer" would have to be hired in order to take proper minutes at Public Meetings. I would think that someone on staff at Haldimand County is capable of taking proper minutes.

I would ask Council to adopt a policy for future Public Meetings. Minutes need to be kept for accountability and good record keeping.

Donna Pitcher

To my knowledge, nothing has been done.

While I was at a Council meeting on Monday March 21st, I decided to stay along with the press until the closed session was over. I was appalled at what came out of that closed session.

Council decided to remove Mr. Corbett from the Haldimand County Utilities Board. They would make their decision final at the next weeks meeting. As soon as I left the County building, I called Mr. Corbett on my cell phone knowing that this news would hit the papers on Wednesday, as I new he had not been informed. I couldn’t believe the lack of professionalism on behalf of council.

Mr. Corbett was one of the speakers at the Special Hydro meeting. He was against the sale of Haldimand County Hydro.

There seems to be a pattern forming here.

I was upset that council decided to remove Mr. Corbett, because he spoke out against certain council members. I intern the next day requested to speak to council on this issue.

This was my Presentation for Council Tuesday March 29th, 2005

Thank- you for giving me the opportunity to address my concerns regarding recommendation #37 that came out of a closed session Monday March 21.

This recommendation appoints Councilor Sloat to the Haldimand County Utilities Board and ultimately removes Mr. Bernie Corbett, long standing Chairman of the Board of Directors.

On Feb.1, 2005 Council decided not to continue the divestiture of Haldimand County Hydro.
At this Council meeting it was decided, "that in light of the Council decision to not divest Haldimand County Hydro at this time, and sensitive to maintaining and growing a Strong viable, accountable public utility, that a joint meeting be scheduled with Haldimand County Hydro Board of Directors, their pertinent Senior Staff and Haldimand County Council and Senior Management for the purpose of a full review.

My understanding is that this meeting did take place Monday March 7th the next day a report was prepared by CAO Bill Pearce, From one meeting and the recommendation from this report "Options for Future Actions" dated March 8th, 2005 Council came to this recommendation.

This seemed to me a hasty decision on Council's part, and it seems to me not a lot of effort was put in to the mending of communications, or a lot of time put into the full review that was to TAKE PLACE ON March 7th.

Surely common sense should tell us that more than one meeting would be necessary to restore communications and to do a full review, If in fact there was a breakdown in this first meeting, surely Council could have made another attempt, and given the process some time. This matter was not of an "urgent" nature for the well being of the residents of Haldimand County.

If Council felt it necessary to appoint a second council member to the Board they could have done this without removing Mr. Corbett, after all I believe in 2001, the Board had 5 members, which was then reduced to 4. The present number of 4 Board members could have been increased to 5 to accommodate the appointment of a second Council member.

Furthermore I really have to question Council's decision to remove Mr. Corbett, a man with over 20 years experience in both the political arena and the electrical utility business with a man who has less than 2 years experience in either field. Where is the rationale behind this decision and once again, what’s the rush?

Mr. Corbett mentioned at the Jan 17th meeting, that the shareholders agreement could be revised. Was this not another option?

I think that the Shareholders of Haldimand County Hydro, as well as Mr. Corbett deserve at least some kind of explanation regarding this Council's decision. Or should it simply be chalked up to coincidence that Mr. Corbett's removal from the Board come shortly after his protest of Council's decision to divest the utility?

After all I never heard it mentioned once during the RFP process that Council felt Mr. Corbett was not performing up to their standards. There was mention made that the utility was perhaps not showing the profitability that Council expected of it, but surely that cannot be seen as the responsibility of Mr. Corbett alone.

I feel that the actions of this Council were disrespectful and inexcusable, towards a prominent and respected individual of this community. I do not understand the actions or lack of responsible decision making on this matter, and I think at the very least, a public apology to Mr. Corbett is in order. Thank-You

I was denied my right to speak that night, and a recorded vote took place. Mayor Trainer, Coucillors Boyko, and Cole were the three out of seven that voted on my behalf to be heard. My request was defeated (4-3).

I was however prepared for this, prior to this meeting; I gave my speech to the press. Two days later, on the front page of the Chronicle the headline was "Pitcher wants Corbett reinstated on hydro board". Most of my speech was in this article, so I was heard whether council liked it or not!

Mr. Corbett never received a formal apology.

The following was a letter that I sent to the newspapers that was published in the Chronicle.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR MONDAY APRIL 11,2005

COUNCIL ON MARCH 21ST CAME OUT OF A CLOSED SESSION WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO REMOVE MR. CORBETT AS CHAIRMAN OF THE HYDRO BOARD, 8 DAYS LATER IT WAS A DONE DEAL. I STILL HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT WHAT THE URGENCY WAS ON THIS ISSUE.

