Signs, Signs,Illegal Developers Signs - City staff say use the Peel police to ensure you can break the law?

Vote for
Donald Barber
Mayor of Mississauga
2006
For a NEW & FRESH beginning!

Signs, Signs, Illegal Developers Signs

THE
SEQUEL

City staff say use the Peel police to ensure a developer can break the law? Peel police to ensure the City's By-law can be continued to be broken?
Say it is not so!
Well we are talking about McCallion's Mississauga!

Items;

A gallery of unlawful developers signs for the weekend of Oct 21-06.
Why do the developer keep putting their signs out unlawfully after they have had them removed in the past?

The threatening E-mails from developers.

Oct. 29, 2006 - City staff were told there would be illegally placed signs

The formal complaint letter to Janice Baker, City Manager and Chief Administrative Officer regarding Darren Bryan.

I have been told, twice in the past that the Mayor has told Municipal Law Enforcement Officer to leave developers signs alone. It was only after I posted on the Internet my complaints and that it was an election issue about illegal signs that the offending signs were finally removed - BUT City staff still did not respond to me. I had to call them, how is that for service?

What is even more interesting is that the developer who is threatening me with Peel police action is the same one who the City informs me had his illegal signs removed by the City and which would have cost them money.

The first page about this.

The big joke is that the Sign By-law will only be enforced during the week when it comes to developers signs BUT during elections, election signs have been known to be removed by City staff. After all would not want people to be distracted from reading developers signs by those nasty election signs and we all know Hazel McCallion does not put out signs, so not affect her.

Have been told that during the election the City has all 4 of its trucks out to remove election signs. I asked that an effort be made to remove the developer signs in question and suddenly there appeared no way the time could be spared for that! Very interesting as it is a request to remove the signs of a known past offender, who City staff say knows their signs should not be going where they are clearly illegally placed.

Oh, by the way, you see those little stickers on the signs? When the debate about the sign By-law was going on, I was the person who suggested these stickers as a way to know which signs were legally allowed to be here or there. However it was assumed that after the sticker was put on, they would only be put in the right places. Now it appears some people think it is a license to put them any old place. Well why not, Mississauga our Mayor is so open for business, she and the other Councillors SPRAWL for the developers!

A gallery of unlawful developers signs for the weekend of Oct 21-06

The most arrogant and indifference to the City sign By-law can be seen here. This developers sign is on City hall property, literally at the door closest to By-law enforcement! Right on the door step of By-law enforcement, shows the developer flipping the bird at City hall & the Mayor of Mississauga!

The City Sign By-law says no signs close to street corners & Section 25(3) of Sign by-law 54-2002 prohibits the display "New Home Developments Signs" on a traffic medians.

You would have thought that the VANDYK Group of Companies would have learned their lesson but do not see any evidence of it. I wonder why they are doing the thing again?

Is this sign over-size? City staff will not answer.

Blocking the view of a fire hydrant.

The threatening E-mails from developers.

Subject:     A-Frame Vandlism
Date:         Mon, 23 Oct 2006
From:         "Maurice Lelli" <mlelli@vandyk.com>
To:             <watcher0I0@eol.ca>
Cc:             <mgray@vandyk.com>, <sslack@vandyk.com>

Attn: Donald Barber,

It has come to my attention that this past weekend, our Brownstones on Trillium Lane A-Frames were plastered with your campaign ads against illegal A-Frames. Please be advised that we do have legal permits for all of our A-frames and as such will be considering this as an act of vandalism.

We have advised our lawyers accordingly and should this continue again, we will take legal action.
Thank you,

Maurice Lelli
Director of Marketing
VANDYK Group of Companies
Tel: 905.823.4606 Ext: 230
Fax: 905.823.4014
Eml: mlelli@vandyk.com

To:         "Maurice Lelli" <mlelli@vandyk.com>
From:     Watcher <watcher0I0@eol.ca>
Subject:   Re: A-Frame Vandlism
Date:         Mon, 23 Oct 2006

Please be advised that your signs were in illegal locations and a sign permit does NOT give you permission to put your sign where ever you care to!

If you do not have a copy of or can read the City sign by-law then contact this City staffer who has been removing signs that I have be reporting as in violation of the City sign by-law. Also, note I will be posting pictures of the signs in question on the Internet for the whole world to judge your actions by and yes I have take pictures of each offending sign & its location. So do not even think of moving it and claiming it was in a legal location.

