Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Published Monday, January 21, 2008
HAY RIVER - The political soap opera that is Hay River town council continued Jan. 14 with the resignation of Mayor John Pollard.
And on Jan. 18 council elected former mayor Diana Ehman to be acting mayor until a decision is made on holding a byelection or appointing someone to fill the position.
John Pollard |
Pollard was elected in October 2006 - defeating Ehman who was mayor at the time - and he had almost two years left in his term.
The resignation was caused by an increasing workload, he said.
"I can't devote the kind of time the job needs anymore," he said, adding it has gotten much busier in the last year and is becoming more than a part-time job.
Plus, he said he is away from the job for most of the summer looking after his business - Brabant Lodge on the Mackenzie River, about 50 kilometres west of Hay River.
However, Coun. Mike Maher blamed some of the five new members of council for the resignation.
"I saw it coming," Maher said. "John is a very professional guy. He's there to work for the town. It didn't seem to be happening with the new council."
Council has become a gong show, he added.
"The bottom line is he didn't need the bullshit."
Maher, who has been on council for seven years, said some new councillors - he declined to name names - have an agenda for more open government, even inviting unannounced guests to budget meetings.
"I just found it very unprofessional and very frustrating, to be honest," Maher said.
The councillor said there has been open municipal government in Hay River, but the new council is taking openness to extremes by objecting to private discussions about even the most sensitive issues.
Maher said the town is a business, and some things have to be confidential.
All eight councillors were chosen in a December byelection, after a judge overturned the irregularity-plagued October 2006 vote, except for the election of Pollard.
Coun. Vince McKay, who was on the previous council, said he was a little shocked by Pollard's resignation.
Pollard is a very hard worker, he said.
"I guess he couldn't see himself getting things done in the next two years."
McKay said some new coun.s came into office with the perception the town is run as a good ol' boys club, involving some businesses and organizations.
"Ever since I've been there, there has been no such thing," he said.
In particular, he said the perception that council awards contracts in closed meetings is false.
Coun. Beatrice Lepine, one of the most vocal new coun., doesn't know what to make of Pollard's resignation.
"I'd be reading his mind if I speculated," she said.
However, she said she realizes some people are blaming the new coun..
Lepine said she imagines the new coun. had some effect on Pollard's decision to leave.
"It's a different style," she said. "He's quite used to being king of the anthill."
The new coun. want a more open and transparent municipal government, Lepine added.
"We didn't want to learn the ropes and get in line like everyone else," she said.
When asked if the new coun. played a role in his resignation, Pollard said he didn't think so.
"There's no question there's a different dynamic now with the new council," he said. "I think they're all trying to do what's best for the community. I'm sure, as they get more experience, they'll get the job done."
The 64-year-old said he decided to leave now before the new council gets into full stride of dealing with the issues facing the community.
Pollard, who was also mayor in the 1980s and served as a territorial cabinet minister, doesn't know if the resignation marks the end of his political career.
Ehman said council will check with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and look at applicable legislation to decide whether a byelection should be held for mayor or an appointment made.
"It was important we get some leadership in place," she said following election as acting mayor, adding the council needs some stability.
Ehman assumes she will be acting mayor until the end of March, by which time she expects a byelection will be held or a mayor appointed.
She has not considered whether she will run to become mayor.
"Anything is possible," she said.
Ehman, who said she was disappointed by Pollard's resignation, is talking co-operation for the contentious council.
"I like to see discussion, but there are rules of engagement," she said. "People are elected to express their opinions. That's why they're there."
She believes the council needs some healing time.
"Hopefully, we can develop some trust. That's a big key with this council."
