Just Remembered Something Else

It's almost a year  since Rogers Cable asked to be allowed to install cameras in the Council Chamber.

It would eliminate the need for a truck outside, cables stretched across the ground and inside the building and operators in  charge of the three cameras.It would allow control from the station.

Filming would be better quality. I would imagine any happening  in the Council Chamber could be filmed .

But the cameras are expensive. Rogers needed an agreement,  they could  recover their property if need be. So they  requested permission to install with an agreement to maintain ownership.

As far as I know Rogers  never even got an answer because Council didn't make a decision.

It was another item that went behind closed doors to be discussed.

Think about it! How would anybody's privacy be invaded and how would the municipality's interest be impacted by discussing the request in public?

A question raised by Councillor Gaertner  was whether Rogers should pay the town to be allowed to install cameras in the Council Chamber.

In the last term, I put forward the suggestion we should  put cameras in the Council Chamber .It would allow for "streamimg"  all meetings in the  Chamber and residents would be able to watch  online. 

When I mentioned it, staff said it would be very expensive. A resident with expertise said, " No such thing, these cameras have become really inexpensive"

I brought that information back but it made no difference.

For all the talk about openness and transparency, it seems any opportunity to accomplish it  is to be avoided.

Rogers  willingness to make the investment for better quality  filming of   Council Meetings easier to provide to town residents  at no cost to the Town was shunned.

A necessary  agreement to provide to security of ownership to Rogers was beyond our imagination.

And...you were not even supposed to know about the possibility. .

It  was all a big secret.

I mentioned it at the time. Just thought I'd remind you.