Do Not Adjust Your Set, Sound Problems Are Permanent

In case you’re wondering, there is nothing wrong with your TV set nor is there anything wrong with the feed from Cogeco Cable when broadcasting from City Council Chambers.

I’m told that there have been some changes to the sound system in the Chambers that have been made. I don’t know exactly what it is called but there is something similar to a Chairman’s priority button that the Mayor now has on his microphone it seems. This is one description I have seen of such a sound system button:

• “When pressed, the priority button causes all currently active delegate microphones to be temporarily or permanently muted, allowing the chairman to take control of the meeting.”

Once the Mayor turns on his microphone, then you cannot hear what a Councillor or a Delegation has to say. Therefore, if Eddie is quick on the trigger and is about to say something, even though he does not say anything, then the person speaking is cut off and cannot be heard. (Eddie had lots of Points of Clarification tonight so that is why so many people were silenced)

If the Mayor forgets to turn off his microphone, then you hear nothing also.

After awhile, it became quite annoying. But then again, no one should be surprised. After all, who wants to hear what the Councillors have to say. And delegations, why they are merely to be tolerated.

Now you know even without any formal Resolution that the Mayor is truly the “Voice of Council.”

Just so you know, I am not going to get into the shameful debate on the 400 building that took place at Council tonight. The playing with numbers was quite amusing trying to show that a $6 million overage really wasn’t a $6 million overage. Unfortunately, no one brought forward what was said previously:

Back in February of 2006, the Star reported:

• "Councillors approved a report by an independent consultant who found the building was constructed under budget and filled an important need by bringing several city departments under one roof. "Overall, the assessment was that it was done well" and it met the objectives of the city, said John Skorobohacz, the city's chief administrative officer...
  
  Skorobohacz said the project came in under budget and the city will have an extra $1 million, based on projected revenues and operating expenses.

The contractor wrote a Letter to the Editor in which he said:

• "After much speculation, allegations and innuendoes, it is vindicating to read in The Star report of Feb. 7 that the municipal building at 400 City Hall Square was constructed under budget. Not that we, the design builder, had any doubts about the conclusions now reached by Coun. Fulvio Valentinis, the independent consultant and the city's chief administrative officer."

All of these smart people in the past said that there were no cost overruns but now we find that there may be problems. I'm troubled by that. I wonder why the Councillors were not.

Never fear though. Just wait until the audit comes out. That should clear up everything. To the satisfaction of the Mayor and Councillors anyway