Darren Bryan, CBCO
Supervisor, Sign Unit
Planning and Building Department
City of Mississauga
300 City Centre Dr.
Mississauga, ON L5B 3C1
Tel: (905) 615-3200 ext. 5697
Fax: (905) 896-5638
E-mail: darren.bryan@mississauga.ca

And yes I will be postering your signs in the future with notices that they are illegal, until such time as you obey the law.

Subject:     Re: A-Frame Vandlism
Date:         Mon, 23 Oct 2006
From:         "Maurice Lelli" <mlelli@vandyk.com>
To:             <watcher0I0@eol.ca>

I just spoke to Daren Bryan and he was not too impressed with your email - showing him as the contact info for your email. He has advised me that regardless of the positioning of our A-frames, only the City of Mississauga has the authority to address the issue and or do anything about it. He also advised that I contact the Mississauga Police department in the event that you vandalize our A-Frames again. Post this on your website.

Maurice Lelli
Director of Marketing
VANDYK Group of Companies
Tel: 905.823.4606 Ext: 230
Fax: 905.823.4014
Eml: mlelli@vandyk.com

To:         "Maurice Lelli" <mlelli@vandyk.com>
From:     Watcher <watcher0I0@eol.ca>
Subject:   Re: A-Frame Vandlism
Date:         Mon, 23 Oct 2006

You got it - and while you are at it hope you are telling your employer how you are taking the name of your company and making it public as a bad corporate citizen - one that does not follow the law.

To:            darren.bryan@mississauga.ca
From:        Watcher <watcher0I0@eol.ca>
Subject:     RE: A-Frame Vandlism
Date:         Mon, 23 Oct 2006

Mr. Bryan - have just received an E-mail from those who are putting up their builders sign in full violation of the City's sign by-law and they are saying you will not be enforcing any part of the City By-laws - your JOB and they those who are pointing out these violation should be reported to the Peel police.

I do require that you explain this - I have been informed by City by-law staff in the past that the mayor has told them not to enforce the by-law on developers signs, is this more of the same?

{ sent twice }

To:         "Maurice Lelli" <mlelli@vandyk.com>
From:     Watcher <watcher0I0@eol.ca>
Subject:   Re: A-Frame Vandlism
Date:       Mon, 24 Oct 2006

Oh, while we are on the subject what "vandalize" are you claiming?

What damage are you claiming.

Are you claiming only that an eye sore was cover up?

Are you claiming lose of business that can only be had by the placing of an illegal sign on a street corner.

Are you claiming that a sign, which is in a location the City says is illegal because it interferes with traffic making turns - in other words a safety hazard, is more important to your business then the lives of Mississaugans?

Did you ask for a copy of the City's By-law or explanation as to why your sign was illegally placed?

Did you ask if having a City sticker on the sign expedited you from the City's By-law?

This is asked as it is missing from your E-mail and it would only be reasonable to have these questions answered or at least asked. The threatening nature of your E-mail may be an effort to try and terrorize me but it can also be seen as showing your absolute for the LAW that the rest of us are expected to obey!

Is this because Hazel McCallion has informed you the law does not apply to her developer friends?

To:           "Darren Bryan" <Darren.Bryan@mississauga.ca>
From:       Watcher <watcher0I0@eol.ca>
Subject:     Is this a legal sized sign?
Date:         Mon, 24 Oct 2006

The sign in the left of this picture is 48 X 72 inches or 1.22 m X 1.83 m.

Is that not over size for a sidewalk sign?

Please let me know?

{ sent twice }

Date:         Tue, 24 Oct 2006
From:        "Darren Bryan" <Darren.Bryan@mississauga.ca>
To:            <watcher0I0@eol.ca>
Cc:            "Agris Robeznieks" <Agris.Robeznieks@mississauga.ca>, "John Oates" <John.Oates@mississauga.ca>
Subject:     RE: A-Frame Vandlism

Mr. Barber,

The Sign Unit of the Building Division enforces all sections of the Sign By-law. This enforcement includes the issuance of Notices of Contraventions, removal of sign from city road allowances and laying of charges pursuant to the Provincial Offences Act.

