THREAD: It’s not a secret that the County (even prior to me being on County Council) have been critical of the costs of this move. For over a year, elected officials of the County have been asking pointed questions specifically related to repurposing furniture and supplies and 1/ https://twitter.com/kellyelliottmcm/status/1250211323855671296

on multiple occasions were always told that as much as possible would be repurposed in order to save money wherever possible. This didn’t happen... at all. Sure, the cubicles couldn’t go. Do you know what could have? Smart boards. Large dry erase boards. Boardroom tables. 2/

Medical Supplies. Kids programming supplies. Baby scales. Office supplies. Portable printers. What appears to be new in box wireless microphones. Easels. Office chairs. Gorgeous desks. Filing cabinets. The list goes on. It’s a total disrespect of the taxpayers of #ldnont and 3/

the County. As much as a pain in the ass for County staff to now have to inventory and source new ways to use all of this, maybe the County shouldn’t complain. County taxpayers paid for a portion of all of this and it now belongs to us. We will do our best to repurpose all of 4/

it. We have office spaces that can use new equipment. We have library rooms that need furniture. Heck, Thames Centre is planning a new community centre build and can use some office furniture for it. Yesterday we approved a renovation of our County’s Central Garage to add 5/

office spaces and we will need furniture. What is left behind is absolutely good enough to use in all of these spaces. Heck, we can look at now live-streaming our meetings now with the equipment left behind. As leaders in our community, we are going to make the best of it. 6/

But we never should have been put having to do this. But, here’s the kicker. #ldnont residents paid for a portion of all of that too, and they paid for their portion of all of the new furniture and supplies in CitiPlaza. Furniture and outfitting offices are not covered by 7/

provincial dollars - that’s all property taxes. Let me get something clear. I strongly believe MLHU does exceptional work in our communities , and they have been handling COVID as best as they can. These issues are not mutually exclusive. I absolutely can be critical of this 8/

and praise the work they do elsewhere. #Middlesex and #ldnont should be proud to have MLHU working for the residents of our communities. But this was an absolute err in judgement. It was total disrespect, and I’m not going to apologize for calling it out. There’s going to be 9/

costs to the County to deal with what was left. There’s absolutely going to be costs to destroy electronic waste and deal with electronics that could potentially host confidential information (we don’t know). Costs to get rid of the heaps of garbage left behind. There would 10/

be a problem if we weren’t disappointed. There would be a problem if we weren’t questioning this, and what is best for the residents of the County. It’s okay to be critical. #ldnont #MiddlesexProud #onpoli 11/end.