Money well spent?

Notice anything unusual about this picture of last week's Pan Am vote?

As you can plainly see, council is in the middle of a "standing recorded vote." They always use this method when it's a major vote so we can clearly see who's on what side.

But here's the thing. Part of the much-touted renovations to city hall included a $600,000 automated voting system where councillors could say 'yay' or 'nay' at the touch of a button. The results are supposed to be displayed on a large screen at the front of the council chambers.

How many times have I seen them use this feature since we moved back into city hall?

Once.

It seems like old habits die hard. The new computers in the council chambers also include an automated speakers list, where councillors can push another button if they'd like to speak. However, councillors haven't been using that feature either. They're still tapping their glasses and catching the eye of the mayor when they want to speak.

And the five-minute microphone cutoff? It's also being largely ignored. The microphones still cut off after five minutes, but councillors have just been turning them back on after they shut down.

I understand why they're resorting back to their low-tech methods. The one and only time council used the automated voting system and speakers list, it didn't really go smoothly. There was a lot of chatter about how to use the computers that really interrupted the flow of the council meeting.

But in my humble opinion, if the city -- and by extension, the taxpayers of Hamilton --  paid for this function, they should use it - even if it takes some getting used to.

Thoughts?

Comments

[Robert S]

Sounds like the new City Clerk and her staff need to be explaining these new technologies to the Mayor (or Chair).

[ed]

We have money to burn, I don't think anyone believes the lies of claiming poverty coming from the managers office anymore.

[RWRing]

Re City reno...Ah yes, more (taxpayer) dollars not well spent by our boys & girls at city hall. Somehow, being polititians and all, I don't think they're even embarrassed by Ms. Reilly's public revelation of their non-use and therefore waste of $600,000 of our money! I hope at least they try and make it work or sell it to someone who can (like Florida).