So this type of event makes the need for a Council standard of practice even more important for Council to deal with. The new City Manager placed a discussion paper in front of Council a few weeks ago.

Let us see what they do with it.

“He is also quoted as saying his fellow committee members supported his staying on the committee”

Says volumes about his fellow committee members doesn’t it?

Just a small glimpse of Stolz’ complete lack of respect for the rules of ethics surrounding his position of power. None of us can really be surprised. Only real surprise is that he isn’t off to China with the girls.

Honestly, I think Mr. Stolz is done as a City Councilor. Somehow I don’t see him making the cut next year after this. I also think those wishing to seek re-election next year should distance themselves from this behaviour.

I think the fact that he is going to remain on the committee, with the support of the other committee members, shows a complete lack of respect for taxpayers. I bet he thought he was being pretty clever using the lax rules and his inside knowledge of the process of delinquency to defer his property taxes in this manner. That is until he got caught. People who do this burden the Cities internal resources to cover costs while these people take their sweet time paying. Essentially, this is tantamount to using other taxpayers’ money to finance your own personal affairs. Improper conduct by an elected official as far as I’m concerned. He could have paid the penalties earlier and avoided having his property being listed for tax sale, but didn’t when clearly if he’s paid now, he had the resources. Why? My guess is that this was just about deferring his tax bill as long as possible before having to pay anything. In the meantime, he’s incurred fees and penalties at rates, that by today standards, makes him downright foolish and financially irresponsible. The original article mentioned penalties of 5/10% ? If true, what Mr. Stolz did was stupid given the nature of the financial markets today. He should have paid his taxes when due, even if he had to borrow short-term to do it to avoid those kinds of penalties. No brainer really. So I hope what he was spending his money on instead was worth it. Anyone who makes financial, and ethical decisions like this has no business directing the use of my tax dollars.

I voted for you in 2011 Cameron, but that won’t happen again. If I was on that Council I’d have you censured.

Perhaps they should name all the property owners who make that list every year. If you don’t pay your property taxes for 3 years, you don’t deserve privacy as far as I’m concerned.

Quick, get the torches and pitchforks.

After listening and watching the lectures Mr Stolz has given over the time he has been on council I am dismayed that he couldn’t keep his own house in order and was devious and evasive and not upfront about his problems. Does that mean his utilities haven’t been paid, where those added to his tax bill, if so then he should step down from his position. Did he feel remorse whenever he mentioned monies owed to the city through utilities and taxes or did he just smile and chuckle to himself saying he had pulled the wool over his constituents, and he wanted to be our Member of Parliament, oh I know Harper would have appointed him to the Senate…with all of his good bookkeeping abilities

So how do we as taxpayers actually know if the arrears were actually paid and when?

Do we or will we know if this city administration has not given a break to Stolz like they have their own in bylaws?

I have to agree with Sine Nomine, ” Anyone who makes financial, and ethical decisions like this has no business directing the use of my tax dollars.

He could afford to play golf, apparently entertianment was the priority in his budget.

So he had financial issues with his business. Did he break any laws? Did it affect his performance on council. Hard crowd here.

Think about this–what would you do if you were in his shoes?? That’s what he should do.

Just consider how many of our MLAs and MPs have been found guilty of fraud or who have no and can get no credit or who have been convicted of various crimes. It seems that these types of people make it into government positions all the time.

Why is there no investigation when candidates put their names forward for election?
I mean a lot of employers go to great lengths to screen applicants for jobs. Why should we be any different?

As a senior, I save all year to pay my taxes on time and my income is lower than his pay he receives as councillor.. seniors do not get breaks on fixed income – he should resign from council immediately.

I am sure he will apologize. But only because he got caught.

Woodwoman what are your expenses compared to his? Maybe he has a family, I don’t know.

Give more just what did he do wrong? He is having personal financial issues so what. Someone please enlighten me on his wrong doing?

Seamut, it’s pretty simple–an undeclared conflict of interest.

How can an individual who is three years behind in his own property taxes have the moral authority to govern a committee which sets tax rates for the rest of the city’s homeowners and decide how much each should pay??? Given his personal situation, any vote he casts has the optics of conflict. If he votes to raise taxes, he is basically saying it’s okay for you pleebs to pay more but I’m going to keep bucking the system until I’m caught. If he votes to lower taxes, even if that decision is not necessarily in the best interest of the future of the city, he’s seen as wanting to keep taxes lower to help his own personal situation. Lose-lose situation…a politician can’t govern that way on any level.

Would you trust an MP or MLA who has a criminal record for a dozen domestic assaults to cast an objective vote in the legislature on a bill to increase minimum sentences for wife beaters? I could provide dozens of hypotheticals but hopefully you get the picture.

Stolz knew, or ought to have known, that his sitting on the committe–and ESPECIALLY as chair–was wrong and said nothing about it until he was outed by the media. That his fellow councillors and mayor backed that thought process and coverup means they all need to be turfed in the coming election.

And “findme”, this has nothing to do with pitchforks and torches or mob mentality. It’s about basic ethics, democratic code of conduct and good corporate governance. People have every right to be incensed when their elected officials play so fast and loose with the rules they expect the rest of us to live by.

Another nice try at deflection though…albeit a failed one.

Come on folks, understandably most of us would love to see the south end of Stotlz heading north. However, even if we don’t like his politics, or are completely disappointed with his performance on council and finance; we all need to have the decency to leave his personal life alone. Public interest is news; and a mans personal life issues are to remain private. 250 and all those who have joined the mob have stepped over the line on this one.