First of all Kudo's on the new sound system in the council chambers I never realized how bad the sound was in there until I actually sat in the public gallery.
Attended council meeting last night (May 7) lots of issues but I know the one most pressing for most of my readers was the Medican development of the Old Hospital site and those previously spoken about timelines, some were for the end of March and some for the end of April, the CAO informed us last night that they all been extended to May 31.
Municipal Office will start opening at lunch hour beginning June 1
CAO is still in the recruiting process for the new Economic Development Officer
The CPO position being advertised is not a new position the original position was only a temporary position which they are now turning into a permanent position.
The municipality is still working on reaching an agreement with the SPCA.
The new Sports and Recreation committee had it's first meeting.
A new contract with CNP waste was awarded to pick up our garbage for the next two years.
Sale of the Bellevue Seniors hall, a motion was brought forth by Councilor Mitchell to enter into negotiations with the Bellevue Seniors to sell them the hall.
During the discussion on this issue Councilor Londsbury gave a speech about how well the communities of Bellevue and Hillcrest have worked together over the years, maybe the seniors there should consider carrying on that spirit of co-operation with the Coleman Seniors and look at the option of sharing their facility.
Particular Interest during the council member reports several of the councilors mentioned that they had attended a CAO briefing. Later in the meeting Joni from the Promoter asked what is a "CAO briefing" the CAO's answer was a regular held meeting with council that talks about management or planning issues with no minutes kept or resolutions passed. (Sounds some what like a G+P meeting) and not accessible to the public or the media.
The following motion was passed on Tuesday night when council came out of camera:
M#6874-13: Councillor Gallant moved that the Chief Administrative Officer’s contract salary be adjusted according to the terms of his contract.
32 comments:
Re Bellevue Seniors Centre, Mr Longsbury has his head where the sun don't shine if he thinks that Bellevue and Hillcrest seniors would, ravel to Coleman. Perhaps the plan should be for Mr Bradley and Heritage to assist in getting a real historical designation in Bellevue which would get the dollars flowing for upgrading. If the present site doesn't work, use Jimmy"s Cafe as an historical building.
Will be interesting to see what the Muni thinks the Bellevue center is worth. They've tried to scuttle this since the present mayor held his town hall pre-election meeting there.
Meetings in secret. Wow. Sounds like a secret club to me. Is this legal? If this was the last council the Pass Herald would be all over it. Buddy, where are you now?????
"a speech about how well the communities of Bellevue and Hillcrest have worked together over the years."?
I am sure council has also worked well with Bellevue and Hillcrest. How about erecting a Circus Tent at the community campground for meetings, freeing up valuable municipal office space. There is a small church on site to run to if one needs to pray that they can't be serious. Also an information booth that no longer gives information. Perfect fit for them!
Of course the tent flaps should be open during lunch hours.
Dates mean nothing, March 31, April 30, May 31, August 31. They really do mean nothing, getting Best Western or Holiday Inn means nothing. The only thing that means anything? $10-12 million. That will build us a hotel. Not dates, not names, just pure good old fashioned cash.
Tony
Dean, you forgot to mention the extensive talk about the bowling alley. Looks like the municipality is out, but I know I could be one of the 100 to kick in $500.00 (Gallant's suggestion) and I wouldn't have a problem volunteering a few shifts to run it. Now we just need 99 more takers. Anyone out there??? Would be a shame to lose such a great facility that all ages can enjoy. Bowling is so universal.
Your right I did forget the talk about the bowling alley.
Couple of concerns on my part, who's buying the Legion and will the new owners make that space available and at what price. The quality of the bowling alley inventory, how much life does it have left. Is the business viable? I have no idea.
The suggestion of $500 per person how many people would step up and make that contribution. Would be good to hear how popular that approach would be.
Secret meetings, this goes back to Saje's comments in the paper a few months back. Is process and procedure being followed. Or are these guys just making up the rules as they go.
Time for Crowsnest Co-op to take over the bowling alley.
I believe it was mentioned at the Legion meeting (the one where members were to vote on whether or not to accept the offer) that the people who made the offer, were willing to let the bowling alley stay. Now, as the offer had certain conditions (the vote was to accept) it all depends on whether or not those particular buyers are the ones to get the building, and whether or not they are still willing to let the bowling alley stay if they do buy it. At least there is HOPE! (sigh)
Maybe I'll win the Lions Bingo Jackpot on Tues, then I can put in a few more of the $500.00 shares!
Concerns me more than anything here is the CAO briefing meeting. So are they open to the public, the media.
How many of them have there been? why did we not know about them until now?
If there is debate among council it should be open to the public.
