Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 14/01) - A councillor's call for tighter spending is being called "grandstanding" and "off-base" by other members of city council.

Coun. Robert Hawkins said he wants to scrap the purchase of a new street sweeper, review how much money administration can move around without telling politicians, and set up a fund for year-end budget surpluses that could be re-invested tax rebates.

He proposed the plan in a notice of motion tabled at council on Monday. It's expected to get a rough ride when it goes to council Sept. 24.

Coun. Dave Ramsay called Hawkins' motion "grandstanding."

"I'm all for the ideas, but it must be done in a constructive manner," said Ramsay. "We're going to deal with these issues in two months during budget deliberations."

He said he'd support the suggestion to can the street sweeper if it made sense.

"This hurts council and hurts administration," said Ramsay of Hawkins' move.

Hawkins, council's maverick politician, recently irked some councillors and members of administration by publicly criticizing administration's move to increase spending on the street sweeper by $40,000 without council knowledge or approval.

The street sweeper was budgeted at $140,000, but in a quarterly report it was earmarked for $180,000.

Senior administration can spend up to $250,000 in the budget without council approval.

Hawkins said he expected some councillors and administrators to resist his ideas.

"I think there will be objections. All three motions claw back (administration's) ability to do what they can with the budget," said Hawkins, who said he doesn't set out to get people angry. "It's part of our jobs to be part of these extra decisions."

Coun. Kevin O'Reilly said Hawkins is "off base."

"Hawkins hasn't had an adequate look at our budget policy and procedure," said O'Reilly. "But if he wants to bring the matter to full debate, well...."

O'Reilly said the street sweeper has to stay.

Coun. Dave McCann said he leans in Hawkins' direction. He said staff focuses too much on revenue to solve problems.

"When we lost the Giant Mine taxes administration decided to tax everyone else," said McCann.

"That has to change," said McCann who didn't comment on the individual motions.

Councillors Ben McDonald and Wendy Bisaro also said they wanted to wait before commenting. Alan Woytuik and Blake Lyons could not be reached for comment.