Darren Bryan, CBCO
Supervisor, Sign Unit
Planning and Building Department
City of Mississauga
300 City Centre Dr.
Mississauga, ON L5B 3C1
Tel: (905) 615-3200 ext. 5697
Fax: (905) 896-5638
E-mail: darren.bryan@mississauga.ca

To:             "Darren Bryan" <Darren.Bryan@mississauga.ca>
From:         donbar <donbar@eol.ca>
Subject:      Illegal street signs
Date:          Tue, 24 Oct 2006

Dear Mr. Darren Bryan.

At 8:30 this morning we spoke about the illegal sign still being put up by
VANDYK Group of Companies, which it needs to noted that this is the same company that has been reported in the past for putting its signs on traffic medians & which you have informed me they have been collected by the City.

You did not appear to be upset that they were doing it again, when it was noted to you that they have E-mailed to me that any future effort to point out the public the kind of corporate citizen they are would call the Peel police, say said you had nothing to do with that. However, they have sent me this "He ( Darren Bryan) also advised that I contact the Mississauga Police department in the event that you vandalize our A-Frames again." It would appear clear that you are directing them to call the police - if not please say so.

I asked what was the nature of the so-called "vandalize" and you had no answer.

I repeatedly and specifically asked about being able to contact your dept. this weekend to make sure if these signs are out your truck crews can be there first. You informed me in the past that because of the election your crews are our for election signs. I asked about service regarding developer signs and you were not so sure that your staff would even be out! You then said thank you and hung up - it is understood that you are treating other candidates this way to regarding their legitimate concerns.

Please call me with the information contact info for your crews for this weekend so we can be sure that if these signs are out, they will be the first to be removed.

To:            "Darren Bryan" <Darren.Bryan@mississauga.ca>
From:        Watcher <watcher0I0@eol.ca>
Subject:     Unclear statements
Date:          24 Oct 2006

>The Sign Unit of the Building Division enforces all sections of the Sign By-law. This enforcement includes the issuance of Notices of Contraventions, >removal of sign from city road allowances and laying of charges pursuant to the Provincial Offences Act.

You noted "laying of charges pursuant to the Provincial Offences Act." - what are you referring to?

Date:         Wed, 25 Oct 2006
From:        "Darren Bryan" <Darren.Bryan@mississauga.ca>
To:            <watcher0I0@eol.ca>
Subject:     Re: Unclear statements

Mr. Barber,

Section 31 of Sign By-law 54-2002 as amended states:

31. PENALTIES AND ENFORCEMENT

(1) Every person who contravenes any provision of this By-law is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine and any other penalties imposed pursuant to the Provincial Offences Act. R.S.O.
1990,c. P-33, as amended. (508-05)

I have also attached a copy of the Sign By-law for your reference.

To:             "Darren Bryan" <Darren.Bryan@mississauga.ca>
From:         Watcher <watcher0I0@eol.ca>
Subject:      Re: Unclear statements
Date:          25 Oct 2006

Mr. Bryan you are not reading my statement;

You noted "laying of charges pursuant to the Provincial Offences Act."

- what are you referring to?

What you have shent does not relate to the question so it will not be reviewed unless you can explain how it is a part of the "Provincial Offences Act".

You are fast becoming an election issue.

Oct. 29, 2006
City staff were told there would be illegally placed signs in the Queensway, Dundas and Hurontario area and yet they could not find the time to collect them
- too busy ripping up election signs

A little water is all that is needed to keep on notices.

From the
Campaign to Elect
Donald Barber
for Mayor of Mississauga - 2006
City Manager's Office

City Manager's Office
ATTN: Janice Baker, City Manager and Chief Administrative Officer.
300 City Centre Drive
Mississauga, Ont. L5B 3C1

RE:     Formal complaint regarding the conduct of Darren Bryan, CBCO, Supervisor, Sign Unit, Planning and Building Department
           - telling developers how to violate the City’s Sign By-law, to entrap a Majority candidate and using his office in City hall to
           project his personal politics into situations, while trying to harm my election chances.

Dear Sir: Oct. 30, 2006

This is a formal complaint against Darren Bryan, CBCO, Supervisor, Sign Unit, who is responsible for enforcement of the City Sign By-law or the collection of unlawful or illegal signs.

First of all it needs to be noted that as a candidate for Mayor, Darren Bryan is showing the upmost disrespect not just to me and Majority candidate Roy Willis but for our Democratic principles in general. Mr. Willis has informed me that on Oct. 2, 2006, he attended Darren Bryan’s department to inform him of the fact that Councillor Eve Adams had been putting out her signs on Oct 1, or the day before it was announced as the legal start for election sign posting. Darren Bryan was not interested in taking action or having a complaint filed - candidate for Mayor,
Mr. Willis was TOLD to leave the office.

