Dear editor,
What is going on? I read this article with growing disbelief!
The article opens: “Questions have been raised about the credentials…”
No source, nothing to substantiate the statement. This is hearsay being presented as news. Then it’s not credentials but the selection process that is presented as the issue by Mayor Fred Bates.
Mayor Bates’ written proposal to council on the Sept. 12 agenda did not include himself and two councillors! It said “…three councillors…”
I was at the that meeting when the selection process was decided — yes decided with a motion “That Council appoint Councillor Sproule, Councillor Baird and Councillor Greening to the committee for providing the recommendation to Council for the hiring of the new CAO.”
In favour: Baird, Sproule, Greening; Opposed: Bates, Moncrief. Carried.
Prior to making this motion, Coun. Baird had suggested that all of council be involved (rather the three councillors Mayor Bates had recommended in his report “CAO Selection Process”), Coun. Sproule said that she would be willing to sit on the committee, Coun. Moncrief said that he would not be involved as he wouldn’t be around anyway, and Coun. Greening said that she would be involved so supported Mayor Bates’ recommendation of three councillors.
Coun. Baird excluded the other recommendations that a human resources person and a retired CAO be involved, stating that she felt confident that the committee could handle the process. She then made the above motion.
Shame on you, Mayor Bates. You have stated emphatically in public meetings that once a motion is passed you expected all of council to support the decision whether they personally voted in favour or against the motion.
Whether Coun. Moncrief took it upon himself to do his own short- listing of candidates before a process was decided upon is irrelevant. Your opinion that two consultants should be included was just that- your opinion. Council chose not to follow that suggestion.
It is you who are making a mockery of the democratic process with your sour grapes-fueled diatribe against your own council.
Grace Doherty,
Cumberland
