Here We Go Roud the Mulberry Bush.

Here we go round the mulberry bush
The mulberry bush
The mulberry bush.
Here we go round the mulberry bush
On a cold and frosty morning.

It's a meaningless jingle children  sing to accompany  a repeat  running exercise  that amuses them.  It stems from an earliest memory.
I still visualize a hedge with gaps just big enough to run in and out and round about and faster and faster until the game stops from complete  exhaustion. 
Tuesday's Council meeting was a scrum. I  missed the committee meeting the previous Tuesday. There were items I particularly needed  to discuss. 
Decisions are made at Council. A Councillor who  doesn't get two cents worth  in there,  doesn't get it in anywhere.
So, for me, a degree of watchfulness was called for.
But Oh My Lord,  the meeting  stretched out.. .
Awards were presented.four.
A seemingly endless presentation from an immigration agency. seemed to lull  the Mayor  into a trance. It  certainly went several times beyond the five minute limit. The operation is not within the scope of the municipality.So to this day,  mystery remains. . 
Councillor Ballard  started  the run-a-round with  a written presentation as to why  a notice of motion from Councillor Thompson  should not be on the agenda. 
The Councillor could not talk about why it should not be on the agenda, without talking about the motion itself.
Even if that was in order, which it wasn't,  no motion  was on the agenda. Only a Notice of Motion.
In the end ,the motion to delete was defeated but not before a mood for the evening had been established. 
A truck load of memorandum from the Mayor were on the agenda. Derived from a flurry of  commendation letters from various  associations . 
I'm not at all sure what that was about but each was a separate item on the agenda. Time will  no doubt reveal  the strategy if  there  is one. 
From our great breadth of expertise, we  discussed  how a company like Target should design  signs, to accomplish their objective while  not causing discomfort to Councillor Gallo's neighbours. 
Target is  taking over  Zellars operation.
They paid a fee and applied for a sign permit. It's big money.
Then they paid a second fee and applied  for a variance to the bylaw to allow  the addition of a  free-standing pole, ten feet high  with a  lettered light on top. 
We invest  money on  payroll , probably quarter- of- a- million  in the annual  operating budget, for  a department  to" retain business" and encourage  growth  in Aurora. 
A Sign Bylaw is on the books. We invest in staff to process applications for signs to promote  business within the municipality. Further to that. there is opportunity to apply  for variances to the sign bylaw. 
Staff receive  applications.Make necessary calculations.
Perhaps visit the site and eventually  recommend approval or not to Council  after  all  leg work and pencil calculations have been completed. . 
In this instance, approval was recommended. 
I have seen no documentation but it appears residents living within yards of Bayview Avenue, a major  traffic artery and commercial corridor, are  concerned  about light pollution.and have objected  to the additional  sign.
Council decided not to  accept the recommendation of approval .. 
Councillor Ballard  recommended  a painted sign instead
Target's representatives came  to appeal  the refusal. 
They brought pictures. Many pictures. They provided measurements to show how the light would  not be seen from the homes. 
But "Ah!" commented one  astute Councillor, "even if the light  could not be seen, there would be glow"
Finally, after  going around and around, the item was referred back to staff and Target  to return  with  a sign  design that would take into consideration all points made by Councillors  and concerns of the neighbours.
What can Target be thinking about the  slogan to promote business in the town. 
   Aurora.......You're In Good Company
Maybe there's half a million dollars to  be removed from the operating budget for  the department that  works at retaining and expanding local business. 
To say nothing of the Customer Service plan recently purchased.   .