I have been trying to get Darren Bryan to remove developers a-frame signs (VANDYK Group of Companies, were one of the group noted). He would not send the City’s trucks out on the weekends to the locations noted by way of E-mail and in phone conversations. These signs were mocking the City’s Sign By-law in the most severe fashion as they were literally being put in the middle of the road! For some reason the developer felt they could totally disregard the City’s Sign By-law. It is common practice for these developers a-frame signs to pop up like mushrooms for just the weekends in Mississauga as City enforcement staff usually are not on duty, as they are during the week. It has also been told to me twice by By-law staff that the Mayor has told them not to touch developers signs.

- 2 -

It was not until pictures of the offending signs were posted on the Internet that they were removed by the City, according to Darren Bryan, which means there should have been a cost to reclaim them. I am left wondering if this is the new way to get the City to enforce its By-laws by posting the offence on the Internet during election years? However, the developer did not stop their conduct regarding the placement of a-frame signs in unlawful locations - they only moved to another location down the road.

This was again brought to Darren Bryan attention as these unlawful signs were now having paper signs placed on their fronts to inform the public they are illegal and that a candidate for Mayor has made them an election issue. Maurice Lelli Director of Marketing VANDYK Group of Companies, informed me of the following - “I just spoke to Daren Bryan ... He also advised that I contact the Mississauga Police department in the event that you vandalize our A-Frames again.”. This E-mail states that Darren Bryan has given instructions to a developer who has repeatedly and flagrantly placed their A-Frames signs in unlawful locations. How they can remove the person who is trying to have the City’s By-law enforced (which would prevent the placing of their signs in their preferred unlawful locations), to ensure (by having me charged), the developer can continue to place their signs in unlawful locations or to break the City’s Sign By-law. Please tell me, if its is the job of City staff to give instructions on how to break City By-laws and have the whistle blower arrested?

I spoke to Darren Bryan and informed him that VANDYK Group of Companies were still putting their signs in unlawful locations and stated that he should remove them. He noted that the City had some 4 trucks out to remove election signs and they should be through the area last weekend. I asked for the contact info for his staff for over the weekend and it was not provided. Questions were asked about what he was saying and stating but he declined appropriate answers, such as - “You noted "laying of charges pursuant to the Provincial Offences Act." - what are you referring to?”

It was also asked what was the nature of the alleged “vandalize” was and received no answer. Logically this must be another case of making false statements by City staff in order to use the Peel police as a political weapon against a political opponent or candidate of the Mayor, Hazel McCallion. For City staff to suggest such actions to a person known to be a repeat offender regarding breaking City By-law, is just plain wrong and just what are they up to? Is he using his position in City hall to project his personal politics into situations? I would say so. Darren Bryan should have first and foremost told this person NEVER to place their signs in unlawful locations, to solve this problem - there is not mention of that happening.

I would also say that this is more entrapment from the City, so City staff will not have to do their job they are paid to do and developers, who are the special friends of City politicians can flip the bird at the law while making money and the rest of the City’s law abiding businesses and taxpayers has to suffer under unequal By-law enforcement.

- 3 -

I called today and tried to speak to him and he responded that he had been instructed by his Director, then changed it to City solicitor not to respond to my E-mails and rudely hung up. It appears he does not know the difference between an E-mail and a phone call either.

I have asked this question in the past, which he refused to answer - “Is this a legal sized sign? The sign in the left of this picture is 48 X 72 inches or 1.22 m X 1.83 m.”.

Also please note - this complaint will be posted on the Internet as a part of my election efforts. More details will likely be added once this complaint has been begun by the City and please provide me what the complaint procedures are and how to review past complaints regarding City staff to better format this one. This will include pictures of the signs noted on different dates.

It will also include a picture of a unlawful developers A-Frames sign sitting literally at the door of City hall, right outside By-law enforcement.
Talk about the mice going tail high on the nose of a cat too lazy to even move.

I am willing to discuss my submission with you, my phone number is (905) ***-**** & E-mail is <donbar@eol.ca>.

Sincerely yours - Donald Barber - Candidate for Mayor 2006

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