So for all intents and purposes the mayor keeps the two votes she held before the announcement from Stoltz.

I think he should step down from the committee altogether, he still has a vote and I do not believe he deserves to stay on.

Was not a good example for being on city leadership (delinquent property taxes). Its a good decision.

I think the City Manager should be a voting member of the finance committee.

Gus .. Why?

Good start Councillor but not good enough. Stolz should be relieved of his duties on the committee altogether; let voters decide whether he stays on Council.

Paying taxes is not a choice; pooling our financial resources as taxpaying citizens, to maximize our hard earned dollars to operate a fine city, is what makes us essentially all shareholders. For the chair of the committee, with arguably the most important portfolio on our collective behalf, NOT buy into the process like the rest of us, is to refuse to demonstrate basic ‘fiduciary responsibility’ or the ‘highest order of care’, for the right to hold a space on that committee. Not to mention the old ‘lead by example’, ‘practice what you preach’, etc etc adages.

This has absolutely nothing to do with nosing into the man’s private life. Other than paying his damn taxes….like everyone else….it is none of my business how he manages his life and money. It’s none of my business whether he has lobster lunches, enjoys the finest wines and scotches, lives in a nice neighbourhood, takes great holidays, enjoys being an entrepreneur but choses a life of politics which largely takes his away from the goose that lays the golden eggs, nor is it my business that he has nice suits, what car he drives or how many kids he has to support…

It also does not matter that he is over confident and egotistical, IMO, and someone that looks down (with demonstrated disdain) on his fellow councillors and on many, many citizens of this city.

It does not matter that he went after non profits & community organizations, on a witch hunt to increase their tax burden or that he has come up with hair brained ways and means to spend money we don’t have. After all, he is but one vote.

No, living above one’s means and not being a nice guy, is no reason to tear the guy a new one.

Over spending his own budgets year after year, being less than forthright when he was appointed to the F&A committee and not buying into the most basic premise of being a citizen and investor in this city…when others that earn far, far less and live a much lesser standard of living to ensure their bills are paid…coupled with the honourable position that he has enjoyed as a member of the finance and audit committee….well, it is pure BS.

If he will not step down willingly from the committee altogether, then the Mayor, as chair of Council, must remove him.

Not because it has anything to do with getting in Stolz’ private life or kicking a guy when he’s down…that’s all a cop out…do it because it is the right and ethical thing to do.

Anotherside……

Easy. The City Manager is the one who has to implement it. She is the one who “owns” the budget.

In fact, the City Council members rely virtually 100% on staff input into the process.

The have some administrative decisions to make whether to do some preventative maintenance on the foothills bridge, on some older water mains, or a storm sewer over here or a sanitary sewer there or some pavement.

Even for that, they should seek guidance and the pros and cons of a decision.

This City is not run by Council. It is run by Administration.

In some cities, such as Bellingham, WA, there are better checks and balances than we have in Canadian cities.

There the “City Manager” is an elected position, but is part of the administration not part of the Council.

Council makes a decision or creates a bylaw. If the “city manager” does not agree with it, she has the option to veto it. It then has to come back to Council to be reviewed and the veto can only be overturned with a “super-majority”.

The title of the person who manages the city from an elected administrative position is Mayor. The Mayor speaks on behalf of the city.

It puts a quick stop to tendencies to micro-manage which is our main problem.

Well said bcnorth250!!!

But what can we do about it. Which Councillor has the balls to step forward and say enough is enough in a public meeting of Council so that we can see who to support.

BCNorth250. How do you know anything about the Councilor and his income, holidays, etc; etc; etc;.

Futhermore, what makes you think that the Mayor and others at the City were not aware of his financial situation, or his tax position when he was appointed chair of the Finance Committee.

I haven’t seen or heard anything from the Mayor that she was unaware of the situation. Considering that this info is public knowledge, and that the City Administration knows the name and address of every person who is delinquent in their taxes, I find it hard to believe that they only became aware of it when it was made public.

More likely a number of people were aware of this situation for sometime, and didn’t see it as being such a big deal.

Perception is everything in politics. Personally, I don’t think it was necessary for Stoltz to step aside. I believe his personal financial situation has zero bearing on his abilities. However, questions arise because people just don’t understand whether or not this position has any bearing on property tax obligations. That is where most see a possible conflict. I think it is more of a conflict having the mayor chair the committee but that’s just my opinion based on perception of how this mayor currently seems to behave. As for being uninformed about the trip to China, that should have been included on council’s agenda.

Tail between his legs because the media revealed his secret. Now trying to appologize. Hope he learns from this mistake.

Gus wrote: ” In some cities, such as Bellingham, WA, there are better checks and balances than we have in Canadian cities.

There the “City Manager” is an elected position, but is part of the administration not part of the Council.

Council makes a decision or creates a bylaw. If the “city manager” does not agree with it, she has the option to veto it. It then has to come back to Council to be reviewed and the veto can only be overturned with a “super-majority”.

The title of the person who manages the city from an elected administrative position is Mayor. The Mayor speaks on behalf of the city.

It puts a quick stop to tendencies to micro-manage which is our main problem.”

Well, thanks for sharing but we live in Canada not the USA. So, imo the comparison is irrelevant. Council directs administration, and administration advises. Period. City managers don’t need to sit on the committee.

DON wrote: ” Tail between his legs because the media revealed his secret. Now trying to appologize. Hope he learns from this mistake.”

Stoltz “went public” to appease the lynch mob who have little understanding of how committees work. He threw you a bone because there are more important things to concern ourselves with. Everyone faces financial difficulties at some point in their lives. I hope karma remembers all of you perfect people.

*DPJ rather…sorry for the typo

He should resign from the committee. What a hypocrite! He won’t get my vote in November of 2014 and neither will Green. She is a very high maintenance mayor. Another strike against her is that she will not communicate with and through Opinion 250. I wonder who will finance her election bid in November of 2014. I think she will be history, as will many members of the present Council. Skakun seems to be the only one acting in the interests of the taxpayers of PG.

BRIAN for MAYOR !!!!!!

SHARI for EX-MAYOR!!!!!!

Speaking of Brian. Funny how Brian hasn’t spent any time here on 250news since the election. Almost makes you think he was just saying what people wanted to hear to garner votes. He seemed to almost part of the regular crowd here before the election, saying all the right things.

commoner wrote: ” As for being uninformed about the trip to China, that should have been included on council’s agenda.”

It was on the agenda. It was on the city website either of Wed. or Thursday….

Commoner wrote: “Council directs administration, and administration advises”

Shows ho little you know about governance structures.

Who the hell implements????

How would you like to be told that you have $150,000 to accomplish something when you know full well that you can only accomplish the goal with $180,000.

I makes no sense!!!

Commoner: “we live in Canada not the USA”

No chit!!!! I would not have known had you not told me.

Both countries grew from the same mother country. Canada is still dominated by the imperial system. Fewer checks and balances than the system I described.

We are struggling, not just in PG but other parts of Canada as well. One system does not fit all. The system is prescribed by the province.

We have UBCM that can promote change. The provinces can review proposals and make changes if they feel it will improve the service to the people. Remember, service to the people is what it is all about.

he needs to step down from council, period. he’s an elected official, and a member of a committee that sets tax rates and demands we pay them…yet does not see it necessary to do so himself until exposed. everyone has hardship, just because you work in city hall does not elevate you above the rest of us. if he doesn’t quit, he’s a hypocrite. I’m sure he didn’t have lots of sympathy for the small business owners that stuggled to keep their homes. he’s gotta go. he has no credibility.