Council should not have anything to do with the bowling alley.It is a private business. If there is money to be made then the business will stay either at its present location or somewhere else. I am afraid though that it is not a profitable business and therefore will eventually close.500$ x 100 people is only 50,000$, that would be a bandaid solution.
There meetings are not secret. But what is being discussed is secret.This is one of the reasons why we have no open debate, the other being in camera.These meeting should have to follow the other guidelines of meetings.Otherwise they can discuss and decide everything at these meetings and then just vote on it at a regular council meeting.This all seems so wrong.
Londsbury is so out of touch with the seniors.Mitchell also.
The hotel deal seems likely to me that it is dead in the water. Council will keep spreading hope until the next election.
Why don't we pick up a couple of struggling restaurants or maybe the gas station in Bellevue
I agree. Council should have absolutely nothing to do with private things like a bowling alley.
Where would you end it.
Sort of strange how the bowling issue got on the Agenda. Did Council request that report from Administration?
There was an unofficial petition about the bowling alley, taken around town, that was brought to council. That is how is got on the Agenda.
Council pretty much decided not to get into a private business, and this makes sense. On the other hand, the bowling alley is a recreational facility, much like the pool, skating rink, library, soccer fields, baseball diamonds, ski hill, etc., so....completely different from a restaurant and a gas station. It doesn't have to make a profit, just keep it's head out of the water.
$50,000 is the price, (down from $90,000?) I believe they said if it is not sold by the end of June, all the equipment will be sold to the "bowling association of Alberta?", or something like that.
Still think it would be a shame to see something, that all ages and abilities can participate in, disappear from our community. There were a few names on the petition, so there must have been some interest in keeping it open.
No wonder we have not witnessd any meaningful debate at council. If there was any debte, it must have taken at the Admistrative Meetings. No minutes taken, no harm done?
No wonder council looks so bored during the CAO report. They've heard it all before! (Maybe even helped to write it????!)
I think a bowling alley would be a better investment than some signs on the highway, or even banners on the lamp posts that deteriorate in a year or so.
Look at the minutes of the May 7 meeting see who got a raise?
Most often heard question in Council Chambers
"So do we vote for this stuff now or do we wait until the g and p or the council meeting?"
This council has been behaving in a bizarre way. They look pretty bored during their regular council meetings. These seem as such an inconvenience to the "real" heavy lifting they need to do.
We don't need no steenkin' motions:
April 16 minutes:
Procedural Bylaw Review Dates
There will be a meeting to review the Procedural Bylaw for members of Council on May 1 st, 2013 at 2:00 pm.
April 22 minutes:
Mayor Decoux advised that Council would be pleased to receive ongoing reports from the Rum Runner Days Committee providing updates on the success of the Committee and any issues the Committee may encounter.
But they are always passing motions like this:
M#6844-13: Councillor Mitchell moved to accept this correspondence as information.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
What is the effect of these motions? Would it make any difference if the motion was defeated?
Dean I heard there is a forensic audit being carried out on the previous volunteer fire departments. What is that all about and who is doing the audit?
Was there a council motion to conduct the audit, or they decided to do it during the Administrative Meeting? It's very expensive.
Was M#6874-13 merely deciding to comply with the terms of an existing contract?
If so it is yet another meaningless motion.
If not, it is not transparent what effect it has.
Anon 9:32 AM- wouldn't be surprised if there is an audit of the previous fire departments. A little late in the game and it could be a reaction to the Inspection underway? The powers that be are desperate and will try anything. I'm sure there would be a few items at issue, but they would likely be the "death by a thousand slices" type; matters that usually occur with any volunteer groups like these.
Wouldn't be surprised if an audit would focus on the TITV program and where these funds went. That still rubs the craw of the Mayor. Desperate people do desperate things. With the property and house values going south, and the spending they've undertaken going north, the Mayor needs a diversion.
It really does not matter what the audit finds at this point, it is just another after the fact reaction. They restructured the fire department and then developed a Fire Plan, after the restructuring was done. The order of things can't be missed here.
The same can be said for the audit. They blew up the fire department, now they are looking for a reason to justify what has already been done. One big fishing expedition - spending thousands to save hundreds.
Very sad, all this bureaucratic back and forth is very expensive and not very productive. Efficiency anyone?
Myron Thompson and his friends in Sylvan Lake where he lives must be laughing their heads off when he goes home every weekend and tells them about the HICKS in the Pass paying him all that money for wrecking the place.
I think that as residents of the Pass we all have to realize that the Mayor has been terrible but his acomplice MR THOMPSON is also a big evil that will have to be removed. Is the info about his contract lenth and terms available to us the taxpayer.
Myron is only doing what he is told to do by the Mayor. The biggest problem here is our council which is not providing proper oversight.
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