A Six Page Report

Weeks ago, former Councillor ,School Board Trustee and Retired with Distinction, Parks Manager Norm Weller, came to Council and gave sage advice about the emerald ash borer and trees in general.
He also spoke about what it meant to have the parks vehicles green
and not white.
 I agreed.
I went through the  lengthy, laborious process of giving  written notice of motion and two weeks later, presented  the motion with several whereases to explain the rational .
Most of Council was supportive.I referred to previous staff advice  and  noted I had made inquiries and determined the commercial color green  does not cost more.
Councillor Thompson, who had two weeks to make his own inquiries, once again  sought  the director's advice .
Does it cost more for parks trucks to be green.
The director replied in the affirmative. He said yes it does.
Councillor Thompson took a position on the need to be careful with taxpayers money and we should not spend if we don't have to.
Councillor Ballard went further and offered the opinion it would probably cost $1000 more for each truck.
On one hand a Councillor, having done the work necessary to support the resolution made a definitive statement. No increased cost.
On the other, a director continued to advise Council  there is.
The decision was deferred until the next council meeting when the true fact could be determined.
In the intervening time, I asked the fleet manager of  Highland Chev Olds a favor. Would he circulate an e-mail to the Mayor and Council advising them the fact it does not cost more to have the trucks in the colour called Woodland Green.
The Council meeting came and went. The report was not on the agenda.Being on the committee agenda  means it will not be enacted until still another week has passed. 


The last two paragraphs  on page 5 of the 6 page  Director's  report  read as follows:

The  Town recently closed a tender for 3(three) trucks  for the Parks Division.This tender is ready for award.Should Council recommend reverting to green for all parks vehicles ,this is the first opportunity to do so.
The preferred vendor was contacted to determine any impacts to the cost or delivery of changing from white to green and verified there would be no impact based on this change.

Over the page  under the section Financial Implications, the report states a cost of $2,850 if the white trucks on hand are re-painted. 
The resolution before Council specified, it is not intended for  current trucks to be re-painted. 
There was agreement on Council that the Parks trucks should be green. Some Councillors were even willing to pay extra.
I believe the colour should not have been changed in 2009 without Council authority. 
But a significant aspect of the issue is; a  dispute between a Councillor and a  Director  over an easily determined fact. 
Two Councillors took a position based on inaccurate information provided by staff.
There is no good reason for that to happen.