Interesting happenings at this week’s City Council Meeting (November 4, 2013), It was interesting to see Mayor Veer in action and managing what transpired during the meeting. For the first Council Meeting of the 96 Council Meetings of her 4 year reign, it was a much different style to the former Mayor’s. The council meeting came across as productive and fruitful, had direction and was managed and controlled well by Mayor Veer. There were some interesting “Points of Interests “ to ponder at the First Council Meeting however: 1) Mulder said after several days of orientation council were working diligently in becoming a “team” and she wanted the public to know that. Mulder also noted she as well as the “older” councillors were helping out the newbies during orientation. 2) Harris said he attended the World Religions Conference which is about secularism and religion and how they work together and received two plaques, one on behalf of the City of Red Deer. (Interesting to note Harris was the only councillor that did not hold the Bible in his hand when taking the oath as a councillor, at the swearing in ceremony on October 28, 2013). 3) Whilst Johnston talked about snowblowers and later during the council meeting pointed out a spelling mistake in the agenda, Wong lamented Mayor Flewwelling’s, Councillor Cindy Jefferies’ and Councillor Chris Stephan’s absence and departure from council. 4) Luckily this made Harris remember the “punch line” to speak about the second plaque from the World Religions Conference which was for Mayor Flewwelling, that Harris said he will pass on to the former Mayor. During the council meeting, Harris made a point to pick on the last motion’s wording of the additional agenda item, stating that the wording was too broad to use in his opinion. Despite that, the motion went un-amended and as all the other motions previous in this council meeting, it passed unanimously by Council. As well, prior to the Council Meeting there was an Organizational Meeting for various committees. Veer said to the effect the council’s committee and board appointments and recommendations were a reflection of that in-camera meeting’s discussions with councillors. Personally, it was nice to see a big change on the Municipal Planning Commission, Paul Harris not on it. After all, Harris was on the Municipal Planning Commission for 3 years straight under Mayor Flewwelling and now is off. Harris is on the Greater Downtown Action Committee and it should be interesting to see what he does there, which will be just as interesting and a paradoxical twist as Handley on the Public Art Jury Committee. But I must say the highlight of the organizational meeting and what stole the show, was Lynne Mulder, although a bit startling and bewildering to see. Lynne looked extremely perplexed on the motion of a different start time for council meetings, which Manager Curtis said, would result in council no longer receiving a catered lunch. It seems pretty straight forward to me what that meant, new council start time, no catered lunch, saves money. Mulder piped up in council to the effect, that she did have a perplexed face and was not opposed to the motion, but just wondered where was this change coming from, it came out of the blue and the rationality meant nothing to her. That is right, Lynne was having a heck of a time understanding, at city manager’s suggestion to change council meeting’s start time and eliminating council’s FREE catered lunches would mean she would no longer receive the luxury of being fed, as under Mayor Flewwelling’s reign and this would save money. Manager Curtis gently explained to Lynne, it was a cost saving measure, and then he further clarified, this meant those saved monies would go back into the operating budget. As quick as lightening and a wink, when Lynne heard the word “budget” she got it. Yes Lynne, you must accept those extravagantly catered lunches are a thing of the past and left when Mayor Flewwelling departed from his seat. Please remember you and those other incumbent councillors got re-elected, not because you like spending tax payer’s money extravagantly. Note to oneself, Lynne Mulder and all incumbent councillors, looking like an extravagant elitist is not only pushing it, but stupidity after the most looked at, examined, dissected and talked about election in Red Deer’s history. Remember Lynne Mulder and Paul Harris (the two incumbent councillors who made no bones about wanting Jefferies as Mayor and not Veer) the people did not vote your buddy Jefferies in, who wanted and only would have continued Flewweling’s legacy and extravagant spending. The people voted for Mayor Veer, with her eye on the fiscal dollar and that is exactly what the people will get. Get with the program please. In fact, all incumbent councilors should consider themselves very lucky they got back in. Consider it, as a second chance to pull up your socks and do a better job, spend our money more wisely and listen to the people. By the way, it does make someone wonder how much those beautifully catered lunches cost the tax payers, which were mandated by Mayor Flewwelling. I also wonder who/what company catered those wonderful affairs and profited so handsomely. If anyone knows please share, I would be very interested to know.
Posted on: Sun, 10 Nov 2013 17:59:16 +0000