It has been a few months since I have had reason to write. The new mayor and council are amazing to work with and I have very little to complain about.
Democracy is everything I hoped it would be. Nevertheless, I do have some concerns with recent events.
Please be the judge if I am over reacting. Our area EPCOR manager has been promoted and is moving from Sooke. This manager negotiated the failed 21-year sewer agreement and settled for the five-year $300,000 increase we ended up with. This has caused our finance department to borrow funds to cover the shortfall in revenues needed to pay the yearly increase. If we do not borrow some $265,000 every year for five years then we would be in a default position. Rules of government do not allow us to sign a contract that triggers a default situation for taxpayers. So this contract was done in bad faith.
Now here is the kicker. All senior staff involved in the contract negotiations and councillors that voted in the affirmative were all at the send off dinner. Maja Tait was the only sitting councillor at the party. Not even the mayor Wendal Milne was invited. How can the perception of a fair contract signed by impartial people be established when these people are not acting in a professional manner? It is wrong to entertain personal relationships and maintain arm’s length during contract negotiations. It is never done this way.
This would be a clear case of taking care of EPCOR’s interests over those that pay the taxes. One will never know the real cost of this party to the people of Sooke.
Herb Haldane
Sooke