A Couple of Things. One Positive.. One not

Council  directed a plan be formulated for public  review of the traffic calming plan in the north-east quadrant.

Last night a  staff recommendation was considered.

For $4,750,  a contract with the consultant who designed the plan, to review consequences of the plan   he designed, was  recommended to council

My first  reaction when I read  it  was;  so....council  has authority to  direct staff ....  but if we have the temerity to do so, it's gonna cost.

My second was why would we give the job of critiquing  consequences of the  plan to the plan's designer?

I was saved from myself.

Councillor Thompson took up the  cudgels. He had asked  questions previously and determined  town staff would in fact be doing all the work. That always happens with consultants.

The councillor argued forty-seven hundred and fifty dollars was not a large sum but it was too large considering.

The director offered it would provide an impartial analysis.

It was anything but an impartial process that got the infernal project approved in the first place.

I recalled an  explosion from the Director of Public Works, when I kept poking at it with a pointy stick:

"It's not a Public Works project. We take no responsibility for it"

Council had appointed a consultant to meet with complaining residents to come up with a plan that  would silence their complaints. The plan would  create quiet lay-bys in the hub of an urban centre. Their intention was to enjoy the peace of an isolated backwater along with  the convenience of being at the heart of things.

When the plan was presented to the outgoing council of 2003/6, the estimate was $100,000. It was approved and referred  for  budget consideration.  After the election.

The new council, five inexperienced members, included the plan in the new budget.

Specifications were prepared. Estimates  for the project were refined to $80,000.

Bids came in. The price had zoomed to $211.000.

Initial reaction from some Councillors  ...  "Oh My God, we can't pay that"

After  horrendous pressure, orchestrated by Mormac and  friends, Councillors capitulated under the stress. The contract was approved.

It was probably the most successful effort to attract tourism  our town  has ever seen.  People came to gawk at what had been wrought by the town.

Millions  spent to re-construct public rights of way and concurrently, a quarter of million to create sufficient obstructions to defeat the purpose. .

Some residents of the neighbourhood were compelled to drive  around the block to gain access to their homes.

Anyway, the  public are now to have an opportunity to tell council what they want done with the monstrosity.

I believe they want the chicanes gone  and  closed  and one -way streets to become a thing of our disgraceful past.

Outraged and inconvenienced  citizens are to be given a second chance  to reverse the perversion.

Safe  and efficient movement of traffic  can be returned.

Spread the word.

Don't wait for questionnaires.

Flood the town hall with your comments.

Make sure not to be drowned out a second time.