Penhold town council has been slapped on the wrist by Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Doug Griffiths for too much meddling into the responsibilities of administration.
And renegade councillor Chad Hoffman was hit hard for his negativity on administration and his fellow elected colleagues.
Griffiths' directive for council to concentrate on its own legislative mandate follows an exhaustive eight-month municipal inspection review into the affairs of the Town of Penhold. The review was ordered by the province following a petition last year by outspoken local resident Ken McCarthy who successfully collected the necessary signatures of more than 20 per cent of Penhold's population.
In the minister's directive, which the town must carry through, Griffiths directed Hoffman and other members of council review their current roles as councillors to ensure they are not acting on matters that are the responsibility of administration.
Hoffman, meanwhile, was blasted in the 83-page final report by its authors from Russell Farmer and Associates (RFA) – a private consulting company - who recommended he not have contact with administration, except through his work with council or Rick Binnendyk, the town's chief administrative officer. The private consulting firm also said Hoffman should discontinue his negative comments about council and administration in both the mainstream and social media.
While Griffiths' directives are binding on council the consulting company's recommendations are not.
“There were no big problems found,” said Mayor Denis Cooper. “There were a lot of human resources suggestions and several communication recommendations.
“But by employing these suggestions we're going to get stronger and better as a community,” he added.
Cooper said council will now look at how they communicate, and ensure it is clear and concise so Penhold residents are informed with the decisions made by elected officials.
“There were a lot of misconceptions that residents had, and still have, many of which are large,” said Cooper.
“We want residents to communicate to the plans we are making,” he said, adding that a common method residents communicate to council is through the Town of Penhold Facebook page, which Cooper feels is not the most effective method.
“It is unfortunate there was misinformation,” he said. “People need to come to the municipality and ask those questions to us specifically to get answers.”
When asked if he was going to change any of the current policies regarding the roles and responsibilities of council, Cooper said no.
The mayor added he will soon discuss with the rest of council Griffiths' directive not to meddle with administration's duties.
“What we are going to do is sit down and go over the duties and responsibilities of council,” said Cooper, adding that there may have been some past confusion on this issue.
The completed report, which contained a total of 63 recommendations, was presented to about 75 interested local citizens at the Penhold Regional Multiplex on Aug. 14 by RFA consultants Chris Hutchinson and Pamela Walters.
“We found that working relationships within council were functional,” said Hutchinson, who was grilled by many citizens on alleged conflict of interest issues between senior staff members.
“Relationships with Councillor Hoffman, however were complex and at times, difficult,” he said.
Hoffman said he was advised by Cooper not to comment on the report, however, his wife Elisabeth agreed to speak on his behalf.
“They say Chad Hoffman not a team player,” said Elisabeth, adding the report was ‘uncalled for' to single out her husband. “But they have never given him a chance to be a team player.
“The data can say whatever it wants, but they can twist it to say whatever they want,” she said.
McCarthy, meanwhile, said the province still hasn't touched on the root of the problems in the town.
“I think what they have done is they have addressed the workings when it comes to administration, council and the mayor, said McCarthy, who spearheaded the petition in protest of rising property taxes in the community.
“What I got from all this was that there is too much staff and staff are overpaid,” he said. “But I still think there is more to it.”
To see the full report from the Penhold municipal inspection, visit www.townofpenhold.ca.
