Van Bynen - Misogynist or Wimp?

There are only 9 members of Newmarket council.  With what turned out to be a 8 person voting block backing him, this term on Newmarket council should have been very easy for Mayor Van Bynen. 

He can (and does) get his way on any vote he wants - usually by an 8-1 margin. 

When the mayor wants to raise taxes - the motion passes 8 to 1

When the mayor wants to increase fees for recreational groups - that passes too 8 to 1

Cost over-runs at Old Town Hall?  Not a problem when his voting block has his back.

New parking fees at Hollingsworth Arena?  Done deal. 

I watch a lot of the videos of Council meetings, and I can't recall a single instance where the Mayor actually lost a vote.  If there is such an instance, I would sure like to know what it was. 

That's how easy his job is these days.  He is playing with a stacked hand. 

And the stacked hand gets even more pronounced when considering that he can change the rules of the card game whenever it suits him. 

If you have any understanding of Roberts Rules of Order, you already know that his voting block means that procedurally he can pretty much do anything he wants at a council meeting.  He can make it so any councillor that gets out of line won't get a chance to make even a peep. 

Cut short debate? With his buddies in his back pocket, he can make that happen.

Cut off all debate and go straight to vote?   Easy to do, just need one of his allies to suggest it. 

Want to make a council member appear ineffective?  Just strong arm the other members into not "seconding" that councillor's motions. 

So with all the rules-of-order along with the strength of his 8 of 9 member voting block, how does one explain the difficulties Mayor Van Bynen is having with Councillor Di Muccio? 

Another blogger hit the nail on the head when he pointed out the obvious friction between Councillor Di Muccio and Mayor Van Bynen.  To say that they don't like each other is an understatement.   

Personalities aside, it should be very easy for Mayor Van Bynen to win any political battle regardless. 

In chambers, he has the procedural rules and the votes on his side to completely silence her. 

There are only two possibilities to explain why we are witnessing the battles between the Mayor and the Councillor:

1) he might either be the most ineffective chairperson in the history of Roberts Rules of Order because his is continually being tormented by one single person even though he can count on 8 votes to be on his side; or

2) he might be a bully of the first rate who is trying to "make an example" of Councillor Di Muccio in order to demonstrate just how advantageous his position is.  He can fight with her because he knows that there is very little that she can do to stop him. 

While Mayor Van Bynen might be offended by being labelled a misogynist, he has to recognize that if he isn't, then the only other label that fits is "wimp".