Huntsville: With Spirit and Resolve <\/em>by Susan Pryke) is copyrighted by the Town of Huntsville,\u201d she said, adding that the book was commissioned by the municipality.<\/p>\nSouter recommended that the municipality go back to the community \u201cand see what the appetite is to move forward with this. I don\u2019t see a down side with doing that. If we do nothing, then we will lose the funds that we\u2019ve expended. If we consult with the public and then do nothing, then we will lose the same funds. But if we decide to move forward, we would, of course, come back to General Committee for direction.\u201d<\/p>\n
Councillor Nancy Alcock said she isn\u2019t sure why the municipality is pursuing the creation of a Heraldic Arms. \u201cI don\u2019t see the point given other requests for dollars and I look at other needs that we have. I know it\u2019s not a lot of money but you know, if we decide to go down that route it\u2019ll be $5,000 and from my perspective I just don\u2019t see the value of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mayor Scott Aitchison countered: \u201cWe\u2019re doing it because in the budget process it was presented as an option and it was voted on, that\u2019s why we\u2019re doing it,\u201d he said. \u201cI just wanted to make sure that the public is aware that it wasn\u2019t just some idea that Teri or I had and we stole money from some budget.\u201d Alcock said that is not what she was suggesting and reiterated that for her it just isn\u2019t a high priority.<\/p>\n
Councillor Bob Stone said he isn\u2019t prepared to spend any more staff time or money on the issue. \u201cI think we should admit it as a mistake and move on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Deputy Mayor Karin Terziano said she did not know how public opinion would be pursued and how much time it would take and whether it is really worth it. Souter said in terms of consultation, the municipality has had success with online surveys and public meetings in the past. She also said that in conversation with the Chief Herald, she indicated that because \u201cwe were unhappy with the outcome, we can start over without starting to pay over again\u2026 so there is that option. It is of course up to council.\u201d<\/p>\n
Councillor Brian Thompson asked where the emblem would be used. Souter said it could be used for official Town business. Some of that business would best suit the Town\u2019s existing logo, whereas other business might best suit a coat of arms. \u201cFor instance, if the Mayor was to give somebody a certificate of proclamation I would suggest that would be a very good place for the coat of arms to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thompson said the municipality has spent $875 so far and to follow through would be $5,000. \u201cI guess I\u2019m just wondering about the sense of it all. Would there be enough occasions where it would make sense and that kind of thing. I mean if somebody asked me the Coat of Arms of Canada, what\u2019s on it, I couldn\u2019t tell you. I really couldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
Councillor Jonathan Wiebe said his goal would be \u201cto end this exercise at this point.\u201d<\/p>\n
Terziano asked for a recorded vote on whether to continue with the issue, which in the end was dropped by a vote of six to three. Here’s how the councillors voted: Brian Thompson: no; Jonathan Wiebe: no; Nancy Alcock: no; Dan Armour: no; Jason FitzGerald: yes; Det Schumacher: yes; Bob Stone: no; Deputy Mayor Karin Terziano: no; Mayor Scott Aitchison: yes.<\/p>\n
Aitchison said he was disappointed with what they initially got, but said that cultural icons are important and \u201cit\u2019s too bad that it worked out the way it did.\u201d You can see a clip of his comments below, followed by another council resolution instructing staff to inform the Chief Herald that the municipality will not be proceeding with the project.<\/p>\n