I didn’t have to wait 24 hours to get Tom Vegh’s response to my invitation to discuss the future of Newmarket Public Library in front of an audience of interested members of the public.

I learn he is too busy campaigning for re-election to his third term as our Deputy Mayor and Regional Councillor to fit me into his busy schedule. 

Thank you for your email and for your interest in the future of the Newmarket Public Library. I agree that the library plays an important role in our community, and I believe it is important to look at how we can best meet the needs of Newmarket residents as our town continues to grow.As I noted in my questionnaire response, I believe a second library, be it a satellite or branch, should be a priority. Decisions about future library facilities, however, need to be considered in the context of the library board's strategic plan, our community's evolving needs, long-term planning and financial responsibilities.Thank you for the invitation. With the municipal election approaching, my campaign schedule is already committed and I'm unable to take on any additional public events before election day.I appreciate you reaching out and sharing your interest in this important community issue, and I wish you the best this Thanksgiving weekend.Tom

Tom Vegh told Newmarket Today that a new branch library was a priority of his for the coming term. (Right top: What Vegh said during the 2018 election. And below, what he should have said.)

We’ve been here before

As we know, in 2018 Vegh made an explicit commitment to build a new library and seniors’ centre. 

Vegh won that key election with two big unconditional promises – and eight years later neither has materialised.

When he spoke about the library back then he said the time for talking was over. But he didn’t tell the voters he wanted a new study or “needs assessment” to see whether a new library was really needed. There was no talk about a “needs assessment” or anything like that. His headline grabbing unconditional promise was totally dishonest.

It is impossible to know what drew people to vote for Vegh but common-sense tells us these dramatic, explicit pledges about a new library and seniors’ centre are likely to have shifted votes his way. 

Getting Elected: Promising the Earth. Delivering Dust. 

That election in 2018 was a three-way contest that included Chris Emanuel and Joan Stonehocker. It was an open election with no incumbent. Vegh believed he had to spend more – and promise more – to boost his chance of winning. On 30 September 2022 he told Newmarket Today:

“I was not an incumbent last time (2018), and it was a vacant seat. In this case, I’m the incumbent, so it’s a different type of campaign.” 

Why was the promise abandoned?

At last week’s “Meet and Greet” Vegh told me he ditched his promise for a new library 

“because the Board took a new library off their strategic plan”.

More than two and a half years after Vegh’s promise of a new library the Board decided in February 2022 it was going to focus on outreach. But it did not unambiguously abandon the prospect of a new library at some stage. In July 2022 the Town's financial planning still explicitly provided for a 65,000 sq ft new library but pushed it out to 2028-30.

Newmarket Today reported in February 2022 that there was "no mention" of a new building and quoted Board member Darryl Gray:

“We didn’t go straight to the idea of a new library because we [have] a great library right now to continue to work on.”

And, earlier, Darryl Gray, told Newmarket Today:

“We may get to that point, where we decide as an organization and in partnership with the municipality, we need a new library, but we’re certainly not there.”

Flaccid

So what did Vegh do to press the case for a new library and seniors’ centre from his election as Deputy Mayor in October 2018 to February 2022 when the Library Board unveiled its new strategic plan? 

Nothing. His advocacy was flaccid to non-existent. 

His limp attempts to locate a new library and seniors' centre at the Hollingsworth arena site went nowhere. Why? Because no-one listens to Vegh. He is irrelevant. 

I recall sitting in on a Library Board meeting in May 2019 when the (then) Library Chief Executive Todd Kyle was updating Board members on the Town’s latest strategic priorities exercise and the implications for new or enhanced library facilities. 

At the time I posted this: 

"In the course of these exchanges no-one mentions Regional Councillor Tom Vegh or his proposed new library. This must be the ultimate insult. A Library Board choosing not to discuss a proposal for a new Library from the Town’s Deputy Mayor." 

