"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Monday 20 February 2012

Reason Is Safer

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post ""A Riddle Wrapped in a Mystery Inside An Enigma"":

since when does a councillor have to explain which way they voted. I was under the impression that a yea or nay is all that is required.

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The comment is correct. A Councillor is required to cast a vote, Abstaining is not permitted. Reason is not required.

It's what the Municipal Act requires.

Sometimes I do it myself. But only when the issue is not significant.

It's been noted mine is often solitary in opposition. I ask for it to be recorded vote because, in the past, I've been accused of voting for something I didn't.

I normally state a position. I think it's important for people to know there's a different way of looking at things even if it is only one.

Only one time I recall a resolution moved and seconded and not spoken to, Itwas moved by Kean and seconded by Morris. The motion was to put a street name to the Town Hall driveway.

The intent was to change the address on town hall stationary. If a majority is secure,the argument can be withheld. If it is without merit, or reveals a mean and jealous disposition, t'were best not spoken. It can never come back to haunt.

But there is a risk. No reason given, means reason will be assumed.Maybe the wrong one.

No is an answer.

The vote last week was to authorize staff to speak plainly and honestly without fear of breaching requirement to maintain confidentiality of a closed door meeting.

No was a refusal to authorize staff to speak plainly and honestly without fear or favour.

What could be the reason for not wanting truth to be told?

A reason may not be required. It's better supplied all the same.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

The only possible explanation that would indicate the use of grey matter would be if the 3 of them know something that was said or done in that closed meeting that they really, really want to keep secret. Which makes finding out what happened that much more interesting. And makes the three of them easy targets if they decide to run again and they probably will.
Here we go again just when you thought there would be no more of this garbage.

Anonymous said...

I knew Aurora had coyotes. But lemmings?

Anonymous said...

I knew Aurora had coyotes. But lemmings?

and at least 3 weasels for good measure

Anonymous said...

Three slices of Toast to go, please.

Anonymous said...

Why would the same three councillors who voted to continue funding Morris' defamation lawsuit vote to keep the discussion of the closed session of September 14/15 secret, i.e. not permit senior members of staff present at that meeting from relating what transpired?

Someone out there in the public should be compiling a list of votes by these three members of Council that demonstrate their complete and utter disregard for what this town's residents want and expect from their elected representatives.

This list, already obnoxious and growing, should be used in a series of ads asking voters in 2014 to NOT VOTE for this trio of miscreants.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 2-20-12 8:32pm said:

"Someone out there in the public should be compiling a list of votes by these three members of Council that demonstrate their complete and utter disregard for what this town's residents want and expect from their elected representatives."

If you review the results of the last election, there was nothing on the ballot that spelled out when the town's residents want and expect. The members of an elected body have been elected to represent and decide on the constituants' behalf. There is nothing in that contract that says that they will do what YOU want.

Who is to say your wants are what the majority wants?

Anonymous said...

8:39 AM
We'll just have to keep on trying until we get rid of the remnants. Wasn't too bad a job to wipe out the ring-leaders and the bullies.

Anonymous said...

To Anonymous 8:39 AM of today's date


In my opinion all votes should be recorded. This might add two or three minutes for each such occurrence.

The voting record of elected representatives provides the electorate with a far more intelligent basis for determining how candidates for elected office should be chosen.

The candidates' election pamphlets listing community participation and work experience say nothing to the point of how a person is likely to vote on a given issue.

In a number of democracies the sort of information I am suggesting is simply a matter of course.

Sure, there is no guarantee, but you can always refer back to a voting record when an elected representative goes off half cocked and deviates from the principles that he/she has established in the past. And you can remind them of this and ask them to explain.

It's not what I WANT, IT'S WHAT WE ALL WANT.

Anonymous said...

Sorry if this is a dumb question.
How can Windy and Gallo vote on releasing the information from the closed meeting when they attended it?
How are we to know if they might have a pecuniary interest in the Morris finances? So far, Morris has not been required to submit her accounts because she has been ordered to pay the accounts of others. But her own numbers could well be under scrutiny in the future.