After months of anticipation, Municipal Affairs Minister Danielle Larivee has called for an inspection into the Town of Athabasca's affairs.
After months of anticipation, Municipal Affairs Minister Danielle Larivee has called for an inspection into the Town of Athabasca's affairs.
In a letter written to Mayor Roger Morrill and council, the minister wrote that a preliminary review conducted in July “identified concerns that justify an in-depth review. ”
“An inspection into the operations of a municipality is an extraordinary measure and is not to be undertaken lightly, ” she wrote.
Larivee writes in the letter that the inspection will be conducted by an independent consultant and produce recommendations that will be of “benefit ” to “council, administration, and community. ” She noted that she will advise members of council when that inspector has been appointed.
The inspector is set to provide a report to the minister, which will be provided to council after acceptance. Larivee states that the report is generally presented at a public meeting or shortly following its delivery to council, and will also be available on Municipal Affairs' website.
Larivee also notes in the letter that she may direct council, the CAO or a designated officer of the municipality to take any action considered proper if she believes that the municipality is “managed in an irregular, improper or improvident manner. ”
“Directives normally have timelines by which the action is required to be completed, ” she wrote. “If one or more directives are not carried out to my satisfaction, I may issue further directives, or dismiss the council or any member of it or the CAO. ”
Interim town chief administrative officer Doug Topinka said that the letter was the first indication the town received with notice of the inspection. He said that he has asked for the letter to be on the agenda at tomorrow night's town council meeting.
“Basically, to get council's direction, to get a hold of the department to see what their timelines might look like, ” he said.
“It's just business as usual until they show up, ” he added.
Coun. Tim Verhaeghe said hopefully, the inspector is appointed in a timely fashion.
“I am satisfied to see that Municipal Affairs is taking a serious look at things, and perhaps bring some sort of resolution to any issues at the council level, if there are any, ” he said.
To the best of her knowledge, Coun. Joanne Peckham noted that there had never been a statement that anyone on council did not want this inspection to happen.
“Seeing this has validated that obviously - it's been recognized that there is a big problem, ” she said.
Former mayor Lionel Cherniwchan - who organized a petition in town that collected 832 names and started this process - said that he hopes the inspection culminates in the Town of Athabasca seeing resolution.
“I'm glad to see that this process is coming to a conclusion, ” he said. “I wish it would have been sooner, but what can I say. ”
For more on this story stay tuned on our site, or pick up the Oct. 25 edition of the Athabasca Advocate.
