Why Has The City Of Prince George Kept The Taxpayers In The Dark
Tuesday, May 21, 2013 @ 3:45 AM
You can refer to we, the taxpayers of this city, as shareholders. Each and every year, we are called upon to pay money for its operation. That is why it is so troubling when you dig up the fact that the City has not kept those shareholders informed on issues that they have a very major interest in…
Yesterday’s statement released by the City on the investigation into the alleged possession and sale of stolen property by a city firefighter – a case that may involve other firefighters – raises the question of how the city fathers treat those people who pay the bills. When was it first discovered that an RCMP investigation had turned up a stolen river boat and an excavator, and a Prince George firefighter was allegedly involved, did it not send up a red flag? Did City brass feel that the public should not be informed? And, if so, why not?
The City, in its release says ,"We can confirm that the City is conducting its own independent investigation." At last recall, the City contracts the RCMP to provide policing services in the city, including investigations into thefts. The RCMP, as a matter of fact, do a very good job at it, and that is why we contract them.
Just when did the City and whoever else is involved feel that they have advanced to a level where they are now investigators into possible illegal dealings within Prince George Fire Rescue? The City is supposed to administer. If they feel that they want to exceed those bounds, then it might be a good idea to get rid of the RCMP if they feel they can conduct their own, "independent investigation."
The fire department also does a very good job in its role as a first responder and protecting us from fire. I am sure that most of firefighters feel unhappy with the events that are taking place, but surely we are not going to ask them to do an investigation.
If the City is going to take steps to protect the public interest, they ought to start by keeping their nose out of police business, that business in which they contract a force with a very good record to uphold, but, moreover, serve the "public interest" by telling the public what’s going on. Isn’t that what the public interest is all about?
There is yet another issue: had 250News not broke the story, just when was it the intention of the City to let the public know of what was going on, in keeping with that pledge by Mayor and council to be more open and transparent with the taxpayers? The issues now are when did City brass find out about this investigation, why did they not inform the public, and who made that call? If the matter was discussed at the special in-camera meeting on May 11th, why wasn’t a release made?
Finally, for all you budding Walter Cronkites who seem to know the news business better than we do: when you want to catch the culprit who’s been taking the chickens from the hen house, you toss out a bone with some meat on it, and then sit back and wait and see what happens. Well, let’s sit back and see who goes after the bone.
I’m Meisner and that’s one man’s opinion.
Comments
The city is infamous for saying they will hide nothing then proceeds to do their very best to hide everything a lot of which I feel has to do with the old boys club please let’s retire these old boys and lets get with modern society.
I rarely agree with Mr. Meisner but in this case I am in full agreement he aired the cities dirty laundry when nobody else would let’s see what that bone yields
Her worship Mayor Green is finding herself with some unexpected events. Due to her being prematurely elected (IMO) into the top chair and holding the record of the highest dollar campaign in the history of Prince George is like winning the 50 million dollar Loto Max. Most lottery winners do not know how to cope with all this power and change and gives one a false feeling of being over and above the rest until one day ether you are broke or find yourself with no friends. To a politician this means your voters who elected you and every tax paying citizen. Doing favors or favoring the rich is a bad strategy as these people only constitute 2% of the population and you will piss off the 98% remaining. More times than not, will have a short career as an elected politician.
Your worship Green, The top position weather it be Municipal, Provincial or Federal, your best friends are the media. Opinion250 news has always reported the facts in black and white and is only interested in true facts. If you want to run our city with honesty and integrity, opinion 250 will be your best ally if you run our city with questionable practices!! Wouldnât want to be you. This has maybe come from being in the News business long before you were a twinkle in your fatherâs eyes. If you want to run the top dog positions remember the media outlet chooses you, you do not choose the media outlet.
This story is not about our fire department being corrupt but rather egg in our leaders faces for not reporting to its investors sooner. This story should have come from our top dog who was to dam proud to talk to media due to her self centered pride.
Ah stuff it. You have no idea as to when the City knew about these allegations. The RCMP has the duty to not release any information on any case they may be working on until they have some true facts. Are the citizens of Canada innocent until proven guilty?
It is apparent that this investigation has probably been going on for a while behind RCMP doors not City Hall.
doogood
No you should stuff it. Had this been a skid row person involved in this, it would have been released 15 minutes after the bust by the RCMP.
While I do not condone the actions of the city in trying to keep this matter completely hidden there is one area where the city could be involved in an investigation, the firefighters employment with the city.
You do not suspend an employee without pay, especially when the incident does not take place in the workplace without first doing some homework. I’m sure the HR department did a little fact finding and hope they did not interfere with the RCMP investigation.
Had they let the individual continue to work waited until charges were filed I’m sure they would have taken some flack for that. So in a sense they were being proactive in trying to get out front of this but made a big mistake in keeping us in the dark.
This is just another example of how The City treats us little folks with contempt. Add it to the list.
When, exactly, is the next election?
I expect that had this ‘dirty’ first responder been a cop rather than a firefighter, it would have been national news the first day…. so why the delay?
Yup the city will get right on it as it is a workday today, the investegator may well be a new imployee with 3 weeks experience.
