"ALAN MARSHALL IN GENERAL, INCLUDING HIS BLOG AND HIS CONDUCT IN MEETINGS"

Truly amazing how this senior citizen and his five year old Blog has terrified the professional liars out there. The above quote in the title is from a five page "meeting minutes" of a private, by invitation only bitch session on April 9/15 organized by Mayor Sandy Shantz. She has really turned out to be something special. Special as in what a piece of work.

This "bitch session" aka Sandy's teaparty aka "pretend stakeholders meeting" was arranged by Sandy for the purpose of dragging in other third parties and attempting to display a widely held view that CPAC has serious problems of their own making. The problem of course is that only one attendee out of seventeen, Dwight Este of Chemtura Canada, has attended CPAC meetings faithfully for the last four years. Next up would be Councillor Mark Bauman who has attended reasonably regularily for the last three years. Finally Susan Bryant and Pat McLean boycotted the first 1 1/2 - 2 years and then attended several but not remotely all remaining meetings on an alternating basis. Hence possibly they attended seven or eight meetings each out of the last fourty meetings. It is my opinion that five people out of the seventeen present did all the lying indicated in the "meeting minutes".

Page two item 3. of the meeting minutes is labelled "Roadblocks to Progress". A more honest title would be "Roadblocks to Political Progress". Under that more accurate second title I am listed as per today's above Blog Headline as the third last bullet over on page three. Clearly the various parties represented in this meeting including three levels of government (municipal, regional & provincial), GRCA and three members of the public were searching for a political way out of the mess that decades of Chemtura/M.O.E. obfuscation and deception have gotten them into. That said it is quite possible that one of the three members of the public simply got invited to Sandy's teaparty not knowing the true agenda.

It is meetings like this that indicate to me why private meetings regarding public matters are wrong. Private meetings are the location where exemplary professional liars thrive. They are their sandboxes where little girls and boys can indulge themselves in their favourite backroom gossip and lying about others behind their backs and avoid the scrutiny and accountability of both the public and the media.

Regarding "conduct in meetings" that would be my persistent habit of holding Chemtura/Ministry of Environment liars accountable. It's really very straightforward. They lie and I call them on it with the facts. Funny how this irritates the hell out of them. Funny how they don't produce specific examples of my "conduct". Funny how only the dishonest, deceptive folks with financial skin in the game are so incensed to have someone with 25 years first hand experience holding them accountable. Everybody else are either bought and paid for or reasonably new, hence they expect to be able to bafflegab them. Even that isn't working any longer with the current CPAC.

LYING & DISINFORMATION ARE A MAYOR'S BEST FRIEND

Today's Elmira Independent carrys the following article by Gail Martin titled "CPAC, Councillors share concerns about committee impasse". If the destruction of public consultation here in Elmira is a done deal as seems likely, then it is best epitomized by the neverending absence of Councillor Murray Martin. Not a single attendance at a CPAC meeting, to the best of my knowledge, over the last twenty-five years. All the other Councillors showed up for the October and April CPAC meetings except Murray. Three of them showed up for the November meeting not Murray. Mayor Shantz showed up in January, no Murray. That said guess how Murray will vote regarding the Mayor's CPAC reforms which I'm sure she will present as improvements, greater cooperation ie. thicker & deeper. You got it, Murray will vote as he's always voted and that will be to Chemtura's and the Mayor's great joy. Well Murray at least I can't call you a hypocrite.

The biggest disinformation (bullshit) from Mayor Shantz occurred when she said "I'm having flashbacks to four years ago, a little bit, with the previous CPAC, and everything coming to a head and stepping aside.". Nothing came to a head four years ago. The "stepping aside" is weird as the only vague truth to that would be the old CPAC (Pat, Susan, Sandra, Ron, Gerry, Ken etc.) withdrawing their Applications in perhaps February after they figured out the obvious that none of them were getting reappointed. Interestingly I had suggested to Mayor Cowan that at least a couple of them such as Gerry H.and Ken D. could make good CPAC members. Hell I even suggested Sandra B. but thankfully Todd said no. Mayor Shantz's comments here about the old CPAC are bizarre and nonsensical.

Mayor Shantz then further babbles about "I know that Chemtura and MOE have at times, in the history (of CPAC) stepped aside and there's been all kind of talk like this.". What is this nonsense? Did Sandy mean there's been all kinds of talk ABOUT this? Did she mean that Chemtura and the MOE threatened to do this ie. "talk like this"? As far as those two groups "at times" steppping aside that is more disinformation. Chemtura alone did it in 1999. Mayor Sandy Shantz your ignorance is just plain appalling. Get your facts straight at least before you pull the plug on the best CPAC there has ever been. Neither Chemtura nor the MOE have ever threatened to boycott or walk away. Both times for Chemtura they've just done it without a word to CPAC. Same with the M.O.E. this past November.

