The Town of Athabasca's council received a visit from former mayor Lionel Cherniwchan at its meeting on Mar. 1. Cherniwchan was joined by Sandy White, long-time resident of the town.
The Town of Athabasca's council received a visit from former mayor Lionel Cherniwchan at its meeting on Mar. 1.
Cherniwchan was joined by Sandy White, long-time resident of the town. One of their concerns was the result of a FOIP request filed by Cherniwchan. Though he had asked for agendas, minutes and motions for the administration committee, he did not receive any from the period between Sept. 2014 and Dec. 2015.
Cherniwchan also pointed out that chief administrative officer Josh Pyrcz's moving expenses included rent, registries charges and mail. Though his contract was approved with a clause that said the town would pay up to $3,000 in moving expenses, the individual payments were never approved by council.
ìI'm pretty sure I never authorized rent payments, î said Coun. Tim Verhaeghe.
Coun. Tanu Evans pointed out that the CAO's moving expenses in total - including rent payments - came in ìway under budget. î
Pyrcz said at the meeting that according to policy, the former ACAO was responsible for signing off on his expenses - which is what happened.
The letter
Council voted 4-3 for a motion to publish an official letter to ìdispel false or misleading information î and address ìconcern regarding council's inability to get along. î
Coun. Joanne Peckham added a last-minute agenda item that brought the letter to the table.
ìIn my opinion only, I think this is highly improper, to be adding on something called an official statement when we don't even know what it is, î Verhaeghe said.
The initial draft of the letter included a paragraph about the motion to disqualify the Mayor Roger Morrill and Verhaeghe. The paragraph, however, referred incorrectly to administration looking into the ìcontinued eligibility î of the two council members.
ìI don't agree with much of what was in your letter, î Verhaeghe said after reading it.
After discussion, council agreed to take out the paragraph.
Coun. Steve Schafer said he would suggest, if an official letter was desired, town hire a professional writer to put it together.
ìI think the intent of updating the community is a good thing, î he said. ìI think this is the wrong forum to do this. î
Councillors Peckham, Evans, Nichole Adams and Shelly Gurba voted in favour of approving the letter. Only Peckham, Adams and Gurba had signed the letter by press deadline.
Petition
On Feb. 29, Cherniwchan held a meeting at the Multiplex, talking to people about a petition to bring Municipal Affairs in to conduct an inquiry into the town council's affairs. About a dozen people attended, some of whom took petitions with them to get signatures. "I've given too much to this community to see it go the way it's going, " he said at the meeting.
