Hampstead council highlights

By Joel Goldenberg, October 17th, 2012

Questions asked at Hampstead council meetings must be of interest to the community in general, town mayor William Steinberg told resident Stephanie Brenhouse at last week's public meeting.
Brenhouse came to council to point out that she had received a permit to do a small extension onto her driveway, but that a contractor hired by the town to do work on the sidewalk in relation to her work made a mistake. She asked the town to resolve the situation before her own contractor does the paving work on her property.
Steinberg said a council meeting “is not really the appropriate venue for specific individual issues. The best thing to do is drop me an e-mail.”
Councillor Michael Goldwax disagreed that a council meeting was not the right venue for the resident's question. “Not everybody in town knows the portfolios of the councillors and if you do not know who to speak to, coming here tonight to ask a question - absolutely.”
Steinberg clarified his comment. “The rules of the council meeting clearly state that we deal with questions of interest to the general public. That's why I said this isn't the appropriate venue.” 
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Hampstead council unanimously passed a resolution last week congratulating Prime Minister Stephen Harper for recently being named World Statesman of the Year by the American inter-faith group Appeal of Conscience Foundation.
The resolution points out that the foundation was founded by Rabbi Arthur Schneier, an activist for religious freedom and human rights, in 1965.
“The World Statesman Award is meant to honour heads of state who have exemplified their commitment to freedom, human rights, peace and respect for religious and ethnic diversity, and endeavour to advance these essential democratic values on the international scene,” Mayor William Steinberg read. “By accepting this award, Prime Minister Stephen Harper joins the ranks of world leaders such as French president Nicolas Sarkozy, former British prime minister Gordon Brown and German chancellor Angela Merkel.”
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Some Hampstead councillors clashed last week after a 4-2 vote to reimburse Councillor Bonnie Feigenbaum $1,100 for representing the town at a board meeting of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in Ottawa, taking place next month.
Feigenbaum, and Councillors Harvey Shaffer, Michael Goldwax and Abe Gonshor voted in favour, while Councillors Jack Edery and Leon Elfassy voted against. At a vote earlier this year, council voted 3-3 to reimburse Feigenbaum $1,500 for attending two FCM committee meetings, but a tie vote means a resolution does not pass. At that point, Gonshor was not at the council meeting, Shaffer voted against at that time and Steinberg voted as well, in favour of the reimbursement.
A delegation of council members from different municipalities do regularly go to annual FCM conventions - a much larger affair.
Feigenbaum is a member of the FCM committees dealing with increasing women's participation in municipal government; social and economic development; and municipal finance and intergovernmental arrangements. She is also one of two anglophones on the Quebec caucus, and participates in strategic planning for the FCM, advocacy days and conference planning.
Elfassy explained his opposing vote, saying Councillor Jack Edery had provided a lengthy explanation of the town's financial situation for 2011 that same night. “Questions were raised by residents who care about their tax money,” he said. “I think it is really deplorable that council has approved to spend taxpayer's money on an item that does not benefit - at all - any of the taxpayers, including myself as a resident, never mind a councillor.
Gonshor disagreed with Elfassy. “I feel what my fellow councillor said is out of line for someone who has put in tons of work - Councillor Feigenbaum. She's been part of this organization and attending committee meetings. Money has come in to benefit the residents of Hampstead. I feel it's justified that she attend - she belongs to four committees.” He also told Feigenbaum to “keep up the good work.”
Elfassy insisted on replying to Gonshor, “Because he's ignorant. He doesn't even know what we're talking about.”
Feigenbaum then replied to Elfassy. “At this point, the only person who's ignorant is Councillor Elfassy...”
Feigenbaum said Elfassy does not understand how the FCM functions. “Ten years ago, there were no federal transfer payments to municipalities, and the GST rebate has brought the town almost $160,000 negotiated by the FCM, the Gas Tax fund- $433,000. The past ones have nothing to do with me, but the future ones coming up that will be negotiated and lobbied for in Ottawa, are what I'm prepared to do. There will be 80 of us there, and if every municipality takes the attitude that Councillor Elfassy would like to take, there would be no people there to negotiate this. n