Today's Langley Times published this article on Mayor Rick Green's new finance committee. You will note that Mayor Green ran on a platform of open and accountable government, while engaging the public for input. This new advisory committee has already met last Wednesday with Mayor Green.
Unlike all other TOL committee appointments in the past, this one was never advertised on the Township Page in local newspapers nor the Township's website. Traditionally formal written applications are received from members of the general public that show an interest in serving a two year term on the various committees and commissions. These applicants are then screened by staff and undergo an interview with mayor and members of council before any final selection is made. In December of 2008 e-mails were sent to those Township residents serving on current committees advising them that the list of committees was being reviewed and changes could be made. Also prior to that e-mail message, the Township advertised on the Township Page in local newspapers for various committee and commission appointments. Those applicants have not been contacted by the Township since the process was placed on hold in late 2008.
A review of the list of finance advisory members (and as reported in the Langley Times), includes Rick Green a close campaign friend and insiders. Although these committee members may hold some professional qualifications such as lawyer or accountant, the normal open and accountable committee selection process was scrapped and a committee appears to have already been appointed. You will note in our previous post today that the terms of reference for this advisory committee will not be officially reviwed by council until the Monday, January 12, 2009 council meeting. Yet Mayor Green has seen fit to already appoint and meet with this committee ahead of any council discussion and without any public consultation or advertising for qualified potential candidates.
A Langley Record Editorial Board member had been awaiting advertising for this finance advisory committee. This person has 29 years of experience as a chartered accountant and has served in senior executive finance positions for several Canadian and US public companies.
What is even more disturbing to this Editorial Board and should raise the eyebrows of each and every Township taxpayer is that Mayor Green tells us at the end of this article that Mr. Bruce Maitland will be working as a consultant for the Township. You will recall that Mayor Green mentioned this consultant's name numerous times during his campaign and had also e-mailed some TOL residents with a reference letter from Mr. Maitland on behalf of then mayoral candidate Rick Green.Green said the Township is currently compiling an inventory of municipal-owned lands, and Bruce Maitland, a former director of real estate services for the City of Vancouver, will be working as a consultant to the Township to recommend ways the property can alleviate the tax burden here.
Maitland, Green said, will make a presentation to the advisory committee, and to council, on the workings of a property trust fund in the next three or four weeks.
Apparently Mr. Maitland has been hired using taxpaer's money and without any consultation or approval of Township Council. Another insider hired directly by the mayor without any council process or arm's distance from the consulting engagement process. Does this sound like open and accoutable government to you?
16 comments:
"Does this sound like open and accoutable government to you?"
It sounds to me like it is someone Green knows and has the experience to help him bring in a plan that will allow Green to fullfill his promise to have 0 tax increases.
Other than the fact that your friend isn't on the comittee, what do you find wrong with that?
You guys just have to get some consistency here. Yesterday you were complaining that Green wasn't outlining his plans like you demanded(obviously Green doesn't read your blog) and today, when he does, you criticize him for that too.
Horny Toad
We have a big problem (and so should you) with a mayor that throws away the process and does what he wants without council approval. Yes, we want to see a detailed plan. But we don't give Mayor Green or any individual council member the right to do what they want without following the protocol! You can't see that? Green is not God. He is accountable to council and the taxpayers.
I have to confess I don't know the various processes but it seems to me when I hear about other municipalities like Surrey I hear of Dianne Watt seeting up this and that committee.Or Vancouver's Sullivan (gasp)setting up various committees.
horny toad
Horny, Fair enough and thanks for being honest. All we are saying is this:
1. These committees aren't free, they cost the taxpayers money. You will note that some Township staff must serve on this committee and that means pay cheques and the clerk's time to prepare agenda, minutes, etc.
2. The old council reviewed all the committees and commissions with staff last year to see if cuts could be made because of the costs involved. Things like not allowing so many sub-committees or task forces to go on forever.
3. If this committee is going to be a major instrument for our financial stability in hard times, shouldn't we be looking into our community for the best and brightest? Mayor Green said during the campaign that with regards to real estate sales (TOL properties) we don't advertise enough and get top dollar. Isn't this the same principle of getting the best and most qualified through applications and interviews?
4. The committee and all others are committees of COUNCIL. Therefore, shouldn't all of council have input into the structure and make-up, and not get the Terms of Reference after the committee was already selected and already met once?
