Council Confirms Videotaping Was Permitted

While Kearney Mayor Paul Tomlinson and Deputy Mayor Louise Wadsworth refuse to apologize to Jeff Johnston Jr. for having him illegally removed for the May 11th budget meeting, council is acknowledging that it has been policy to allow photographing and videoing at town meetings. Unfortunately, the acknowledgement comes in the form of a scramble to amend town by-laws making it illegal in the future. So much for the openness and transparency the Proudfoot Four screamed for during the last term of council. Now that they're under the microscope they want to reverse everything the previous council tried to do. Here's the notice:

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AMEND
The Council of the Corporation of the Town of Kearney intends to amend the Procedural By-law 2011-69 at the Council meeting of May 25, 2012 as follows:

Definitions: various

Regular Meetings

Section 5.2 (a) Permanent start time of Regular Council meetings

Agendas and Supporting Material

Section 9(3)(1.) Call the meeting to order followed by A Moment of Silence for Deceased Members of the Community

Conduct of Members of Council, Committees and Staff and Conduct of Guests and Those in attendance

Sections 12 & 13 Prohibit use of individual electronic recording devices and mobile devices in meetings

Prohibit use of indecent, offensive, threatening, abusive, belittling or insulting words, profanity or unparliamentary language

It's too bad that the Town of Kearney plans to set democracy back even further, but it's equally as bad that the town needs a By-law to "Prohibit use of indecent, offensive, threatening, abusive, belittling or insulting words, profanity or unparliamentary language". But after seeing the video of Mayor Tomlinson yelling "Bullshit" and sticking his tongue out at Mr. Johnston, and Councillor Dingwall telling a member of the public "You're disgusting!", we have to agree that we can't rely on these two buffoons to govern themselves appropriately and a By-law is a good idea.

Are you surprised?