Judgement Versus Rigid Formula

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "When Is A Publication Not a Local Newspaper?":

The Town's Executive Leadership Team
Gotta love the big titles these people prefer. It is quite obvious that this particular lot of words is used to disguise exactly which individual or department is making the proposal. Wonder exactly who is determined that the Banner contract should be renewed and that staff have the additional authority to extend it a further 2 years. It means less work for Staff but makes no sense from a practical/ economic point of view.
Can't think of a single Councillor who would try to make a case for renewal of that contract. And that's probably a First.
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Before the  grand title , the  name was Management team.
That was before Mormac.
When volunteers were elevated to prime status and Council was reduced to nonentity.  
It's much the same today. 
And as long as Council does not work as one that's how it's going to stay.
The issue of the Notice Board contract has been contentious for some time. 
Still, staff drew up a list of criteria without consulting Council.
Their  recommendation came forward and was rejected.
But not by all.
Those who chose to accept the recommendation  suggested those who did, were  "tweaking" numbers  to serve their own purpose.
The manager of communications was charged with  responsibility for the contract and making the recommendation.
Council is under no obligation to accept a staff recommendation.
Ours is the decision-making authority. 
 A rigid formula of awarding points for arbitrary factors   are a modern option  for exercising judgement. 
So many points for this and so many  for that. 
The Auroran lost on the points accorded to  a readership survey. 
They didn't present one. There wasn't time. 
The Chief Administrator said the survey would carry greater weight if it was carried out by an outside source rather than an internal audit. 
For audit, read survey. 
The problem with  according  points to the Banner for their survey  was,  their "readership audit" was done in 2010..
Points were given for design of  the Notice Board.
No points for readership content.
On any given week of the year, the two publications could be placed together and  determined at a glance to be no contest for readership content.
A newspaper is essentially an advertising business.
News stories  are the  enticement to  readers to open the pages and be exposed to the advertising. 
When Metroland purchased  every local newspaper in  York Region, they created a monopoly. 
When small  local newspapers  became possible again  by the advent  of computers, Metrolands  monopoly was broken. But their style did not change. They printed  little they weren't paid for.
They took  everything and gave nothing.
The  Town of Aurora is a business corporation. 
We  are charged with the responsibility of getting  the best value for money spent.
 When we  publish a Notice Board to keep people informed, we need to be assured  they will read  what we have published. 
We need to know news stories will entice readers to open the pages and be exposed to the town's Notice Board. we are paying to present.
Neither the design of the feature , nor a two year  out -of -date 
readership summary persuades me that will happen. 
The same price , a larger circulation and blanket  news content in one newspaper and none in the other is what clinches my decision. 
I think, a  Councillor who  chooses a non-relevant  formula and out- of- date data  and a lack of enticement,  is not exercising due diligence  of their office.
They are not tweaking anything. Including the muscle between their ears.