DIDSBURY - The Town of Didbsury's council has carried a motion asking Alberta Municipal Affairs to conduct an inspection of council governance and operations.
The motion was put forward by Coun. Dorothy Moore at the Feb. 25 council meeting, which included two in-camera or closed door sessions.
The motion reads: “The Town of Didsbury council request a municipal inspection of the council governance and operations of the Town of Didsbury and send the approved letter from council.”
The motion was passed without comment immediately following the second in-camera session.
Councillors Moore, John Baswick and deputy mayor Curt Engel voted in favour of the motion, with mayor Rhonda Hunter and Coun. Bill Windsor voting against.
Contacted by the Albertan, Coun. Moore referred questions about the motion to mayor Rhonda Hunter.
Hunter, in turn, referred questions to the municipality's communication coordinator Lisa Bastarache, who told the Albertan she could provide no information on what the inspection may involve or why it is being requested.
The matter may be discussed further at the next council meeting, perhaps in-camera, Bastarache said.
- RELATED: Didsbury News Town of Didsbury's chief administrative officer's resignation divides council
The call for Municipal Affairs intervention came one day after a special council meeting in which council was divided in its vote to accept the resignation of the town's chief administrative officer.
Mayor Rhonda Hunter, deputy mayor Curt Engel and Coun. Bill Windsor voted in favour of accepting the resignation, and councillors Dorothy Moore and John Baswick voted against it.
Council members voted similarly for a motion that called for Amanda Riley, the town’s current chief financial officer, to be appointed acting CAO at the same meeting.
A municipal inspection is an investigation ordered by the minister of Municipal Affairs that may look at any issues or concerns within the municipality to ensure council and administration are acting appropriately and in accordance with provincial legislation.
The minister may order an inspection in response to: a request by the municipality’s council; a petition; or serious issues brought to the minister’s attention.
An inspection can take between six and 18 months. The inspector may review the municipality’s council meetings, bylaws, finances, and other documents. In addition, the inspector may interview anyone they feel is necessary.
Once the inspection is finished, a report is presented to council and residents in an open meeting to help the public understand the inspection results. The minister has the authority to order the council and administration to do whatever is necessary to fix problems found during the inspection.
