Here's Something

An e-mail to the Mayor and Councillors  about  the town paying  legal costs for litigation against three citizens has prompted this one.

I am reminded  legal  bills started  within the month after the 2007 election. The first target was the previous Mayor, also a contestant in the election. The purpose was nothing less than total annihilation of his reputation and character.

One lawyer was retained , then another and I'm really not sure how many others.  The effort lasted almost two years. Finally the last lawyer was requested to attend an in-camera meeting.

His advice was clear. Even if there had been  intended "invasion of privacy" which was not evident,the only action possible was litigation for damages which could only be undertaken  privately. It would not be a matter for the municipality.

He was surprised to learn Council had not been privy to his previous correspondence.I think the effort by the dreadful duo to make him  see things differently,  the apparent purpose of the conference, might have surprised him even more.

Though not in this instance, I remember seeing the price of  lawyer attending council for a conference at $5 Ks .

Council never did see the fees for that futile exercise.

But Council and staff were complicit in the fees being incurred.

I may be able to discover what that episode cost now the way is clear.

It's probably time we had a tally. Just for the record.

The former Mayor had files  she carried about. The cover would be tattered with the weight of its content,A great bundle of keys were part of the accoutrement. 

I heard  there were  days of furious shredding in the office before the  final exit. As well as ongoing consultations with the lawyer. We paid bills dated well on into November. Six weeks after the defeat