Fame and fortune were his.
Then they were not.
Fame became notoriety and fortune, dust.
He cheated.
- "Chances are if one person is doing something wrong, he's not alone. Most people don't do risky things, like performance-enhancing drugs, without having a reason for doing so
- .In sports, it's all about competitive advantage, longevity and winning. That's it"
Slyness is afoot at the Council table. Not the first time.
The library board presented the 2013 budget. at the meeting last night.
Before the meeting proceeded further , out of order, Councillor Thompson put forwrad two motionst to reduce the tax increase.
He said, if Council was interested in reducing taxes the motions should be supported.
Nothing was in writing No notice given . But there was a seconder, so someone else was in on the strategy. .
The Mayor put the questions forward for debate
The treasurer was asked for input'
He expressed his support.
Visualising strategy sessions in the Mayor's office wasn't hard.
Council was caught by surprise.
I found it interesting. Not surprising..
At the end of a recent budget meeting,I requested Council be provided with a chart showing the record,since election,, of increased spending,and increased taxes.They are not the same thing.
Increased taxes for water and waste water should be included.
They are municipal services. Charges are a levy.
There should be one budget for town services. .
A resolution would have taken a month..
No opposition was expressed.
The request was received without comment.
Then it never happened. It was ignored.
It's the pattern of Geoff Dawe's administration.
A motion can receive unanimous support. No opposition. expressed. Enthusiasm is seen and heard.
Yet direction is not followed by staff.
Debate on the Abel- Pirri motion to give notice of termination to the Culture Centre Board is a prime example.;
Mayor Dawe, Councillors Thompson and Humfryes expressed strong support..
Debate concluded .Time to vote, The threesome with a strategy clearly evident scuttled the motion. .
Quite effectively as we have seen.
Slyness and duplicity are not unfamiliar in politics.
Like cheating in sports there's no subtlety.
But there's a cost.
The price is tust.
Trust cannot be bought.
It must be earned.
Once wasted, it can't be restored.
I trust everyone until they give me reason not to.
Then I never trust them again. .
.
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10 comments:
Spending money becomes easier the farther away one is from the source. Right now, Council seems to be really distant from the taxpaying residents.
It has been said often, here and elsewhere, that a municipal mayor has only one vote, the same as any member of Council.
What the mayor should have, that many councillors don't, nor do they necessarily need, is leadership. Leadership is the ability to guide, direct and influence others in a specific direction.
When one looks at Mayor Dawe's strong initial support for the Abel-Pirri motion last February, one would have expected that this support would be unequivocal and that he would guide or influence others similarly.
But then, lo and behold, following heated debate on the issue, the mayor turned a full 180 degrees and voted against the motion.
Was this a planned strategy or the last minute rather foolish act of a dilettante?
What is particularly galling is that Mayor Dawe had apparently attended a number of Centre Board meetings, the nature of which was closed and confidential.
Does this suggest a potential conflict of interest?
The answer might well be yes.
"But then, lo and behold, following heated debate on the issue, the mayor turned a full 180 degrees and voted against the motion."
This scenario has often been repeated here by Cllr Buck and others. I think it is a matter of perspective - you heard what you wanted to hear ... until you didn't.
What I heard was what I hear about any number of issues before Council. A member will speak to the matter, often giving the pros and cons, and may even speak twice to the motion, etc.
The council members that get castigated here for some perceived switcheroo did nothing of the sort. I heard them address both sides of the debate, the good and the bad, before proceeding to the vote. I wasn't surprised by the result - as many of you were - because I was listening to what was actually being said, rather than what an opponent of the Cultural Centre expected to hear.
I think this rewriting of history, based on a bias and a misperception, is really unfair to these particular members of council.
12:30 PM
If one wishes to talk to oneself, but out loud, he or she should state this at the outset. Several members of Council seem expert at this.
If one wishes to take four different positions on an issue, how is the audience supposed to determine what is actually intended?
Words that are spoken, opinions that are given, should be done so clearly and concisely.
There is too much bullshit in what politicians at all level say.
Opinions should be expressed after giving these the thoughtfulness they deserve, regardless of what they may ultimately be.
History should be written once, accurately.
Lance Armstrong is now learning about lost trust - the hard way.
12:30 PM
No. The one and only thing that matters to you is the Centre. You can dress it up in fancy clothes, try to appear impartial and thoughtful. Your aim is always the same regardless of what topics are under discussion.
There has been no revision of history by posters on this Blog. If history has been fudged, it has been by you and others blindly supporting the Centre.
"There has been no revision of history by posters on this Blog. If history has been fudged..."
Make up your mind - there has or there hasn't.
Horse-feathers, 12:30 PM. Total horse-feathers !
Councillor Buck, I'm afraid that I can't trust you to put the good of the community ahead of your own personal agenda of revenge.
2:41 PM
It's really quite clear. Read it again.
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