City council will meet in St. George

I’m still on Vacation; but, I just had to write about this article in the newspaper today:

SAINT JOHN – Common council is scheduled to hold special meetings on Friday and Saturday at the Granite Inn in St. George.

The politicians wanted to leave the city, and get away from distractions, to discuss their priorities for their four-year mandate and hold preliminary budget discussions, said deputy city manager Andrew Beckett,

“They wanted to have the opportunity to get together off-site, to avoid the distractions that come with holding a meeting in town,” Beckett said.

“This was an opportunity for them to not only have some work time but to have some social time together as well.”

Council’s accommodation costs will be covered by taxpayers, although Beckett could not say how many politicians will stay overnight and what it might cost.

On Friday evening, in a public session, council is expected to revisit the 10 priorities it set last fall and pledged to accomplish by the time of the next election. At the top of the list was the construction of a new water treatment plant by 2012.

On Saturday, council is scheduled to discuss budget matters, but Beckett said most of those meetings will likely be held in private session.

That’s because the politicians will discuss personnel concerns related to potential budget cuts, a topic generally debated behind closed doors, Beckett said.

If Council wants to meet somewhere outside Saint John, no problem. Just don’t make the taxpayers pay for it!

I didn’t vote for people to have “social time” together, I voted for them to work on the problems in this city.

I’d love to see a grand total for this trip, as I am betting it will be a lot more then I can stomach.

As for the budget, stop spending so much money on big projects and spend it where it is needed.

Ask the public to help define that, it can’t be done behind closed doors in St. George.