You Can Shake Your Head But This Shouldn't Surprise Anyone.....

.....who follow the antics of our clown council.

Council photo less than picture perfect TheStar.com - GTA - Council photo less than picture perfect

Everyone smiles, but two councillors promoted to 'executive,' while another two don't want to pay

June 11, 2008

John Spears
City Hall Bureau

When is a Toronto councillor not a councillor?

When he or she is an "executive councillor," a title now more or less officially bestowed on two Scarborough council members who happen to sit on the city's executive committee.

The title rankles some others, annoyed that it makes some of their colleagues look more equal than the rest.

The moniker popped up on Scarborough community council's contentious official portrait, unveiled yesterday in the atrium of Scarborough Civic Centre. It hangs beside the official portrait of the 2003-06 Toronto City Council; the Scarborough portrait is somewhat bigger.

All the members of Scarborough community council are named on the portrait. Most are referred to as "councillor."

But Norm Kelly (Ward 40, Scarborough-Agincourt), who chairs the community council, and Glenn De Baeremaeker (Ward 38, Scarborough Centre) are referred to as "executive councillor."

"I didn't realize we had two types of councillors, but obviously we do, because it's in print," said Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 37, Scarborough Centre).

"There are obviously those who have elevated their status. I don't know if it's intentional, or what it all means."

Thompson said it's consistent with Mayor David Miller's push to give the executive committee new status, including an expanded right to meet in private.

Kelly says the title is more traditional than legal, and was used in Scarborough prior to amalgamation in 1998.

"It's not in the bylaws of the (new) City of Toronto, but it's a convention," Kelly said.

Some councillors shrugged the whole thing off.

"It doesn't bother me one way or the other," said Councillor Ron Moeser (Ward 44, Scarborough East). Councillor Paul Ainslie (Ward 43, Scarborough East.) was equally unconcerned.

Councillor Brian Ashton (Ward 36, Scarborough Southwest) deemed the new title "silly."

"I'm sure there's a Dr. Seuss poem for this," he said.

The new photo was shot and printed despite Ainslie and Thompson's refusal to share in paying the cost from their office budgets. Both balked because they weren't told before it was taken that they'd be asked to chip in $52.90 each.

Kelly said he made up the difference from his own office budget.