Haldimand "The Verdict is In".
Well the County Lawyer was very busy this week settling a major lawsuit against Haldimand County and Mayor Trainer that was filed by the Mayor's former administrative assistant.
A report by the County's lawyer will be on the agenda for this coming Council in Committee meeting on Monday, and no doubt will be headline news in the local papers on Wednesday. Or maybe not, this may go behind closed doors and we will never know the details. If the papers are silent on Wednesday, we need to demand this information, this is our "tax dollars" being spent here!
The county lawyer decided that "4" lawyers and approximately "6" days in court was not worth fighting for. So once again we see our "hard earned" tax dollars being handed over to someone else. Actually I need to correct myself here, "Council" decided to not take this battle to a "Court of Law". But that is not new, we have seen this before.
What is wrong with this County? Do we have no 'Backbone"?
Remember the "Burke" "Reports", the first report is public, the second one is not quite public yet, (although I along with I am sure a few other people do have a copy of the second report) costs the taxpayers $25,000.00. At the time of the "Burke" investigation our Council decided to be Judge and Jury and deemed Mayor Trainer as being guilty of "Harassment". So thanks to the wisdom of our Council Members we were just bitten on the ass (again) big time!
Remember the "Haldimand County Hydro" mess, this cost the taxpayers approximately $500,000.00 dollars, for council's procedural techniques!
I do believe it is time to replace the county lawyer, but that wouldn't be fair would it, he doesn't make the decisions, he follows the wishes of our "Elected Council".
It will be interesting to hear Mayor Trainers take on this. Maybe now that this is a done deal, her Council will let her be privy to "all" the closed door sessions regarding this court case that she was not "privy" too. That's right you heard that right, all this time the Mayor was not even "privy" to "any information", even though she was named in the case. So in saying that. Mayor Trainer had no "say" in whether to take this to court or settle out. This is ridiculous!
Mayor Trainer has stated all along that she was innocent, and she didn't even have an "opportunity" to prove this in a "Court of Law"! I hope that council will be "paying" for the Mayors lawyer, but I doubt that as well, she had to pay about $4000.00 dollars to her own lawyer while this investigation was going on and council decided "not" to pay her lawyer's bill even though council members can be reimbursed for this. But Council did decide at the time to pay the lawyers bill for her "administrative assistant", and if my memory serves me right that was about $6000.00 dollars.!
Imagine if "you" were being sued, you spent a considerable amount of money preparing your defense, and then were denied your right to prove your innocence! I would not stand for that, would you?
Something is wrong with this picture.
If you want to save public money, get Marie Trainer removed from office. She is poisinous to everything in Haldimand and is shockingly incompetent. It is her alone that causes these messes so quit blaming others.
ReplyDeleteShe is a very bitter woman going by her actions and should apologize to everyone.
I totally agree. I am sick and tired of Trainer and her pushing fault off onto everyone else. She is never wrong, is she? Sooner or later the truth comes out and it is about time Trainer is being called up on it.
ReplyDeleteShe has always blamed the councillors and staff through every council session there has been, IMHO.
I believe that Trainer has to declare a conflict of interest and would not be privy to the info. I believe the lawsuit was against the County and Trainer personally. In that case she should pay her own expenses. I doubt very much that Trainer could stand up to a court trial/cross examination and in the end the County would still have to pay, IMO.
ReplyDeleteI do not care who it is they should not be bullying and harassing any individual, especially a Mayor. As far as the Burke Report, it was an independent firm who did the report and that was great wisdom to do so. If the Council members had decided for themselves then Trainer would have said that they were picking on her as I understand she has done many times in the past.
It is unfortunate Donna, that you believe Trainer without a doubt and that you are her avenue for getting incorrect information out to the public, IMO. I suggest that you do your homework and get the truthful facts.
I doubt very much that everyone is wrong and Trainer is the only one that is right. She has had many councillors that she always find something wrong and tries to get rid of them and has been successful at that but those councillors are always replaced with more councillors that she decides to get rid of, IMO. Ever think that she might be what is wrong at that County?
Do you ever ask yourself why so many of the staff have left or are leaving especially since Trainer got re-elected?
Janice probably took the high road and settled for less than would have been if she had taken it to trial.
ReplyDeleteThe case was a slam-dunk.
