Editor's note: Mr. Rennick's letter is in response to the BayToday story Mayor Chirico invites you for a waterfront walk-and-talk
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To the editor:
The mayor's recent invitation to the public for a stroll at the waterfront falls short of addressing the pressing issues facing our city. It seems more like a symbolic gesture aimed at bolstering public relations rather than a substantive step toward resolving our community's challenges.
For example, the mayor and council seem to have some problems identifying inaccuracies and misleading statements in various reports issued by senior city staff. Instead of investigating these inaccuracies, they attack anyone who points these facts out.
During a recent council meeting (see video below), I made the following comment “The reports that staff present to council are not always accurate and quite often inaccurate and misleading.”
Councillor Vrebosch interrupted my presentation to raise a point of order during which she misquoted my statement and was in violation of the Rules of Conduct by even raising the point of order. This fact did not deter Councillor Vrebosch.
Mayor Chirico supported her by not objecting to her actions and cautioned me to be civil. Apparently, pointing out errors made by senior staff is uncivil in the mind of the mayor.
This embodies the continued attempt by elected officials to silence any criticism and is an example of council members becoming defenders of city officials to the detriment of taxpayers.
The mayor also implied I was lying and misrepresented a request for a meeting with him and senior officials to discuss the city's reserve policy. Instead of acknowledging the request, he insinuated that he had already responded when in reality, he had only proposed an alternative.
This current council continues to approve every budget report virtually without amendment. This has resulted in tax increases while the population is less than a decade ago, and a number of businesses are treading water. Meanwhile, city reserves have increased at the rate of $42 million over the last 10 years.
I have requested apologies from Mayor Chirico and Councillor Vrebosch for their actions as well as a response to my request to meet with the mayor and CAO and CFO concerning the odious city reserve policy presently in place. I have received no responses from either party.
Don Rennick
North Bay
