by Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Oct 15/97) - A former city alderman was surprised to learn of the position on secret meetings taken by two mayoral candidates.

Responding to a Yellowknifer questionnaire, candidates John Dalton and Ruth Spence said they were opposed to secret meetings.

"I'm surprised in the case of Ruth and somewhat shocked in the case of John," said Peplow, a former member of council who now lives in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

Peplow staunchly opposed closed-door meetings while on council. He is the only member of council not named in a legal challenge initiated by the Yellowknife Property Owners Association to stop the meetings.

Peplow said he could recall only one time, shortly before the launch of the legal challenge, that members of council questioned the practice.

Spence, along with Ald. Trevor Kasteel, asked if the meetings were necessary, but did not take great exception to them.

"I wouldn't really say Ruth pushed to get rid of secret meetings, because when it came down to the crunch she sided with administration. She was just wondering out loud why we don't dispense with secret meetings."

Spence said any comments made by Peplow should be taken with a grain of salt. "I'm astounded anyone would talk to Dick Peplow about anything," said Spence. "I can't believe anyone would take him seriously. He was a detriment to council."

Spence said she opposed secret meetings from the start.

"Jo MacQuarrie and I, about the second meeting we were there, said this is not democracy -- we do not believe in holding secret meetings."

Peplow said that at the same meeting Dalton "spoke so eloquently in favour of continuing on with the meetings."

Dalton noted the meetings, which began under former mayor Pat McMahon, are called at the request of the mayor.

"My views on secret meetings have never changed," said Dalton. He noted that, as an alderman, he made a point of asking questions he already had answers to for the purpose of informing the public.

"It's interesting a man that far away wants to still be involved in the process," said Dalton of Peplow's comments.

The other two members of the current council running for mayor, incumbent Dave Lovell and Vi Beck, have maintained the closed-door briefings are needed to keep council informed.