Nathan VanderKlippe
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 08/02) - It wasn't a crisis, but some city councillors almost went unfed at Wednesday's special public service committee meeting.

Thankfully, after a vigorous exchange of lively opinion, catastrophe was averted in time for the decision-making to begin.

It all started when Coun. Kevin O'Reilly walked in and found himself stuck with half a plastic-wrapped sandwich. He grumbled about it, prompting senior administrator Max Hall to share some of the sandwiches he had already snagged for himself.

Committee chair Ben McDonald entered the room next. He walked to his chair to shed his coat before picking up his lunch. When he saw O'Reilly scavenging at the dwindling offerings, he let loose a bellow of a warning to O'Reilly to mind his turf.

Coun. Alan Woytuik's subsequent appearance at the door changed a tummy argument to a decidedly political one. Woytuik supported a five per cent across-the-board cut to portions of the mayor and council budget during deliberations this January.

That prompted O'Reilly to comment that the sandwich shortage may have come about because of the five per cent cut.

McDonald, who opposed the cuts, then suggested Woytuik should forfeit his sandwich because he voted for the cuts.

Meanwhile, corporate services director Tim Mercer was wagging his finger at public works manager Dennis Kefalas, the new guy. Mercer accused him of taking six sandwiches. Kefalas meekly responded that he had shown up half an hour early. Coming early does have its benefits, it would seem.

Although the sandwich kerfuffle came to a peaceful conclusion, the meeting proved to be an unruly one, perhaps due to some lingering hunger pangs. A long debate -- involving everyone -- on the wording of a recommendation prompted McDonald to toss his hands up in the air saying, "Why do I seem to have no control over this at all?"

Now, some mention needs to be made about the need for sandwiches. Councillors don't get paid a heck of a lot, and many of the meetings take place at the noon hour. So it's not unreasonable to expect that food be supplied.

But it still all makes you wonder: do growling stomachs foster more acrimonious debate? And exactly which is more important to democracy: the catering company or the councillor?