I have to think that it was bubbling under the surface, irrespective of anything I might have to say.
Tuesday night’s meeting of Renfrew Town Council was plodding along, from one report to the next, going in such a way that fighting off sleep was a legitimate issue of paramount concern. The atmosphere was rescued somewhat by Director Eric Withers, who undertook the responsibility of improving the air quality by grappling with the air circulation system headquartered right behind his spot on the the outer ring. Had he not done so, we were looking at the possibility of a mass casualty event where several participants may well have nodded off during a back and forth featuring properties on Mutual Street and the Kumbaya experience offered by the ROMA — Rural Ontario Municipal Association — conference down in Toronto a couple of weekends back.
But then the clock began to wind down towards what many might legitimately consider to be the final minutes, the last trumpet call before go-home time. Suddenly, a match was struck, and it was too close to the powder keg, and in fairness I don’t believe anyone thought there was a keg of powder nearby, or that close. But apparently there was. A big one.
Councillor Kyle Cybulski offered a statement of conciliation for the record towards Reeve Peter Emon, who during the last public meeting was the subject of a report from the Integrity Commissioner, Tony Fleming. Cybulski appeared to be offering a motion to offer an olive branch to Emon in the spirit of reconciliation. But, in short order, Councillors McWhirter, McDonald, and Legris issued comments of their own objecting to the motion, with at least two of them appearing to have had prepared statements on-hand to read into the record. One, Legris, in his remarks read from a statement, seemed to say that his position “echoed” that of Councillor McDonald, who spoke before him, which is a little suspect given that he was reading from a prepared statement which, in theory, would have no idea of the content of McDonald’s statement just before.
Councillor Andrew Dick jumped on this, raising the spectre of some sort of collusion between Councillors McDonald and Legris, something that led to an exchange between the three of them that prompted two points of order from both McDonald and Legris. Legris said he was quoting Councillor Cybulski from a prior meeting, and Dick backed down from questioning him on that. A look at the tape revealed that Legris, in his statement, was indeed quoting Councillor Cybulski from a meeting in March, so it was actually Cybulski echoing McDonald’s comments from a previous meeting, not Legris echoing anything McDonald said just previously. If you can follow all that.
Still, those two councillors had prepared statements ready to be unholstered, which is indicative of something that perhaps is beyond my ability to decipher without reading minds and hearts. Perhaps they had these statements prepared for another moment, perhaps another meeting, and felt that they needed to bring them out in response to Cybulski’s motion, which maybe caught them off-guard and by surprise. Maybe they felt that the ammunition they’d prepared had to be used at this moment, for fear that if not, Cybulski’s motion of conciliation might sneak through.
In the end, Cybulski’s motion did sneak through, by a 4-3 margin, but with Emon himself voting on a motion having to do with himself, which is kind of an eyebrow-raiser in its own right, but I can’t pretend to know all the rules of procedure. Those in the room who do have that knowledge and experience said nothing, and nobody from the group of McWhirter, McDonald, or Legris raised any objection, so there it is.
So Reeve Emon gets an olive branch, a 4-3 olive branch, which without his vote would be a 3-3 olive branch, which is no olive branch at all. it’s a moot point anyways. Cybulski’s motion was a reconsideration of a previous motion, which means it required a super-majority of five votes to pass. No wins here for anyone.
There was no joy in watching this unfold. These are all good people, caught up perhaps in the passion and emotion of an issue, against a backdrop of scandal and dropped balls that they inherited upon their arrival. The pressure on these individuals must be great, and nothing that any of them would have asked for. Town Council’s not a blood sport, or at least it shouldn’t be. I don’t show up to see a hockey fight break out on the chamber floor, that’s why I watch curling.
Everyone in that room has been operating with an albatross hanging over them, especially those who pre-date this particular council and administration. It can’t be an easy load to carry. And in fairness, some carry several loads.
Kelly Latendresse comes to mind, as she’s been put into situations that are no way near to being ideal, trying her best to bring a measure of function to dysfunction. I criticized her unduly yesterday, something I regret today. She’s done nothing but put her best foot forward to make the best of a terrible situation.
I say this because my commentary can be biting, and while that’s intended for the most part, it can come across as pretty personal. And what that commentary can do is add negativity to an already difficult situation. So, in my small tangential way, I feel I may have contributed to the background tone of the place, although I’m truly convinced that absolutely no one reads my stuff, at least no one from Renfrew. Also, that may be a tad conceited for me to suggest that I have any impact at all on anything. But I can still feel bad.
Mayor Tom Sidney raised a good point in his remarks, basically asking when enough is enough. Pointing a finger while four are pointed back at you kind of thing, which to me is a fairly good way of putting it. As in the past is the past and it will be reckoned with, so let’s get on with the business of what we were sent here to do. It’s a simple point, but a fair one.
In the last meeting, there appeared to be a sense of unity among the elected members, so Tuesday night’s skirmish caught me off-guard. I was mentally already at home with the remote in my hand, and then all of a sudden a Detroit riot breaks out.
There are lessons here for everyone, but I’ll limit myself to my own. I hear the mayor, someone I’ve criticized often, but I hear him nonetheless. My coverage of council and events can still have some value, but maybe I could lean less into anything that comes across as a criticism of character.
I’m supposed to be better than that, but I suppose it’s a struggle to approach everything perfectly. But that doesn’t mean I can’t be cognizant of it and have a willingness to do better.
As it goes for me, I suppose it also goes for others, no matter the venue, no matter the issue, no matter the people involved.
COVER PHOTO: Photo by Elimende Inagella on Unsplash
NEWSMAGRENFREW 