Strategic Policy workshops

The Town ran a series of workshops early in 2019 to decide on its “strategic priorities” for the new Council term: 2018-2022. 

The first of these was on 29 January 2019. Others followed on 11 February 2022 and 26 March 2022.

On the first of these, on 29 January 2019, the newly elected councillors – steered by a professional moderator, Erik Lockhart - put forward their priorities for the new term and then started ranking them. The library and seniors’ centre appeared in the initial list but after ten minutes' discussion their ranking slipped and both dropped out of contention as a top priority.

At no point during this exercise did Tom Vegh make the case for a new library and seniors’ centre. 

The new Mayor, John Taylor, told members they were setting a blueprint. The agreed strategic priorities would guide the staff over the next four years.

Taylor wants a "needs assessment"

Taylor told councillors that even if the new library didn't make the cut as a top priority:

"I fully expect, regardless of where this lands, that the Library Board will advance a needs assessment on the library."

And Vegh agrees: 

"That was the comment I was going to make. For example, the Library Board have just over $200,000 already in their budget allocated for a needs assessment, and to look, after a needs assessment, at what locations and options are available in the town.

The library certainly works very closely with the Town, but you’re correct that, in discussions with the Town, they can go ahead and do this, frankly, without being on our priority list, if the Library Board feels it’s a priority.

They can act independently on it, then present that information, and then we as a council have to make decisions. But they’re certainly able to go on with that needs assessment."

Pocket Full of Mumbles

Vegh was given a platform to argue his case for a new library and seniors’ centre.

Instead, we got a pocket full of mumbles about a "needs assessment".

We are on the cusp of an election and, as always, we bow the knee before the will of the people.

But if Tom Vegh is returned as our Deputy Mayor and Regional Councillor some things will stay the same.

Over the years, Vegh has been irrelevant when it comes to setting the direction of the Town of Newmarket and York Region.

And that won't change.

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Click "read more" for the Mayor's introduction to the strategic policies workshop on 29 January 2019. 

The clip below shows the library and seniors' centre not making the cut as "top priorities". The full video is here.

Mayor's opening remarks to the strategic priorities workshop on 29 January 2019

Mayor John Taylor: Just a reminder that, in accordance with the Town’s procedural by-law, no decisions are to be made. Rather, this meeting is an opportunity for Council to have informal discussion regarding various matters.

As everybody knows, this is our strategic priority setting session. Some work’s already been done, some interviews have occurred, and we’ll hear more about that. The work will continue, obviously, after this meeting, but this is a key meeting for us to try to narrow things down and get a scope on the term’s work ahead.

I’ll say just a few quick comments. There’s a lot of chatter and buzz in the room this morning as we’re getting started. I’m sure that was partly the weather stories, but I think it’s hopefully a shared excitement about this day. I know I’m excited about it and have been looking forward to it for some time.

Returning members of Council have been through a version of this strategic priority setting session before. For new councillors, I think we have an opportunity here to really set a blueprint for the next four years. This is an opportunity for us to develop a shared vision, and I think we all know that, with a shared vision, comes shared success.

We know that, with a shared vision, incredible things can happen, like Riverwalk Commons. When we’re pulling together in the same direction, with a shared sense of purpose, and with staff as well, we can achieve those things.

I’ll go a step further. I know some of you have had this experience as well, but I can assure you, from staff, that this document is the guiding document for the four years. They look to this document constantly and continually. I know Mr. Shelton would bring it out and look at it [constantly?].

We would get our updates, and it would tell us, and staff: are we on track? Are we delivering? Are we doing what we wanted to do and what we said we would do?

It’s a very important exercise and document in terms of guiding the organization. But I also think it’s an exciting time to let our imagination flow a little: to look high up into the horizon and think about some of the principles we want to guide us, some of the broader areas we want to succeed in, that we believe our community wants us to invest in, and to build a town and a community around.

