We
are now well past the two-thirds point of this council term. A strange thing started
to happen during the petition process and now I am hearing it more around town,
and I expect it will happen more and more as we get closer to the next election.
I
do not know if people just want to believe this or maybe there really is
something to it.
Getting
to my point during the petition process, I heard from people we have spoke to a
“councilor” or knows somebody that has spoken to a “councilor” who does not
agree with council’s direction on some of the issues. I see and hear comments on blogs and around town about us
having some good people on council who have lived here all their life’s who got
caught up in some bad decisions but just don’t know how to get out.
Well
maybe there is something to that, or maybe people just want to believe or they
are making excuses.
What
can a councilor do if he does not agree with the position the council has taken
on an issue? Lots.
First,
when the issue comes up on the agenda he needs to speak to it, to make arguments
against the issue, to disagree with administration or the rest of council to
vote against the item.
If
it is an issue that has been gone through all ready or an issue that is being
brought up in the public forum repeatedly. There is no reason that a councilor cannot
add that item to the next agenda, raise it again, and express either his or the
public’s concerns.
If
a councilor feels that, the Mayor is jamming an issue through or not giving
council enough time to deal with an issue. Councilors have the authority to challenge
the Chair, it is very simple (I did it a number of times during my two terms on
council) you make a motion to challenge the chair the councilor that made the
motion then gets to argue his point, the Mayor gets to respond. Which is then
followed by a vote amongst council where a simple majority can over ride the
Mayor’s position on that item. No, I am not talking about launching a coup here
or getting rude, ignorant, or disrespectful of the process, I am talking about
a simple procedure that allows a member of council to stand up and say I do not
agree with the ways things are being done here.
With
the present council it is more that likely that any of the steps above would
probably fail, but that’s ok at the minimum it would send a message to the public
that there is some dissent on council that there are some councilors that don’t
agree with the issues and directions that this council has taken. It is strange
that at all levels of government except municipal you have opposition.
Do
I think any of this will happen? No, not really with the possible exception of
a few months before the next election somebody may wish to prove to the public
(voters) that they are their own man.
17 comments:
This council now has a "us" against "them" attitude.They are not going to change.When there is a petition out there with that many names on it and there reaction is to stay the course speaks volumes.No bend or flex or even an olive branch. They have each other and a few supporters and the rest of us are the enemy.
The council were they not elected by all the people that voted? do they not represent all of us? if they were true representatives of a cross section of the public would there not be a cross section of views?
Jack
There is no way you can put 7 men in a room and have them agree on everything.Things are being decided behind closed doors.And then they all vote the way it has been decided.The "mare" must have some special powers over the other 6.
Dean is it not possible that good people can make bad decisions. Did you not make some bad decisions during your two terms in office. Again i do not support this council one bit but you would have a hard time convincing me that they dont feel they are doing the right thing for this community. Administration is pulling their strings and they are going along with it. A total reversal from previous councils and a former mayor who liked to micro-manage.
To add to my previous comment Dean when the previous council made the decision to close the learning center for very legitimate reasons it was not accepted by a large portion of the taxpayers. We all know the history and today a lot of the critics would accept that as the proper decision. Especiaaly if there was some form of development to come. Years from now will this councils decisions be viewed more favourably. I dont have the answer but i do know that with a limited tax base the next council is going to be facing some tough decisions as well.
They have all bought in to the "Strategic Plan", produced by a consultant and never voted on AFAIK (although the Economic Development & Tourism Advisor Committee TofR refers to the "Municipal Strategic Plan as approved by Council").
Everything follows from the Strategic Plan. To break away from this they would have to repudiate all they have done. Or not done - they have abdicated their duty to represent their constituents and let themselves be herded like sheep.
Peter your comment of 4:56 yes I agree good people can make bad decisions and I will be the first to admit that there were mistakes made. Yes I suspect some of them believe that they are making good decisions for the community. Not for one moment do I believe that these people are bad people. If administration is in total control then why bother having a council and council meeting sit at home and hand over the keys to the municipality. What I struggle with is even if they are totally convinced that they are making the right decisions for the community are they not talking to or listening to the public. No level of government has the right to rule with an iron fist with total disregard for the wishes of the vast majority of the public. Unless of course these guys do have the silent majority supporting them, if that is the case then they will easily walk back into office 10 months from now. Peter do you feel there has been a reasonable level of debate? Do you feel like the majority of the public is being listened to. What's right for the community is always open to debate.
