Letter to the Editor - Councillor Kett

Letter to the Editor

Just wanted to thank Howard Danson for bringing the illegal Kawartha Lakes expense compensation for Councillor Kett to the forefront.

Councillor Kett indicated he wasn't aware that he was being paid by Kawartha and Scugog Township, it automatically went into his bank account. Well, I'm pretty sure that he had to submit the mileage claim and his bank account information for that to happen. Must be nice to not have to wonder why your bank account doesn't balance for years.

I think I will be speaking for the "silent" majority in saying it just boggles our minds to think that Councillor Kett thinks he should be paid mileage from his home to the Township office where his job is. I know what my employer would say if I tried to claim it...not happening! That taxpayers money, should also be returned but not over a 6 month period.

Then, of course, he won't admit he and Councillor Back were found GUILTY by an independent Integrity Commissioner H.G. Elston. Just because a different Integrity Commissioner "commented" that they wouldn't have found them guilty doesn't mean anything. Then he wanted over 30K$ to be spent by taxpayers to investigate. Seriously?? Fortunately, no one else on Council would support this ludicrous request. You need to own it Councillor Kett, plain and simple.

It is pretty sad that now the Mayor has to spend time reviewing expense reports of councillors to ensure that all compensation is legal.

So we can't help but wonder why Councillor Kett's cohort, Councillor Back wants any and all expenses of every person/department investigated by an auditor. Perhaps she's hoping that the probable price tag of 10's of thousands of taxpayers dollars will be enough to stop an audit being done of Councillor Kett's expenses... just wondering.

When a councillor's expenses are nearly twice as much as the Mayor's there is definitely cause for concern and Councillor Kett's expenses for the past 3 years should be audited. Maybe he should also stop being a chauffeur, just saying...

This Council also wants to bump Spring Blvd (on the Island) up on the road paving list, even though it doesn't meet the criteria to do so. There are far worse roads in this Township that should be done before Spring Blvd. However, it is in Councillor Kett's neck of the woods... just wondering...

So we have had over 300K$ of taxpayers money wasted on high-speed internet access for the Island, as a private company WISP has done that. Over 20K$ to paint the Old Mill red for the PanAm games photo op.

Over 27K$ lost due to the Fairground Festival on Canada Day being a bust, which by the way Councillor Kett said "the plug will be pulled if it looks like it will cost taxpayers money", of course, that didn't happen. Just hope they listened to the recommendation they NOT be involved in any festival directly next year.
Just how many street lights, sidewalks, roads, etc. could have been repaired with all that wasted taxpayer money.

This council was elected on a platform of saving taxpayers money and being mindful of what it is spent on. Doesn't appear to be happening.

To think we have another year to go with them, too bad we don't have a "recall" button in place. I bet there would be a rush to hit that button really hard... for some of this Council.

Irene N. Thompson
Port Perry, Ontario