One thing I would say is that this is the Council chambers, where we’re typically voting and moving things, and the newspaper is reporting on things. But today, it’s a place and a space for us to have a conversation and share some creativity and imagination together.

Let’s try to relax and have a very free-flowing conversation. Feel free to share comments, stop the process and ask questions. This is going to be very iterative, but I think it’s going to be a very successful day.

And so, I think with that, I just say, please enjoy the day. We will take some breaks, and I am confident that we're going to have an incredible conversation, and that this will help guide us to an incredible end result. And so with that, I will turn it over to Mr. McDougall, our Commissioner of Community Services, to introduce the process and the presenters.

And what Tom Vegh - and others - had to say in trying to secure a place for a new library and seniors' centre in the strategic priorities list: 

Mayor John Taylor: …. Deputy Mayor Tom Vegh: 

Tom Vegh: Thank you very much. I just have a couple of questions now on the process. So far I’m following the process. I agree we came up with a lot of things and we’ve tried to whittle it down a bit. Look at things that are quite similar etc etc.  But this next step in the process if you could explain it to me. So, we go and identify the five top. At some point we are going to be having a discussion. Does that mean our discussion is limited to those five or limited to these ten because I may identify my top five but I am totally open to being convinced by another member of council saying number 7, you know, should really be number 3 and here’s a bit of information perhaps you didn’t consider. My question now is on process. I am really not looking to close any doors right now at 11.15am.

Moderator: I thought we’d take a straw poll to see where people land on where the priorities are. And yeah there are some that are going to be on the margin for 4, 5, 6, 7. We need to have some discussion and debate on. And I thought we’d take a straw poll just to see if there is any alignment on these. So that’s where I’m going with the process.

Tom Vegh: OK. So there’s still the opportunity to… for all of us to have a discussion.

Moderator: Yes. But… I think that’s a good point I’d like to clarify…so everyone understands what these are before we start to do the little straw poll. Is there anybody else in the line?

and

Moderator: And so we've scoped that out a little bit. Number 6 is the library enhancement. I think we understand what that one is. 

Mayor John Taylor: Okay. Number six? 

Councillor Grace Simon: I just I think that the library could be, like, a community hub, That it's more than just a library. It's where the community is coming together, and it's being used for more things than just a library. That's, I guess, that's just, the library is just a library, but I'm kind of seeing that it should be spoken of more than just a library. It's a community hub, where... 

Mayor John Taylor: Okay. Okay. So the only thing I'd say is that it is, and I think that’s the way Councillor Woodhouse described it, it is the process you would go through. The library board would probably lead it, and it would be to discover what it is. And that would come out of that. But I think to, you know, so I think that's the idea. It's to go for a discovery process about what is needed, what it would look like, and what, and, you know, et cetera. So is that? 

Councillor Woodhouse: I agree with that. I agree with you and Councillor Simon. It is a process based on a whole bunch of things like what the community might want

Mayor John Taylor: I think that, yeah, and I think it's safe to say, from the little I know about it, but that process would certainly look at, is there community space needs here? Can it be, you know, would it be a satellite? Would it be a whole new thing? Would it include other uses? I think that's the process. I would be amazed if it didn't go through that process. Okay. 

Councillor Grace Simon: …a community hub there with a library.

Mayor John Taylor: Okay. Okay. 

Moderator: (Do) people understand what that one is?

Mayor John Taylor: I think so. Councillor Twinney. Sorry we do have other speakers. 

Councillor Jane Twinney: With regards to the library. I agree with Councillor Woodhouse with regards to having a plan, but it sounds to me, when we have it on there, as a plan for library enhancement or relocation. It's not, I mean... It's actually saying that we actually do need it enhanced, and we do need it relocated. 

Mayor John Taylor: It’s just the wording, I think. 

Councillor John Twinney: So I think…

Mayor John Taylor: … Maybe something like that. 

Councillor Jane Twinney: I think it needs to be a needs study, which I think, you know, I mean, so it's basically driving... 

