Twenty-per-cent Logic Eighty-per-cent Emotion

It" s nice being the hero of the day. I like it. But there's neighbour with a problem that needs to be resolved and we should get at it.

Yoir Council is not altogether  atfault  There's enough blame to go around.  Mistakes were made and it's time to talk less and ghet it fixed.

With one exception ,everybody at the table realised on Tuesday ,the gig was up. For the grading to srve its purpose the trees had to go.  Like it or not ,the  neighbours will just have to put up with it.

Tuesday night I called the Mayor's attention three times to the question on the table. It was to approve the planting plan. Three times he acknowledged I ws right but added it was  sensitive subject and he would allow the cmments.

I have never seen aanything  resolved by  circuitous discussion.

Councillor Humphreys acknowledged she understood the solicitor;s advice that Council never had the authority to approve or disapprove  but as she listened to what she was saying her anger grew visibly and she vowed to vote for the trees.

The Mayor thought he was doing the right thing and with discussion Council would arrive at thee right decision. Then he failed to bring the quuestion to the point of decision.

Councillor Gaertner got riled up enough to accuse  the builder of deliberately plotting to destroy the trees.  I heard a short bark and the builder nearly jumped out of his seat.

 Councillor Gaertner's often makes everybody in a room gasp while the Councillor  herself remains  totally oblivious to  the reaction.

Councillor Gallo, Ballard and Gaertner have formed a loose alliance. I think they look to each other for support ,then find themselves under an obligation to do so.

The mayor took the thing to a point where he didn't know how to bring it to a close.

There wasa group of neighbours. There was applause for people who  said the right thing. That has a powerful effect on Councillors. They're on camera. What if the crowd gets out of hand.

The Mayor  said at the beginning we are going to deal with  civility. And he meant that.

But you know, to keep control, when you have a bunch of people sure they are right and determned for things to go their way, you have to be at least as bloody -minded as they are .

The Mayor did say he would clear the room if they didn't respect the Council.

"We do the talking " he said. I thought that was a good line.

But it went on too long nd then he  turned to the CAO  and asked if he had a solution forCouncil.

I objected on a point of order.

The CAO said. "Table the recommendation  and pass a resolution to save the trees. "

Well, you know, I culdn't believe it.

The  eleven page report .written by the  solicitor,  set out in detail why Council had no authority in the matter of the trees. The question to be decided was the plan for  planting seven tees , replacing three
that had to be removed.

I've never  seen a solictor's clear and unequivocal advice rejected .

The report was signed by the solicitor, the planning director and the C.A.O.

And  Council did what he said.Which  was nothing.

We did not approve the planting plan. We passed a resolution "to save the trees"

Like we're going to  place guards around trees privately owned on private property twenty-for hours
seven days a week.

Like I said.  A new neighbour has a problem.

He has seen the enemy.   And  we are it.

What it will take now is for a Councillor who argued and voted twice for a decision he did not have the authority to make, has to have the courage to admit he did not understand, and ask for the vote to be re-considered.

The problem will not correct itself.

It remains.