From the "speaking of hypocrisy" file:
Calling of In-Camera Meetings:
In a previous post, I had a meeting with Mayor Cook on calling of In-Camera meetings, she promptly informed me that if an In-Camera Meeting was called prior to a Regular or Special Meeting of Council or Committee of the Whole, then notifying the public was a must, but if an In-Camera was called after a Regular/Special Council or Committee of the Whole Meeting, then notice to the public was not required
I believe it is at the height of hypocrisy when Mayor Cook states that notice to the public is required if an In-Camera Meeting will occur before a Regular or Special Council or Committee of the Whole Meeting, but not after. The public has the right to know when its' Council is going into an In-Camera Meeting, regardless of when it occurs. This principle is consistent with open and transparent local government principles. Obviously, these principles are not ones that Mayor Cook intends to practice. She told me at our meeting last Thursday that this would change, but I'm not holding my breath that promise coming to fruition
I should note the rule of informing the public beforehand of a snap In-Camera meeting following a Regular Council or Committee of the Whole Meeting when a subject that was discussed in public but referred to In-Camera would not normally apply
On the subject of Recycling and Rural Fringe residents in CRD Electoral Areas D and E:
Rural Fringe residents' have repeatedly asked for a partnership between the City and CRD for a sub-regional recycling program. Recently, with the introduction of the new curbside Recycling program in the City, the Recycling Bins at the Complex and Canadian Tire have shut down and Rural Fringe residents are now required to take their recyclables to the Central Cariboo Transfer Station with those living in CRD Electoral Areas D and E have to take quite a drive to drop off their recyclables. Again, the City could have and quite frankly should have offered to extend the curbside recycling to residents' in CRD Electoral Areas D & E, doing so would have met the following goals:
* Diverting Unnecessary Waste from Landfill
* Responding to stated needs/wants from residents
* Council Policy of working in partnership with CRD Rural Fringe Residents and their Elected Officials
2 comments:
Do your homework Steve. The CRD was offered this....they did not want it, or were not prepared to go there.
Really....?
Fact #1 - CRD Area 'F' Director Barnett was upset in September of 2008 that the City shut down all Recycling Bins for CRD Rural Residents' without consulting the Directors for CRD Electoral Areas D, E, F. This was said during an open CRD Board meeting
Fact #2 - Rural Fringe Residents' have asked repeatedly over two years (2008, 2009) for Recycling Services in the Fringe Areas and the City has been somewhat slow to respond. It may have been offered during the last term of Council/CRD but I'm informed that it has not been offered so far this term of Council/CRD
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