GoFundMe page started to pay for Stouffville mayor's 'People's Chain'

Yorkregion.com
Simon Martin
Nov. 16, 2017

Can you smell what GoFundMe is cooking?

Just when you thought the chain of office saga in Whitchurch-Stouffville couldn't get any more bizarre, a GoFundMe page entitled 'Pay for the People's Chain' has been started to raise $1,949 to cover the expense of Justin Altmann's community chain.

Earlier this week, it was revealed Altmann expensed a community chain that looks quite similar to an official chain of office for $1,949. This was after council passed a policy to limit the use of the town's chain of office last year after some councillors became upset over what they perceived as Altmann's liberal use of the chain around the community.

The GoFundMe page , which was created by Kevin Wagg says, "With all the crap going on... in Whitchurch-Stouffville and the contemptuous debate (about) the chain of office the mayor is not allowed to remove from office or wear as he sees fit, I've had enough and feel that if the town wants to complain about this one and the fact it was expensed, then let's chip in to raise the $1,949 to pay the town back for this undue hardship, which equates to one cent per resident, per year over his four-year term."

The chain is not the main issue in town, the page says.

"The issue is bullying and a constant witch hunt against the mayor of Stouffville "the people's mayor Justin Altmann."

In the aftermath of the revelation about the the second chain, Altmann justified the decision to CTV Toronto, saying the money amounted to four cents per resident over his four-year term.

The formal motion from December placed limitations on the original chain’s use, including that it is not taken beyond the borders of the town, it is only worn at official council meetings and that it be displayed in a publicly accessible area of town hall in a display case under lock and key.

For more information, visit gofundme.com/thepeopleschain.