Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Jan 4 council meeting and observations

I am going to talk to three issues that jumped out at last nights meeting.

1. Advertising:

That darn advertising issue, just does not want to get resolved after almost three months of debate, being sent back to administration at least three times, the policy was defeated again at last nights meeting.

Some of the comments that I found very interesting Councilor Saje requested that this be discussed further at the Council retreat (Jan 6), Mayor Decoux made it crystal clear that it would not be on the agenda or added to it. At one point if I heard right, Saje made a motion to that effect which the Mayor never did put to a vote.

Councilor Gail wants to further examine inserts into the papers and better use of the municipal web site. Councilor Saindon also wants to look at the insert idea.

I also heard comments about the huge increase in costs being presented to council by administration, Councilor Mitchell seemed surprised again that it would jump so much.

(I really struggle with this, if you take something that you were doing one time a week, and do it 2 times a week at 3 times the cost, surprise your costs are going to go up by at least 6 times)

Councilor Saindon threw out the number of $18,000 for advertising in two papers, $10,000 for the use of inserts, and $8000 for quarter page ads for development issues.

The year that we advertise in two papers for $18,000 will be the year that I part the red sea.

Mayor Decoux talks at great length about how this would not have been an issue if there had been a policy in place, to which I reply there was. It was very simple and easy to follow once a year each paper was given the opportunity to bid on the advertising with council awarding it to the "lowest" bidder. Not very complicated at all.

2. Policy Committee

Mayor Decoux as decided to strike up a policy committee, to review all municipal policies to make them functional, efficient and effective.

The Committee will be comprised of himself, the CAO and the Director of legislative services.
With the addition of ad hoc members when necessary and relevant.

I have a concern with this committee being struck, that being that the Mayor will in essence be in complete control of all policy coming back to council. The committee will meet once a month to put together policy, the Mayor by his presence and participation will play a big part in developing such policy and steering the direction of that policy. The example that was held up to justify this process would be the advertising policy and all the delays that have been created by that policy.

What drives my concern? our previous Mayor had a committee similar to this, except his committee was made up of himself and two councilors (one of whom would usually side with him on most issues). This committee would send back policy to council that usually was framed (nice political word) in a direction that worked for the Mayor's agenda.

When somebody on council spoke against these recommendations or the direction/tone. One of the pro Mayor councilors would give the speech about how so much time and effort of the Committee and administration had gone into these policies that it would be more than acceptable to go along with the policies as presented. The point being that the committee was used as a screening process, and tool for the Mayor to control and set the direction of policy.

I truly hope this is not the direction that this committee is going.

3. Thunder in the Valley

The Mayor requested that the CAO bring back a report on the policing of Thunder in the Valley and what struck me as really interesting, who owns and operates Thunder in the Valley.

Councilor Saindon stated that he had heard last summer that Thunder in the Valley was owned and operated by the Blairmore Fire Department.

Going back to my own experience I got slapped last summer on both my blog and around town when one of my readers requested the amount of municipal dollars that go into that weekend. I made the mistake of referring to it as Thunder in the Valley, when it was pointed out to me that it was Rum Runner Days, that Thunder in the Valley was just a part of the weekend.

It really will be interesting to see where council is going with this issue. It is indeed the event that brings out a bigger crowd than any other event in this town each year.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am starting to see some things that I like.Councilers voting with their own minds, not being afraid to stand up to the Mayor.I am not saying the Mayor is bad, but he does seem to be a little bit of a bully.As for Thunder, who owns it.What does that mean?I think the most you could own is a name. I think the name is registered through the Blairmore Fire Dept. and they also do the majority of the work ( all volunteer I believe).If the mayor sticks his nose in this one and upsets the wrong people, it will be over.

Anonymous said...

"Some of the comments that I found very interesting Councilor Saje requested that this [advertising issue] be discussed further at the Council retreat (Jan 6)"

Sort of ironic that this proposal in the name of increased communication might be discussed at an unofficial in-camera meeting.

During the campaign they were all about transparency and openness. Wasn't it a big no-no when some councillors met outside of council? Will the "Policy Committee" and the "Mayor's Task Force" also meet in secret?

Peter Rosner said...

I dont think we have to guess who those two lap dogs were. One of them wasn't promoting Bridgate were they

Anonymous said...

Dean Councillor Saindon states the following.

"Single paper, Dual paper is not the issue. The issue is putting in place a comprehensive policy and procedure for all departments to follow when requesting media coverage."

Policy and procedure are good, but if the municipality had a pickup replacement policy. Would it not be a cost factor if you allowed one or two trucks per year??

Sue

Crowsnest Pass Home said...

Sue

I agree with you to a degree, to put in place a policy is necessary. Previously council did a policy that was based on getting the lowest price for a municipal service, not unusual.

The pickup replacement issue is a good one the last time I was given a number the town had 37 of them (With 55 employees) previous council kept directing administration to bring back a policy. That showed where trucks were needed, where they could be chopped back. What the life expectancy of a truck should be etc. Should the town purchase, lease etc.
The response was council would be asked for two new pickups each year, no plan.
The issue of purchasing or leasing was addressed by the public works Director. He called the town of Sparwood and Pincher Creek asking what they would do.
Well when you ask two municipalities that have $15 million in the bank what kind of response would you get?
Back to this point policy for this area is necessary, but where I agree weather its one, two or three pickups a year will make a huge difference.
Ultimatly its always about money.

Anonymous said...

Is council trying to tell me that a policy for advertisng will make it cheaper than advertising in one paper.
Well from what I have heard I agree make a policy that lays out what all departments should be advertisng.
Then once that is in place, with maximum efficiency achieved.
What ever the cost is arrived at then put it out for public tender and cut the cost in half again. By advertising in one paper.
While I am on my rant lets see if any of the radio stations that broadcast into the Pass will bid on radio advertising as well.

Wayne

These jokers better not raise my taxes one cent, at the same time increasing the money they spend on advertising.