Mayor Shantz admits to meeting privately with the M.O.E. and Chemtura after a grand total of one CPAC meeting in November (2014) was missed. She and Councillor Mark Bauman admitted this prior to the January 2015 CPAC meeting. Now at the end of April she and three other Councillors showed up at CPAC's express invitation. None of them were prepared to speak and indeed expressed their reluctance to do so right at the start. This obviously was not the meeting between CPAC and the Council that CPAC had been promised both verbally and in the April 9/15 "meeting minutes". How strange.

Mayor Sandy Shantz also takes bullshit to dizzing heights when she states "...what is wrong with this whole process that we have to keep doing this over and over again?". Doing what "over and over again?". This is the first time ever a Council has sat down and solicited dirt and filth and lies about their own appointed committee of Council. This is the first time ever a Council have indulged in a smear campaign against CPAC. The MOE and Chemtura have been doing it for the last four years only. Guess why? Because this CPAC are the most savy, honest and smart. CPAC and the truth have intimidated the professional liars and they've waited for a new Council filled with old reliable, pro Chemtura, pro status quo, pro MOE/provincial government Councillors to pull their bacon out of the fire.

LAST NIGHT'S STRAIGHTFORWARD, BLUNT DELEGATION TO COUNCIL REGARDING CPAC

Last evening at 6 pm. I was a Delegate to the Woolwich Committee of the Whole. I spoke to last Thursday evenings public CPAC meeting which was attended by five of the six Councillors. Details of that meeting are here in the Advocate last Friday and Saturday. I repeated both Councillor Bauman's quote at CPAC about them being a "talented group of people" as well as mentioning that their qualifications and credentials left mine and all of Councils' in the dust.

The last paragraph of my Delegation pulled no punches. Here it is in it's entirety:

"This Council and or your representatives (Mark & Sandy) have thrown CPAC under the bus. The wheels of the bus include Chemtura, the Ministry of Environment and others with equally self-interested motives (Pat & Susan). The distribution, on Township letterhead, of the April 9/15 "meeting minutes" directly and dishonestly blamed CPAC for thirteen different "Roadblocks to Progress". Five of you saw and heard CPAC's professional presentation on downstream DDT last Thursday evening yet your Township Minutes question CPAC's "qualifications and confidence to provide technical feedback to Chemtura and the MOE". Those Minutes include alleged solutions which will gut true, honest public consultation. They are the blueprint Chemtura requires in order to protect and insulate them from public scrutiny and accountability. You Woolwich Council have a simple decision. Support the CPAC that your predecessor Council appointed and supported for four years or jump in bed with Chemtura. It is that black and white despite the posturing and obfuscations in the April 9 minutes."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE ELMIRA ADVOCATE - FIVE YEARS OF TRUTH IN WOOLWICH TOWNSHIP

O.K. so this Friday is actually the five year anniversary of informing truths and debunking myths and propaganda regarding politicians, polluters and other assorted riffraff. The focus has obviously been on all things environmental and five years ago that included gravel pit issues in West Montrose, Woolwich Bio-En, Chemtura, emerald ash borer, the Woolwich landfill off-site plume, Regional tap water and further gravel pit issues in Conestogo and Winterbourne. Sometimes included were postings related to climate change, air pollution, land development and wildlife.

In regards to Chemtura I've posted extensively on the alleged cleanup of the Elmira Aquifers, the Chemtura Public Advisory Committee (CPAC), Dense Non aqueous Phase Liquids (DNAPLS), Dioxins, DDT, Agent Orange and a host of other nasties. Ministry of Environment corruption, Chemtura hypocrisy and deception and the political situation which fosters and enhances both has been regularily covered. Suppressed documents, private meetings and co-opted citizens have all been explored in these "pages".

Readership according to my Statcounter program includes Chemtura usually five days per week, the Ministry of Environment according to their own statements, community colleges, multiple universities, Toronto Star, Globe & Mail, CBC, CTV, City of Waterloo, private individuals usually from Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woolwich Township and more. Routinely I have readers from Truro Nova Scotia, California and other U.S. states. Occasionally I even get visits from Russia and Europe.

All in all it's been a blast. Locally the Elmira Advocate is both famous and infamous depending upon the integrity of the commenter. Chemtura, M.O.E. and their friends unsurprisingly despise and loathe the Advocate. Certain politicians read it regularily and also either enjoy it or despise it. I receive phone calls from across Ontario from readers who either have information for me or simply want to thank me for my efforts. I thank all my readers, even the guilty ones. Keep on enjoying.