Didn't Marie Trainer suggest that Haldimand cover her legal expenses and they told her to shove it?
Trainer has to be relieved of her duties forthwith if Haldimand is to ever forger ahead in a positive fashion. She's hell-bent on destroying the whole region just to push her hateful agendas.
Just a few comments of my own;
ReplyDelete"It is unfortunate Donna, that you believe Trainer without a doubt and that you are her avenue for getting incorrect information out to the public, IMO. I suggest that you do your homework and get the truthful facts."
I have never stated that I believe Trainer without a doubt, and I am not her avenue for getting out information.
I am not taking any one side here, my problem with this whole situation is that there has never been a "fair trial". Whether you personally like the Mayor or not, or a Council Member for that matter, a serious charge of "harassment" should be in a proper court of Law. This is a decision that "only" a "Judge" is qualified to make, not your co-workers!
"Do you ever ask yourself why so many of the staff have left or are leaving especially since Trainer got re-elected"?
That could only be answered by the staff that have left. To assume that these staff members are leaving soley because of the Mayor, reminds me of what my Hydraulics instructor had on the blackboard our first class....ASSUME, never assume as you will make an ass of you and me!
"She has always blamed the councillors and staff through every council session there has been, IMHO."
"DITTO" for the members of Council, they blame everything on Mayor Trainer!
Thanks again for your comments.
So every councillor through many terms of Council are wrong and Trainer is right?
ReplyDeleteIf I am going to put my faith in anyone it will definitely be the Councillors and Staff rather than Trainer. She has proven over and over again that she is not the right person for the job. She is clueless in my opinion.
I have some questions and suggestions for you Donna:
ReplyDeleteThis information has not even hit the newspapers yet and you are privy to what has gone on. Unless you have seen actual documents and just not hearsay, you seem to have put your stamp of approval who is wrong and who is right. I believe like one of the previous posters, you got your information from the Mayor herself. You seem to been reporting this information as fact rather than from a state of your own opinion.
So who provided you with this information?
You seem to accuse the County of leaks, so who has leaked you this information?
Just for your information the second Supplementary Burke Report has been released to the public for quite some time now. I suggest that you read it. I also believe the Statement of Claim was public information against Trainer as well. I believe these documents are on the internet.
Didn't Marie Trainer just recently try to convince council to circumvent the law and award a contract to a company that she wished to win it when in fact another company won the contract legally and fairly?
ReplyDeleteAnd only when council told her that it would be ok if she personally paid out of her own pocket the resulting lawsuit did she change her mind.
I believe a councillor right in chambers told her she had a twisted dense of reality or words to that effect.
She is the worst person possible to be sitting in that Mayor's seat. I also read somewhere that she refused to attend a send-off street party for two Caledonia soldiers because it was her day off (a Friday)even though the OPP, local politicians and even members of the Royal Canadian Legion attended along with many, many residents.
She's just simply an embarrassment.
I too have seen the Supplementary Burke Report so I don't know what Donna is talking about it not being public. It's been public for many, many months and has appeared on various message boards.
"DITTO" for the members of Council, they blame everything on Mayor Trainer!
ReplyDeleteI will re-phrase this comment, they constantly blame each other.
"This information has not even hit the newspapers yet and you are privy to what has gone on. Unless you have seen actual documents and just not hearsay, you seem to have put your stamp of approval who is wrong and who is right."
Our local papers only come out on Wednesday's, The local papers probably also have the same information.
I have not put my stamp of approval on anything. What I have stated is that there was no due process. If I was being sued, I would want the opportunity to defend myself in a court of law! So why did the county not defend itself? The Mayor was being sued for $500,000.00 dollars, while the county was being sued for the remainder of the 3.1 Million dollars if my memory is correct.
"Just for your information the second Supplementary Burke Report has been released to the public for quite some time now. I suggest that you read it. I also believe the Statement of Claim was public information against Trainer as well. I believe these documents are on the internet."
I do in fact have a copy of the second report and have read that report. The Investigator was suppose to call me in regards to this whole situation. My name was given to them by Counillor Cole and Mayor Trainer at the time. I had also written a letter to CAO Bill Pearce in relation to this issue. The information that I had was in regards to a situation that I ran into at a council meeting just prior to the decision to investigate the Mayor. At that time I was attending council meetings on a regular basis. So in saying that, and have read the second Burke report, I do have some concerns as to why I was never called, as I had evidence in this case, before it even became a "case".
