2014 grade: C-
2013 grade: F
2012 grade: F
2011 grade: C-
2010 grade: D
2009 grade: C
2008 grade: D
2007 grade: D+
Cell: 483-0705
David Hendsbee’s biggest contribution to the commonweal this year has been to make sure HRM has a town crier. He’s been on this file since at least 2009, when as deputy mayor he implemented a succession plan after the unfortunate passing of the much-loved Peter Cox. This past year, Hendsbee convinced council to hire David Nimmo, of Dartmouth, for the duties, and to pay him $300 a month.
Town criers like Nimmo serve a role in tourism promotion, right up there with the didilly-didilly music and the kilts, but Hendsbee’s obsession with the position seems to come from a sad realization that he’s picked the wrong career path. His odd behaviour at council starts to make sense when you realize he wants to be the town crier. Like town criers, he dresses in loud colours—a Boston Bruins jacket is typical attire—and is forever yelling “Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!” before blurting out some nonsense while shaking an imaginary bell at passing clouds.
This would all be great fun if bus loads of tourists from the cruise ships regularly pulled up at City Hall and drunken Americans filled council chambers to admire our quaint culture, but until that happens, it’s mere disruption.
This article appears in Apr 3-9, 2014.
Hendsbee is an atrocious councillor. I don’t think he’s even aware there’s a bigger picture than his riding. His laundry list of inane bullshit that staff aren’t responding to is now starting to stretch past his allotted speaking time.
It’s fine to be folksy, but sad that we live in a city where a guy who thinks about ducks on the Eastern Shore at the same time others are thinking about broad-level policy is electable.
It is obvious that Tim B at the Coast & vishnu1234 ( being an anonymous critic ) have no idea what it means to be a REGIONAL municipality. We are more than just a 4 letter word – city…. but we are a “Commu-city”. Everything should not solely focus on the downtown central core but have strong communities with proper linkage to it core and its business parks. Your narrow Urban focus can’t see beyond the trees unless its in a greenbelt ! Policy issues such as general capital contributions to the construction of all community facilities is one that Staff are having difficulty in adequately addressing in a timely fashion. In the meantime, the rural/suburban areas keeps paying for them alone. So why don’t you get yourself out of the old city attitude and come out and see the real HRM. Regards – David H
Tim, you hit the nail on the head for sure!! Mr. Hendsbee has been around a few years and from day one he reminded me (showing my age here) of Foster Brooks, The Loveable Lush on the Dean Martin show… Keep up the act Mr. Hendsbee, you are a riot!! Unfortunately, City Hall is just not the place for it.