INNISFAIL - The Citizens for Innisfail (CFI) group has been denied its request to make a presentation to town council based on new allegations of staff turmoil, claims that have left the town's elected leaders feeling "bullied" and under attack.
"Were we elected to make decisions or are we told how to make our decisions? I feel insulted and under attack. Is bullying acceptable now? I missed the memo if it is," said Coun. Patt Churchill in an email response to the letter from the group. Churchill was out of the country last week and could not be reached to expand on her email comments.
Mayor Brian Spiller, who admitted he was "upset" by the CFI letter that was hand delivered to town hall last week, passionately defended the decision to shut out CFI from making a presentation to council at its regular meeting on March 27.
"We didn't get a lawyer's opinion on their recent letter. We just used our own knowledge, and most everything they had to say to us wasn't true in that letter. A lot of it we can't do because of (the) Municipal Government Act," said Spiller.
The CFI letter (printed in full on page 7) alleges that a "reputable source" claims that several staff members could be fired by Helen Dietz, the town's chief administrative officer who is officially retiring on July 1.
"Our opinion on this matter is as follows: that there should be absolutely no staff changes under the current CAO, Helen Dietz," said the CFI letter. "We would like assurances from the town council that if staff firings are imminent, it must be with unanimous decision of the town council, including the names of each voting council member counted, and the vote entered into public records."
But during a telephone interview on March 24, the mayor bristled at the strongly worded CFI recommendations.
"They are giving us directions and guidelines on how we can rehire for the CAO position. They can't do that and we have to follow the guidelines," said Spiller, who has staunchly defended Dietz since controversy over her managerial style erupted last September over the firing of popular fire chief Dean Clark. "And also the parts where they said there was a hit list or something and Helen (Dietz) is going to let a bunch of people go before she leaves, well if she does, she can.
"That is within her rights and we have no right to tell her that she can't do that or the council would have to vote on it and record their vote and all that, these people making up rules and guidelines for us that are against the Municipal Government Act," added Spiller. "That letter upset all of council and we are not pleased with it, and we don't need their advice and guidance one bit. They claim they represent the town. They don't represent anyone but their group of 10 as far as I am concerned."
The mayor said council's denial to allow the CFI presentation on March 27 does not mean the group will not be granted future permission to address council on other issues.
"No, but this letter they gave us, there's nothing worth addressing in our council as far as we are concerned," said Spiller.
The CFI was formerly organized earlier this year following well-attended citizen presentations to council to protest the firing of Clark and to state their concerns over the managerial style of Dietz. Members have pledged to keep careful watch on council decisions and ensure municipal policies, particularly those for staff, are posted publicly on the town's website and followed.
There has been at least one CFI representative at every town council meeting in 2017.
See editor's commentary in opinion section of www.innisfailprovince.ca
Citizens For Innisfail
"We would like assurances from the town council that if staff firings are imminent, it must be with unanimous decision of the town council, including the names of each voting council member counted, and the vote entered into public records."