Regardless of what anyone believes or has an opinion on, if this had seen it's proper day in Court, we would have concrete evidence as to where to point "our fingers" and blame. But we are left with "only" our opinions, which are just that, "opinions"!
Donna I totally agree with you on this matter.
ReplyDeleteHaldimand County has no backbone.
They should have taken this to Court, then we would all know who to blame, instead of assuming where the blame should go.
This was once again, our tax dollars being spent, and will we ever really know the truth? NO!
Donna you just stated in these comments that: "I do in fact have a copy of the second report and have read that report."
ReplyDeleteWhy on your subject blog, "Haldimand "The Verdict is In"." you state, "Remember the "Burke" "Reports", the first report is public, the second one is not quite public yet, (although I along with I am sure a few other people do have a copy of the second report) costs the taxpayers $25,000.00."
These two statements contradict each other don't you think.
Also what could you have possibly offered as information to alter either Burke Report?
Also I believe that Trainer witnessed for you in your lawsuit against the Regional News? Is this not correct information?
Honestly Donna, I do not have much trust in anything that you have to say one way or another about any opinions in Haldimand County, IMO.
IMO, anyone who sues a newspaper for referring to them as "infamous"
is pure ridiculous. You would have never stood what it takes to be in the political arena, IMO.
"Didn't Marie Trainer just recently try to convince council to circumvent the law and award a contract to a company that she wished to win it when in fact another company won the contract legally and fairly?"
ReplyDeleteI did read about that in the papers, it was a difference of about $97.00. My take on this, is, how are the tender's approached? What I mean is are these tenders opened during a council meeting and decided on, or are the tenders being opened by staff, and staff presents to council? As I have said before I have attended many council meetings, and have never seen this process, or even heard it being discussed. So maybe the question should be......What is the Process for Tendering? A tender is not "always" based on the dollar amount, I do believe that the packages do state that.
"I believe a councillor right in chambers told her she had a twisted dense of reality or words to that effect."
Obviously you were right there in chambers when this comment was made. This is exactly the kind of attitude that I am talking about.
Outright dis-respect to one another sitting at that table.
This is unacceptable behaviour by "anyone" on Council!
Donna:
ReplyDeleteThere is a tendering process that is plain and simple. Why did Trainer back down when a Councillor challenged her that they would support her if she agreed to pay any $$$$$ fallout from doing so. She did not agree.
I am sure that the companies applying for the tenders would not want to lose out in other Counties that they bid on due to the call of each municipality to do otherwise.
There are laws in place from the Provincial level of government.
Council does what it is suppose to do and within those perimeters.
I believe some of us watch the council on TV for your information, Donna.
ReplyDeleteNo I was not at that council meeting Donna. It was reported in one of the local papers that the councillor told Trainer she had a twisted sense of reality.
ReplyDeleteAnd the fact is that the bidding process was adhered to by what the laws are. It was Trainer who wanted to put Haldimand in legal and financial peril by ignoring the process and awarding it to a company she wanted to win. Is this not concerning to you? But now your response is to call into question the process? Typical deflection tactic by Trainer's supporters. It's as if it is her that is right and the whole world is always wrong. No wonder Haldimand is in such a mess.
Why on your subject blog, "Haldimand "The Verdict is In"." you state, "Remember the "Burke" "Reports", the first report is public, the second one is not quite public yet, (although I along with I am sure a few other people do have a copy of the second report) costs the taxpayers $25,000.00."
ReplyDeleteThese two statements contradict each other don't you think.
Thank you for correcting me on that one. Your are right, the second Burke report is a "public" document. But in saying that, the second report did not receive the attention of the newspapers. I think the reason for this was, the second report is nothing more than a "personal" opinion document.
"Also I believe that Trainer witnessed for you in your lawsuit against the Regional News? Is this not correct information?"
YES. I had one witness in court, and the reason why I asked the Mayor was, that the reporter had stated that I was "Harassing the Mayor"! My one question to the Mayor in court.
Have I ever Harassed you Mayor Trainer?
Her answer....No! she then left the courtroom.
