What Happens When City Staff Fail?

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City Council Takes It On The Chin

There is this mistaken notion out there, that city councilors have the time and/or the ability to somehow oversee all the business of the city conducted by staff. In fact there is nothing farther from the truth. Councilors are paid less than $30,000 per year while city staff management are most likely in the $100,000 - $200,000 range, so who do you think is being paid to run the city's business?

Remember that being a city councilor does not require anyone to quit their 'real' job. Some councilors may have the luxury of either being retired or financially well off enough that they can indeed devote a full time effort to the position of city councilor, however, that is not what is intended or expected under the current set up.

There is also no job prerequisite requiring a councilor to demonstrate their ability to be able to read, digest and analyze the avalanche of reports a highly paid civil service can drop on their desks at a moments notice. Many I am sure rely on city staff to provide them with the CliffsNotes version of various studies and reports.

City councilors rely on the information they receive from city staff, and basically 'give staff the benefit of the doubt' when it comes to final decisions. Rarely, if ever, will you see council seriously question or reject recommendations city staff brings before them.

The current 'no barrier' housing project is a case in point. Basically it would seem that city staff, if nothing else did a lousy job of engaging area neighbours affected by this contentious project. In fact, person after person after person, has accused city planner, John Horn of being outright deceptive with his dealings with them during the early stages of this project. There has been enough such accusations that it should call for some serious investigation into his conduct during the planning stages of this project.


During the most recent public hearing on the matter, when another angry resident voiced their displeasure with Mr. Horn's dealing with them, Councilor Kipp stepped in and told the resident to direct their anger at council, saying 'we take the heat, not staff'. That is an interesting comment and is quite enlightening. Does that mean that councilor Kipp supports the notion that he should be responsible for the conduct of a city staff member? Is he the least bit curious if Mr. Horn has been deceptive? If so, does he condone that action?

Just questions, worth asking.