On Thursday, September 2, 2010, I wrote the blog "Are Your Councillors Attending Meetings?" (http://lauraip.blogspot.com/2010/09/are-your-councillors-attending-meetings.html), which included a break down of the attendance of all councillors for the period from December 4, 2006, through August 23, 2010.
The incumbents of St. George's ward were the second and third most absent and late councillors on the list. Of 138 meetings, Peter Secord was absent or late for a total of 11 meetings (8%), and Greg Washuta was absent or late for a total of 15 meetings (11%).
Greg Washuta was first successful in the 1997 election, making for a total of 13 years on Council, and he is now vying for his fifth term. Peter Secord was first successful in the 2003 election, making for seven years on Council, and he is now vying for his third term.
In conversation after conversation, residents who I've spoken with have questioned the commitment of the incumbents.
Based on missing or being late for a total of between 8% and 11% of meetings, how committed are the incumbents?
Based on hearing from residents that they can't get responses from the incumbents until recently (several said they've been trying to get a response/meeting for two years), how committed are the incumbents?
Has being there for so long made them comfortable and maybe a little complacent?
I don't know the answers to these questions. I only know that they've been posed to me about the incumbents.
I also don't know what it is that causes them to be late or absent so much. I do know that one of them works in Toronto on a daily basis, so I imagine that traffic, train schedules/delays, etc. present some challenges with respect to getting back into St. Catharines on time.
If individuals are not able to fulfill their responsibilities to voters by being present and on-time for meetings, then I wonder if maybe they should think twice about making the commitment.
The incumbents of St. George's ward were the second and third most absent and late councillors on the list. Of 138 meetings, Peter Secord was absent or late for a total of 11 meetings (8%), and Greg Washuta was absent or late for a total of 15 meetings (11%).
Greg Washuta was first successful in the 1997 election, making for a total of 13 years on Council, and he is now vying for his fifth term. Peter Secord was first successful in the 2003 election, making for seven years on Council, and he is now vying for his third term.
In conversation after conversation, residents who I've spoken with have questioned the commitment of the incumbents.
Based on missing or being late for a total of between 8% and 11% of meetings, how committed are the incumbents?
Based on hearing from residents that they can't get responses from the incumbents until recently (several said they've been trying to get a response/meeting for two years), how committed are the incumbents?
Has being there for so long made them comfortable and maybe a little complacent?
I don't know the answers to these questions. I only know that they've been posed to me about the incumbents.
I also don't know what it is that causes them to be late or absent so much. I do know that one of them works in Toronto on a daily basis, so I imagine that traffic, train schedules/delays, etc. present some challenges with respect to getting back into St. Catharines on time.
If individuals are not able to fulfill their responsibilities to voters by being present and on-time for meetings, then I wonder if maybe they should think twice about making the commitment.
~~~~
Here's the breakdown of attendance for just the St. George's ward incumbents. The full breakdown for all members of Council can be found here: http://lauraip.blogspot.com/2010/09/are-your-councillors-attending-meetings.html.
Council Meeting AttendanceHere's the breakdown of attendance for just the St. George's ward incumbents. The full breakdown for all members of Council can be found here: http://lauraip.blogspot.com/2010/09/are-your-councillors-attending-meetings.html.
Absent
Councillor Peter Secord: 7 (5% of meetings)
Councillor Greg Washuta: 7 (5% of meetings)
Late
Councillor Peter Secord: 4 (3% of meetings)
Councillor Greg Washuta: 8 (6% of meetings)
Absent or Late
Councillor Peter Secord: 11 (8% of meetings)
Councillor Greg Washuta: 15 (11% of meetings)
Data by Individual Meeting:
August 23, 2010
Late: Councillor Peter Secord (arrived at 6:36 p.m.)
April 26, 2010
Absent: Councillor Greg Washuta
April 19, 2010
Absent: Councillor Peter Secord
November 2, 2009
Absent: Councillor Peter Secord
September 21, 2009
Late: Councillor Greg Washuta (arrived at 7:09 p.m.)
August 24, 2009
Absent: Councillor Peter Secord, Councillor Greg Washuta
June 15, 2009
Late: Councillor Greg Washuta (arrived at 6:49 p.m.)
June 8, 2009
Late: Councillor Greg Washuta (arrived at 6:44 p.m.)
May 25, 2009
Late: Councillor Greg Washuta (arrived at 6:55 p.m.)
April 20, 2009
Late: Councillor Greg Washuta (arrived at 6:56 p.m.)
April 6, 2009
Late: Councillor Greg Washuta (arrived at 7:10 p.m.)
February 2, 2009
Late: Councillor Greg Washuta (arrived at 6:40 p.m.)
January 31, 2009 (Special Meeting)
Late: Councillor Peter Secord (arrived at 9:11 a.m.)
January 26, 2009
Absent: Councillor Greg Washuta
January 19, 2009
Absent: Councillor Greg Washuta
January 12, 2009
Absent: Councillor Greg Washuta
November 3, 2008
Absent: Councillor Peter Secord, Councillor Greg Washuta
September 8, 2008
Absent: Councillor Greg Washuta
June 9, 2008
Late: Councillor Peter Secord (arrived at 7:40 p.m.)
May 26, 2008
Late: Councillor Greg Washuta (arrived at 7:03 p.m.)
April 21, 2008
Absent: Councillor Peter Secord
December 17, 2007
Late: Councillor Greg Washuta (arrived at 6:55 p.m.)
November 19, 2007
Late: Councillor Greg Washuta (arrived at 6:45 p.m.)
November 5, 2007
Absent: Councillor Peter Secord
September 17, 2007
Late: Councillor Greg Washuta (arrived at 6:50 p.m.)
September 10, 2007
Late: Councillor Peter Secord (arrived at 6:45 p.m.)
June 18, 2007
Absent: Councillor Peter Secord
June 11, 2007
Late: Councillor Peter Secord (arrived at 5:20 p.m.)
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