Recording Equipment Delay

Stonewall: delay or block (a request, process, or person) by refusing to answer questions or by giving evasive replies, especially in politics.  I dare say I was stonewalled last night. I got evasive answers when I addressed the Mayor about why she waited until 2 weeks ago to express herself regarding recording equipment for Council Chambers and the conference room.  Her unanticipated concern for due diligence and additional estimates has done nothing but delay a project that is long overdue.  The Mayor should have stated her apprehension months ago at the inception of this project. She had over a year to ask questions and make suggestions and roll up her sleeves and help get the best equipment at the best price. She. Did. Not. With a donation for the equipment about to be presented, suddenly she has issues with the project.

I expressed concern a second time about the fact that she did not speak up sooner. She cited new elements in a letter from the League that she had not heard before. (A member of the League who attended every meeting where the equipment was discussed wanted the record to show that all these issues had in fact been deliberated, there were no new items for consideration and this is a matter of public record.)

Again addressing the Mayor, I followed with a “to be clear” if you have any other concerns you should let everyone know now. I did not want this process to hit another roadblock. She says until she gets into it, she has no other concerns.

She stated she is not against the project. She stated that the meetings are already recorded. Yes, we know. And we could come in and listen. Yes, we could. This misses the point of the issue.

Council President, Paul Koomar, keeping true to his diplomatic position, stated that this is where we are now. He assured us he will work on this as well through the summer as they all want this to happen.

Ironic that the very reason Council, the League of Women Voters and so many residents want clear audio or video of meetings may be the very reason the project was stonewalled. Transparency.