"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Friday 2 April 2010

An Almighty Task

I have wondered how a tally of in-camera items would compare to previous terms. I hesitate to ask staff to produce those figures. I don't fancy my chances of doing it accurately myself. But I think we can depend on our own impressions.

The Mayor has repeatedly taken it upon herself to retain legal counsel, contrary to any previous similar action in this or any other regional municipality. It certainly has added to the number of legal matters having to be considered in camera.

The Mayor independently consults and instructs counsel to advise on a variety of issues she has determined must be pursued.

Staff recruitment and replacements have been in record numbers.These often result in closed door discussions.

The Westhill Development litigation matters have resulted in a record number of items .

Publication of accurate and full legal invoices would provide a meaningful comparison to legal costs in previous terms.

As we have seen, a determined strategy has been mounted to make sure that doesn't happen.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Dear Evelyn:

This picture comes to mind:

A nine-sided table, warped, around which sit the Mare, Mrs. Vader, four bobble-heads and three responsible representatives from the town's electors.

In the centre of the table rests a giant steaming pot of a venomous liquid, roiling, and periodically overflowing its broken lips, as hissing vapours slither down its sides.

Off to one side, at a small rickety rectangular table crouch members of the bar, each drooling even more than his neighbour, in anticipation of yet another lucrative assignment.

Senior staff sit on a sagging settee, in semi-darkness, hoping for recognition.

And just behind the Mare is Mr. Tsunami, on his own little barstool, waiting with bated breath for the audacious command to attack, yet again. Perhaps he wonders if the present term of this council might expire before he is summoned into action.