Riddle Me THis

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Many Twists and Turnes of Politics.":

Agreeing to pave the sidewalks all along that road was a fairly early Council decision. I would hope they regret that one. Is there no way the scope of the project can be reduced? Just one side of the road with sidewalks? Is it too late?
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The decision was made to award the contract for design of sidewalk on both sides of the Industrial Parkway  in  2012. It was in the budget. It helped to increase your taxes. 
It is too late to save  the money spent on designs.
But it's not too late  to reduce the scope of the project
The Open House to see the plans will be held on Tuesday. September25th in the Holland Room at the Town hall.
You really need to let your Councillors know what you think. If they don't hear from you, they think you're not bothered  about   money being spent, you are all  loaded   and  can afford  increased  taxes  to pay for all kinds  of mindless projects.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "E-Mails Are Better":

Please. I have a question about how and why some things happen at Council and I don't know if it has to do with procedural by-laws or gremlins. Council seemed to have decided to give the Auroran that contract. But suddenly a new motion appears saying this should not be done. The same thing happened with the discussion about vehicle colours. What had been decided pops right back up. The term " Leadership Team " makes it hard to determine if an individual or a department is taking some matters to such extremes. Who sets the agenda?

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This is a difficult question. It took me a while to understand  the turn that had been taken. 
Staff conducted a competition based on certain criteria.
They recommended the contract be awarded to the Metroland publication.
The main advantage they said  was a "readership audit."
Circulation was a factor. 
The Auroran's circulation was higher. 
The Auroran didn't have a readership audit. That was a negative.
In the course of debate, it turned out the readership audit The Banner had on hand was done in 2010. It was out of date and could n't be counted. 
Council decided on the basis of the criteria, the contract should not be awarded as recommended by staff. 
On the basis of strong  majority conviction, the readership advantage belonged to The Auroran. 
Council made that decision. As is our right.
Subsequently  staff became concerned  the RFP process  was flawed. 
CAO recommended  the decision  be set aside and the contract  awarded as a single source supplier. It is another option available.
The recommendation was not easily understood. 
It appeared staff were recommending the decision to award the contract to The Auroran was being set aside.
That could not  be permitted.
But it took a bit of to and fro before it was understood  that's not what was intended.
Staff  were given authority  to make an agreement with The Auroran as a sole source supplier rather than as the successful bid.
We certainly can do a good job of tying ourselves in knots at times. 
When you think of the numbers involved it's  not really all that surprising.
The six page memorandum about why the town fleet should  all be white was redundant and created needless irritation. 
 Councillor Gallo asked for a report from staff when all that was
needed was confirmation of no extra cost. 
I said there wasn't. The Director said there was. 
By my standards ,there really  is no excuse for the public  having to choose who  is giving factual information; a Councillor or a staff person.
Maybe that's another one of those changes I'm supposed to accept

I am not inclined..