I was covering a Planning and Transportation meeting at City Hall today. Besides being two hours behind the agenda schedule, I noticed the events of all the councillors at the table. In the morning period of the meeting about six councillors showed up. Of those six, more than half of them were dilly-dallying throughout the entire thing.

I witnessed Councillor Karen Stintz with her Louis Vuitton purse get up and leave four times. When she wasn't filling in for Chair John Filion, she chatted with Denzil Minnan-Wong, who kept reading the Globe.

I started wondering, how on earth does anything get done around here?

Councillors would talk to the row behind them (for anyone who has ever been in committee rooms) and not pay attention. I started getting annoyed. Hey, if I have to listen to the budget and you're getting paid way more than me, you should have to listen too.

When it came time for deputations from community groups, some councillors got up and left. It was mind-boggling. A woman began talking about a sidewalk bicycle riding education initiative and committee members exited. She was astounded too. "Where did everyone go? There's like four people here. I can wait till they get back."

Stintz, all huffy-like, said, "We're short on time. Keep going."

I just don't get why a) committee members either don't show up and b) show up, but zone out everything that's going on. Aren't you guys the decision makers? Pay attention! Sheesh! And you wonder why we're more than $500 million in the hole with the operating budget.

Photo: Fathers Are Capable Too (FACT)