Fast Forward

The rationale eventually provided for creating an address out of a parking lot entrance in order to remove John West's name from the town's stationery was that it was an unfair advantage for a candidate to have a street named after him. It was worth thousands of dollars in free advertising.

Now fast forward to the beginning of this term:

One of the first disputes with former CAO John Rogers, was the meaning of " Corporate Communications".

Kristen Yemm, the manager of the operation presented an Annual Report to Council. There was hostile interrogation from the Mayor and Councillor MacEachern about the meaning of the word "Corporate".

It might have been the first time I raised my voice in this term. I find it difficult to accept that a person ,who must at all times maintain a respectful demeanour towards elected officials, should be mercilessly skewered by said officials in a public meeting for merely providing a professional
report.

Mr. Rogers explained the Corporate Communications Division informs the public of Corporate matters.. Once a decision is made by Council, it becomes the responsibility of the administration to follow through. It becomes "corporate".

The answer did not sit well. The Communication Division was too valuable a promotional opportunity to be left to the Corporation.

From that point on, there has never been a media release put out by the communications division which has not contained a reference to a comment from Mayor Phyllis Morris however weirdly it fits.

So much for the idea a candidate should not benefit from frequent display of their name on Corporate stationery.

It's pretty convenient also when an incumbent can call up the Fire Chief and order a fire truck be made available at the Town Hall for a photo opportunity with the Mayor to announce an "online" Sally Ann Christmas Kettle Drive.

I think there's a price tag for a fire truck leaving a fire hall.

There's also a rule that no elected official shall direct an employee.

It's in the Code of Conduct.