Editorial: Micromanaging public works projects hinders progress
By Spencer Hall
Two McBride councillors have been quite outspoken over the past few months during council meetings about their shared belief that Council should be more involved with public works projects. While I commend their desire to be more hands-on with project decisions, I am concerned they’ve decided to repeatedly — and publicly — lambaste Village staff over minute details during the meetings.
In any public works project, Councils, the Village and Public Works staff all have a role to play. Village staff bring a report to Council that explains what the project is and why it should move forward. Council approves or denies the project, sometimes deciding they need more information before moving forward. Once a public works project is approved, it goes to Public Works staff, who make decisions regarding who works on the project and how it unfolds, unless a significant issue requires Council’s attention.
How the Village and Public Works staff have handled several projects over the past few months have garnered criticism from Councillors Joe Kolida and Tina Bennett, who say they’ve felt out of the loop when it comes to the Village’s alternate water source feasibility study, the train station accessibility upgrades project, and the cemetery fencing project.
All of these projects have been brought forward to Council, but later had to be amended for one reason or another.
Kolida and Bennett’s issue with the cemetery fencing project is that, after voting on a material and putting up a bid, the project was delayed after quotes provided by contractors were too high and the selected fencing material was later found to be unsuitable by Public Works staff.
Kolida expressed his concerns about Council not being involved in the fencing decision.
“I’m a councillor here, I made a motion, and I voted on that motion, and it got thrown right out the window. Does the councillor have any authority here, or why are we here?”
Kolida also said when a decision is voted on and passed, it shouldn’t be changed unless it comes back to Council with an explanation as to why.
He is correct in that he has some authority in the Village of McBride, but he isn’t the head of Public Works. If Public Works deems building material to not be in suitable condition, it makes sense the Village would need to pivot, instead of wasting money on installing fencing that is in poor condition. It is fairly common for these things to occur in a municipality. It wouldn’t be a great use of Village staff and Council’s time if they had to assemble every time a minor decision had to be made and it would also significantly delay every project undertaken by Public Works staff.
Bennett and Kolida also blamed Village staff for “scaring away” contractors looking to bid on the fence project because the contract stipulated that contractors would be liable for any damage to graves during fence installation. This is a standard clause for municipalities to include in any public bid. Indeed, if my family member’s grave was damaged by someone installing a fence, I would think they should have to pay for it, not the Village and certainly not the resident.
Runtz clarified that contractors didn’t bid on the project because they didn’t want to install a weak or damaged fence, but Bennett clung to her belief it was the Village’s fault.
The cemetery fencing project is now back to square one after Bennett and Kolida’s repeated objections and an open house for the public will be held in the future.
It may seem that on the surface, Bennett and Kolida are advocating for their constituents, and perhaps they are to some degree, but after reviewing council meeting recordings, it is apparent to me that the two are more interested in making CAO Jeanette McDougall’s life — and the lives of her supporting staff — more difficult.
Meetings stretch on with passive aggressive comments about Council involvement, but little progress to speak of. At the last meeting, Kolida and Bennet repeatedly asked if Council would be consulted on many items on the agenda
Kolida and Bennett’s conduct is not just rude, but counterproductive. It could also be a financial liability for the Village if the CAO or other staff sue for workplace harassment. While Runtz tried to keep councillors focused on meeting agendas, he has not been able to quell the consistent comments from the two councillors.
Bennett and Kolida could also face disciplinary actions for their conduct if fellow councillors vote to censure them for their behaviour.
Municipal dysfunction is not an issue unique to McBride. Since 2022, Harrison Hot Springs, Sechelt, and Kamloops have all had issues when it comes to bickering among elected officials.
In June, then Minister of Municipal Affairs Ravi Kahlon announced the Province will be stepping in to quash “prolonged infighting situations” between elected municipal officials, with new legislation aimed at increasing oversight of clashing Council members. Currently, there is no way to recall elected officials in B.C. and mayors and council members can only be removed for certain reasons.
I don’t believe the situation in McBride requires anyone to be removed from Council chambers, nor is the Village at the level of chaos the City of Kamloops is facing and has been since the election of Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson. However, it appears to be rapidly devolving into a feud between Bennett and Kolida versus Village staff.
At the end of the day, everyone deserves to work in a respectful environment free of harassment and that is not what has been happening at McBride Council meetings as of late.
