Revealing the Facts in the Crowsnest Pass (Crowsnest Centre Chapter 46)

On Tuesday night June 2, we had our regular meeting of the Crowsnest Pass Council.

The definition I have always been given for items to go into camera was that they must be either, Land, Legal or Personnel.
We were presented with an agenda that included four items in camera no question three of them fell under the criteria described previously. A fourth an issue with the Crowsnest Centre and its gas bill with Nexen, did not. Therefore, I moved to take that item out of camera and place it under Other Business. The Mayor disagreed with me so I challenged his ruling, after ten minutes of trying to figure out if our procedural bylaw required a two thirds or majority vote, the majority of council agreed with me the agenda was changed.

What led to this issue? on May 12 because the municipality guarantees the Crowsnest Centres gas bill with Nexen, the municipal accounting department was contacted and told that there was an outstanding balance of $21,720.97 owed to Nexen by the centre.

A cheque was issued for Nexen, now our municipal policy requires the signatures of one member of administration and one member of council on all cheques. I was called and asked if I could sign some cheques. Seeing this cheque for the centre, I requested to know from administration why we were doing this. For several reasons, this almost $22,000 was not allowed for in our budget, the Crowsnest Centre board are on record stating that they would require no financial assistance from the municipality this year. In addition, there have been many articles in the local media telling us how well the centre is doing. Therefore, I refused to sign the cheque and requested administration to bring this to the next council meeting with an explanation.

During the debate under other business, the Mayor scolded me for refusing to sign the cheque, when Councilor MacLeod questioned him as to “would you have signed the cheque?” “No”. “Would you have asked questions?” “Yes”. “So you would have done the same as Councilor Ward?” I could not hear the answer to this question clearly.

Anyway to resolving the issue of the outstanding balance and why it came to the municipality. We were told that apparently the bill had gone to the wrong address! Well these bills are over $5000 per month, you would not notice if your gas bill did not show up? These are a reoccurring payables something that as to be paid on a regular basis. Secondly, if the bills are not showing up and the business is doing well should the bill not be paid the moment it is brought to their attention?
Not over a five-week period, then we find out that the centre is requesting almost $3500 from the municipality, which would assist them with paying this overdue bill. Council had agreed to rebate the centre for the cost difference of running their old boiler versus a new one. Which I personally did not agree with but council did pass that motion so we have to live with it.

During our debate a question arising as to if there are any outstanding monies owed to the municipality by the centre, our Financial Officer tells us that there is. I asked the question how much? To which I am told that she would prefer to confirm the number and give it to us the next day. At that point, I ask is it more than $3500 to which I am told yes. Therefore, I made a motion that we not rebate the $3500 until the outstanding bill is cleared up, at this point Councilor Mitchell states that some of the bills are in dispute. Which may well be the case, but I felt then the municipality’s administration and the centre’s manager should sit down and resolve them. The majority of council agreed.

Now why would this information have not been made public?