While we do want to see detailed plans and action, we also want council to be able to discuss, debate and oversee what is being done. The public is also owed the courtesy of knowing that the TOL is seeking qualified committee members, as has been the practice forever.
If Kurt Alberts had appointed his campaign heros to various committees and commissions without advertising or considering others, we are CERTAIN there would be a major stink right now. Just consider it.
"2. The old council reviewed all the committees and commissions with staff last year to see if cuts could be made because of the costs involved. Things like not allowing so many sub-committees or task forces to go on forever."
The old council also voted for an AUTOMATIC 5% increase each year.
" If this committee is going to be a major instrument for our financial stability in hard times, shouldn't we be looking into our community for the best and brightest?"
On the one hand you want the BEST people but then on the other you think it should be from our community.
He selected someone who appears to have been involved in the same process in Vancouver that Green wants to implement here. That makes sense to me.
You seem to want to micro manage every action this guy takes. And he's not doing it like the old guy(which is why the old guy is gone).
Your accusation of a flip flop on firefighters is a good example. AS far as I could tell there was no flip flop but you decided that he probably would have cut firefighters if he was able to.
I think you are either blinded by rage at one (some) of your friends not getting re-elected or your have another agenda.
If Green is truly interested in open and accountable government, he must appoint "INDEPENDENT ADVISORS".
Secondly, if Green honestly believes that he should be selling properties in a depressed market, then I am disappointed in his business acumen.
I want to see what's best for Township residents and not what's best for fulfilling an election platform.
Green needs to explain to the public why this is in their best interest. I have yet to see a reasonable answer.
If you studied the budget as Mr. Green is doing now you would soon realize that 87% of it is for salaries and staff. The 5% increases were to cover the collective bargaining agreements and those increase. Check the facts please. The jury is still out to see if Green can go zero. You may have to eat crow.
Ah, so we should trust Rick Green that these insiders of his are the very best that we can get. To hell with advertising and interviewing, we are just going to get these people damn it. Again, if Kurt had done this authoritarian move he would have been nailed to the cross by you and your pals.
Did you attend the council meeting regarding fire? Did you study the chain of events that brought this topic from in-camera to council agenda? Why do you think it was brought forward by Mr. Green? Surely it wasn't to decide to do what council already decided to do long ago, eh?
Our agenda is to keep our leaders feet to the fire. Rick Green made many promises during the campaign and now he must deliver. Simple as that. If he didn't want the heat he should not have promised the sun, moon and stars. No hatred here and no buddies that didn't get elected. Just holding the feet to the fire.
These Green supports may like his approach of engaging a committee without council input, approval or oversight, but as a taxpayer I am pissed off!
With regards to this consultant that Green is hiring again without any apparent controls or oversight, how much are we paying him and who determined his pay?
You are correct in saying that Alberts was practically burned to the stake for consulting council and moving things forward. But suddenly it is fine for this mayor to short-circuit the process and do what he damn well pleases with our money? This is a huge double standard and these people should really give their heads a shake. I voted for Green and now I realize I may have made one big mistake.
Just a question, if 87% of the budget goes to salaries, wouldn't Green have known this prior to the election? Is is public information?
If so, there is no way he could have achieved his platform. Now I understand why they were trying to cut the firefighters and LEC.
When the public became outraged, they tried to spin it differently in the media?
So now, they have to sell properties in a depressed market place in order to achieve their platform.
This is not good.
Yes, all of the contracts and salary increases could certainly have been researched by the Green team PRIOR to the election, with a platform adjusted accordingly. Either he promoted his platform with full knowledge that it was not possible to achieve, or he did not do his homework and was oblivious to the facts. We are not sure which and he is not saying.
We think that possibly the public would have given Mayor Green more grace if he took office and admitted that he was unaware of these budget facts. But the Bull charges forward with assurances that he will achieve all of his platform promises.
This Editorial Board is comprised of a group of people that have nothing but the best interests of the TOL at heart. We hope that Mayor Green is like-minded and that he will treat the taxpayers with integrity. If we are wrong and Mayor Green achieves all of his objectives, then we will certainly acknowledge our error. These achievements must be verifiable, significant and measurable.
In the interest of clarification:
One contract was approved just prior to the November 15th election. That was the fire fighter's wage increases. All other contracts were in place or known prior to the election.
