VERISIMILITUDE

I couldn't believe it was in the dictionary. My son Frank played Grand Pooh Bah in The Mikado, a Gilbert and Sullivan opera played by Aurora Theatre at St. Andrew's College before they had a theatre of their own.

Frank was seventeen.The role called for a huge belly, a bald pate, a pig-tail and considerable facility with fast, arch patter; in the midst of it "verisimilitude". The word has flavour. It means "having the appearance of truth"

I had a call from Councillor Gallo this morning. He had participated in the decision on the Integrity Commissioner's contract, he said. I was not correct in stating otherwise.

If I was wrong, I would correct it, I said.

I checked the time table. Councillor Gallo arrived at the meeting after ten p.m. Council reported out at ten-forty-eight. It makes sense. The Councillor was present for the discussion before the vote. Having authority and being in attendance and voting at a meeting, means participation.

Having to cast one's mind back to re-assemble facts sometimes brings together previously unnoticed details .

The first red flag was the call from the Mayor's office to determine if I would be in attendance at the meeting. I checked and learned Councillor Collins Mrakas had also received a query..

Only six members in attendance offered the explanation. Though the Clerk's office normally checks when there's a question of quorum.

The in-camera session started at eight-forty eight p.m. It went off the rails almost immediately. Councillor MacEachern left the room, declaring "Councillor Buck will put everything into her blog" and she would not stay.

The Mayor noted there was no quorum. Councillor Collins Mrakas noted "Yes there is"

The Mayor proceeded to make an issue about my presence and intentions . The exchange took time. Councillor MacEachern returned

We proceeded with the first item. There were questions. I had questions. Again, the process was delayed by what appeared to be the Mayor's problem with my asking questions.

Eventually the item was deferred to obtain answers to the questions.

Councillor Gallo indicates that discussion was still going on when he arrived after ten o'clock. He did not participate in the vote to defer the first item.

So here is what is clear.

I had indicated at a previous meeting, I would not attend a meeting to discuss the first issue. I believed the discussion should be public.

I was not therefore expected to be there. They would still have a quorum. Without me, they had three votes to two. With me, the vote would be tied.

They had to scramble.

Councillor Gallo needed to be there to break the tie and give them the edge they needed for the
second item on the agenda; the service contract and appointment of the Integrity Commissioner.

Yes he did participate. His vote made the difference.

Appointment of an Integrity Commissioner is controversial in the community. With five months left in the term, the plan should be dead in the water.

We can anticipate further activity.