Because I Am What I Am

And people know what I am, I assume readers of  this blog understand my pre-occupation with town politics and expect the blog to be what it is. That  it might  sometimes be tedious and boring.  But I don't apologize for that because I am what I am and the blog is what it is.

At Tuesday's meeting,the Mayor directed the clerk to record a vote though she had not received a request . On a point of order, I argued the chair did not have authority to make the request from the chair.

A recess was called while the Mayor consulted with staff  to assist in making  a ruling on the point of order. A  paragraph of the  Rules of Order  was  read . It indicated any member may request a vote be recorded. The  Chair took that to mean  since any member can make the request,the chair could also. 

My point of order was ruled against.

A Chair's  ruling  can be challenged . But there comes a point, when nothing can be accomplished without a further  colossal waste of Council  time. A  majority is lined up in every instance  in mindless  support of their  Fearless Leader.

The fact is when  a Councillor  requests a recorded vote, the request must be made to the Presiding Member who in turn directs the clerk to record the vote.The role of the Presiding Member precludes making a request to him/herself. It is so  simple.

Recorded votes have  been grossly misused throughout this term.

Normally it 's how  a Councillor , strongly opposed to  a decision,has the right to ask the vote to  be recorded in order to make his or her opposition part of the written record. It is not about supporting a decision. It is about opposing it.

Without  a record, there is no proof  who voted for or against the motion.  Decisions  are required to be  recorded. .."without note or comment"

No debate is recorded.  It  is the only means  a Councillor has to prove a position taken.

I doubt the significance has ever been  fully understood  by the current Mayor or  Councillor MacEachern. At times  it was not even entirely clear  who  actually occupied the chair.

A question might  proceed  without controversy of any kind. The discussion  might have clearly indicated  unanimity. Yet a recorded  vote  would be requested anyway.

The process  requires the clerk to call each member  by name and state yes or no and at the end for the numbers  in favour or opposed  to be stated and  the  decision announced

As opposed to hands raised yea or nay and passage declared.

I  explain  the process now  because I fully anticipate meetings of the new Council,  one way or another will be video taped for public viewing. The explanation will help. I think. to understand the play by play.

Mostly a person has to be doing it to learn how to use the rules but watching and understanding can go a long way to prepare a candidate to hit the ground running.

Just because you know the rules doesn't mean you can play hockey. But understanding the rules sure helps to enjoy the skills of the player.

A recorded vote is  not  innocent of  political strategy.

A question may be  controversial and sides taken in the community. If the vote is not recorded, a Councillor can vote one way  and deny it later, depending on the exigencies. 

A recorded vote is the written record. In normal circumstances it cannot be disputed or denied. It should give a Councillor pause.

Of course we have seen during this term, an instance when even the record could  not be relied upon.

I don't  expect that to happen again either