I WENT TO THE COUNTY BUILDING ON MARCH 23RD AND IN WRITING ASKED TO SPEAK TO COUNCIL ON THIS ISSUE. I FOLLOWED THE RULES, 6 DAYS PRIOR TO COUNCIL AND IN WRITING TO THE CLERK. THE CLERK’S DEPARTMENT TOLD ME, THIS WAS EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES AND COUNCIL HAD TO VOTE IN FAVOR TO ALLOW ME MY RIGHT TO PRESENT MY CONCERNS.

I WAS DENIED!

I WAS DENIED AS COUNCILOR ASHBAUGH VOICED HIS CONCERNS THAT IF EVERYONE THAT ASKED TO SPEAK AT COUNCIL THEY WOULDN'T HAVE THE TIME TO DO ANYTHING ELSE. AT LEAST THAT WAS MY INTERPRETATION.

MAYOR TRAINER, COUNCILOR COLE AND COUNCILOR BOYKO VOTED TO ALLOW ME TO SPEAK. WE ONLY HAVE 3 MEMBERS OF COUNCIL WHO SEEM TO THINK THAT I AS A CITIZEN HAD THE RIGHT TO SPEAK ON A CONCERN THAT WAS IN COUNCILLORS MINDS, A GRAVE ISSUE THAT HAD TO BE DONE IN 8 DAYS.

I ATTENDED COUNCIL MONDAY APRIL 11TH AND BEHOLD, A RESIDENT THAT IS OBVIOUSLY IN BETTER STANDING THEN MYSELF, ASKED COUNCIL IF HE COULD SPEAK ON AN ISSUE. HE HAD NO PRIOR WRITTEN SUBMISSION AND DID NOT PROVIDE NEW INFORMATION. COUNCIL VOTED, AND ALLOWED HIM TO SPEAK. I AM CERTAINLY NOT DENYING HIM HIS RIGHT, I AM GLAD THAT COUNCIL ALLOWED HIM TO SPEAK.

SO I WOULD ASK CERTAIN MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, WHY DID YOU DENY ME MY RIGHT? WERE YOU IN FEAR OF WHAT I MIGHT SAY? WERE YOU IN FEAR OF YOUR POLITICAL STANDING? OR IS THIS A DIRECT RESULT OF MY INVOLVEMENT IN THE HYDRO ISSUE?

COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO ALL RESIDENTS IN HALDIMAND COUNTY, AND I URGE RESIDENTS TO ATTEND. THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN COME AND HEAR AND SEE HOW DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE ON YOUR BEHALF.

BUT BEWARE IF YOU ARE IN THE CLASS THAT I HAVE BECOME, AS YOU WILL QUICKLY FEEL THAT YOU ARE AN UNINVITED GUEST BY CERTAIN MEMBERS OF COUNCIL!

AS A TAXPAYER I HAVE THE RIGHT TO ATTEND COUNCIL MEETINGS AND WILL CONTINUE TO ATTEND. COUNCIL CHAMBERS SHOULD BE A PLACE WHERE A RESIDENT IS WELCOMED, NOT SHUNNED!

AGAIN I URGE RESIDENTS OF HALDIMAND COUNTY TO ATTEND AT LEAST ONE COUNCIL MEETING AND MAKE YOUR OWN JUDGEMENTS.

I WILL REMIND CERTAIN COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT EVERY RESIDENT WILL NOT AGREE WITH THEIR DECISIONS, AND MAY BECOME VERBAL WITH SOME ISSUES. THIS DOES NOT GIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS THE RIGHT TO TREAT THEM ANY LESS.

RESPECT IS PART OF YOUR DUTY AS A PUBLIC OFFICIAL, AND I FEEL THAT SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS NEED TO BE REMINDED OF THAT!

DONNA PITCHER
PROUD RESIDENT OF HALDIMAND COUNTY


Do you see the pattern? I was against their decisions regarding the Hydro issue. (sorry about the letter being all in caps, I just scanned the document.)

The next issue pretty well explains itself in my letter to the editor. The four members that I am referring to in this letter to the editor are Councillors Sloat, Delimonte, Paterson and Ashbaugh, Councillors Sloat and Delimonte are currently on council. Once again I was voicing my opinions of the actions of council members. I also sent this letter to Toby Barrett our MPP. OOPS I did it again another scanned document in caps, well take a break, I am sure that you need another coffee, as I do go on................

MY LETTER TO THE EDITOR
April 2005
RE: COUNCILLORS OUT OF LINE

I AM OUTRAGED AND APPALLED AT THE DECISION THAT 4 COUNCIL MEMBERS TOOK WHEN THEY HAPPENED TO APPEAR AT THE SAME TIME AS THE PRESS TO DEMAND MEMBERSHIPS TO THE WEST HALDIMAND GENERAL HOSPITAL. THESE 4 COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE FULLY A WARE OF THE FACT THEY WOULD BE DENIED AND YET THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD THE RIGHT?

WHAT RIGHT DID THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS FEEL THEY HAD TO BADGER AND INTIMIDATE CEO'S EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT ELLEN CRADDOCK FOR 15 MINUTES? AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED THIS WAS DISGRACEFUL ON THEIR PART AND THEY SHOULD BE MADE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.

