EDITORIAL Morning Star Dec19 :
Coldstream's new council isn't wasting any time when it comes to setting a course completely different than its predecessor. In just one day, it issued walking papers to chief administrator Wendy Kay and reinstated Leo Lecavalier, who had been removed as a member of the volunteer fire department by the previous council. These actions will appeal to those Coldstream residents who had been demanding a change in how the municipality operates. And particularly, those who gave an overwhelming mandate to Jim Garlick as mayor won't believe their vote went to waste. But there has to be more to these decisions than capturing headlines or pandering to supporters.
Simply reinstating Lecavalier isn't enough to repair the poor relationship between the district and the fire hall. Measures must be put in place to ensure that the municipality can't just overrule the wishes of the volunteers when it comes to their membership and who their chief is. In terms of the other issue, council must understand that a community of almost 10,000 people and an organization as complex as a municipality requires a chief administrative officer. Delegating duties long-term to other employees will neither be effective or realistic. It should also be pointed out that individuals with local government experience are in high demand and short supply. Just finding the right fit for Coldstream will be a challenge. In some ways, the two decisions made by Coldstream council last week were not unexpected. What will be more difficult is how the politicians move ahead from here.
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