CITY: Local man starts Arabic-language online newspaper A3 Wednesday, November 30, 2011
www.pgfreepress.com • Newsline 250-564-0005
Just hangin’ out with Geroy and the rest of the boys A16
Green ready to get down to business ■ City
Police, snow removal exempt from core review, which should take six months Delynda Pilon
the police budget. We would like it. We want to make sure the money is being spent in the best way possible,” she said, adding It will take a minimum of the particulars of the new policsix months to complete a core ing contract is a matter being review, which will likely begin negotiated right now. sometime in January. Likewise, she doesn’t see a Mayor-elect Shari Green said reduction in service when it there have been no formal discomes to the fire department. cussions yet between her and She explained the biggest porthe rest of council regarding the tion of that budget is taken up review, a key piece of her platby salaries for the firefighters, form during this fall’s campaign and she doubts reducing the and an idea those elected were number of firefighton-board with. ers the city has on staff The new council is something anyone will also need to diswants. However, there cuss the options with may be efficiencies that city manager, Derek can be found. Bates, she added. “In my personal “There are a couple opinion I think the fire ways to proceed. I I’m not lookdepartment can be part think having someone ing for layof the conversation,” she objective do it, an outoffs.” said. sider with municipal -- MayorBeing as efficient as experience, would be elect possible and saving taximportant,” she said. Shari Green payer dollars is the goal The review will not of the core review, she be looking for ways added, not layoffs. to cut the budget in “I’m not looking for layoffs. snow removal, however. In fact Green said taxpayers have made We want to give the best services we can at the best price. their feelings on the subject The people who are doing these clear, and, if anything, counjobs know best how to do it. cil will be looking for ways to They are a big piece of this.” increase the snow removal budThough she is not looking for get while tightening up other layoffs, she isn’t certain if the departments. position of manager of comHowever that doesn’t mean munications and community they won’t be looking for better engagement will be one the ways to get the job done. city needs to fill now that Mike “Reducing the snow removal budget is not something I would Davis, who held the position, support,” she said. “How we are has taken a similar job with the removing snow and whether it’s 2015 Canada Winter Games. Whether or not the job will being done in the best way - we be posted once Davis begins can speak about that.” his new job will likely be up to Policing takes up a big chunk Bates, at this point, Green said. of the municipal budget, but “In my mind during a core Green said unfortunately there review we shouldn’t be filling is nothing council can do to cut positions we will be looking corners there. “We don’t have authority over at. Right now Mr. Bates has the option of filling it. Most of the
newsroom@pgfreepress.com
‘‘
time hiring isn’t something council is a part of. Right now there is no current plan either way. There has been no opportunity to evaluate it either way,” she said. When contacted Bates said there is no plans to immediately fill the position. “We’ll wait for the new council then take instructions,” he said. When discussing a municipal auditor general, Green said it’s difficult to judge whether or not having one at its disposal will be a positive thing for the city or not. “I think for me there’s pros and cons. An objective outsider is exactly what I’ve been talking about (to do the core review). But what they say is non-binding so if you’ve got policies that impact decisions which in turn impact tax dollars I’m not sure whether a council will act and then what will the point have been? “It’s just one of those unknowns right now,” she said. Conversely, she added, if you’ve done your homework, are Te re s a M A LLA M / Fre e Pre s s efficient and have Mayor-elect Shari Green is ready for her new role. The inaugural meeting sound policy then of the new council will be December 5. you’d welcome an audit. needs to be tight, focused, relstrategic goals we have for the Enacting a core review might evant and do-able. city. We need to get it in a solid be a top priority on Green’s She added she wants everyone format with everyone at the agenda, but the first thing she around the table who is setting table working toward that,” she wants to ensure is that council is said and added strategic planup the strategic plan to buy into a body working together for the it so that each person will work ning is likely to take place durgood of the city. hard to accomplish the goals ing the first week of January. “The number one thing is havthey set together. The strategic plan, she said, ing a strong team focused on the