Mayor John Taylor: The needs assessment for a library (indistinct). 

Councillor Jane Twinney: To support…. So then the board knows that it's a council priority to look at what that might be. And that's just looking at it. It's not necessarily moving forward with anything. 

Mayor John Taylor: I think that's in keeping with what you said Councillor Woodhouse. What else? So, yeah, so maybe we can just change it to do a needs assessment about a library (brackets) community hub. Moderator: Okay, good. Any other questions on that one? Okay, number seven. Do we understand? So again, 

Mayor John Taylor: We've all got seven. I think that's seven. 

Moderator: Uh, great. Okay. So number eight, we've talked about, I think we clarified that one. It would be working more closely with region, our community partners, understanding exactly what services should be offered to seniors. 

Mayor John Taylor: I would prefer… I'm just gonna say it. I just prefer we take a redefine the senior centre. 
Again I think this is a process of discovery, and we're landing on outcomes. 

Moderator: Sorry, I just made that note as a note for myself, as one of the things we might do. Okay. 
I'll give you an example this afternoon, if that makes the top... Okay. Okay, sorry. Smart city, future ready, attract Smart City, future ready, attracting economic growth. So, anybody have any questions about what that would mean? What that means?

And… 

Mayor John Taylor: Councillor Jane Twinney.

Councillor Jane Twinney: That's moving down to number eight, the seniors. I'm not quite understanding. So are we, is this meaning that we're looking at expanding the senior centre or does it mean that we're looking at understanding the needs of, are we adequately providing it now? Or… I don't know what that means. 

Moderator: I'll take the senior centre off. It was just a note to myself, as a specific example. 

Mayor John Taylor: I know we're frustrating you a little bit, but we're voters by nature, and we need to know what we're voting on. I can vote for part, but I can't vote for that. It makes it tricky for us. I know, I apologise.

Moderator: I'm glad we're clarifying. No need to apologise, but I will take the point there off. It was just a note to myself to remind…

And…

Mayor John Taylor: I have a couple of speakers. Deputy Mayor Vegh.

Tom Vegh: If it makes it a bit easier, number eight, regarding the senior services. We have a number 6, a needs assessment about libraries slash community hub. Does make it easier to just put this with number 6? Um, and it focusses that on the process, on the needs assessment, as opposed to bricks and mortar, and I ask my council colleagues that, so it makes more sense to put it there with number six. 

Mayor John Taylor: Gotcha. I'm a council colleague, and I actually would prefer to keep them separate. Okay. Anybody else want to comment? Separate? Separate, two nods. Anybody else? 

Moderator: Yeah, there's a lot of things you could do under six that are different from number eight. So it'd be a big aggregation if we could merge them. And they're complementary. I totally agree with what you're saying Councillor Vegh. Okay, um, where were we? Number 10.

And…

Mayor John Taylor: Deputy Mayor Vegh

Tom Vegh: Thank you once again, jumping to number 8, expanded senior services, to me sounds a little bit too directive. So maybe I'm looking at the wording there for number 6, so maybe just “needs assessment on senior services and supports” as opposed to just directing to expand them. 

Moderator: Okay. 

Tom Vegh: (indistinct) the needs assessment. 

Moderator: Can I say that would be one of the things, a “needs assessment”? Thank you. Yep. 

And:

Tom Vegh: Just very quickly. Some of these things, for example, a needs assessment for the library. The library actually has a budget for it and there’s very little impact on Town resources be it staff etcetera. So, you know, and other things happen long term, and much more expensive and quite more involved with the staff. Any suggestions on how we weigh all of this? Because you said six (top) priorities.

Moderator: But let’s see where the prioritisation comes out and then let’s talk about easy wins versus bigger things. That’s a good point. They aren’t all the same costs.

 CHECK TRANSCRIPT AGAINST DELIVERY ON VIDEO