Don't doubt for a second Snow White is leading these seven dwarfs.
M.K
Initially they did try to communicate and were open to feedback as long as you agreed with them. Once a person pointed out the error of their ways they either shut down thier blogs or avoided you. This will be there undoing in the next election. I told them right after they cancelled thunder in the valley that they were done and they just keep "digging a bigger hole". Yet as i write this i have a hard time believing that the long term residents that sit on council could be that out of touch with the general public. Do they honestly believe in their "silent majority".
I see in the Promoter that the half a million dollar savings for the fire department is just a lie.They are not going to buy an expensive peice of equipment, which is a good thing.But this is not saving us 500,000$.This would be like me saying "I am going to buy myself a 500,000$ car next year" and then when I realize I can not afford it,I change my mind.Did I save myself 500,000$ ?
The "mare" in an attempt to make himself and Headrick look good reports a savings of 500,000$.Does he really think that the people are that stupid and are going to believe this lie?
These guys are just like bridgecreek, promises and lies.Anybody want to invest?
Peter, I do not think any of them actually believe that the silent majority is supporting them.We are starting to see some cracks in their armour though.Swimming pool authority change. Not buying that peice of fire equiptment.Maybe now that they are working on that budget and are seeing the actual costs of all the new administration and equipment they are starting to realize what the ratepayers have been telling them.They will never admit they were wrong but maybe they are listening.
By constantly referencing council's supposed "silent majority" you give validity to that argument. Do the math. 2,500 signatures on a petition is a "vocal majority". What's left of eligible voters in this community is a tiny "silent minority". Tinier still when considering many residents for whatever reason did not sign the petition but still do not support this council.
Dean, you should stop worrying about council making a comeback at the last hour. It ain't going to happen. They've burnt too many bridges. Caused too much damage. Alienated too many people. They're done like toast.
Being apologists for long time residents serving on council makes me laugh. Whether long time or newcomer on council, if you ain't got any balls you ain't worth sh** and in this regard have done a disservice to both this community and its residents and therefore are deserving of little to no respect.
Making excuses or apologizing for them is carrying logic into the realm of absurdity. Wishing (praying) for some of them to get a pair is like asking for relief from a storm after it has already passed by causing untold damage, carnage and chaos. What use is that?
It serves people better to wash their collective hands of these guys and instead work towards encouraging good people to run in the next election so that we can take our community back, and then forward, towards what we all know can be a better and brighter future.
JP
Most of this response is for John, the "silent majority" when you see me referring to that there might just bit a touch of sarcasm on my part. I believe the "silent majority" disappeared a long time ago. Personally I do not worry for one moment about these guys making a comeback.
Apologists for long term residents not a chance, being elected means you make decisions. If you can not live with that heat you should not be in that kitchen. I don't care how long you have lived here if you want to sit on council you need to have a "set" and if that means pissing of the Mayor or administration once in a while that's too bad.
You are elected to represent the people not a strategic plan created by people that lived here 40 years ago, or pass through 3 times a year.
Yes you can see from my previous post
http://crowsnestpasshome.blogspot.ca/2012/11/a-community-divided-real-fix-is-eleven.html
what I see as the solution to our problems. The next council better be a group of strong individuals because cleaning up this mess is not going to be easy.
Dean, It seems the wires are burning up this morning with news that the Minister Doug Griffifths replied to the petition and there will be an inqurity into the affairs of the "town". Seems like the petition worked.
Have you heard this yet?
I think to John, everything is black or white. No in between. He seems very set in his ideas, but little budging by the sounds of it.
I wish people would not post "rumors".
Wait for facts. We have way enough rumors going on.
It is now posted on John Prince Blog that Municipal Affairs is going ahead with an investigation.
M.K
Dean @8:56
Thanks for the clarification. I'm glad to see that we're both on the same page with respect to this council. Couldn't agree more with the last part of your statement.
Anon @10:23
“Nowhere in your incoherent rambling did you come close to what can be considered a rational thought. Everyone is now dumber having heard it. I award you no points and may God have mercy on your soul.”
JP
Post a Comment