"Honestly Donna, I do not have much trust in anything that you have to say one way or another about any opinions in Haldimand County, IMO."
Well I can say one thing, you are commenting on my blog. And I thank-you for your interest!
"IMO, anyone who sues a newspaper for referring to them as "infamous"
is pure ridiculous. You would have never stood what it takes to be in the political arena, IMO."
That is your personal opinion, and you have the right.
Maybe it is time for a phone call. We could probably have a great chat. I am always open for suggestions and information..
ReplyDeleteMy number is 905-701-1627, I am home all day today!
Would love to hear from you.
Donna
Hmmmmm, your comment:
ReplyDelete"YES. I had one witness in court, and the reason why I asked the Mayor was, that the reporter had stated that I was "Harassing the Mayor"! My one question to the Mayor in court.
Have I ever Harassed you Mayor Trainer?
Her answer....No! she then left the courtroom."
That is interesting, and you have an actual transcript that this was all that was said by Trainer?
And asking the Mayor that particular question has what to do with the Regional News? I do not see the connection really.
It's stuff like this that gets Trainer in trouble. She has no self-control or sense of diplomacy. Just when council and the O.P.P are working good together and the new CAO has a good past working relationship with Fantino, Trainer once again spews more crap.
ReplyDeleteThe following excerpts are from the Ancaster News Sept. 28 (just a few weeks ago) Pay particular attention to the term "Cashedonia" she was quoted as saying. Is that not a McHale term? Oh, I forgot, she meets with him.Also, in the second quote, I see she used the word "hate" when describing what Caledonians think of the police. What?? Someone needs to muzzle this woman for good and pass a law that it is illegal for her to speak in public ever again.
1)
"Haldimand Mayor Marie Trainer told Hamilton Community News the decision to tender the contract reflects residents' anger over the behaviour of a supplementary OPP force brought in to police First Nations dispute over the Douglas Creek Estates land in Caledonia. Although the situation is improving, local perception is that many of the additional officers have taken the natives' side and viewed their stay in "Cashedonia" as little more than a chance to make extra pay, she said."
2)
"The impression was that there was two-tier justice. If there was a confrontation, they had their backs to the natives, protecting the natives from the Haldimand residents," Ms. Trainer said. "That made people mad, just that gesture of facing the non-natives who were actually paying the taxes for them being there. There was just a whole bunch of things that just made them hate that extra force."
"That is interesting, and you have an actual transcript that this was all that was said by Trainer?"
ReplyDeleteThis was the "only" question "I" had for the Mayor. The lawyer for the regional did start asking some personal questions to the Mayor regarding our relationship, but the Judge put an "immediate" stop to that questioning, as it did not relate to the case.
I do not have transcripts, but they are available. The court papers and my settlement and the Judge's comments are also available to the public.
I have the documentation from the Judge here, if you are interested about this case and want more information, I would be more than happy to meet with you and share the information. I have listed my phone number above.
Donna
I also do not see what the Mayor has to offer in support of your case against the Regional News.
ReplyDelete"It's stuff like this that gets Trainer in trouble. She has no self-control or sense of diplomacy. Just when council and the O.P.P are working good together and the new CAO has a good past working relationship with Fantino, Trainer once again spews more crap."
ReplyDeleteThe new CAO didn't start until the beginning of October. I hear that he is very good at what he does!
I don't receive the Ancaster News, but I certainly agree with you that these statements by the Mayor are "unacceptable"!
Great comments above "anonymous"and the rest of the info that you posted. Sounds like you do your research of facts versus fiction. RE; Trainer:
ReplyDelete"Anonymous said...
It's stuff like this that gets Trainer in trouble. She has no self-control or sense of diplomacy. Just when council and the O.P.P are working good together and the new CAO has a good past working relationship with Fantino, Trainer once again spews more crap. "
Donna your comment:
ReplyDelete"The new CAO didn't start until the beginning of October. I hear that he is very good at what he does!"
And what position will you take if he gets to know all the players at the County and then Trainer starts to say negative things about him? Will he be worng as welljust because Trainer says so?
Donna, I don't receive the Ancaster News either. I just ran across the article. I'm surprised no-one had seen it but it is a horrible example of Trainer undermining things yet again. She is living in the past and as Mayor, it's quite irresponsible to keep bringing past incidents up when it is clearly her job and responsibility to heal things and move ahead in a positive manner. She is so hateful in her heart it is shocking.