SCOTT HAHN & MECAP - MORE THAN ONE ISSUE?

Today's hearing before the Municipal Election Compliance Audit Committee (MECAC) lasted an hour and a quarter. The seven member committee consists of some names from past Regional and municipal councils including Carl Zehr, Grace Sudden and possibly Larry Aberle unless I have him mixed up with a different Aberle. The others included Murray Stoddart, Robert Williams, Mr. Jutzi and a Kevin possibly Brombick?

Delegates included Mayor Sandy Shantz who informed us as to what a swell fellow Scott Hahn is. To the contrary were Dr. Dan Holt, Richard Clausi and Lisa MacDonald. Mayor Shantz's comments spoke to Scott's character including his hard work on Council. The other three spoke to the facts regarding the clear and obvious violation of the Elections Act via the incomplete election expenses report that Scott filed.

The hearing will be reconvened in a week after the committee have had an in camera meeting with the township's lawyer. I believe that that is totally inappropriate for two reasons namely it's in camera and secondly it is the Township's lawyer. Those optics both stink and look bad. This is ridiculous in that it is a private citizen who has brought forth the complaint yet he and the public will be excluded from evidence being given to the Audit Committee. The facts of the matter are not in dispute as Scott has quite forthrightly admitted that he did not include the costs or donaters of his brochures and signs. The next step should have been the Audit Committee sending this matter to an auditor to determine if there was a contravention of the law. This has already been admitted to. After this point I see things getting difficult.

The vote to defer the decision whether to bring in an auditor was six to one. The one got it right in that this hearing is not about Scott's character or whether or not he intentionally is trying to hide donations to his campaign. Today's hearing was to determine whether the Committee had sufficient evidence to advance the complaint to an auditor who would make the formal decision whether the Act had been violated or not. If the auditor said yes then the Audit Committee would decide whether or not to forward the file on in order to commence a legal proceeding.

I listened very carefully to Scott's testimony. I found him honest and forthcoming. I did not hear any waffling or excuse making. He goofed, he knows it and he admits it. For me the major thing left is to see the invoices proving that his parents and in laws paid for his brochures and signs. If those are produced FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE then the auditor's decision obviously finding the admitted contraventions will precede the Audit Committee decision whether or not to commence a legal proceeding. If Scott continues on what I so far see as an honest course he will likely come through this unscathed.

MORE ON THURSDAY NIGHT'S CPAC MEETING

After Graham's presentation, Vivienne, Ron and Sebastian had questions regarding DDTs effects on both humans and wildlife. DDT is a particularily nasty endocrine disrupter and it biomagnifies up the food chain. Also most alarming is that DDT breaks down into DDE and DDD; hence finding DDT is an indication of newer contamination getting into the sediments of the Canagagigue Creek. Dr. Dan Holt mentioned the M.O.E.s recent response indicating that the 2014 sampling results from the "Gig" are confirming "legacy" contamination by DDT. This "legacy" term is the M.O.E. trying to pretend that these sediments have been in place for decades not moving each spring during the annual snowmelt and runoff.

The M.O.E. have also advised CPAC in writing that Financial Assurance is not a subject for discussion by CPAC. Really, well how about bald faced lying and corruption instead? Many companies including others in Elmira have had to provide Financial Assurance so why not Chemtura Canada? Is that another backroom deal with them?

Dr. Dan Holt again reiterated that to date neither the M.O.E. nor Chemtura have indicated any reason whatsoever as to why they are not attending public CPAC meetings. They've been doing all their lying to Mayor Sandy Shantz and she is pretending to swallow it hook, line and sinker.

Councillor Mark Bauman as usual securely had his feet on both sides of the fence. He advised all that CPAC are a "talented group of people". Well thank you Mark, that is true. That begs the question as to why you would attend a biased bitch session on April 9/15 and not publicly denunciate the hatchet job done on the very same CPAC in the meeting minutes.

I believe that it was Ron Campbell who pointed out that no sooner did Peter Gray of MTE show up at CPAC on October 29, 2014 than Chemtura and the M.O.E. departed. They have had over six months to hit the reset button behind closed doors with Woolwich Township officials and that's exactly what they have done.

Sebastian advised Larry Shantz and the rest of us that the former Township Clerk, Christine Broughton had made it very clear to CPAC that they were not to meet privately to talk CPAC business with anybody. I was also of that same opinion as per Township CAO David Brenneman on a couple of occasions. This was in response to Larry's question as to why CPAC refused to attend the April 9/15 pretend stakeholders meeting.

Dr. Dan disputed Mayor Shantz's version that two CPAC members were invited. The meeting minutes tend to back Dr. Dan's version as they have regrets from DR. Dan only, not from any other CPAC member.

