"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Thursday 24 July 2014

Sadly...This is not a surprise

Late last year, one of our many consultant studies  dwelt upon  town service levels.

The consultant concluded costs were higher than  all other municipalities  save two because we  provide a higher level of service.

I think it cost  between $60 and $70 thousand for the study.

Almost as an afterthought , the consultant suggested  cost could  be reduced  by eliminating  one director position.

And so it came to pass.  In February of an election year,  the Director of Legislative Services  position was eliminated.

The director's responsibilities were folded under the umbrella  of the Town Solicitor's department.
A new clerk was appointed Lickety-split.

A severance package  to the Director  was appropriate under the circumstances.

It would not likely be hundreds of thousands. The outgoing  Director was third since 2008. The current clerk is fourth in the job ..third appointment since 2008.

The  Director was approaching retirement after thirty-five ,maybe forty years in  the same department.

He  was competent.

His experience was valuable to the town.

All concerns  expressed were dismissed.

Assurance was provided  expertise required was on hand.

With the best will and understanding, I cannot vouchsafe for that fact

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

This has got to be expensive. Is it to come out of Contingency funds because I got the impression that they were down already ?

Anonymous said...

That “Strategic Plan” where the goal is to support an “Exceptional Quality of Life” is the free pass to support spending and even going into debt. I've heard this “exceptional quality of life” BS countless time this term to support ridiculous projects. When I first heard about this strategic plan for “community development”, I thought it was just that….a free pass to overspend. It’s pretty sad that a “plan” and to not only be drawn up to state the residents of this town would like an “exceptional quality of life” but we had to pay for this plan to be made. Ridiculous and shameful.

Anonymous said...

It's a beautiful day. Try to get some sun on your nose.

Anonymous said...

8:52
I have been reading about the ideas of prospective council members and keep stumbling over the word " vision ". It seems to cover a multitude of concepts most of which are going to cost the town money. Whatever happened to " keeping taxes low while maintaining essential services " ?

Anonymous said...

13:06 That's not in the "Strategic Plan"

Anonymous said...

The Agendas are up. I only read the 1st which deals with the replacement of Mr Ballard

Anonymous said...

14:55
Nope - but it is littered over most initiatives that cost money without showing any return to the the town.

Anonymous said...



It's too bad the town doesn't own the rights to the Tooth Fairy as these relate to our town.

At a loonie per tooth how many consultants' hours could we afford?

Anonymous said...

20:01
There is a return! The return is an “Exceptional Quality of Life”. Don’t you know that you can only buy that??