ReplyDeleteIf I were the O.P.P I'd be asking her for an apology over this article and suggesting that Caledonians "hate" the O.P.P and that they look at it as a quick cash grab ie: she used the term "Cashedonia"
it's really bizarre that she keeps doing this.
here is the URL to the story
http://www.ancasternews.com/an/news/news_888443.html
anonymous, thanks for that link.
ReplyDeleteDoes Trainer never shut up the negative rhetoric about Caledonia?
What police force would want to wade into dealing with her as a Mayor, IMO?
"The new CAO didn't start until the beginning of October. I hear that he is very good at what he does!"
ReplyDeleteAnd what position will you take if he gets to know all the players at the County and then Trainer starts to say negative things about him? Will he be worng as welljust because Trainer says so?
I am going to the open house on November the 1st to meet the new CAO. Until I meet the new CAO, I have nothing to say about him, good or bad!
I don't agree that the Mayor or Council at anytime should publicly denounce any staff to the public, in fact the County does have staff/council protocal for this.
I have never taken a point of view on "just" the opinion of the Mayor. I have asked her questions, and did a verbatim of her answers.
If you were to call Mayor Trainer and ask her how many times I have called her, and what my concerns where, you would learn that my issues are "business" only related! As I have stated before I "do not" have representation on council as my elected Ward Counillor does not return my phone calls, so it may seem that I speak to her often, but I have no one else to call.
Well maybe someone should bring that article to the attention of Council, the CAO and Julian Fantino.
ReplyDeleteTo suggest a mere two weeks ago that Caledonians "hate" the O.P.P officers (the extra officers) and that all the officers only look at their time here as a cash grab is positively irresponsible and quite possibly slanderous or libellous.
And yet she says nothing about McHale and his destructive actions. ??
To use the term "Cashedonia" even a few mere weeks ago is so condascending and damaging that I hope Fantino goes ballistic in the media over her pathetic behaviour and asks publicly why it is that they should renew the contract. If I was Fantino I'd tell her to shove it!
Did no-one ever see this article before today?
Donna in reply to your comment:
ReplyDelete"If you were to call Mayor Trainer and ask her how many times I have called her, and what my concerns where, you would learn that my issues are "business" only related! As I have stated before I "do not" have representation on council as my elected Ward Counillor does not return my phone calls, so it may seem that I speak to her often, but I have no one else to call."
You seem to be advocating for the Mayor pretty hard in your topic, "Haldimand "The Verdict is In" and by your own admission "so it may seem that I speak to her often, but I have no one else to call." It would appear that she is the one that gave you the information your topic .
"To suggest a mere two weeks ago that Caledonians "hate" the O.P.P officers (the extra officers) and that all the officers only look at their time here as a cash grab is positively irresponsible and quite possibly slanderous or libellous."
ReplyDeleteI have been in Caledonia many, many times, and have had many opportunities to speak with the OPP officers there. I would never put them in this category. I have several times said to an officer, I am glad I am not in "your shoes".
"Did no-one ever see this article before today?"
I certainly hadn't seen this article before today. Thanks for the link!
I have said in previous comments that this blog was about "due process", not saying that anyone one party was innocent or guilty.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it really matters where I received the information about the "verdict is in", but one thing for sure for me is that if this information is bogus, I won't rely or trust that source again will I?
I had not seen it before "anonymous" posted it here and I am thankful that I have the information.
ReplyDeleteThe remarks Trainer has made are sure of a negative tone.
I wonder if the Councillors and Staff councur with her comments?
RE: Donna comments:
ReplyDelete"Donna Pitcher said...
I have said in previous comments that this blog was about "due process", not saying that anyone one party was innocent or guilty.
I don't think it really matters where I received the information about the "verdict is in", but one thing for sure for me is that if this information is bogus, I won't rely or trust that source again will I?"
I will gamble that your information is not correct. You have one side of the story and then there is the truth. I will wait for that and I will be interested in your comments at that point.
My guess is that the only one working for Haldimand County elected or bureaucrat that probably should no be fired is the newly hired CAO since he hasn't had enough time to screw up.
ReplyDeleteFire them all including council and start from scratch. They are a useless bunch.
