Delay, delay, delay or should I say deferred?

For the third time Hamilton's Public Works committee has put off making a decision on a major waste management contract that kicks in April of 2013. After listening to another staff presentation, a presentation based on questions and scenarios committee members had at the January 16th meeting a motion to defer the question on a motion by Ward 8's Terry Whitehead. Despite having all the numbers in front of them several councillors wanted to make sure the best possible decision could be made going forward and thus sought more time. I have a feeling the supporters of the Whitehead motion which essentially called for the status quo on weekly pickup but allowing two bags or containers double the current limit thought they might lose the motion on a tie and decided to fight again another day. From where I was sitting it looked like Whitehead, Jackson, Duvall, Merulla and probably Collins were going to vote for the motion with Jackson vehement in his comments about a bi-weekly proposal which is preferred by staff. It appeared that tilting toward not accepting today's motion were councillors, Powers, Ferguson, Partridge, Pearson and McHattie with the only unkown Pasuta who did not speak to the staff recommendation or the motion. So the debate over our waste is held over until Monday March 5th. One observation if I might. How much does it cost to hold some of our highest paid talent hostage to these deferrals. A lot of work has already gone into this debate. All the senior waste management staff have now sat through a January 16th presentation and today's. How many hours of wasted person hours have now ticked off because this committee and by extension council dither on this file. It's also not fair to the successful bidder on this file who needs to have a plan ready to go in just over a years time. They have more than just one contract and need to know which direction we are going so they can cost out their personnel needs and perhaps the purchasing of new equipment. Someone needs to crack a whip and get on with it.