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Curious George Soulis"I'm not, you are," sandbox behavior don't belong at what's supposed to be a professional meeting. Unfortunately it was on display at the latest board meeting of the Toronto Parking Authority (TPA). Soulis and his antics made him a target of criticism in our February article entitled The Toronto Parking Authority's Board of Fools. Keeping an in-camera session secret was apparently way too difficult so was paying attention to democratic principles: announcing motions were carried when a majority of hands weren't raised in a vote. Did Soulis respond to the issues we raised? Yes! His response was 'we're not fools, you're a fool'. It's kindergarten mentality and it is beneath any mature professional person. George Soulis complained at the latest TPA board meeting that The Toronto Tribune didn't treat the TPA with respect with our article labeling the board fools, though, according to Soulis we were treated with respect. Soulis needs to take a look at his dictionary. Neglecting to clear TPA sidewalks is an act of disrespect towards every Torontonian. Failing to produce a fair policy for selling unused TPA equipment is disrespectful to the people of Toronto, the very people who Soulis is supposed to be working for. There were some positive changes at the TPA, none credited to Soulis. Finally some of the board members began to do their job but they didn't go far enough. Gwyn Thomas announced an ad has been placed to dispense of some unused equipment. That's good news. One of the many problems with allowing employees to bid on TPA property is the chance of malfeasance, declaring good equipment is unnecessary to get it on the cheap for example. Ron Y. M. Tsin roused himself to ask some questions regarding one contractor who successfully bid on three contracts valued at : $200,000.00 plus GST; of $283,000.00 plus GST and $199,000.00 plus GST. The same contractor Duron has been awarded several TPA contracts in the past. Have any of the TPA contractors come back cap in hand? That's a question that didn't occur to Tsin. This information should be available but someone on this board would have to care about doing the best job possible for the people of Toronto before anything is done. Not one member of the board pointed out to Soulis that he is announcing decisions without a proper vote having taken place. We're glad to see a small step forward at the TPA but there is much left to do to meet their responsibilities to the people of Toronto. What is apparent is Soulis was angry that his poor performance was reviewed and he was found severely wanting. Did he take the criticism to heart? He managed to give a worse performance this time around. The in-camera session again could be clearly heard through the adjoining wall in the tiny kitchen next to the meeting room at City Hall. So much for secret sessions and Soulis is responsible as chair person for his failure to lead. He rarely paid attention to the hand count during voting and for one agenda item Soulis requested a vote and immediately announced carried before a single member of the TPA board raised a hand. If Soulis is unable to accept criticism which he has earned given his performance there is a solution - his immediate resignation. |
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