I am with Bratina on this, although I would probably go a bit farther.
As a renter, I wonder about the socialization of risk for house owners. Why should the entire city be responsible? You buy a house, things can happen.
Walkout pulls plug on flood aid
Bratina, Ferguson oppose "blank cheque" to victims
July 31, 2009
Nicole Macintyre
(Jul 31, 2009)
Three councillors walked out of an emergency meeting yesterday, preventing approval of an aid program for flood victims that they argued would have been like "writing a blank cheque."
The majority of councillors present were poised to pass a motion by Councillor Chad Collins for the city to pick up the tab for all flood damage not covered by insurance. Staff warned against the proposal, arguing it could cost the city unknown millions, invite insurance companies to reject claims and set a precedent.
When a short recess was called before the vote, Councillors Maria Pearson, Lloyd Ferguson and Bob Bratina, who opposed approving the upgraded grants program without more information, left. Their departure caused the meeting to be cancelled because it lost quorum. Nine members must be present to make decisions.
"They did it deliberately," said Councillor Brad Clark, calling their actions "irresponsible."
Bratina and Ferguson later used the same term for those who wanted to pass the program without knowing the consequences.
"What they did was ridiculous," said Bratina, adding he can't support writing a "blank cheque."
The city clerk is trying to reschedule the meeting. Council only has 14 working days from the flood to approve applying for disaster aid from the province.
Yesterday's delay outraged residents who came to watch the meeting. Collins argued flood victims want the city to take immediate action and can't wait weeks for the city to study his proposal. Council voted 7-4 against a one week delay to allow staff to report back.
After the referral failed, Bratina and Ferguson said they wouldn't be put in the position of voting against flood aid when their concern was passing the program blindly.
"I thought it was reckless," said Ferguson. "I just think we need a cooling off period."
Pearson said she left because of a "family emergency" and did not know the other councillors were leaving.
Mayor Fred Eisenberger, who spoke against Collins' proposal, said he didn't advise the councillors to leave but noted their decision will give staff more time to analyse the proposal.
"Sometimes politics is a game of chess," said Eisenberger.
The political move "flies in the face of what the democratic process is about," said Collins.
Councillor Sam Merulla went further, suggesting those who left don't care about the flood victims.
The emergency meeting was called to approve a compassionate grant program after last Sunday's heavy rain and flooding.
Staff recommended increasing the grant from $750 to $1,000. Residents who had been denied sewer backup insurance because of multiple floods would be offered more aid. Staff wanted to report back on the amount, but based cost estimates on $5,000.
The city was expecting the program would cost upwards of $6 million based on 4,000 to 5,000 claims.
Collins wants to upgrade the program to help homeowners with all uninsured loses. His proposal would cover residents who couldn't get insurance because of past floods and pay for all damages and lost personal property, including vehicles, not covered by an insurer.
The program would also cover non-sewer flooding that is not covered by insurance, such as surface flooding. It would not apply to residents who choose not to buy insurance.
He estimated the program could cost the city $10 million to $20 million, though staff said they don't know the cost. Collins said the city should take projects out of its capital plan to pay for the grants.
"This is a priority," he said, arguing the city has to help residents get back to the same position they were in before the storm hit. "It's a disaster and people are asking for help."
His proposal would cover areas where the city has identified sewer problems as well as areas where staff believe it was only the volume of rain that caused flooding.
Councillor Terry Whitehead put forward a motion to offer the same payout for the 10 floods council has deemed disasters since 2005.
Eisenberger said he had concerns the unlimited grant program would be "opening the vault."
"We need to help, the question is to what degree."
Pearson argued council had to balance the interests of flood victims with all taxpayers.
"This isn't the last time we're going to get flooded," she noted.
But Merulla argued the city has a "moral obligation" to over the damages.
nmacintyre@thespec.com
905-526-3299
ATTENDANCE
Attendance at yesterday's emergency meeting
Absent for the whole meeting:
Brian McHattie: vacation
David Mitchell: vacation
Margaret McCarthy: city business
Left meeting before Collins' motion:
Russ Powers: family commitment
Robert Pasuta: ill
Left after the motion and before vote:
Maria Pearson
Lloyd Ferguson
Bob Bratina
Remaining at the end
Fred Eisenberger
Bernie Morelli
Sam Merulla
Chad Collins
Tom Jackson
Scott Duvall
Terry Whitehead
Brad Clark
City flood claims hotline: 905-667-3157
Total flood claims as of 4 p.m. yesterday: 2,933