Housing Meeting Tonight Was Perhaps The Least Satisfying In Quite a While.

Tonight's Housing meeting was perhaps the least satisfying meeting I ever attended, and I have attended a lot of meetings. 

A large group of concerned residents attended about the Sowam's proposed project. Very little information was given out. When the presentation was done, the residents who had sat quietly and wanted to speak were told, BY THE LAWYER REPRESENTING THE DEVELOPER, ( not exactly an objective observer) that no one could speak to the issue, because a public hearing was not on the agenda. If people did speak it would be an open meetings violation.

Now I have been to thousands of meetings and many times people spoke to issues not on the agenda, and so long as the members of the committee did not respond or engage in discussion there was no violation. If that is a violation then I know about 75 members of councils, boards, and committees who are guilty of a violation, myself included.

But it was the attitude of the lawyer that made the night. If you really want to solidify the opposition to your proposal. I really was middle of the road on the issue until I heard her speak. Her attitude would have convinced even the most objective middle of the road observer to oppose. Rarely did I see a crowd who was so calm and patient coming in to a meeting, so angry going out.

Good job councilor!