Abracadabra !!!!!

Town policies are being updated and re-classified. Its a humungous task..Scores of  policies exist. Councillors need to approve  needed changes; like scrapping obsolete or duplicate policies, re-writing of badly written policies, clarifying obscure policies and generally speaking, tidying up  the mess.


Some policies predate changes in the administration. Some  pre-date Methusaleh

In the ordinary way, Councillors might never become aware of  town policies unless  advised of their existence by staff.

Policies are not bylaws. They are a guide to consistency.  They are not  laws that must be observed. They can be interpreted. Buried. Misconstrued. Read differently than intended by the writer.Written badly by the writer.

On one nefarious  occasion,  policy  was deliberately  misconstrued by a solicitor retained by the  former Mayor, for  such a perverse purpose  as to have had  devastating  and degrading  impact against three staff members, one in particular being the target. All done furtively  behind closed doors in a bizarre scenario similar ro the movie "Coma" In the name of confidentiality and privacy of the individual. 


It was accomplished without significant opposition because of   lack of awareness of individual Council members.

 I do not urge  policies should not be changed or updated. 

I do not claim  no need for change.

I do not contend  blankety-blank policies should  clutter  the books.
forever and a day.

I do maintain ,after decades of use, mis-use , neglect and selective attention, Councillors should  at least understand their own authority before  surrendering  it to the administration. 

It is no  less the  serious  responsibility of a Councillor  than any other. 

To that end, at the last meeting, Councillors were persuaded to deal with the task in an educational workshop session. Provincial law gives us that right.

We can  convene  behind closed doors, converse  in a free-wheeling manner, in the language of the streets or whatever is comfortable, on an equal basis,  mano el mano. on n equal basis  with staff without being encumbered by   protocol required  in public  between elected and appointed officials.

At last night's general committee meeting, policy discussions referred  at the previous meeting to a future  educational workshop  were back on the general  committee agenda..

The question of Council's authority to direct was  now added to the debate.

 Council's authority had to be re-establsihed. Again the nature of an educational workshop was discussed. 

A vote to forfeit the opportunity  to educate ourselves in the matter of policies and Council authority versus staff responsibility carried. 

Everything  must be done in public was the clarion cry. Open and transparent like the last lot.
.
Councillor Abel made the astounding declaration:

." We must invite the public in"  he said. " they probably won't come" he said.

The assumption appeared to be  non-attendance by the public  would serve the same purpose as an educational workshop.

So there will be a separate discussion..It will be public.

Hobbled by formality and protocol,  Councillors will be exceedingly careful  which thought to express and which to keep to themselves, for fear of appearing  to be  less than knowledgeable, which they are, understandably so.

The transfer of your authority from Council  to staff will proceed unimpeded.

Before your very eyes. .