A Re-write

I had a problem with yesterday's post. It was written as a letter to The Auroran and a blog post.

The requirements of a post are much more flexible than that of a letter to the editor. Ron is very good at publishing what I write. But I'm mindful of the fact that readers are put off by the sight of a long read. So there's a bit of a conflict between the two.

I got up this morning and decided the farce that was Tuesday's meeting needed a different treatment for Auroran Readers. So I wrote it again. I spent four hours on the work and I am not inclined to spend another four hours on this hot and sticky day writing another post.

So I am posting the letter to the editor. Much of it repeats of what I said yesterday. Just with a different slant. I like it better and I want to share it.

It's hard to realize we are almost at the end of the awful experience of this council term. I expect there will be ample material to comment on before the new council takes office.

Hopefully Aurora's political drama will take a turn for the better.

White Knight comments that he has watched the June 22nd meeting and was appalled to hear a Leslie Street resident call me a liar in a public meeting.

I didn't watch it so I didn't know. I had heard it was another example of what had gone before.

The Mayor's strategy still works. She sets people up to say things she wants to be said but has no intention of saying herself.

People are completely unaware they are being wound up. Like the cab driver on Tuesday. I have no idea what he was talking about. I don't use cabs. I don't get calls from people who use cabs. The attack came right out of the blue and I still don't know what it was about.But I can't worry about everything underhanded that's going on.

White Knight is quite right when he speculates how much time goes into plotting and scheming and preparing Council Meetings. Every one is a dramatic production with lines prepared.
for each participant. They all know their part with the mayor and Councillor MacEachern acting as co-directors.

In the last few weeks, cracks have begun to appear. Some Councillors who have allowed themselves to be used, are beginning to recognize, there has been little advantage to themselves in the way the game has been played.

People can't be told they are being used. They would naturally be insulted. They have to realize it for themselves. When they do, there is always a bitter reaction. It's not easy to admit to having been taken in. Trust was violated.They are as angry at themselves as at those who used them.

The election will determine if Ms Morris and Councillor Mac Eachern have played the rope out to its end.

If they had to focus all the spite they are capable of on one person, I would rather it be me than someone who might be destroyed by it.

And of course, it couldn't be anyone else but me.

Who else is giving the community a play by play report on their activities? And enjoying doing it.

I hear the Leslie Street residents admitted they didn't need $8 thousand dollars worth of trees after all. The leaves on the forest have filled in nicely and they can't even see the pole that so offended them.

What does that say about the professional staff recommended solution to the problem. And the four supporting votes it received from Morris, MacEachern, Gaertner and Grainger

I wish every stunt pulled by the terrible twins had such a modest price tag.

We will soon discover the full extent of betrayal of the public trust



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Tuesday's meeting of council was a grand finale with a cast of thousands on and off stage, performed by staff and council and various audience participants.

It was a blend of Gilbert and Sullivan, Wagner and falling-down slap-stick British farce. at its worst or best.

Brunnhilde of the big boobies,blonde tresses,viking shield,flashing sword and horned helmet was front and centre, in full throat.

Siegfried , Brunnhilde's partner, circled the room with camera taking shots of audience members.

Favored volunteer was there to trash the Farmer's Market which recently decided to go it alone, without largesse dispensed at the hand of Brunnhilde from the town treasury,ostensibly for their benefit but not really.

Said volunteer was there to request bandshell fees be waived to support husband George's Jazz Festival. The request was not made. The delegate settled instead for trashing the market with photos. The market committee has recently decided to forego services offered by Brunnhilde's favourite volunteer at the fees she was demanding.

The bandshell was previously used sans fees while St.Kitts entertainment committee was somehow associated with the market.

Recommendations from the Integrity Commissioner were part of the agenda. An edit to his recommendation had been forwarded from his blackberry to be a last minute add on to the agenda.

Complainant Councillor MacEachern decided she should declare an interest and not participate in the debate . As in biblical washing of hands and disclaiming responsibility for outcome.

Staff recommended no further Code of Conduct complaints be received after a date two weeks hence. Because of the upcoming election and the fear complaints might be politically motivated.

Isn't that convenient. A twelve month contract was signed April 1st in the last seven months of the term . Now complaints should not be received after August 1st. Councillor MacEachern, sole successful complainant, suggested the Integrity Commissioner could be asked to review the Code of Conduct to occupy the remaining time of his contract.

A new lease agreement for the Aurora Soccer Club was presented for consideration without direction or notice. Attached was a statement from the Club responding to concerns brought privately to the attention of staff by myself that the facility was being used in various ways as a commercial entity in competition with local business .

The club enjoys an amenity, situated on town-owned land of a value of between one and two million dollars, They enjoy all municipal services. They pay neither rent nor taxes.

Local businesses do pay taxes, provide employment, buy advertising ,fund sponsorships to the value of thousands of dollars to various sports organisations and charitable fund-raisers and generally work hard to operate successfully and support their community.

I had chosen to drawn the problem to the notice of the Chief Administrative Officer to have staff deal with the matter without creating public controversy.

Apparently staff decided or Brunnhilde directed, the issue was worth the risk of public controversy.

Much the same as non-accounting of funds raised for the 2008 July 1st Parade under the auspices of the town.

A phalanx of soccer club members seated themselves in a row opposite my chair at the table as if daring me to say in public what they had apparently been informed I had said privately to staff. Whom I have every reason to expect will do whatever is required to ensure fair treatment for the town's economic business partners.

I think club members were responding to a rallying call from Brunnhilde to attend Council and defend their interest. It's how she works.

There was the cab driver who dropped in to make a complaint. He named me in a hostile way and seemed to have a bone to pick about something I had done to offend him. His point escaped me. I requested him to be specific Instead,in his response he claimed great appreciation for Brunnhilde who has met with him at 2.a.m. commiserated with him and apparently put the finger on his number one enemy. Moi.

As noted the meeting had started with the continuing farce that is this Council.

A Councillor's attempt to speak to a motion. is continually interrupted by the presiding member as she calls upon a staff member to refute every point made by the member who has the floor. Some staff are compliant with the strategy.

The conduct is totally contrary to all known principles and rules of procedure in a democratic organization It does the opposite of maintaining order.It is not conducive to good relations between staff and elected members.

The chair's role is to maintain order. It is accomplished by all members accepting the rules and supporting the principles of how we govern ourselves.

Staff have no place in the public debate.

But who maintains order when the chair observes no rules for herself and creates rules on the hoof to accommodate her friends and destroy all opposition to her will.

Challenged on Tuesday, Brunnhilde displayed with absolute certainty, her total absence of comprehension of rules or principles.

After forty minutes of one sided harangue , gazing with pathos towards her friends in the audience, for what she must endure while trying to get town business accomplished , the chair called a recess without limit, vacated the chair and wandered about the chamber chatting sublimely with this friend and that.

Chaos and confusion continued until the public part of the meeting ended at 11.30p.m.and Council proceeded to secret session. That part didn't end until after 1.00 in the morning.

It was followed by a social hour with staff and politicians enjoying pizza .

Town Treasurer was despatched in Brunnhilde's carriage to collect the repast and bring it to the Town hall for a celebration of sorts.

I have often thought..... if I did support the concept of a Code of Conduct for politicians, and the appointment of that Commissioner, how easy it would be to file a complaint complete with attached tape of a Council meeting, any meeting,

Not a whit of investigation would be required. A feast of evidence exists... cameras do not lie....ranging throughout the term from December 1st 2006 until last Tuesday and no doubt will continue until the last meeting of Council in August.

It's the gift that keeps on giving.