More Bafflegab

A legal opinion on our recently passed Code of Conduct is on hand. It was vetted behind closed doors before being released for public consumption. That's the weirdest thing!

Councillor Wilson was ecstatic. He read the final paragraph aloud and exultantly moved the recommendation be adopted. Mayor Morris prepared to call the vote. I asked for it to be repeated. It magically changed to a motion to receive as information.

A motion to receive simply means a record is noted.

The legal opinion by our interim solicitor notes there is "no tool available to force a councillor to take the physical course of action required under the Code."

The Code also states a councillor must read and understand it.

Councillor Wilson's excitement about the last paragraph and his motion to adopt a non-existent recommendation is a perfect illustration why that course of action cannot be enforced either.

Dire warnings of what might transpire with a councillor's refusal to sign are included in the legal opinion. "Conduct will be under close scrutiny by stakeholders" it claims. A complaint might be filed and an investigation by the Integrity Commissioner might mean it will be difficult to keep my seat on council.

Well you know, I can't believe any research was done to support that opinion. The right of the electorate to choose a representative without interference from any source is a principle held inviolate in Canada. It would take a very serious crime indeed to separate my posterior from my rightful place on council. I have no plans to become a sociopath any time soon.

So, in the first place, we have a bylaw which cannot be enforced because of ridiculous requirements. In the second, a convoluted legal opinion which acknowledges the fact. In the third, a councillor who reads a paragraph aloud in a public meeting and concludes it means something it does not. In the fourth Mayor Morris covered up his error and the fact the combined effort to coerce and intimidate is a bust.

I've posted the The Oath of Office that every elected official must swear before being allowed to take a seat on council. The Code of Conduct is on the town's web site. The opinion submitted to council by Ms. Maclean is also posted here.

Except for the Oath of Office, we have perfect examples of meaningless baffle-gab. I suspect the Mayor's heavy hand was involved in the Bylaw and the legal opinion.

I am no longer confident of receiving independent professional advice from town staff.

It's a sad state of affairs.