Crowsnest Pass where nobody is getting the answers

Courtesy of the Pass Herald, read more at Passherald.ca 

Municipal council may have wrapped up for the week but drama is still unfolding around the September 3rd meeting.

Councillor Andrew Saje filed a complaint with the local Peace Officer for what he feels to be an infraction against municipal council’s ability to do their job.

“I was not able to do my fiduciary duty to this community by being interrupted by the mayor,” says Councillor Saje.

Councillor Saje would have asked why Chief Administrative Officer Myron Thompson’s hours and the associated costs to the municipality (the time he spent assisting with the recent transaction for the rights to a Best Western Hotel franchise by Group Vachon) were not released to municipal council.

Councillor Saje’s question was stopped by the mayor before council could respond and deferred until the next meeting of municipal council, according to Saje.

“I wanted to know how these associated costs were addressed and to which project they were addressed and to which project they were assigned,” says Councillor Saje.

Saje’s questions follow the requested release by the municipality to the Crowsnest Pass Promoter of the figures involved for Group Vachon to retain the rights to a Best Western franchise from the municipality (Crowsnest Pass) and over $18,000 in additional cost released on.

The Promoter reported there was an additional $8,000 (approx.) in legal fees associated with building a new hotel on the site of the Crowsnest Centre, and another $10,000 spent on a hotel feasibility study conducted by Rich Eichler.

“I hope this brings awareness that council needs to follow the bylines and duties so council will be able to do their job,” Saje said.

Mayor Bruce Decoux insists he was not out of line because Councillor Saje’s question was not an actual motion declared to municipal council.

“I indicated to him to keep track of his questions and bring them for the next meeting,” says Decoux.

Decoux says the proper procedure for a question such as what Councillor Saje asked should be brought to the attention of the CAO before or after the meeting and if the matter is urgent, it can then be read before Part ll Section 7 of Bylaw 791 which reads:

When the Mayor or other presiding officer is called upon to decide a point of order or practice, the point shall be stated without unnecessary comment and the Mayor or other presiding officer shall cite the rule or authority applicable to the case.

Contradictions and confusion highlights of the June 4 Council meeting.

Council meeting of June 4, 2013, Confusion, arrived at the meeting to see a representive of the Blairmore Smoke Eaters and two lawyers at the meeting. Next thing we know CAO Thompson is back and forth talking to these people who prior to the meeting starting leave. Mayor Decoux calls the meeting to order, asks CAO Thompson what that was all about. He informs council that he was off the previous week when communications between the office and the lawyers took place. The communications obviously did not work that well because the lawyers had the impression they could talk to council and the administration had the impression that they were not to talk to council. CAO Thompson stated he would clear it up and provide a formal apology if the mistake was on their end.

Contradictions, the new Economic Development Officer was introduced to council the Mayor stated “our team is now complete”, the new EDO is a lady named Sherry Poole. Bit of a contradiction on the same day that the administrative team grows by one and now becomes complete. The employees are informed that the municipality is contracting out road grading because they do not have enough operators working in Public Works to do it themselves. Mayor Decoux also announced there will soon be another wine and cheese event so the Chamber, Community Futures, Business leaders can meet the new EDO.    

Election news: Andrew Saje announced that he will, not be running in the up coming election. He also informed the public that he made a very lengthy submission in writing to the Municipal Inspector that he is having his lawyer summarize and will be realizing to the public in the not to distant future.

CAO Thompson also informed council that there will be more information coming about the hotel deal shortly.