Tag Archives: Mayor Cliff Barwick

08.26.10
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False alarm on boil water advisory proves public well protected – Elgin St. Thomas Public Health

It’s been a week since the boil water advisory and Elgin St. Thomas Public Health has finally checked in with their post mortem on the course of events.

Monday at city hall, Mayor Cliff Barwick stressed the city notified the health unit at 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 19. He went on to note, “Now, at that point, our obligations to notify the health unit had ended. From then on, the ball was in the court of the health unit, and we will do everything we possibly can to assist them.”

In her media release issued today, Aug. 26, Laura McLachlin, director of the health protection department, advises “the health unit is not responsible for notifying users of the drinking water system. That remains the responsibility of the water system operator working for the municipality.”

That is the case, but as Barwick emphatically pointed out at city hall, “And this is perhaps where some improvements in protocol could be made.”

A review of the role of all partners can’t come soon enough.

Here is the full media release from Elgin St. Thomas Public Health

08.25.10
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The boil water advisory – the next step for Central Elgin


Central Elgin Mayor Tom Marks bristled each time St. Thomas Mayor Cliff Barwick referred to his municipality and Southwold as clients and not neighbours during Monday’s post water advisory media conference. Water wasn’t the only thing boiling during the 24 hours the advisory was in effect. Marks joins Barwick in calling for a review of procedures, most especially communication, in the wake of the largest boil water advisory ever issued in the area. Here are comments from Marks release on Aug. 25 Boil Water Advisory The Next Step

04.24.10
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Fate of the $40,000 city grant nothing but a kerfuffle

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In what surely has to be one of the oddest television interview segments in some time, Dan Reith, host of Politically Speaking, sat opposite Mark Cosens earlier this month and deftly forced the mayoral wannabe into damage control mode.

The bombshell question from Reith that had Cosens backpedaling furiously came right out of left field, as follows.

“Yourself, or a company controlled by you, received a $40,000 community improvement loan from the city which, subsequent to the bankruptcy filing, still remains outstanding and owing to the city. Is that true?”

What followed is nothing short of a Gray Line Mystery Tour, starting with this opening rebuttal from Cosens.

“That is something I’m really not able to talk to in a sense it wasn’t a decision I made. It was a decision made by the city, without my involvement in that decision and I don’t think that’s something that can be held against me for running for mayor because of that.

“It’s something that hasn’t been fully disclosed at this point in time either. So, that may get cleared up as well. At this point in time, it’s hard to say what that might do to my bid.”
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01.04.10
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Approaching the zenith: Mayor Cliff Barwick to seek re-election in October municipal vote

Posted by Ian:

While he has yet to file his nomination papers, Mayor Cliff Barwick took the opportunity Monday night to wrap up his New Year’s address to council with a call to city voters to put their trust in him for one more term of office.

“As I approach the zenith of my political career,” said Barwick, “I earnestly believe my civic duty will be fulfilled and personally complete,to serve just one more term as head of council. To that end for just one more time I will be asking for the trust and confidence of the public.”

So, just four days into the new year, the mayoral race has its first entry, as a result putting the onus on challengers to declare their intentions sooner, rather than later.
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01.02.10
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The good ship St. Thomas doesn’t need two captains

Posted by Ian: Be it an ego the size of a Sterling truck or an all-pervasive paranoia, Mayor Cliff Barwick says this town ain’t big enough for his worship and a CAO. However watch for him to try and back-peddle by attempting to promote Wendell Graves to the position of city manager. Don’t be fooled … it’s not the same position, nor does it pack the same authority and stature. The mayor’s full year-end interview with Times-Journal reporter Eric Bunnell follows …

Cliff Barwick is a mayor with a secret.

With little more than 10 months remaining in his four-year term, Barwick says he decided two weeks ago whether to seek re-election on Oct. 25.

But the 65-year-old head of city council isn’t yet saying what that decision is.
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05.13.09
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Mayor Cliff Barwick’s trip to Japan resulted in … ?

From T-J reader Chuck Siple:

I have gone through many online categories, but I don’t see anything as to the results of Mayor Cliff Barwick’s trip to Japan. It would be interesting to know what contacts were made, subjects covered and timelines as to future trade possibilities. This is similar to the way businesses evaluate the success of sending their respresentatives to trade shows and seminars. It provides metrics by which to judge the merits of the activity and their relative worth to the business (in this case the citizens of St. Thomas).

If you could, would you please let me know where I could find this online.

Respectfully,
Chuck Siple
Debary, Fl

04.22.09
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Required viewing for Mayor Cliff Barwick

Thanks to Richard Patton of Mississauga for comments and link to a wonderful video with Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion and Rick Mercer.

I returned home Friday.My laptop computer was fritzed while in Florida, so I had to get up to speed.I got caught up on city hall politics & then receive the attached Rick Mercer video.
Worhtwhile seeing & remembering for future upcoming elections
The mayor of St. Thomas should see this.
May entice him to resign so the city can get with it! (instead of wasting time and taxpayers` money travelling to Japan, it would have been much wiser to have travelled to Pittsburg, PA. to see how that city has recovered from the loss of it`s industrial base to a booming entity.
I remember (when moving to Mississauga in the mid 1960`s). it was an area of small villages and towns. Shows what competent leadership can do.
Watch video

01.20.09
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Bill Sandison address to St. Thomas council, Jan. 19-09

I appreciated what little time I was given this evening to share the findings from the 2008 Ontario Municipality Comparison. Unfortunately I was only able to get halfway though my deputation, so I have attached the full transcript below for your information. I sensed that the results were unwelcomed by the chair and it may be worthwhile for you to watch the December broadcast of Politically Speaking regarding the $80,000 as I did not invent that number.It is not my credibility that is in question.

I was not advised how much time I had to make the deputation, but sense it was less than 10 minutes. I was not aware there was such little interest in the facts, but sometimes the truth is just too difficult to face.

If you have any questions, please give me a call at 519-207-0819.

Bill Sandison

2008 Ontario Municipality Comparison Study
Population Range 30,000 to 45,000

I would like to thank council for allowing me to make a deputation this evening on the results of a study conducted through December and January in conjunction with Ontario Municipalities within a population range of 30,000 to 45,000 people.
I would also like to thank those in attendance and those watching at home for sharing their time this evening to listen to my deputation.
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