Dear Editor,
Over the past five months, we have heard a great deal of the new direction of council. Many citizens are not quite sure that the direction is all that evident. Coffee shops talk is peppered with questions regarding where council is headed. Previous councils have been criticized for lack of direction, for not knowing which way is up or down. Fortunately or unfortunately for citizens of Ponoka, the same cannot be said for our newly elected council. They certainly do know which way is up.
In five months of decision making, UP has definitely been the direction. Our taxes are going up 5.5 per cent. The credit card limits are up. The staffing numbers are up. The water rates have been increased even though the water commission has not indicated an increase is necessary. Recreation fees are up. The frustration of citizens is certainly up. If this is not concerning you as a citizen of Ponoka you can stop reading here, otherwise continue.
After a few short months in office, the new council decided to terminate the CAO because they wanted to move in a new direction. This would seem like a reasonable course of action if the direction council was embarking on was clearly defined. Considering that five of the seven council members had never worked with the CAO prior to being elected and then to arrive at that decision after 3 months shows remarkable perception.
Terminating a chief administrative officer with over 33 years of experience in municipal government, for no reason other than wanting to move in a new direction sends up red flags. Municipalities throughout Alberta are asking, “What is going on in Ponoka, how can a council with virtually no experience dismiss a CAO that often served as a sounding board for others”? Not only is the direction unclear, now no one is steering the vessel. Tax payers will be faced with severance costs, advertising/interviewing costs and increased salary costs. Is this why the tax increase is necessary? Definitely another upward trend that should be of concern to all. Will we as tax payers be able to sustain this upward trend for years to come? How much will our taxes have to increase to cover UP?
As a former councillor and concerned citizen, I believe the tax payers of Ponoka need to express their concerns. I express my concerns because I stated after the election that “my disappointment in not being successful as mayor was overshadowed only by my concern for the community of Ponoka”
Doug Gill