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Vol.2,8,Tuesday, No. 24 Tuesday, May8,14, 2013 Vol. 7, No. November 2011 MICHELLE PINON PHOTO
The Chipman Fire Department responded to a grass fire just south of Highway 16 adjacent to Secondary Highway 834 just after 2 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. Crews from Lamont and Mundare were both on scene to assist with containment. A portion of the highway was closed and traffic forced to detour while firefighters worked to get the blaze under control. Chipman Fire Chief Steve Rasmussen said this was the fifth call in the past five days. Lamont County issued a fire ban last Tuesday, and it continues to remain in effect.
Town of Lamont in ‘relatively good hands’, says author of Municipal Inspection Report Michelle Pinon Editor
“I’m glad to see so many people out.” Those were the opening remarks of Stephen Thompson, author of the Municipal Inspection Report for the Town of Lamont during the public meeting May 8 at the Lamont Recreation Centre. Thompson said 35 copies of the report were printed, and he estimated there were around 40 people in the room, so some had to be content to share during the power point presentation.
“This report documents a municipal inspection conducted on behalf of Alberta Municipal Affairs in the town of Lamont between December 2012 and February 2013,” stated Thompson. The inspection included two series of interviews with all members of town council, staff, and town residents. The inspection also included observation of council meetings, various administrative processes, and the review of municipal bylaws, policies and procedures. Contained in the report were nine primary
recommendations, with another 10 recommendations nested inside one primary one. Thompson stated the intent of the recommendations was to provide improvements in the transparency of the town’s government to its citizens, as well as to improve some internal processes, and especially the skills and expertise of many of the town’s staff and councillors. “The Town of Lamont is in reasonably good hands,” said Thompson. He pointed out that none of the recommendations “carry the weight” of a ministerial directive, and
were intended for council’s consideration. Thompson said he interviewed 11 people over the course of the inspection, and that all of them had the same concern; “The well being of the town.” Thompson said he attended three regular and one special meeting of council during the review. As well he reviewed meeting minutes spanning the period between Dec. 2012 and Feb. 2013. He went over the timeline of events leading up to and following the review. On Nov. 17, 2011 council unanimously
passed a motion stating: “In accordance with the Municipal Government Act Section 571 (1) (b). Council requests an inspection of the Town of Lamont be performed in regards to any matters connected with the management, administration and operations immediately.” Municipal Affairs responded with a letter dated Jan. 3, 2012 granting the request. “More than 11 months passed before an inspector was appointed to conduct the inspection. A primary issue in that delay was the provincial election of April 23, 2012
which impacted internal government operations for several weeks prior to the election and for several weeks afterwards.” On Nov. 15, 2012 Thompson was appointed as the inspector. The report pointed out Thompson’s duties and responsibilities, and complete analysis of council, committee structure, administration management and staff structure as well as consultations with various residents. Cont’d on Page 3