"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

Wednesday 8 February 2012

Tic-Tac-Toe

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "More Than Defamation":

"Several Councillors in the room claimed afterwards they were unaware the resolution passed gave the town solicitor authority to proceed with litigation."

The resolution contained the following words: to "use any and all means to address potential defamation."

The subject of defamation is a very serious and offensive one and an obvious recourses is litigation, a law suit.

Perhaps the Councillors were being disingenuous, or downright stupid, for their post-meeting utterances.

Deputy Mayor McRoberts is the only one whose comments are credible; Gallo and Granger are not.

As to what the CAO and Town Clerk said by way of contribution during the meeting we don't know, and neither do you, since you were not present.

One must seriously assume that neither of these gentlemen would speak either for or against a lawsuit directed toward residents of the town.

But we DO NOT KNOW sine the matter was a closed session, and therefore confidential.

Which leaves us where?

*************************

It leaves you not completely understanding the process.

The two officials in a closed door meeting have the same function they do in an open meeting. They do not speak unless a question relevant to their field is directed to them.

The town solicitor was also in the room. The same rule applies.

Mr. Cooper had already advised Council once  verbally and once in writing; Councillors are indemnifiedif they are sued for a decision rendered within their duty and authority as  Councillors.

Indemnification does not cover a member of council taking legal action against anyone else.

I did not have to be in the room to know these facts.

I was not in the room because the anonymous comment. severely critical of the Mayor, circulated to Councillors  to justify a closed door meeting. Did not.

It was not town business . Using town resources to formally discuss a personal matter is an abuse of public resources .

A clause in the Code of Conduct prohibits that. I could have filed a complaint to the Integrity Commissioner if I  believed in  the process. I could have filed a complaint after every meeting of that council and produced evidence in an audio-video record. to support it.

It would have been like a game of tic-tac-toe.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Stuff from closed meetings has always seeped out over time. We all knew about Evalina's switch from gracious smiling councillor into foul-mouthed harridan as soon as those doors were closed. It likely cost her the election as she had been very careful in public.

Anonymous said...

Wilson and Granger had trouble realizing the differences required between closed and open sessions so their behaviour spread through the community. Since they could bully in private they figured it was OK elsewhere. An earlier comment said the swearing cost Evilina the election. The bullying was the last straw for the 2 guys.

Anonymous said...

Georgina is after their Council for only giving about $3000 to their food bank last year when they were asked for $33,000. We are seriously remiss in not funding ours. One member of the last Council didn't even know where our food bank was. We can do better given what money is being spent elsewhere. And I don't want to hear the excuse that it isn't needed badly.

Anonymous said...

Aurora could find $500,000 for the arts, money for parades and jazz festivals (the best ever in the whole wide world), money for trails, recreation and lots of money for legal battles inclding the town’s legal battles with developers and Morris’ private legal battles and $0 for the food bank. That sums it up right there.

Thank goodness we at least have a new council that is trying to right the ship, one step at a time.

Anonymous said...

What staff thought and/or did is interesting but what people in town talk about is what the councillors at that meeting and did. Evelyn has said she does believe those who claimed not to know a lawsuit was pending but some, me included, are not so confidant in that version of events. Hopefully the conflict of interest charges will determine where ALL the responsibility lies.

Anonymous said...

Strange how we all have different memories of when the wheels fell off the Mormac wrecking truck. Mine was when that anonymous ad was placed in the Auroran asking for people to run against the former Mayor. Windy hinted that she knew did that, but as usual she was talking through her hair. Don't know how that fits into the time frame of the 2 earlier comments on the end game.

Anonymous said...

Why don't we support the Food Bank ? That should be a no-brainer. Unless it's 'policy' which Mayor Dawe seems to keep harping on. Weren't all those sidewalks 'policy' too?

Anonymous said...

Do you remember when E fell ? That group went right on posturing and Gallo telling some joke until PM saw that the cameras were still on and ordered Rogers to shut them off ? The program went our little town's version of viral.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

Heres the deal. Aurora can help with our crazy Mayor and we'll help you figure out how to run a food bake,

Anonymous said...

You should have, after every meeting.

Given the SOB something to do for the thousands he removed from "Our Town."

Anonymous said...

"Why don't we support the Food Bank ? That should be a no-brainer. ..."

It is a no brainer. The Town has enought money problems. The last thing we need to do is get involved in the welfare business.

Municipal governments are tasked with stuff like fire, police, roads, water, parks, etc. Welfare is a different level.