INUVIK - Inuvik town council faced criticism from residents at its first committee meeting of the year.

From foreground, councillors Jim McDonald, Terry Halifax and Chris Larocque during the first town council meeting of the new year. A few residents came to ask questions about the controversial release of former animal control officer Linda Eccles. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

Four members of the community who attended the committee of the whole meeting on Monday night wanted to discuss the town's handling of animal control.

Former animal control officer Linda Eccles put down a dog last November she had identified as vicious.

After the owner threatened to sue, the town settled with him out of court. Both parties refused to discuss the details of the settlement.

The town then refused to negotiate a new contract with Eccles and paid her to sit at home.

Mayor Derek Lindsay started the Jan. 21 meeting by announcing council would only discuss the animal control bylaw and not issues relating to personnel.

After a presentation by one of the residents, council decided to discuss the bylaw in a future meeting.

Then resident Val Tomlinson spoke up.

"Why is the town shutting down discussions on the former animal control officer?" she asked council.

Lindsay replied the matter was a personnel issue and was not being addressed that night in a public setting.

Bylaw committee chair Chris Larocque asked that a separate meeting be held to deal with the bylaw, because there would not be enough time in a regular council meeting.

"I think this affects me, as a member of this community," said Tomlinson.

She added she was upset with the way the town office has dealt with the issue.

While speaking to council from the seated gallery area, Tomlinson directed a profane word at council.

Council has a zero tolerance policy on abusive or threatening language.

Coun. Grace Loreen gave Tomlinson the option of apologizing for her remarks or leaving the building.

"I'm not apologizing," said Tomlinson, before leaving the chambers.

Terry Upcott, another resident at the meeting, told Lindsay that council had broken its own bylaw when dealing with the dog incident in November.

"The bylaw says that the town is not supposed to settle out of court with anyone," said Upcott.

"That bylaw was broken by town officials," he said.

Lindsay told Upcott he could attend the upcoming meeting about the bylaw if he is concerned with the way the town handled the incident.

Before the group left the meeting, Clara Gully spoke up about the troubles with loose dogs in town.

"I was attacked and it seems like no one is doing anything about it," said Gully.

"Something should be done."

Outside the town hall, the group said they felt cut off by council.

"I don't know the exact details of the situation," said Tomlinson of Eccles' termination.

"But if she did anything wrong, I think the town should have looked at disciplinary actions, not straight to firing her."

Tomlinson has been in town for three years and said Eccles was doing a good job.

"She was probably the best animal control officer this town has had," she said.

"Before Linda got the job, I noticed a lot more dogs running loose in town."

Upcott was also upset that the whole issue was being dealt with behind closed doors.

"I didn't hear anything about an investigation, what happened to that?" asked Upcott.

He was not impressed that council had not earlier informed the public that the personnel issue would not be discussed publicly.

"We didn't know the rules, we weren't advised of the rules in there and they shut us down pretty quick," he said. "I'm disgusted with the way they dealt with this tonight."

Upcott said he would attend the as yet unscheduled meeting about the bylaw.