What does it profit man if he gains he whole world and loses his own soul

A Motion  for  consideration  is not  an automatic process. Before it reaches the  Council table it must be seconded by another Councillor.

I have a reputation for being  persnickety about rules. I think it must  be true.

I don't ask other Councillors to support a motion as a favor. I don't want to be obligated to support a motion because  a favor is owed.

My motions come to the table without a seconder .  To move forward . the idea must have sufficient merit  to move  to the next step.

I  risk embarrassment if a motion fails to win  a seconder. In  some respects, it's a  repudiation of the idea.

Once seconded, the motion belongs to  Council.

It's like pushing a small boat out on to the pond .Once on it's way, the current will  carry it forward.

Everything depends on the presiding member to ensure it does not go  of course.

I moved the motion on Tuesday requesting the Mayor provide a clarification of his role.

I meant exactly that.

It was sensitive but not intended to be a public referendum on the Mayor's performance .

He made it that.

The issue was  a  common understanding of the role of the office of the Mayor.

Not Geoffrey Dawe  as such. But whoever might hold the office.

Council needs an understanding  on the Mayor's authority .  No other body than Council can make the determination.

As a former Mayor ,I absolutely reject  the premise Council is without authority and the Mayor's office is  not the conduit for exercising  Council's authority.

Councillors are accountable to the community for whatever happens in the name of the community.

In the last term a Bylaw was passed outlining the authority of the CAO in matters of  human resources;  Hiring,Firing , Re- deployment, Promoting,Demoting Displacement, Creating Positions, Wiping out others you name it. the Chief Administrative Officer  apparently has authority to do it with no reference to  the elected body and no obligation to  provide information when requested.

It seems, in the Mayor's perspective , in accordance with his experience in the private sector, the  CAO Bylaw provides complete autonomy in that area. He answers to no-one.

 The Mayor see the title as Chief Executive Officer  as a meaningless term.

The judgement of whoever holds the  office of CAO ,in the Mayor's estimation ,is "sacrosanct" (his word)  unassailable(mine).

As a consequence,in the area of human resources Council is not fulfilling its responsibility. We are accountable in theory.  We are not in fact;

By virtue of the Mayor's refusal .

Council is denied and deprived of  its rightful authority.