Poor Mayor Phyllis Morris. She really does struggle with math doesn’t she? Guess it isn’t one of her strengths. Her inability to do basic math seems to be an on-going problem.
After the recent Council meeting (the July 13th fiasco) let’s just say, fractions are not her forte. To be fair, many people struggle with fractions – the fact that those people tend to be nine years old is beside the point.
During the July 13th meeting, while attempting to ram through the Integrity Commissioner’s report – oh, we’re sorry – “deliberate” the IC report, Council lost quorum. This requires that the meeting must be adjourned – or at least recessed until such time as quorum can be re-established.
Let’s explain quorum — quorum means a majority of Council must be present in order for the meeting to proceed. This isn’t a small thing — it’s required according to the Municipal Act for any activity of a Council to be considered legal. As Aurora’s Council is composed of 9 members, quorum is 5 members out of 9. Even a first time Councillor knows that, let alone someone with the years of experience Phyllis has.
At the July 13th meeting, Councillor Gallo was not present leaving eight members of Council. Councillor Buck had left just prior to the tabling of the IC report and Councillors McRoberts and Mrakas, having previously declared their objection to the item being on a public agenda, left the Chamber. This left 5 members of council still present. So far so good.
Then, at 11:25pm, Councillor MacEachern also left the Chamber. That left just 4 members at the table. 4 out of 9 does not equal a majority. Quorum was lost.
And yet, watch the tape, Mayor Morris just kept blabbering on, speaking to the item on the floor, either oblivious to or unconcerned with the clear loss of quorum. Yes the loss of quorum was temporary – only minutes really. But that’s beside the point. Quorum is basic. Everyone knows you must have enough people at the meeting in order for it to continue. Once quorum is lost, the meeting is over. It’s the law.
Except where Phyllis is concerned. Once again, adherence to rules and procedures go out the window when Morris is in the Chair.
This is not the first time that Phyllis’ lack of math skills have caused problems. Last May, while “chairing” a council meeting – and sorry for the air quotes folks, we just can’t in all good conscience describe Phyllis’ actions as chairing per se, though she does occupy the chair, but we digress – the Mayor allowed a motion to waive procedure to be put to a vote and declared the vote to be carried.
Unfortunately, the vote did not in fact carry. According to our Byzantine like procedural by-law a 2/3 majority is required in order for the vote to waive procedure to carry. There were 8 members of Council present. The vote was 5 for and 3 against. 5 out of 8 is not 2/3 – at least in most math books – and yet Phyllis said it was.
So what does this mean? Should the public really care if quorum is lost? Should the public really care if a vote is counted as passed when it really hasn’t?
Well we say YES!
Fair and democratic processes depend on clear and public set of rules that everyone abides by. After 4 years of Morris though, it’s clear, that the rule book has either been tossed aside — or she just doesn’t know them. In either case, it means she is unqualified for a position of trust.
When Morris points to her experience as one of the key reason she should be re-elected — let’s not forget just how well she knows procedure. She may have been class valedictorian in law enforcement at Seneca in 1995 — but it looks like she must have failed basic math and leadership. Possibly those courses weren’t offered as part of the curriculum.
Aurora Citizen 