Last week I made some zoneing inquiries,
The young man didnt understand much.
It was like I was the teacher.He never returned the call with the info i asked for.
very disapointing, typical? yes, this is city hall folks.
So where is the rest of the media on this story? I haven’t heard or seen anything.
Seamutt …. media politics …. ;-)
“So where is the rest of the media on this story?”
O250 got the scoop on the story and left the other media scrambling, but there was a short blurb in the local rag this morning.
As to Ben’s question as to when the city was going to release info on this, thinking about it a bit more the city may be right to keep an ongoing police investigation under wraps.
I think an appropriate time for a release to the media would have been when charges were filed. The city could have said something like: ” A city of PG firefighter has been charged by the RCMP with _ _ _ _ _ _ (fill in the blank). When the city learned of the investigation it suspended the individual involved pending conclusion of the investigation in order to protect city interests.”
They did drop the ball by taking almost a day to respond when the info did get out.
“The RCMP has the duty to not release any information on any case they may be working on until they have some true facts.”
This issue is NOT about the RCMP releasing any information about an ongoing investigation. Please note that it is simply about the city NOT letting its taxpayers know that the RCMP is conducting an investigation!
Also, the employee(s) under investigation could have been suspended from work WITH pay. That is how the RCMP handles its own investigations and the city could have chosen to do the same, imho.
lonesome sparrow. I am with you on the City needing to do its own investigation regarding this matter.
Separate investigations are often carried out around the same incident. You hit on one reason which tries to make sure that the City is doing the right thing to mitigate liability with respect to suspension without pay.
More importantly, I would hope, is an investigation of why a City employee – especially in a position of trust held by firefighters who have the power to enter business, assembly, apartment buildings, etc. for inspections â was involved in criminal activity. How was that missed on hiring and how was it missed during employment. If there really was a ring and involved others who may have been able to custom order expensive items at unbelievable prices, or were simply offered such goods on speculation, there may not have been sufficient due diligence.
Of course, in defense of the higher management at the fire department, who would have suspected that. So, an investigation would look for cause and project preventative measures.
That is not the role of the RCMP, that is the role of the City.
With any luck, they may even learn something about timely disclosure to the media. Face it, people will still make all sorts of comments, but at least they will learn it from the ones in charge rather than from the next door neighbor who works in the fire department.
I still think a “timely disclosure to the media” would be when charges are filed. Can you imagine the ramifications if everything including the guy’s name got out and then for some reason the RCMP did not get sufficient evidence to file charges? The city could be on the hook for a lot more than a little back pay,make the Kitty Heller thing look like a student film.
All the rumors and over the fence gossip do not have the potential to hit my pocketbook:)
I agree with lonesome. It is standard practice for the RCMP to not release information until charges have actually been laid.
To be honest the RCMP are at arm`s length from the city and are conducting a criminal investigation. The city is conducting their own internal investigation on the conduct of an employee. The two investigations are totally different. One could result in criminal charges while the other could result in a loss of employment. On both aspects the subject of the investigation still has rights.
I am actually more upset with our civic leaders going behind closed doors to talk about selling off property that we all own. Why do they need to now talk in private about selling off Pine Valley? Talk about a lack of transparency.
Remember the perp has already been suspended “without pay” so they have something solid I would think. Hey other events have made the news before charges. Why should this case be any different?
seamutt:
For the time being this is a HR matter on unproven allegations for the city and as such those involved have the right for the details to be kept private. As the person is in a position of trust the city decided to suspend him and I agree the without pay is somewhat unusual at this stage. If and when charges are laid it becomes a different matter entirely.
IMO one of the reasons Skakun continues to appeal his conviction is because of the possibility of being named in a lawsuit resulting from the release of private information in an HR dispute.
Meanwhile the city street sweepers might finally make it up to the Hart in July this year. We pay the same city taxes, but don’t have a curb to keep the crap off our lawns, so the city sweeps the streets that do have curbs first….
If stolen property was found to be in the possession of a city employee, than that in and of itself is enough to shake the tree with a public naming IMO.
“Why do they need to now talk in private about selling off Pine Valley? Talk about a lack of transparency.”
Not because of the Community Charter. Far from it.
SImply because they are allowed to, not because it makes a strategic difference.
Doogood, while I agree whole hearted that our justice system is based on the premise of innocent until proven beyond a doubt otherwise, a person has to question when the alleged perpetrator who is represented by a very strong union has been suspended without pay. He or she may or may not be guilty, that’s up to a court to decide. It does not look good for this individual if such drastic actions have been taken.
I am sick & tired of the elitist attitude this administration exhibits. It is far past the time when our elected officials at all levels start to fear the people who they are suppose to represent, not the other way around.
City hall doing it’s own investigations? Gadzooks! Maybe some people would consider the RCMPs investigations as “outsourcing”. And we can’t have that premise looked at. Now can we, eh? Tis a small town. Ask around.
Well, if the city does this investigtion in the same manner as they do other things, we may as well start laughing now.
The key word at City Hall is TRANSPARENCY or rather lack of it.
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