NATURE

Sea, land, river

SQCRD

1: Overview

‘Pretend it’s a ‘budget’ – ‘pretend’ public comment--- but 41%> won’t pretend away

2 BC Ferries

3 Land use, etc

_____________

PEOPLES

Community

For earlier materials see Table of Contents

SQCRD meeting March 23rd	Overview of meeting
	Anger & hostility just below surface

The firing of Janet Beil hung over the meeting
severance etc still unresolved

For earlier article on Janet’s firing see here --- plus SQCRD has been here before – see Greg Fletcher firing earlier

Synopsis

2007 ‘Budget’ adopted (see below)

Discussion BC Ferries

Cost implications
Hartley Bay clean up
Northern Adventure

LRMP update

Land referrals

Agenda Package items

On the plus side:

SQCRD rattled but not destroyed

Signs of ‘Recovery’ were evident

Budget discussion revealed the divide between rural and municipal members--- but the discussion BC Ferries (treated later) and land use showed the Board still had common interests/ concerns

Plus there was ‘humor’ as Herb Pond ‘present’ by speaker phone ---- and after angrily lecturing board on budget matters – suggests a letter of appreciation to BC Ferries – since most the meeting had been critical of latter one must assume Herb is ‘fishing’ for another appointment to augment his lifestyle --- is a BC Ferry Director position up for appointment soon?

By legislation Regional District Budget must be completed by March 31^st

Was it a Budget?

Given Janet’s firing there must have been a scramble to put together something that could pass for a budget --- presumably the 5 year 2006 Financial Plan was found – and the projections for 2007 were treated as ‘Budget’., the rationale was that it met Community Charter requirements and could be amended as needed during the year

Those opposing view pointed to ‘inaccuracies’ in document etc ------ this was significant because many programs (water, waste, recycling, etc) get funding from SQCRD
Plus the monies paid into SQCRD might change in unexpected ways over year (sudden rural tax increases, etc)

By legislation Regional District Budget must allow public comment before budget passed ---- ‘OK you have 3 minutes to read and ask your question’

After thought: Public comment – Hilarious

Because this was a session of going thru the motions to fulfil legal obligations – someone must have noticed at last minute that a period of public comment was required by the legislation before passing the budget.

In the spirit of ‘appearances’ --- meeting dealt with other business while copies of 23 page budget were Xeroxed off and handed out to public attending the meeting --- no official comment was made as to why this was being done --- then the chair asked the ‘public’ if there were any questions ---knowing the rationale for this, I made a few lame questions after looking for areas where large $$ differences between 2006 and 2007 seen – see below --- but of course no one can hope to ask questions about a complex document after 3 minute perusal --- except the obvious: ‘This is absurd – Why are you doing this?’

We pay for their spitefulness

Janet Beil has worked 19 years for SQCRD and been the administrator for last 4(?) years --- if there were problems the board had time to deal with them in past – by suddenly firing Janet they have ‘triggered’ huge revenue increase nned

Tax payers pick up politicians mess

There will be a 41% increase in SQCRD expenses from 2006 to 2007 – the $243,793 difference is presumably attributed to firing Janet either directly (as severance and legal bills) or indirectly as need to hire another office person

2006 = $587,964 and 2007 as in ‘budget’ = $831,757

I suspect there will be some justice here in that Prince Rupert tax payers will carry most of this increase --- roughly 20$ for every man woman aand child in Rupert ----

Created by LG on March 25, 2006

Last updated on Sunday, March 25, 2007