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More civility needed at council meetings

Unpublicized introduction of the webcast is an example of poor communication from council

Editor, The Record:

On Sept. 17 at the Mission council meeting, it was depressing and appalling to witness the verbal abuse directed at Terry Mortimer, who was merely trying to  question some points pertaining to an item on that evening's agenda.

It appears quite clear Mayor Ted Adlem intends to have question period axed, as do the majority of councillors, who demonstrated their intent by hastily cutting off question period whilst Mr. Mortimer was speaking.

As not one councillor, nor the CAO or deputy CAO even tried to remonstrate the mayor's bullying, anyone would conclude that they were either complicit in this or abjectly accepting it.

The rules of council proceedings appear to be elastic and inequitable, evidenced by allowing Coun. Dave Hensman to challenge Mr. Mortimer for shopping at Wal-Mart, even though that business was never on the agenda, and further reinforced by permitting another speaker to just make a statement. Obviously, favoured people receive preferential treatment.

Mayor and council were in agreement to go forward, in principle, with a new position of citizen engagement. What is wrong with open and honest dialogue with all department heads? The unpublicized introduction of the webcast is an example of poor communication.

What happened on Sept. 17 was the direct antithesis of engaging public participation, and displayed utter disdain for the democratic process.

Jeanette Smith

Silverhill