Woodlands County councillor calls for a mayoral review

An informal petition calling for Woodlands County mayor Ron Govenlock to be removed from the committee negotiating with the Town of Whitecourt resulted in a call for a mayoral review at the Sept. 11 meeting in Whitecourt, as well as the possibility of Govenlock’s removal from that committee in October.

Whitecourt West Coun. John Burrows called for the mayoral review in the midst of what was, at times, a heated discussion regarding the petition/letter that was signed by 165 people. (Incidentally, about 15 people were in attendance at the meeting.)

Burrows’ motion narrowly passed by a 4-3 vote.

The letter stated that the “reasons for this request are many and varied. Woodlands residents want the negotiations with the Town of Whitecourt to move forward, in an open, respectful and positive direction. We feel [Whitecourt Central Coun.] Ron is unable to do this.”

Interim chief administrative officer (CAO) Gordon Frank stated that, except for the signatures, the letter was sent from an anonymous source, and did not meet Alberta Municipal Government Act’s (MGA) requirements for a petition. He therefore recommended that council simply accept it for information.

“Given the content, I thought it was important to bring it to council so they can understand the concerns of residents,” he said.

However, Frank suggested to councillors that if they were contemplating making changes to the negotiating committee, he recommended they do them at council’s October organizational meeting.

Govenlock then asked what the status of the negotiations was with the Town of Whitecourt and who would be involved

Frank noted administration has eight meetings scheduled with their counterparts between now and the end of December. Who would attend would be dependent on the discussions.

“It will be administration and a team of senior managers (representing relevant departments),” he said, using the example of when the topic of recreation comes up. “Then the recreation manager would have input.”

Frank said when the negotiations are complete, both administrations will go to their prospective councils for ratification.

Fort Assiniboine/Timeu Coun. Dale Kluin agreed with Frank’s suggestion about the make-up of the negotiating committee.

“I don’t think this is the time to make any changes. We have an organizational meeting coming up next month and if there are any changes it can wait until then,” he said.

Kluin then moved to accept the letter as information. Later in the meeting, the motion was defeated 4-3.

Goose Lake/Freeman River Coun. Dale McQueen said that although he hoped the meetings between administration would be successful, he felt the best way to break the impasse between the two municipalities was for the two councils in their entirety needed to meet together, with everyone in attendance.

“I’ve been saying this for four months, why aren’t we meeting as a whole?” he asked. “I don’t think we need mediators and everything ... to get this thing done.”

Govenlock interjected that they did make an invitation to Town of Whitecourt councillors to meet as a whole and they declined.

Whitecourt East Coun. Jim Rennie and Burrows brought the discussion back to the letter, saying council shouldn’t ignore it.

Burrows also added he was concerned about phone calls he had received from some of the people that had signed the letter saying the mayor had contacted them.

Govenlock admitted to calling one of the petitioners and then suggested Burrows was too close to the petitioners.

“Have you been have having meetings outside this assembly with them?” he asked.

While Burrows said he hadn’t had meetings with any of the residents, he indicated they realize the county is in a tough situation and are conducting sensitive negotiations.

“But they are concerned with your approach,” he said.

Govenlock asked what the difference was between his approach and Burrows’ own.

“When you take and make statements in the public that suggest “you arrogant piece of s**t,” Govenlock said.

Kluin then asked Govenlock to call for the vote to accept the letter for information, which as mentioned previously was defeated. McQueen, Kluin and Govenlock voted in favour.

Anselmo Coun. Sylvia Bonnett, Blue Ridge Coun. Bruce Prestidge and Burrows voted against the motion.

Govenlock then asked Bonnett why she was opposed.

She said that while she supported waiting until the organizational meeting to decide who would be on the committee it was important to send a message to the people who signed the letter that they are taking their concerns seriously.

“Accepting it for information isn’t enough,” she said. “We need to let them know that we are taking their recommendation seriously and consider it when we make our decision [at the organizational meeting].”

Govenlock then pressed Bonnett to make a motion.

Bonnett moved that they wait until the organizational meeting to decide on the makeup of the committee, but reiterated councillors would consider the letter.

Rennie asked the CAO to rule on a point of order, saying Govenlock ignored Prestige, who had his hand up, to call on Bonnett.

“You put someone in a possible spot, ignoring someone who wished to speak. I don’t think that’s fair,” he said.

After consulting the procedural bylaw, Frank said Govenlock was within his right, but a councillor could appeal the decision, which Prestidge did.

“I would like to make a motion to remove you off of the committee,” Prestidge said, adding that Govenlock made up his own rules all the time.

A debate ensued about which motion was valid. Govenlock stated it was Bonnett’s and he then asked her if she wanted to withdraw the motion. She refused.

Burrows noted that a lot was at stake for the council. “It is time for this council and region to get together. Your behaviour, the confrontation that has been displayed to your own council, in this meeting, if that is on display at the negotiating table at any time, then how are we ever going to be able to come up with a solution?”

Rennie agreed, adding that if any councillor received a letter with as many signatures as the one they had gotten which asked them to resign from a committee, they would.

Govenlock argued that the argument was moot as councillors were no longer part of the negotiating committee.

Bonnett and Rennie suggested as a compromise that the entire negotiating committee be replaced, adding it would appease the people who signed the letter. But Govenlock refused.

“There are 4,400 residents in this county and I and my colleagues are here to represent and protect the interests of both the business community and residents as a whole, not just those who live around the Town of Whitecourt,” Govenlock said in retort.

“From the county and council’s perspective, we’re not going to be intimidated or bullied by people from the [Whitecourt] Chamber of Commerce or the business community who represent ANC to protect their interests.”

Govenlock then called for the question on Bonnett’s motion, which passed 4-3.

Burrows then successfully moved for a mayoral review to be conducted.