Earlier today, on the Kerry Cook Show, errr I meant the Rush's Town Hall Radio Program - host Dale Taylor asked a question around the City of WL's new Staff Salaries vis-a-vis Councillor Tom Barr's earlier comments that he doesn't support a wage hike for senior managers ranging from 13-21%
Mayor Cook's comments included:
* Need to compare to similar sized jurisdictions (ie - Quesnel, Cranbrook, etc)
* Based on above - City of WL Staff justified in receiving wage hikes
* Need to correct "mess" after being sworn in as Mayor
Based on her comments - I offer the following thoughts:
a) Yes, we should compare and keep in mind what other municipalities are paying their civil servants but we should always consider our ability to pay staff wages at comparable rates from other similar sized communities and whether or not the wage hike is appropriate, given the economic circumstances
b) Is Mayor Cook suggesting that former Williams Lake Mayor/Councils were "incompetent" in managing Staff affairs?? Because in my humble judgement, they were not
Finally - unlike former Mayors, this Mayor allows anyone to speak at a Committee of the Whole meeting (proof: Gurbux Saini, a member of the public in attendance, told the committee that shifting the tax burden was not the answer - from today's WL Tribune). Also - Mayor Cook allowed Bill Derbyshire to speak at a March 16th, 2010 Committee of the Whole meeting while WL Council was considering a Wood First Resolution, even though Council had not passed a resolution allowed general public input to the Committee of the Whole on a Wood First Resolution
She should know that meetings of Council are formal, even when Council is meeting in Committee and unless Council, when meeting in Committee of the Whole, allows input for the public at the meeting (which rarely occurs), then the Mayor should have shut down any member of the public that is not a delegation, otherwise it has the possibility of turning into a circus show without adequate control
This is the same standard I apply at Advisory Planning Commission meetings as Chair - City of Williams Lake/Cariboo Regional District, Electoral Area 'D'
Finally - I hope the Rush will be suspending their Town Hall program for municipal officials this fall to ensure Mayor Cook or CRD Chair Al Richmond (in the event he is challenged for the Area 'G' Directorship) do not receive free advertising
2 comments:
What criteria is MS. Cook using to determine something is "a mess". She is a loose cannon and waaaay out of her league.
The fact that,the CAO, was allowed to use an official Council Meeting to speak about allegations brought against him and also used the same forum to threaten anyone who wronged him was so very very wrong and inappropriate.
Mayor Cook as the head elected official should have known that. It was total breakdown of protocol.As is her letting anyone openly speak at the meetings.
I think it is funny how anytime someone speaks out against her or Carruthers they are either cut short by Kerry Cook (as with Councillor Rathor on several occasions and in public) and now Councillor Barr is challenged on air. It is a cause of concern when two Councillors have broke with the ranks of their leader.
It is also funny how whenever someone speaks against her she and her entourage turn it around to be about the former Mayor. It is not about him it is about Cook and Carruthers and what they are doing with the taxpayers dollars.It is about their ignorance to the struggles everyone else is facing.
Don't make it anymore then what it is. Further more these issues are not about whether someone is a "nice" guy or "nice" person it is about their ability to do a good job or lead. In this case both people seem nice they just seem to be acting like kids in a candy store and also way in over their heads. With regards to the wages being compared to Quesnel and Cranbrook, what were the other 13 communites they stated that were included in the 15 and why didn't this report get published openly before it was approved? Like they did the per diem report. why did they discuss in public a 2% raise for the manager but not revealed the top up until after it was pushed through, how is that transparent. Just like everything else it is pushed through then we have to swallow it. I for one am terrified about the total disregard our City Manager and Mayor (plus her following ranks) have for us. I would love to publish my name but I witnessed Brian Carruthers scream at a member from the public on the stairs of City Hall last year, then witnessed him lose his temper at the budget meetings and treat some members of the public with open ire I do not want to risk it. To finish, good call on the use of air time for politicing. Now who is playing the "worse of political games" Kerry? For two and a half years Kerry Cook never mentioned the former Mayor and Council and now that she has got wind that the former Mayor may run again she is doing everything to smear him and the Council that served with him. Again I ask who is playing the political games!
I was at the prelim budget meeting in March when Council was spoken to in a very disrespectful manner by someone whose legitimacy has to be called into question because she complains and vocalizes about everything she can. I was impressed by Council's PATIENCE with this woman whose life seems to be directed at 'fighting City Hall'.
I believe Kerry Cook's reticence in speaking to Sctt Nelson's mistakes show good manners, but now that Mr. Nelson is coming to meetings and pointing fingers in an effort to get votes she is coming forward to explain the whys and wherefores, (that transparent thing you know?) I haven't liked all this councils choices or the way they go about business but the current 'smearing' is not coming from Ms. Cook.
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