I have just finished reading The Auroran.
It looks as if Councillors are going 2 steps forward followed by 2 steps back.
Nothing is get done. Maybe it is the way with all councils when they get a little smug .
Perhaps it is time for another house keeping but I will sit the next one out. Let them have at each other without my angst. There is already too much on the national and international news.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 10 July 2016 at 16:48
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It's been the pattern for two terms. Little of merit has been accomplished. Much like the previous.
Six years and hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent for no useful purpose.
Council is clearly frustrated by the lack of progress. Again a recommendation from the CA.O. for Library Square to be studied once more.
Council was expecting advance. What they got was the runaround.
Those in a second term with Mayor Dawe should be able to recognise the signs.
Clearly he has something in mind other than indices that support demolition.
Mayor Dawe has never shown any inclination towards leadership or guidance, other than
at elections, or any other particular interest in the municipality.
Perhaps, considering the circumstances that led to his election, that's not surprising.
Without political experience, it was always going to be a challenge to assume the role of leadership.
He had to generate confidence and trust before he could even think of anything more.
He chose not to accept the challenge . He chose the low road.
The first sign was when he secretly attended monthly meetings of the Culture Centre Board and aligned himself with their interest.
It was only revealed when a motion by Abel seconded by Pirri came to the Council table.
In debate, the majority, including the Mayor, were in favour of giving the Board Notice of Termination.
All that remained was for the question to be called. We waited. The vote was not called.
Gradually , It became obvious something else was expected.
Finally, the Mayor said: "Councillor Humfreys"
The Councillor did not respond. Finally, Councillor Thompson moved and Councillor Humfreys seconded , a motion to reverse the direction of the debate. That vote was quickly called and passed.
It was a stunning moment.
In a last ditch effort to salvage something from the wreckage, I moved the contract be reviewed by the solicitor with a report to Council on how it could be changed to reflect the municipal interest.
The Mayor demurred. He was sure the solicitor had enough work without creating more.
Council passed the motion. The contract was found to be a severe disadvantage to the town's interest.
It was improved somewhat but implementation did not transpire. Little changed. Two Councillors sit on a board that holds meetings in secret. There is no responsibility to report to Council.
It was early in the term. A number of residents attended the meetings regularly. Most had been
part of an intense campaign to ensure the previous Mayor and Councillors were not re-elected.
Strong, positive feelings of participation had remained to that point.
In the time since, rivers of talk, numerous discussions and millions of dollars on consultant fees have ended with nothing accomplished to,the municipal interest.
The redundant buildings on Victoria Street were questions pending into Mayor Tim Jones
last term from the previous . Engineering analysis of the buildings indicated cost to repair and adapt could not be justified.
For two decades the decision has been pending. The file is a foot high.
Now the CAO recommends start all over again.
I'd say Mayor Dawe has been asked to make the space available to someone or other and that's what he intends. Demolition is not among his plans.
It remains for two councillors to put forward a motion to direct staff to get on with what obviously needs to be done.
The Mayor has never minded of anyone but himself. He is not going to start now.
Council needs to stop with the Cakewalk and get on with the job.
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6 comments:
I remember that "stunning momemt" it was more like WTF just happen? It was at that moment that I realized there would be more of what came to pass in the previous council. Not much was going to change.
OT
Many Republic senators are refusing to attend their convention. They claim to
have other things that they have to do. [ Like maybe a bit of hiding ?]
"That vote was quickly called and passed."
The only salient point.
You have demonstrated an ability to write, and write well, you have what sounds like a wonderful and supportive family, and yet you feel it necessary to marinate in the rotten juices of things well in the past.
I cannot understand why you have to carp incessantly about people present or long gone who aren't worth a single comma.
Surely you can focus on the future, no matter how painful it might turn out to be.
In case you missed the memo, this is Evelyn's blog.
The only people shocked and stunned are people like you, opponents. You were only hearing what you wanted to hear, not both sides of the issue being discussed. You thought it was a fait accompli your way, and it was nothing of the sort.
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