AMO’s Past President Doug Reycraft got an earful from Owen Sound Council.
AMO’s Past President Doug Reycraft and Executive Director Pat Vanini were invited to council to answer questions regarding court security costs.
Reycraft says he agrees that court security costs shouldn’t be placed on the backs of taxpayers.
The McGuinty government announced it will upload court security costs and prisoner transportation costs from municipalities — but the province won’t pick up the total cost until 2018.
The province negotiated with AMO and the City of Toronto at the Provincial-Municipal Fiscal Review and developed a six year plan.
Councillor Bill Twaddle feels the AMO members who attended the Fiscal Review are not affected by court security — and didn’t push the issue.
Twaddle says the 20 thousand residents who pay taxes have basically been told to suck it up by the Minister.
Councillor Deb Haswell says council needs to redirect their anger to Queen’s Park, and not AMO.
Council unanimously voted to renew their annual AMO membership at a cost of nearly 5 thousand dollars.
They also requested that AMO continue to pressure the provincial government to speed up the process.
Reycraft says he will meet with AMO President Peter Hume and the Board of Director’s this week to discuss the cities’ disappointment with the Association.
