Well, that worked out

It finally hit me that I might just be doing the whole presentation, if bosslady was too sick to come in. I didn't really think that would be the case, but I did wonder if she would make it thru the whole show. That woke me about 5.30, and I came in to the office on an early bus - early enough to wait for the coffee shop to open up. Once so fortified, I card-swiped my way into the building and offices and settled in to get everything ready for the meeting - and some sense of a presentation together just in case.

She got in a bit after the meeting was to start. She gave an overview, I discussed the site plan and went thru the power point, answering questions. She walked them thru the pros and cons, and the basis for the required refusal. It took about an hour. She was voiceless for the next couple hours - was supposed to go back home but - you know how this is - you get stuck.

There were some bobbles. The secretary hadn't realized the report was ready on time and didn't print it for their agenda packages that went out Monday, so the Board was walking into this cold. Still not sure what happened there. Neither of us, of course, was aware it hadn't gone out. Once we were, one of the planners ran out to get copies of the 15 or so page report made.

It was a good day. I did feel I could make the presentation and answer questions if Christine's voice pooped out, even tho it wasn't my case - I'd had to understand it well to write up the planning assessment half of the report, along with the site and project descriptions and the conditions of refusal - and I did feel it was a sort of 'bonding' experience.

Since the process required the Board's refusal of the project, that decision will be confirmed by them as part of the approval of the minutes next week, and the applicants will immediately file an appeal with the Minister. I've started putting together the recommended conditions to present as part of the Department's case, from which the Minister will select those he wants to require.

I do enjoy the 'people' part of this. Chatting with one of our support staff yesterday I learned she has a girl in 3rd grade who is significantly deaf. The girl is away at a special school in the US for kids with hearing problems, getting very good grades and having learned sign language as a little thing is now learning somehow to talk and follow conversation - one of the Clarke Schools. They have some financial aid with the tuition, and the youngster qualified for a partial scholarship, but otherwise Donna is paying out over $10,000 a year for her daughter's education - and this is the last year the government helps cover any of the expense, so her share will double. She is a single mom who works two jobs regularly, and a third now and then. The one at the Department is by far the better paying of them, and that one covers her girl's expenses and some of the Bermuda living expenses. The second one covers some more. But there is no 'extra' money anywhere in her budget.

Just expressing interest brought on a rush of information and sharing. After a point she acknowledged she was with the Department on a temporary hire (for the last 8 months!) and - altho everyone says what a good job she is doing - she didn't know if she was being kept on. (I poked a bit on that one - her boss hadn't gotten around to relieving her mind by telling her he had filed the papers to make her a permanent employee, so hearing that from him made her day.)

Brought some things home to work on - this discussion paper on solar/renewable energy application guidelines and protocols, some cases I think can just go to DAC and are finished enough to go this week if I get the reports done for tomorrow noon...

Hope the weekend works out - some fun things to do if the weather works with us...
And did I mention my $35 microwave? The kids I'd bought the drapes from a month ago had it on e-moo for $50, but when they recognized the name they said they'd deliver it and take $35. That will be much appreciated come hot weather!

Til next time...