Q. Are you surprised by the $474,000.00 loss registered by the Hamilton Waterfront Trust (HWT) for the year 2011, particularly in light of the HWT promising a surplus as late as November 2011? Will you be probing this matter?
A. As always, thank you for the email inquiry. Happy Canada Day to everyone. My preference is to have all the facts in front of me, with a report from HWT, it’s auditor and city finance staff at a GIC committee of council . Discussion at a GIC will be the appropriate forum to allow all councillors the opportunity to publicly probe deeper, debate and decide a prudent course of action on behalf of our taxpayers. Our waterfront has improved greatly through HWT projects with the skating rink, coffee shop, trail improvements and new restaurants to come. I do not believe it serves anyones interests to speculate or jump to conclusions without all the facts on the table. We do need to keep a sharp eye on taxpayers money and how it is spent. If further investigation is needed, with Council direction it will be done. If not, the public will have heard the details at a public GIC meeting and we can move on. I have a great deal of confidence in Cr. Jackson, Clr Collins and Clr. Farr, who along with the rest of City Council will address any concerns with-in the HWT operations and project processes.
Kind regards
Councillor Judi Partridge
Hamilton Ward 15 Flamborough
Best answer yet.
ReplyDeleteBravo Councillor Partridge!
ReplyDeleteI do wish that we can receive all of the facts, with transparency and FULL TRUTH.
This should be the opportunity ~to understand why other Councillors have not responded to this question~ with the same kind of respect and class that you have!
I'll accept that answer, for now.
ReplyDeleteI still fear that this will be swept under the rug, like the last 10 years have been.
To all councillors.....we are watching
Ms. Partridge. Thanks for showing everyone that there is such a thing as a respectful response. I am trusting you to ask questions for us and determine if there is need for an investigation.
ReplyDeleteThank-you
Same questions asked of Merulla. Totally different attitude and response. Thanks Judi. You're doing a great job. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteWhoa, before everyone (see above) heaps accolades on the councillor she didn't answer the question. Was she surprised? Yes or No!
ReplyDeleteHer response was the same as all the others only with a little more class. They are all using the same tact. GIC, GIC, GIC and then I'm guessing summer vacations, summer vacations, summer vacations.
Please don't let this slip from the radar, I have a feeling a few heads could roll.
yep another non answer from Partridge. She must be taking lessons from the others.
DeleteBest political answer yet, though still a non-answer. To suggest otherwise is not accurate. Sam did not provide a good political answer. He did, however, suggest GIC as the beat forum, although not in the same way, nor with the same tone, as Councillor Partridge.
ReplyDeleteCouncillor Partridge says she has confidence in all the players mentioned so far, the very same players that have caused the rest of us much concern. As I said, the best political answer yet. Let's not kid ourselves, nothing, repeat nothing, has changed.
Clr. Partridge didn't answer the "Are you surprised..." question; she's a smart cookie, how did she miss it?
ReplyDeleteCollins, Jackson, Plessl, Merulla, and now Partridge, all seemingly able-minded adults who, even collectively, cannot answer questions posed to them. If it isn't intentional, what is it?
Funny how the Hamiltonian only asked the question once to her, yet if you look at Coucillor Merulla first email he answered
ReplyDelete"I've informed you that I would more than willing to champion your cause as a delegation at GIC thereby ensuring I represent my constituents openly and transparently. Please forward me a request so to appear as a delegation so I can formally get to the bottom of your questions.
Sounds like he has answered there question before....
She didn't answer the question either. I don't know why she is being praised
DeleteThat's a fair answer Judy. Now the question is, will everything be disclosed, and will each coun councillor be as deligent as you and a few others in aksing the tough questions to ensure that our tax dollars are spent properly. I plan on attending this meeting, if citizens are premitted. I have been following this story and I'm very interested in knowing what is going on. I have a gut feeling that there is something going on behind the scenes that some councillors and the wft folks do not want the public to know about.
ReplyDeleteDoug R.
All she did was spin it around and again did not answer the question. Also we have not heard anything from the Councillors of Ward 11 and Ward 10
ReplyDeleteActually thay both are never on this site at all. And they never have an opinion unless it is in their ward, but still never go on this site. Do they not realize that by being a Councillor you also have a responsibilty to all the residents of the city.
Please note: The Hamiltonian did not ask the councillors from Wards 10 or 11 about this issue. Any councillor is invited to post at any time, on any topic on The Hamiltonian.
DeleteThis line bothers me "I have a great deal of confidence in Cr. Jackson, Clr Collins and Clr. Farr, who along with the rest of City Council will address any concerns with-in the HWT operations and project processes."
ReplyDeleteWhy can't a councilor ever answer a question straight up without making a commercial for themselves or other councillors?
Now that's professional and respectful reply. Didn't answer the question BUT provided a reason. What more can you ask for? I hope The Hamiltonian follows up with Partridge following the GIC meeting. Merulla should take some notes and learns some manners from this lady with class. I'm sorry, but I still can't get over Merulla's behaviour the other day in response to the same question from this very same source. I look forward to the outcome of GIC.
ReplyDeleteKelly Wright
Will Councillor Partridge be raising the issue at the next GIC herself or is it still up to the citizens of Hamilton to apply for delegation status so that our concerns will be heard and investigated?
ReplyDelete