Tomlinson Still Trying to Suppress Information

Despite Kearney's town council passing a by-law that allows photographing and video-taping of council meetings (so long as council is given prior notification) Mayor Paul Tomlinson is threatening legal action against anyone who tries to show it or pass out copies. Which again begs the question: What is council trying to hide? Or is Tomlinson just being an asshole because it's Jeff Johnston who emailed the notice to council? Deputy Mayor Louise Wadsworth similarly says it's okay to video-tape, but also forbids it being shown to anyone.

Are you Surprised?

Actually, given the buffoonery Mr. Johnston got on tape the last time he tried to record a meeting (before Wadsworth had the police drag him out while her husband and Jim Skelton jumped around) we're not at all surprised that neither one of them ever wants to be video-taped again.

Sorry Paul. Never on the first date.

Anyway, here's the email exchange, in the usual reverse-order (start at the bottom):

Mayor Tomlinson,

As the municipal by-law is silent on the use of video or photography of public officials at public meetings, I will defer to past practice set by THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF KEARNEY of freely distributing same without consent. Unless of course, THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF KEARNEY now wishes to acknowledge that the unauthorized distribution of photos and video of private citizens, with disparaging remarks, was illegal, hence your caveat regarding legal consequences should I engage in a similar practice.

Jeff Johnston

From: Paul H Tomlinson [mailto:kearneytomlinson@gmail.com]
Sent: September-04-12 17:43
To: 'Jeff Johnston'; 'Paul H Tomlinson'; louiseinkearney@gmail.com; cricket8@xplornet.com; stevesainsbury1@gmail.com; kb1174@gmail.com; Murdy, Arthur; Barry Dingwall
Subject: RE: Video Recording of Council Meeting

You have so advised in advance of the event and aware of the legal consequences of your actions.

Paul

PAUL H TOMLINSON

MAYOR

THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF KEARNEY

8 MAIN STREET

KEARNEY, ON

P0A 1MO

(705) 636-1608

From: Jeff Johnston 
Sent: September-04-12 5:38 PM
To: 'Paul H Tomlinson'; louiseinkearney@gmail.com; cricket8@xplornet.com; amurdy@bradleycoredrilling.com; stevesainsbury1@gmail.com; barryinbarrie@yahoo.ca; kb1174@gmail.com
Subject: RE: Video Recording of Council Meeting

I will happily extend the same respect and courtesy that Mayor Tomlinson, the Town of Kearney, and council have shown to me and my family in regards to the public distribution of photographs and video, and commentary on same. I trust that should be more than satisfactory.

Jeff Johnston

 

From: Paul H Tomlinson [mailto:kearneytomlinson@gmail.com]
Sent: September-04-12 4:11 PM
To: Louise Wadsworth
Cc: Jeff Johnston; cricket8@xplornet.com; amurdy@bradleycoredrilling.com; stevesainsbury1@gmail.com; barryinbarrie@yahoo.ca; kb1174@gmail.com
Subject: Re: Video Recording of Council Meeting

I similarily[sic] direct you not to redistribute in any form at any time whatsoever my image unless I give you expressly[sic] written permission at each instance. Any sound bites of me will not be edited in any way.

Paul

On Tuesday, September 4, 2012, Louise Wadsworth <louiseinkearney@gmail.com> wrote:
> For the record, you may record, however, I do NOT give you permission to distribute or publish in any manner any videos that contain my image.

From: Jeff Johnston
Sent: September-04-12 3:52 PM
To: kearneytomlinson@gmail.com; louiseinkearney@gmail.com; cricket8@xplornet.com; amurdy@bradleycoredrilling.com; stevesainsbury1@gmail.com; barryinbarrie@yahoo.ca; kb1174@gmail.com
Subject: Video Recording of Council Meeting
Importance: High
 
Members of Council,

Please be informed that I, or members of my family, will be video recording the council meeting scheduled for September 7, 2012.

Thank you.

Jeff Johnston