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Council candidate Dan Wong, far right, answers a question from the public while council candidates Niels Konge, left, Rebecca Alty, Amanda Mallon and Linda Bussey listen at the council candidates forum at Centre Ice Plaza on Wednesday night. - Katherine Hudson/NNSL photo

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Communication between city council and administration as well as reprimanding city hall officials or dismissing them were heated topics that brought on applause by the more than 100 members of the community who came out to Tuesday's city councillors candidate forum - held at Centre Ice Plaza. All 12 candidates were present.

"I think it's clear with the current (city) administration, there are issues. I hear that at every second door I'm knocking on. We will have to look at this seriously," said council candidate Linda Bussey.

Larry Jacquard, president of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, started the public question period off stating the chamber has experienced a lot of frustration with city administration over the past year and asked candidates how they intend to take on administration and ensure communication is "proper and fast and the people of Yellowknife are being properly served."

Another member of the public took this query a step further, asking how candidates would specifically act to improve accountability and communication at city hall.

Council candidate Phil Moon Son directed his attention on the only staff member who works for council, senior administrative officer Bob Long.

"He needs to be held accountable for all the decisions that go on with the staff," said Moon Son.

Council candidates Niels Konge and Adrian Bell said council is ultimately the employer and when an employer has employees that are insubordinate, there has to be action taken, such as letters of reprimand and ultimately, dismissal - comments which brought applause from the crowd.

"If targets have been set for admin that are not being met, then the SAO must be reprimanded and fired if things don't improve. I do think it's important to elect councillors who have the stomach for making tough decisions," said Bell.

Council candidate Dan Wong said he's "definitely not in favour of going around and firing city employees."

"I respect how organizations work and the role of council is not going to micromanage the administration, but be strategic and good leaders," said Wong.

Incumbent Bob Brooks said administration does not always follow the direction of the mayor and council, but at those times, council goes back to demand the information asked from administration.

"Council has a responsibility to do their own work, follow up on information given to them, make sure it coincides with the information that they get from the community, and then bring it forward," Brooks said. "Ultimately, we have to find a way to work together as a team, mayor, council and administration with all residents of the city."

Incumbent Cory Vanthuyne said in the past few years, he's seen five motions brought forward by city council and that it's time for council to take ownership of their role and be more active.

Moderator Bruce Valpy, managing editor of Northern News Services, started the forum off with prepared questions using information and platform issues council candidates brought forward in the media.

Valpy asked Beaton MacKenzie what his Plan B is for revitalizing downtown, since it seemed as though his Plan A - sending inmates back to their home communities upon release - didn't hold ground as most inmates were being sent home and those who remained can do so.

MacKenzie responded by saying the territorial government needs to open a treatment centre in Yellowknife, and provide training for jobs.

Rebecca Alty was questioned about whether there should be any limits to city staff size and what they are paid, using information from the City of Yellowknife 2011 annual report which indicates full-time city employees make a salary of more than $109,000 a year based on $20.59 million spent on salaries, wages, and benefits for 188 workers. Alty said council should look at job efficiencies at city hall.

The forum, which lasted about three hours, touched on a range of issues such as Northland Trailer Park, water and sewer line installation in Kam Lake, the development of Tin Can Hill, and if council candidates supported a geothermal district energy system.

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