And by the way while your at it fire the OPP as well.
I find it still pretty funny that people moan & groan at the fact Mayor Trainer is Mayor.
ReplyDeleteTheir is a reason for it people, SHE WAS VOTED IN.
Now can the bashing stop? Wonder how each & everyone of you would do under a microscope> Be glad your not!
The majority did not vote her in. The majority put their vote on Corbett and Bergstrand. Trainer is incompetent, IMHO.
ReplyDeleteShe is an embarrassment and has her foot in her mouth more than not, IMHO.
She is constantly in trouble and doing nothing to put our County ahead, IMHO.
Yes, she is voted in and there is nothing that can be done about that until another 3 + years. So we are stuck with her.
Donna, why didn't Trainer advise her lawyer that she did not want to settle and then make sure it went to the courts. Could it be that she was advised by her lawyer to settle because there was no chance to that the assistant would not win? If I was not guilty of something I would have pushed it right to the limit and made the plaintiff pay the costs. It would be interesting to see if the County and Trainer had the same position of defense evidence in reply to the assistant's claims. My guess is most likely not.
ReplyDeleteLike one of the previous comments, I feel it was a "slam dunk."
Also like one of the other previous comments , why are you the one that is getting Trainer's message out? Is Trainer trying to do damage control? If the so called `4 lawyers ``decided in the best interests of all to settle, there must have been a lot against Trainer that could be proved in a court of law, wouldn't you think. My guess would be that `4 lawyers``
concluded that the assistant was most creditable in her case and Trainer was not.
Donna said:
ReplyDeleteI have not put my stamp of approval on anything. What I have stated is that there was no due process. If I was being sued, I would want the opportunity to defend myself in a court of law! So why did the county not defend itself? The Mayor was being sued for $500,000.00 dollars, while the county was being sued for the remainder of the 3.1 Million dollars if my memory is correct.
Sorry Donna.....Your memory is not correct. The amount was "Lawsuit of 1.375 million dollars filed on May 8, 2007 against Mayor Marie Trainer ." Donna, you really need to do your homework.
"I find it still pretty funny that people moan & groan at the fact Mayor Trainer is Mayor.
ReplyDeleteTheir is a reason for it people, SHE WAS VOTED IN.
Now can the bashing stop? Wonder how each & everyone of you would do under a microscope> Be glad your not"!
I couldn't agree with you more on that statement!
Just an update on the settlement.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Mayor Trainer, "all" the money that was paid out in the settlement was against "Haldimand County" and court costs. Not a penny of this settlement was for the "$500,000.00" that was against the Mayor for Harassment.
According to Mayor Trainer she had given the papers this information but it was not printed.
I beg to differ, . two lawyers settled on behalf of Trainer, one for the County and one for the assistant, plus Insurance lawyers.
ReplyDeleteYou are right not a penny from Trainer's pockets because there was doubt that she would pay anyway. She is never accountable to anything that she does. She did not even show up for the mediation, if she was not guilty why not show up and face the accuser and push it to the court process. IMHO, nobody believed Trainer and thought it would be cheaper to settle out of court. Trainer does the crime and does not pay a dime IMHO.
The County paid $45,000.00 for the contructive dismissal portion of the lawsuit. The balance of the settlement for defamation of character, harassment and slander against Trainer herself for her conduct.
Her insurance representative settled on her behalf in order to keep it out of court. So, the fact that the taxpayers are footing the bill for the entire settlement by no means indicates that she is not guilty.
Thanks, anonymous for sharing. I also have heard contrary to what Mayor Trainer is spewing. She is always trying to justify her negative actions.
ReplyDeleteI sure hope that the County did not pay for Mayor Trainer's legal bills as well as the settlement fees. I question why she had to have two lawyers? I understand one was from Hamilton and one from London.
I understand her lawyers were directed to settle. Who directs her lawyers, only Mayor Trainer. She always sees herself as the victim, the whole world must be wrong and she is the only one who is right?
Donna, you really need to get ALL the facts not just what Mayor Trainer spews your way. When are you going to see the light where Trainer is concerned and see authentic paper trail?
In my opinion, Mayor Trainer knows that you are out and about and that you are an avenue of getting her information out there. Again Donna my advice to you is, do your homework.