City of WL responds to Candie Laporte's media comments

From the City of Williams Lake:

The City of Williams Lake is responding to a recent media report where a former employee of the City of Williams Lake has made claims against the City's Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). It is the City's policy not to comment on personnel issues and therefore, the City will not be commenting on any aspect of Ms. Laporte's former employment relationship with the City, other than to confirm that Ms. Laporte was employed as the Director of Finance prior to termination of her employment contract.

Ms. Laporte has made some claims of public interest which do require clarification. The City's CAO Brian Carruthers is responsible for managing the City's affairs within an operational budget of approximately $20 million annually. This responsibility includes the flexibility to make operational and staffing decisions within the allocated budget and in accordance with Council strategic and policy direction.

The 2010 budget year ended in a strong financial position, exceeding financial targets established in the 2010 budget. The finances of the City are open to the public for inspection and the 2010 financial statements are currently being prepared and will be subject to an external audit in late March and will be available to the public.

"It is unfortunate that these allegations have been made," says Mayor Kerry Cook. "It is important to remember that there are always two sides to every story.

“On the personnel issue, the City cannot share much of its side. It is also very important to note that there was a process, it was followed and that it was a council decision to terminate Ms. Laporte's employment contract."

With respect to the new Fire Hall finances, Council allocated $6.5 million over three years to complete the project, including property purchase, design and engineering and construction. The final cost of the Fire Hall was $7,028,000; $528,000 over budget, resulting primarily from unforeseen soil conditions during construction.

"I want to state very clearly that our CAO, Brian Carruthers, has the full support and respect of council," Mayor Cook says. "In spite of the seriousness of the allegations I am very confident that at the end of the day, once we are able to clarify these matters, the truth will stand on its own. The City has nothing to hide. Our books are open and audited yearly. The fire hall overruns have been discussed in detail and we have learned many things through that process."

The report on the fire hall overruns presented to council in January is available by contacting Ken MacInnis at 250-392-8488 or kmacinnis@williamslake.ca