Just another day at city hall...

There's been a lot of eye-rolling at committee of the whole this morning. Councillors were asked to name their top priorities for spending $5 million on strategic capital projects. Sounds simple, right?

Wrong. Councillors were told to pick their preferred projects - things like waterfront development, brownfield development, and the arts incubator project that we've written about this week.  Staff went around the council table and each councillor had a few minutes to list their top 3 choices.

Then, because of a time crunch, council was told to limit themselves to their top 2 choices. That worked for a few minutes. Halfway through the process, some council members started listing 4 projects.

Then, staff had to go back to the council members who only got 2 choices in an attempt to even things out. There was some frustration about the fairness and accuracy of the system.

"This would never past the test in terms of a dignified, democratic process," said Councillor Margaret McCarthy.

P.S. - The most creative suggestion about potential projects came from Councillor Bob Bratina, who asked for pigeon spikes under the city's railway passes.

“Our crews go in there everyday and cleanup pigeon poo,” he said.

Comments

[Tom Robertson]

Let me get this right. Staff told council to pick their 3 choices. It sounds like the inmates are running the asylum. We need a large turnover in council and staff.

[Michelle Hruschka]

Tom: I agree with you on your view, clear out council and city hall staff.

Who really is in charge.

[CB]

Seems to me like council is just full of self serving individuals who don't work as a team. As for staff its makes sense to be realistic in the requests of council. If there was no limit, then God only knows how many requests would be made. I'm sure a lot of those would not be feasible or practical but more encouraged from the fact its an election year. It strikes me as pretty cruel to lump all city hall staff together and to make a comment like " clear out council and city hall staff". Talk about making high assumptions.

[Tom Robertson]

By the millions the taxpayers pay for annually on consultants studies it is evident that we have many staff not capable of doing the jobs they were hired for. Why as a taxpayer would you want to pay the wages and generous benefits for someone who can't do their job. Each councillor who filled out this form handed to them by staff shows how intimidated they are by the managers. I would have made paper airplanes of the papers they handed out and give them a flight path in the direction of the area staff sits.

[Michelle Hruschka]

CB: You do have a point, they cannot work as a team. While it is important to have the feel of your ward, the councillor has to look at the big picture, what best for the city. I would say, this is a major problem and well personalities take over.

Actually I would follow Toms thinking that no way would I fill out a list in those circumstances. I would of stated that this proposal should of been sent ahead of meeting, so I could have some time to reflect on things and not be put on the spot. I work for the people, not you.

They were asking for emotion to take over.

Not very professional.

[Markalanwhittle]

If Council has that kind of loot floating around, why do they have a "social service" deficit well over $16 million?

Furthermore, what happened to that missing $700,000 from the HSR?

Oops, I forgot it's an election year.

[chris]

We, taxpayers, are facing another increase and city staff are looking for more "pet project lists"...tell you what forget about them...if there is extra money then reduce the tax increase.

Not only do we need a change in council, it is time we change some of the city staff.

Hopefully we can get some new blood running this year..unfortunately, it costs too much and the "scratch my back" mentality cancels out the one vote of a person who wants to do some good.

We need councillors "at-large." Plus, love the idea on CHML this morning...how about a referendum for term limits of councillors...

[GWC]

City of Hamilton council are just dressed up panhandlers they left Gore Park for the day and went to Toronto or Ottawa with their hands out please give to us.

[ed]

What a bunch of childish airheads we have down there..I have one priority and that's making sure we clean house, its time to send a message.

[Kathy Hagan]

I am really looking forward to the city election . We need to get a cohesive band of councillors who feel that Hamilton is a priority, that is its infrastructure, derelict buildings and attracting decent businesses to the downtown core.
It wouldn't surprise me if Mr Brattina suggests the " unwashed and unwanted " who loiter in Gore park clean up the pigeon poop. and if they are reluctant perhaps he will throw his pens at them.

[Tom Robertson]

Here we go again. The Muslim Faith say they want to spend millions downtown expanding their mosque with what I'm sure will be a beautiful building and the city says no sorry we want the land to accommodate a new Police building. The city should lead by example and restore one of the abandoned eyesores downtown to look after the needs of the Police Department. They could at least build on the vacant lot created by the collapse of the Century Theatre. Now we will have only one development downtown instead of two. The sad sacks on council and staff all need to go.

[Tom Robertson]

I saw on CHCH news the Police need this building for storage. Just what we need is a warehouse in the core. Big changes are needed.