I received this email from Orville.
"From : Santa Communication <
santacom@tbaytel.net>
To : abudd <
abudd@tbaytel.net>
CC : andron <
andron@air.ca.on>, Betty Kennedy <
bettyk@tbaytel.net>, Bill Pawlak <
bpawlak@tbaytel.net>, Bird & Thatcher <
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carlachalat@hotmail.com>, Eddie doran <
doran@tbaytel.net>, "
EPohler@city.thunder-bay.on.ca" <
EPohler@city.thunder-bay.on.ca>, Gary Clavet <
gclavet@tbaytel.net>, Gary Shchepanik <
garys@tbaytel.net>, Isabel Gannon <
igannon@lakeheadualumni.ca>, Janie McDaid <
jmcdaid@shaw.ca>, Jim Gamble <
jimgamble54@shaw.ca>, Joe Guthro <
margosceramicarts@shaw.ca>, Ken Whent <
whent@lakehead.net>, Kevin Goldfinger Palmer <
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michellek@wawatay.on.ca" <
michellek@wawatay.on.ca>, Peter Collins <
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ldunick@dougallmedia.com>, Rob Livingstone <
rliving@tbaytel.net>, squittis <
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tgiertuga@hotmail.com>, squittis <
squittis@tbaytel.net>, Eddie doran <
doran@tbaytel.net>, andron <
andron@air.ca.on>, abudd <
abudd@tbaytel.net>
Subject : No subject was specified.
Date : Thu, 19 Dec 2002 23:26:08 +0100
Just a Note to All,
If you read today’s paper, the Mayor said that the camera he purchased
in November of 2001 was given by himself to Corporate Communications. He
speaks the truth. He gave it to them last month, after using it for
almost a year. I wonder why he decided he didn’t need the camera?
Orville
This is a letter to the editor I received from Orville Santa.
From : Santa Communication <
santacom@tbaytel.net>
"I watched with great trepidation, the proceedings of the December 16, Council meeting. I myself had to leave early due to a personal matter. However, I did catch the last part of the proceedings on Shaw. I have always expressed my belief that administration wielded too much power. This was never more evident than at Monday night’s meeting. For the first time in this term of Council, and perhaps in the history of all Council meetings, administration assumed the role of an elected official by tabling a Notice of Motion to Reconsider. This privilege is reserved for elected officials only. It’s in the procedural by-laws. The Mayor sanctioned this move by administration. With the exception of Councillor Giertuga, the rest of Council sat mute. Only Giertuga asked how the motion could hit the floor without a member of Council tabling it. The truth is, it cannot. If we now allow administration to table reconsideration's, previously decided by Council, because they do not approve of the previous vote, then administration assumes the role of the elected body. Democracy is out the window. In fact why even have elected representatives. During this, my first term on Council, I have seen many infractions and misinterpretations of the rules, but this one certainly takes the cake.
I have been chastised for disclosing confidential information, even though I thought it best served the public interest. The duty of Council is to lead. And lead by example. If we cannot uphold our own procedural by-laws and we allow administration to assume the role of Council, Council should go home. Only one Councillor made an attempt to defend the public’s interest. Democracy, in my opinion, for that Monday night moment was dead.
Councillor Orville Santa "