“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” was the sentiment of Langley Township council. It voted against an idea to eliminate recording who moves and seconds motions brought to the table.
The motion to discontinue recording movers and seconders in the minutes was to “depersonalize and depoliticize the decision making process,” said the report to council.
“Maybe because I’m newer, I am supporting this motion,” said Councillor Bev Dornan. “I may second a motion just to create discussion, not necessarily because I support it. Maybe not having the seconder’s name recorded may foster more discussion.”
Councillor Bob Long disagreed.
“I feel we want to protect public records and be able to see who moved what and why,” said Long.
Councillor Steve Ferguson said he’s a traditional guy who wants to stick to the Township’s traditions.
“Maybe I like going back to the 1987 records and seeing my name in print,” he said.
“You can be anonymous everywhere in the new world, from Twitter to other social media. I don’t think this is where we should be anonymous,” Ferguson said.
Councillor Kim Richter said the plan would sanitize the public records and leave council less accountable to the people who voted them in.
Mayor Jack Froese said he brought the idea up, because it made sense to him to not bog the process down.
“We don’t have slates here. In the short time as mayor this council will leave a legacy of good governance,” said Froese, who was in favour of not recording who moves and who seconds motions.