Flashback

Out of nowhere it came. Somewhere in the town office on Yonge Street.
Angus MacGregor raised a foot and tapped  his crocodile brogue.
"I didn't pay for  those with what the Town of Aurora pays " He  said.
He was  annoyed. I had the impression I was the target. I seemed to b able to get under people's skin without even trying. 
MacGregor was a  volatile individual.  He had spent his  career    on job sites all over North America as construction supervisor.  I gleaned  from his comment his job in Aurora as a comedown and he wanted others to understand.
The late Mayor Dick Illingworth and he  had a few  blowouts in public. I remember one about parking on Wellington Street between the post office and  traffic lights. The Mayor was displeased and gave his orders.
MacGregor was secure in his own authority.There was much shaking of shaggy heads and quivering of hirsute visages,
It's odd how  such an altercation between two males can pass without note. 
A female  involved  gets quite a different reaction . 
The town was  a small operation. Administration consisted of a Clerk-Treasurer, deputy-clerk, treasury clerk and  clerk in the Clerk's department. 
Public works had a foirteen man crew.
The Volunteer Fire Department numbered twenty-four. A number  were works department employees.
Norm Weller had recently been hired to take care of  parks. We had three . 
MacGregor thought Weller should be under his control  
Weller had ideas of his own and went about his job with vigour and determination. 
Former Councillor Walt Davis  had the last word. Weller knows what he's doing ... doesn't need anybody to tell him .... we get the best from him  by leaving him alone.
So that's what we did. When it came time to get  a truck for the parks department, it was in the colour green. When the department grew, the colour  remained green.
Works department vehicles were red.
I'm not sure when the fleet  colour changed to white. Council wasn't  consulted. 
When Norm Weller came to Council a few months ago to ask for 
parks vehicles to be returned to  green, I echoed his views. The argument had everything going for it even more than fifty years ago. 
Council  was supportive.
I remarked to the Mayor; "We are on the side of the angels"
There had been conversation before  the notice of motion came forward. 
There's an additional cost  it was stated.
I  inquired of suppliers. 
Discovered it not to be a fact. . 
Still it was insisted .When Council  finally got around the circuitous  path to a decision, information was still  presented  except for Ford, there is an extra $200. for  green vans and passenger vehicles. 
The parks department does not use vans or passenger vehicles.
Bids are called  to specifications for the supply of vehicles.
Supplier with the best price fulfilling  specifications gets the  business.
Green  for parks trucks would be a specification.
Weeks passed  between the request from Norm Weller, notice of motion presented in writing,  motion tabled, motion deferred,  a six page staff report with  a single line at the bottom of page five, acknowledging no extra cost, before finally  a decision was  made that  parks trucks will be green.
Elsewhere a  Mayoralty comment  is noted about the need  to streamline Council meetings,
 Councillors are deemed culpable  in their tendency to grandstand.
Well Heavens to Betsy!!! Imagine!!!!  Politicians who desire their voices to be heard.
People  knowing  how  a politician's mind works.  
I would point  in another direction.for  the problem of endless circuitous discussion before a vote is taken.
I think the presiding member has a role to play
A presiding member who does not distinguish between the authority of  Council  and the role of the admiuistration, functions at a definite disadvantage. .