It drives me NUTS, beyond belief, when one person in our democratic society, figures it their God-given right to autocratically sheppard us "sheep".
What a devaluing, disempowering, red-neck assumption!
What about all the other professionals in Langley ~ equally or more qualified ~ who could offer input at an arms-length that is as good (or better) and with no actual or perceived conflict of interest to the Mayor?
When do they get a voice?
Real-estate is more than simply a financial asset. Municipalities have an obligation to effectively manage & direct the development of infra-structure AND green space (small g) for the community as a whole. Land management must be viewed as one component, among many, within the larger public interest.
We chose to live in Langley because of the way land has been strategically purchased & managed. We enjoy the essence of "Where Country meets City".
To sell us out to the highest bidder, in a real-estate market that is seriously impoverished, in an attempt to save face for a campaign promise gone wrong is extremely short-sighted.
Mayors who autocratically make such short-sighted decisions will enjoy an equally short-term as Mayor!
"What about all the other professionals in Langley ~ equally or more qualified ~ who could offer input at an arms-length that is as good (or better) and with no actual or perceived conflict of interest to the Mayor?"
WOW, what a statement.
And those people, who are either equally, or, more qualified are who.........?
Don't be shy now. Name some names, and their qualifications. I'm sure you know who they are and what their qualification are.
Wasn't Alberts a city planner before being mayor and he brought us what---the 200st confusionchange?
Horny Toad
"And those people, who are either equally, or, more qualified are who.........? Don't be shy now. Name some names, and their qualifications. I'm sure you know who they are and what their qualification are... Wasn't Alberts a city planner before being mayor and he brought us what---the 200st confusionchange?"
Yes, that too, is quite a statement, Horny. Albeit, short-sighted.
Two comments:
1. Transparency and Open Communication?
The point I make refers to the concern expressed in the original post: "Mayor Green ran on a platform of open and accountable government, while engaging the public for input. This new advisory committee has already met last Wednesday with Mayor Green. Unlike all other TOL committee appointments in the past, this one was never advertised..."
Horny, do you not find it ironic that with a campaign platform grounded in the concepts of "transparency and open communication" the Mayor, as but one newly hired member of a 9-member Board (yes 9), would hire/recruit personal supporters/friends for the Township's finance committee without regard for proper process or past Council practise?
Should not this same door be opened to other financial experts, lawyers, accountants & real-estate directors residing in Langley Township? Those the Mayor knows & those he doesn't know? Is this not democracy?
I will direct you to the yellow pages for further contact information.
The process he has chosen to follow is poor - and contrary to what was professed during the election.
2. 200th “Confusion Change” & Mayor Alberts
Just for the (accurate) record, please visit the regular Council Minutes of July 30, 2001 : http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/Publications/reports_and_studies/200/200review.pdf
Mayor (Alberts) AND Council (emphasis on “and”) sent the Province a list of concerns & issues they had with the proposed 200th street interchange.
The outcome we have is not the product of one person making a unilateral decision. Rather, a Board working together to plan & act in our best interests who were over-ridden by powers “above”.
This, dear Horny, is proper process.
Positively Interested.
HT: The Township currently has a population of 95,000 people. Do you mean to tell me that in a municipality of 95,000 the mayor just reached out to his pals and was able to find 3 people that are the MOST qualified out of the whole 95,000? If the mayor is able to work such magic then he is seriously missing his calling. Recruiters around the world could just hire Rick Green to pluck qualified candidates out of thin air, eliminating the need for costly advertising and such. Wow, this mayor is really talented, Isn't he?
Incidentally, one of the people appointed by the mayor to this new finance committee ran for Township council in 2005 and finish dead LAST.
Members of the public on the mayor’s standing committee on finance include Calvin Patterson, a Langley lawyer and one of Green’s election campaign workers; Ken Baker, a chartered accountant and former managing partner of BDO Dunwoody (retired); and George Luciani, a retired former federal employee with expertise in economics. Luciani ran for Township council in 2005.
Now tell me, how does a "lawyer" qualify for this position?
The CA, I can see that.
A federal employee with expertise in economics. This doesn't tell me much. We need credentials, not the jobs that I did in the past. As well, if you ran for Township politics in the past, there is no credibility in the process.
Rick Green, open honest government.......HUH
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