Even complimentary sweets and coffee couldn’t pry 20 Councillors from their District lyres to attend the second of two large development public information meetings for the newly "Carved Out" area for District 12. It is ironic that 3 of the 4 Peninsular Community Councillors, who would originally deliberate a decision on this “Downtown Project”, known as the Brewery Market (North), were the only elected officials to grace the 100 plus attendees of the meeting. Tisk, Tisk, Tisk. Wouldn’t you agree that if one is so adamant to take on an extra duty, like Council did less than a month and a half ago, they should at least act as if they are genuinely interested in what they voted for by attending the public meeting, if only for the gratis sweets and coffee?

This type of behaviour only adds to the list of ridiculous decisions made so far with the newly elected Council of 2004. By the way, look out kitty your next on the hit list! As Alexander Graham Bell once said "never follow the beaten track, it leads only where others have been before". I can’t understand why Council keeps choosing to take on more responsibility if the intent of the decision is not fully followed through. Is it arrogance? Is it a bullying tactic? Or is it a way for a “wrong” to be corrected? .

I remember when I was younger; I wanted to take on an additional part-time summer job, even though I had one already. My wise Mother told me not to spread myself too thin. I, of course, thought this was a challenge and accepted the job. I worked days, evenings and weekends. Summer was rapidly passing by; I discovered that I shouldn’t have "bitten off more that I can chew". What a rotten summer.

Perhaps Council should heed the warning signs of spreading themselves too thin. If the inability to attend public meetings within this designated area is impossible due to other engagements in their own districts, then perhaps their decision was made in haste and with out proper research into other alternatives. Something will always suffer neglect or will be done "Half- Assed" when you bite off more than you can chew. My Fellow Colleagues, the time has come to swallow those big chunks of District 12 you "carved out" for yourselves.

Oh and I concede. My Mother was right.

Dawn Sloane represents District 12 on HRM council.