Tale of Two Villages
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness… it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” C. Dickens.
Here is a tale of two Villages.
For those who “won” their election, it is the best of times. It is a happy village. For the others, the feeling is likely that the worst is yet to come. This is the unhappy village.
The election is behind us and I suspect for most, glad of it. The campaign began with hasty nominations made by the same people that ended in most of them withdrawing.
Things got worse as the campaign progressed. There was plenty of emotion, bwias, and even some namecalling towards candidates as well as between residents. This election saw a Lions Bay that was mean-spirited and intolerant. The repercussion could be that some people might resist public discussion in the future. It could also discourage future candidates from running. The ghost of elections yet to come may show democracy in a lonely grave. This is not good for any government. Perhaps those who have influence can set a different stage where debates could be respectful. We need more dialogue between people who are willing to discover content outside their point of view and have a real discussion.
As we move forward, I have some suggestions for the voters and the new council:
To voters: Keep in touch with whatʼs going on. Thatʼs hard because: A) you wonʼt always be told everything thatʼs going on and B) you trust others to do the right thing.
Beware of the artful dodgers (still Dickens, different book), good at avoiding responsibility or the consequences of their actions.
To elected members: Study the Community Charter, especially the difference between “may” and “must”. There is a tendency to apply the “must” mindset when the law really says “may”. “May” allows you to do something, but you donʼt really have to, especially as it regards to in-camera discussions. Avoid being swayed into thinking differently.
Donʼt refrain from making motions. In case you feel a bit apprehensive about making proposals, for fear of being labeled “unfit to govern” later on, according to Robertʼs Rules of Order, once a motion is seconded, it belongs to the assembly. In other words, you donʼt own it any more. What the assembly (i.e. Council) does with it becomes the decision of the whole assembly, good and bad.
Study and learn Robertʼs Rules of Order – makes discussions fair, efficient and professional. Itʼs also a requirement in our Procedures bylaw. Youʼll need to use “point of order” a lot because Council meetings have not been exposed to the rules very much or very well. Stick to it, itʼs the right thing to do.
Always, always, remember one thing, that there is something more important than you, the public you serve.
Because of all the nastiness that went on during the campaign, I have a final thought. Letʼs have a select committee on transparency to define “open government”, you know, a set of standards that will bridge the gap between what is expected and what is disclosed. It became quite obvious there is a canyon that divides the two. One Village sees itself as clearly transparent, yet the other Village sees the closed meetings, the faint references of important matters in little-seen documents.
This should be a committee of individuals selected based on specific attributes and appointed by Council with clear terms of reference. The focus should be transparency, accessibility and openness. This is not to replace any communication strategies. Those provide context. Openness refers to the facts, content. It will mean sacrifice, since one side will have a desire to “manage” the information and on the other side, a desire to see every flaw and blemish “exposed” in public. There is a solution somewhere in between. It should encompass what information is accessible and publicized, how and when. This ties in well with the upgrade to the Village web site.
The OECD explains that “Better educated and informed citizens increasingly demand accountability for government decision making. Efficient and effective information provision and service delivery to the public are key elements in improving accountability and trust in government.”
It would be a healthy start to establishing a solid, trusting base at the beginning of the term. Otherwise, I predict a lot of stress and mistrust at every project, bylaw and resolution. All that negative energy will not contribute to the community, but will diminish it. This is an opportunity to grow from the turmoil.
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