Someone recently mentioned volunteers in Penticton are experiencing burnout from the constant drain on their services. Yet these busy volunteers produce unstintingly for their community despite receiving little recognition.
City council is the top coveted volunteer position; mayor most prestigious of all. These high-profile, responsible positions have the potential for recognition, respect and/or admiration for a job well done.
In gratitude of council’s service, taxpayers’ award them an honorarium in recompense for any lost regular income whilst attending to their duties on behalf of the citizenry. No other hard-working volunteers receive this honorarium. Yet only four months into a mandate they sought, this council appears sorry for themselves and greedy for more. If council is unaware or unappreciative of the honour bestowed upon them by the taxpayer’s then they, and we, have a problem.
Return the honourarium to last year’s levels and retract the extended medical and dental benefits. If this council hopes to keep the respect of the taxpayers’ in Penticton I see no alternative except for them to bring the greed factor under control. They should keep in mind that their mandate is dubious at best and they are as yet unproven.
Council should seriously consider resigning and forfeiting their right to run in the ensuing election. The citizens of Penticton could then hold another civic election; electing candidates eager to serve that are fully aware of their responsibilities to the citizens and the honour this confers on them.
The public must be assured that civic elections are run in a manner that the voter has a right to expect. Right’s that are conducive to the obligations of all government’s in a free and democratic country like Canada.
Penticton council should think carefully before they damage to their reputation further.
Elvena Slump
Penticton
