This letter is to address another of the mayor’s temper tirades, this one taking place during the open forum city council meeting of October 28th, 2019.
With a seemingly haughty and superior manner, he took it upon himself again to berate the same councillor as he has previously done in other public council meetings.
The public perception is the evident disdain he has for this specific councillor, as witnessed in public council. They are all peers or equals in their job of running the city, and I believe no one has the right to use their position (mayor) as a beating post to reprimand another (councillor).
In a discussion over a matter, the mayor chooses to reprimand Councillor Brian Swanson for missing so many council meetings.
In Swanson’s admitted 24 years as councillor, he said he has only missed three council meetings and the recent planning session because he was on vacation, but there have been some others that he has walked out of because, as he stated, “his gorge begins to rise and he has to make a decision…”
Kudos to him.
Mr. Tolmie has been the mayor for only three years and I am sure he has taken some holidays, too, so wondering how many days he has missed council or planning sessions in the last three years?
The mayor’s uncontrolled burst of temper is the difference between someone that has a level of respect for himself and others and decides to control his emotions and walks out of a meeting, rather than being a ‘freight train out of control’ for all to witness.
Witnessing this was not a pretty sight and rather embarrassing for the general public. In fact, another councillor holding the gavel abruptly put his tirade to rest by saying ‘that was enough.’
I have a hypothesis: I think that city council is having more in-camera meetings out of public scrutiny because they are afraid of things like this and the public witnessing more uncontrolled outbursts.
I am just making a point.
“Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Proverbs 16:18
I think with the same level of passion that he has displayed in publically berating Councillor Swanson, it would be nice to see the mayor humble himself and personally apologize to Councillor Swanson in the next public council meeting.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