Sandy kept asking CPAC what the Township should do and they kept telling her and then she kept ignoring their input as if they hadn't clearly answered her. Vivienne made it clear that Council should quit pussyfooting around and support CPAC wholeheartedly. Sebastian referred to the arrogance of Chemtura and the M.O.E. refusing to acknowledge CPAC as having any legitimacy and all they wanted was a compliant CPAC. Finally he told Sandy that the township needs to get on board with CPAC. Dr. Dan advised her that CPAC are volunteers still doing their job while Chemtura and the M.O.E. have abandoned public consultation. CPAC are not the problem so go pick on the other two parties. Finally Richard Clausi spelled it out very clearly even to those who do not listen. CPAC are too savy, too smart and not compliant enough for Chemtura and the M.O.E.. Council must not capitulate to that pair. Council must support this CPAC and Council must insist that M.O.E./Chemtura attend.

This is not rocket science Sandy. Get out of bed with Chemtura/M.O.E. and start supporting this CPAC and all Woolwich residents, not just the big shots.

OPTICS NOT SUBSTANCE, HYPOCRISY NOT HONESTY, CPAC TOO SAVY, TOO SMART, NOT COMPLIANT ENOUGH

The above title to today's posting is an amalgamation of three citizens comments. The first one is from CPAC member Sebastian Seibel-Achenbach in referring to both Chemtura and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. The third one is from SWAT member Richard Clausi's Public Forum comments to two Woolwich Councillors and CPAC plus guests last evening. The middle one (2nd) is from myself this morning and refers to the remaining two Councillors last evening who attended the entire public CPAC meeting from 6 until 9 pm..

The first half at least of the meeting in Council Chambers dealt with a number of environmental issues surrounding the Chemtura site here in Elmira, Ontario. These included an excellent presentation from CPAC member Graham Chevreau who discussed in detail the detections of DDT downstream in the creek and how they grossly exceeded the M.O.E.'s health criteria. After his presentation all the CPAC members asked him questions relating to his research and presentation. Bluntly put Graham's professionalism throughout put the lie to Mayor Shantz's April 9/15 "meeting notes" which falsely claimed that CPAC does not have the "qualifications and confidence to provide technical feedback to Chemtura and the M.O.E.". Furthermore I believe that the honest, open minded Councillors present were blown out of the water by the expertise and professionalism displayed during the technical portions of last night's meeting.

Five of the six Woolwich Councillors were present last evening. I believe that Councillor Murray Martin has extended his perfect attendance record at CPAC meetings over the last twenty-four years. Keep in mind that Councillor Martin has several terms of office under his belt. Councillor Martin's perfect record is 100% of never attending CPAC meetings. That said let me be clear. I actually prefer a Councillor who may be upfront regarding their biases rather than those who pretend to be who they are not. Both Councillors Hahn and Merlihan had to leave early due to family commitments. I do not fault either one. That said it is my opinion as well as others that the remaining two Councillors attitudes changed after the departures of Hahn and Merlihan.
A recent M.O.E. letter has suggested that Q.P.s (qualified persons) are only appreciated and worthy to attend "technical" meetings. Both Ron Campbell of CPAC and Graham Chevreau shot that Chemtura/M.O.E. self-serving propaganda down. They stated that sending one hydrogeologist allegedly representing CPAC into a meeting with those from Chemtura and the M.O.E. who literally have decades experience each directly related to the Chemtura site is unreasonable. Peter Gray of MTE did a wonderful job for CPAC on one narrow issue on the east side of the site. On his own without CPAC experience and historical knowledge he will be badly outgunned and outnumbered. Also Graham indicated that restricting to Q.P.s is a red herring. Even the term is misleading. Ron, Graham and myself are all more than qualified to attend these meetings as are other SWAT members. The term is being used simply to exclude. That exclusion is all about excluding the public and keeping these meetings private and unaccountable.

Getting back to the first paragraph Sebastian made it clear to Councillors that both Chemtura and the M.O.E. are all about distraction and deflection, not about openly discussing environmental concerns and issues. They only want the appearance of consulting the public not the reality. Richard's comments also make it clear that Chemtura and the M.O.E. have simply run away from their responsibilities. Honest, open minded Councillors should be able to understand this. Chemtura and the M.O.E. only want a CPAC that does not question their inherent right to bullshit whenever they feel the need. My comment about hypocrisy not honesty is a reference to Mayor Shantz decrying alleged disrespect towards Chemtura/M.O.E. and how that is so hurtful and how they are so "afraid" to attend public CPAC meetings. In the very next breathe her cousin? Larry is admonishing CPAC that if Chemtura/M.O.E. are disrespectful to them, then they "should suck it up". That folks is unbelievable hypocrisy.