Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (May 10/02) - Filed under new business, and tucked between an environmental management workshop invitation and a pleading letter from a resident asking for her road to be fixed, an ugly can of worms was waiting to be opened.

The Fort Simpson senior administrative officer's credibility was on the line, and some councillors were not happy about it.

The item under new business at last Monday's village public meeting was a vote of confidence for SAO Bernice Swanson.

"I'm embarrassed this is on the agenda," Coun. Paul Gammon said to Mayor Tom Wilson. "This could cost us $150,000."

It was "a rock and a hard place kind of thing" stated the councillor, noting that a positive vote could lead to a costly severance package for Swanson and a possible lawsuit if council chose to remove her at a later date.

While, on the other hand, a vote of non-confidence would simply be a demoralizing situation for all.

"Personally, I don't think this thing should have came to council," said Counc. Duncan Canvin. "I'd just as soon not have a vote."

Wilson said the vote of confidence was entered into the agenda out of fairness to Swanson.

"The honourable thing to do, is if the SAO doesn't have the confidence of council, the least we could do is tell her, so she can find employment somewhere else," said Wilson.

Less than a year into her job, Swanson has come under criticism from council for her handling of an NWT spills report, among other things.

It was issued almost a month after the village sewage plant's pumps failed March 27, allowing raw waste to flow into the Mackenzie River, and leaving the village vulnerable to enormous fines.

Earlier in the meeting, Canvin questioned whether there was a "cover-up" at the sewage plant.

"Are you suggesting Jayson (plant operator Jayson Bourne) lied?" asked Swanson.

"It seems to me to be a cover-up," Canvin replied.

Swanson remained steadfast, however, insisting that she believed the plant operator's failure to note the spillage was not premeditated.

When it came time to make the vote of confidence, a motion was made to hold it off until Dec. 16, but that was defeated and the vote was resumed.

Swanson offered to leave the council chamber during the vote, but Wilson insisted she stay.

She said she didn't mind being criticized, but just wanted to know why, and what she could do to make improvements.

Ultimately, councillors Gammon and Pat Rowe voted against Swanson, but the others in attendance, Canvin, Betty Hardisty, Wilson, and deputy mayor Bob Hanna, voted in her favour. With tension still in the air, Rowe's attention turned towards the condition the village's roads.

"Is it our job to fix the road?" Rowe shot at Wilson, referring to a stretch of gravel near the Nahanni Inn.

"Yes," Wilson responded.

"Then fix the road," Rowe demanded.