In Reply

In a Letter to the Editor, the Mayor refuted my statement that the Town Treasurer was appointed without Council authority.

A reader wonders what to believe when a Councillor makes a definitive statement and the Mayor says it isn't so.

The public record establishes facts.

Council makes decisions by resolution. Resolutions form the public record.

Staff take direction from Council Resolutions .

A Municipal Treasurer must be appointed by Bylaw. Only Council has authority to adopt Bylaws.

Council, by resolution, directs staff to prepare Bylaws . It's all in the record. If not, it didn't happen.

The public record does not support the Mayor's contention that staff were directed to make the appointment. Council cannot delegate authority to pass Bylaws.

Provincial regulations require municipalities to adopt a Recruitment Policy... by Bylaw.

The Mayor claims the position was recruited in accordance with provincial regulations.

Recruitment can be done two ways. The position can be advertised, usually in the Globe and Mail and other suitable publications. Or by using the services of a consultant

Either way, dates of publication and copies would be a matter of record. As well, the resolution if there was one. The Mayor refers to neither.

A Statutory Officer within a municipal administration may, on occasion, be in a position of having to provide Council with advice they do not wish to hear. Or anyone else to hear either.

To fulfill their function, professional staff need the security of knowing, they owe their lawful authority to the municipal corporation and not to a particular individual. The process needs to to be fair and square.

The public have a right to know professional advice bought and paid for with tax dollars is given without fear or favour.

And accepted or rejected by the political body.They need to hear the arguments pro and con. If they so choose, they have the right to decide on the logic or lack thereof .

It is the means whereby we govern ourselves.Anything less is a betrayal of trust, in my view.

I rest my case.