Comments on: Dysfunctional… I don’t think so!

By: sue

sue — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 07:51:13 +0000

Goodness Sadman what a quick fire debate this one is! I agree that there is less debate in the FCRC than I was used to in HBCC. Some of the reasons for this is the type and quality of reports presented to Council. Clear cut issues that we are all agreed to don’t really require debate. I’m wondering however how that relates to the accusation of ‘dysfunction’ which was the point I was attempting to address.
I can’t agree more. Councillors are often misquoted in the paper. Well I should reword that and say that I have been misquoted so if it happens to me I expect that it happens to others.
I write out motions beforehand, as do other Councillors, however amendments can come at you without warning and these especially, usually require debate and can often be altered until the majority of Councillors are satisfied.
Sue

By: Sadman

Sadman — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 07:26:16 +0000

Sue,

I think you misread my post and that might be my fault.
Are you saying there is dabate in open council? If you are,
my idea and yours on debate differ.
I am also saying much that is attributed to councillors in
our “local” is written for them by the paper and I cited an
example.
As to motions, if one has strong feelings about an issue,
I would have thought they would have written out their
motion before hand. True it might get altered, but motions
are a councillors bread & butter.
I still believe there are some who say very little or nothing.

Sadman

By: sue

sue — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 07:11:58 +0000

I agree there is little debate these days but how does that alter anything? It is up to each Councillor to debate or not. If I am happy with a recomendation sometimes I see no need to debate or speak and at other times I do.
I do not agree that motions are gibberish. All Councillors contribute to rewording motions at times as does the CEO to ensure motions accurately convey the intent.
Are you saying Council writes stories for the media? Yes we issue releases and if these are official they have been written by by staff, Councillors or a combination of both. What individual Councillors say or do outside the Chamber is their business.
I have been misquoted enough times (and had my honesty and integrity questioned by warped biased editorial opinion) in our local print media, so please don’t quote the local press as a trusted source of accurate information.
What has any of this got to do with Council being functional?

By: Sadman

Sadman — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 03:25:57 +0000

Sue,

With all due respect, there is very little debate in open council.
In fact some councillors never seem to open their mouths. They
move motions which are gibberish and Belinda or some has to re-
word them. Those quoted in the local have their stories written for
them and for the most part are less than honest. The story on the
29th was a good example, “he told them so”. Come on Sue, I
admire your loyalty, but fair go.

Sadman