AT LEAST ONE OF THESE FOUR INDIVIDUALS SHOULD HAVE BEEN MAN ENOUGH TO REALIZE DURING THIS ORDEAL THAT THEY WERE TOTALLY OUT OF LINE, AND HAD GONE TOO FAR. ELLEN CRADDOCK DESERVES A PUBLIC APOLOGY BY THESE 4 COUNCIL MEMBERS. IF THEY ARE NOT "BIG" ENOUGH FOR THE JOB, THEN THE MAYOR NEEDS TO APOLOGIZE ON THEIR BEHALF.

I ATTENDED THE COUNCIL MEETING ON MARCH 29TH, WHEN THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE ASKED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS BOYKO AND COLE HOW THEY ALL HAPPENED TO BE THERE AT THE SAME TIME, AND WITH PRESS IN TOW.

I WAS ANGERED AND DISGUSTED BY THEIR ARROGANCE WHEN THEY RESPONDED BY SAYING THAT THIS WAS NOT PLANNED, AND WAS A COINCIDENCE.

WHEN COUNCIL STOPPED FOR A 15 MINUTE BREAK, I WAS IN THE FOYER WHEN ONE COUNCILOR WAS ASKED BY AN INDIVIDUAL HOW HE HAPPENED TO BE THERE AT THAT TIME, HIS RESPONSE "I WAS OUT FOR AN ICE-CREAM".

AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED THIS WAS A QUORUM OF COUNCIL, THE ONLY PERSON MISSING WAS THE COUNTY CLERK. IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT THESE 4 MEMBERS OF COUNCIL HAVE ABUSED THEIR POWERS AS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND SHOULD BE ASHAMED. WE NEED TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT "WE" ELECTED THIS COUNCIL AND "WE" HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEMAND RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP".

IT SEEMS STRANGE TO ME HOW THESE 4 ELECTED OFFICIALS TALK ABOUT "THEIR" RIGHTS AS A CITIZEN, AND YET IN THE PAST YEAR, THEY DON'T SEEM TO THINK THE RESIDENTS OF HALDIMAND COUNTY HAVE ANY RIGHT TO TELL THEM WHAT TO DO!

IT IS TIME WE DEMAND THIS COUNCIL TO DO WHAT THEY PROMISED DURING THE ELECTION PROCESS! WE WON'T BE FOOLED AGAIN!


This letter speaks for it self of what had occurred at the hospital, again many letters were published regarding the actions of council members.

The public was outraged once again! Councillors Sloat, Delimonte, Paterson and Ashbaugh told the public they were all there at the same time with the press in tow by chance, and that they had their rights as citizens. The public was outraged at the actions of these Council members, and the letters to the editor carried on for a few weeks.

One letter was from the Dunnville Chamber of Commerce, requesting that the County and the Hospital ask the Ontario Provincial Police to enter into an investigation regarding the councillors conduct. The Chamber also requests that contact be made with Municipal Affairs for their direction as to the status of these four councillors while this review is being conducted.

To this day, no public apologies were given and to my knowledge no further investigations were done.

The following incident happened during budget deliberations in 2005, everything seemed to have been going well, but behind the closed doors of Mayor Trainer’s office it was a different story. Mayor Trainer was the only member of council to vote against the budget. Obviously she upset a few councillors.

According to Mayor Trainer and witnesses within earshot of her office, the mayor was hollered at and made to feel uncomfortable by Councillors Sloat and Paterson in her own chambers.

What I recall of that incident was that Councilor Sloat and Paterson came into her office, closed the door, and were verbally attacking Mayor Trainer as she sat at her desk, because she voted against the budget.

Residents were once again outraged, and letters were published in local papers for a few weeks asking for these council members to be made accountable for what they had done.

These council members denied that they ever raised their voice, or even cornered the Mayor. This issue was never resolved.

In May of 2005 the Chronicle regarding this incident in her office interviewed Mayor Trainer.

The headlines read "Smarten up and act as the adults that your are". One comment made by Mayor Trainer was, "They made quite a scene about how I had voted on the budget and how dare I go to the newspapers when four councillors went to the hospital". Her voice quivered with emotion and her face was pale, as she said she had the right to vote as she wished and said the councillors hollered at her in loud voices.

In an article published by the Chronicle on May 11th, 2005 this was stated. "In a time when faith in government at all levels is very low, it is disheartening to hear stories of our elected officials not getting along. However what is worse is the complete lack of respect shown by councillors to each other in Haldimand".

Once again it seems there is a pattern.


I would caution the lawyers that are representing Haldimand County one thing, be very careful whom you call as witnesses! Witnesses should be credible!

If I could be so bold as to predict the outcome of this lawsuit, Haldimand County will settle "behind closed doors", and the lawsuit against the Mayor will go to full court!

Haldimand taxpayers will pay once again!