"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 27 August 2012

When Is An Issue Not An Issue??


When a resolution  is moved and seconded , tabled for debate. No debate ensues.  Unanimous support is indicated.
It's Council's decision to make.
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  Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Answers":

"...and a non-issue as far as I am concerned."

But, YOU made green trucks an issue!?! 

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Did not. 
Council was informed green trucks cost more than white. 
Did not. . 
I did  my homework. I knew they didn't..
Returning to green  parks trucks seemed entirely logical. 
Acting on  factual information  and respecting  Council's   authority  became problematic.
Why  should that be? 
Six pages of  bafflegab was presented by staff  to defeat the motion.
All other municipalities have white vehicles. As  does the Region.
Powerstream has them
Also Enbridge Gas. 
Putting  one's  brand on the  fleet is important. 
A study from California suggests light-coloured vehicles produce  less pollution. 
A better deal can be obtained  at the end of a season. White is the colour most likely left on the lot.
If it's a fancy green, it costs more. 
If  it's a  van or a passenger vehicle it costs more.
So here's the thing:
The parks department do not use vans or passenger vehicles. 
Fancy greens are not  proposed.
Vehicles are purchased  by tender.. The best bid  gets the business. 
A California study  suggesting  less pollution  from a combustible engine clad in a light painted body, was  most likely  written through a pleasurable haze by a happy chappy smoking Caifornia Gold.
If everyone  is driving white, how is a  brand distinguished?
Tim is right. What is  significant about the colour of the parks trucks. 
Nothing much except they are parks vehicles. Parks are green.Why should the trucks be white?
The point of  dispute lies  in  entirely spurious arguments, presented in  writing, to prevent Council  from making the decision.
It took weeks for a notice of motion to reach the table.When it did,  the question was deferred for more weeks for accurate information to be provided about cost.
I already did that. My word was not accepted. 
A six page staff report was presented to negate the  fact.
Finally the air was cleared. The decision  was made. Still the issue is harked back upon in comments.
Like the point  went right over the heads of  readers. 
Complaints are made about Council not exercising authority
Then  Council does, even on a relatively  trivial  issue, complaints are made about that too.
Perhaps if I nodded my head and baad  repeatedly ?
"Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Three bags full"
 Not wool.   
         

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Who pursued the issue of the colour of Parks Dept. vehicles? Who wanted a return to the traditional green?

You (and Norm Weller, of course).

Who else really cared?

*crickets*

Anonymous said...

Man! The snipes and snarls are flowing. Means you're on a roll, Evelyn. Well done.

Anonymous said...

No 8:23, it means that the agenda if this council is still to right the perceived wrongs of previous councils.

There is no forward thinking agenda in place here.

Add to the list the chicanes.

What the hell is next? Change the streets back to gravel to save money on asphalt? or Give the fire department buckets instead of hoses?

Come on, we're halfway through this. When will there be some tangible forward thinking decisions?

Call me a snipe or snarl if you like, but I am getting tired of the retro-fixing that seems to have been the hallmark so far.