Frizzell Under the Gun on Meisner
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Speaking on the Meisner program on CFIS FM this morning, he says he admits he had been painted out of the decisions when he opposed the amount being spent on the Core review, and his request to have staff costs on the review was rejected.
While he supported the Code of Conduct, he says it is ineffective, because councillors are bound by the Community Charter. He says the model which calls for council to only talk to the City Manager “doesn’t work for us, it failed us.”
Frizzell says Prince George used to be the world class city for snow removal, “When Colin Kinsley was Mayor, he was asked to go to Sweden to share details on our procedures.”
So where was Garth Frizzell when the snow removal debacle was facing the City? “I don’t stand up and shout from the roof tops, I work from the back, looking at the numbers. If you know a motion you are going to bring to Council is going to be met with hostility, you don’t bring it in that way, you work with other councillors to gain support and that’s what I was doing.”
He says the main issue to be watched for it the Canada Winter Games levy. “That’s $2 million dollars, and there is no Games after next year, so that levy should disappear.” He is calling on the next council to keep an eye on that to make sure that disappears after 2015.
There is a covenant on the property adjacent to the Health centre at 7th and Quebec, six townhomes were supposed to have been built there, and Frizzell says there are plans for a new development on that site. The city had extended the terms of the covenant for some time. If the developer failed to meet the terms of the covenant, the City could buy that property back for a dollar. According to Frizzell the plans for a development are ready and the plan for the site, will be a much improved project over the 6 townhouses.
As for the Performing Arts Centre he says he will support it, once there is a solid plan.
Comments
Who owns this property on 7th and Quebec and what is this development that is being kept so secret? Could this be the homeless shelter for men that the PGNFC is proposing and how could be a better facility than six townhouses?
He is supported by labour council as well as the five other individuals – Everitt,Krause,Merrick,McConnachie,Skakun. I suppose the reason why he is supported by labour he voted against the core review (CUPE) but for his actions in the last 3 years in council – never heard of him. Yes, Ben did put a “frizz” on him and his views on PAC and the storm / sewer tax. He likes to do consulting ” on the side”!! Reason why so many consultants’ reports?
So oldman 1 says Garth Frizzell is supported by labour as if that is a bad thing. By labour, I believe he means unions. When I think about Prince George and unions, I can identify a lot of local businesses and public services which are well served by having their workers belonging to unions: mills, hospital, university, college, cancer centre, government services.
That’s, I am guessing, thousands of jobs. Those union jobs allow their members to afford decent housing and to buy goods sold by non-union businesses. So having Garth Frizzell, who is not himself a union member, be supported by unions is a good thing. It says to me that Garth is well respected for the work he has done on council and will continue to do if he is re elected. And by the way, oldman 1, I am not a union member but I support the candidates that you have named because I think they are good candidates and worthy of my vote.
HAS- so what has he done except vote against the core review the last 3 years on council? Supports PAC/rain&storm tax/consultants!Never said being supported by labour is a bad thing.
Hard to believe that someone that has been on council as long as Mr. Frizell is so uninformed, and so eager to defer to the opinions of others on council. If he’s not willing to advocate publicly for his position on what matters to the taxpayer then what good is he?
I would rather have someone who is willing to defend passionately his point of view regardless of whether I agree with him or not than have someone who merely reads the tea leaves and governs himself accordingly!
Nytehawk – did you even read the article? Mr. Frizzell works behind the scenes when he knows that being “passionate” (as you put it) would only be met with hostility.
I’m surprised Meisner didn’t bring up his work as director on the national equivalent of the UBCM. Mr. Frizzell is an asset to our city!
Garth Frizzell made one comment worth noting – that the Canada Winter Games levy should disappear in 2015 and that we should make sure that the next council doesn’t replace it with something else. Garth has demonstrated that he is not the most flashy councilor we have ever had. But with all the grandstanding we have seen by councilors who suddenly want us to think that they have been doing something, he is a breath of fresh air. He told us honestly what his working style is and I am going to vote for him this time. Rather a guy who works behind the scenes than a blowhard who can’t stop telling us how they saved the day.
Garth Frizzell is so under the radar that I have a hard time figuring out when he’s done over the past few terms.
I admit I’ve voted for him, but I wonder if it’s more about name recognition rather than what he’s accomplished.
Frizzell works very hard behind the scenes. You want someone like that on your council. A very smart gentleman, who will continue to work hard for you. You yourselves know that not everything is up front center. If you are on the fence, I suggest taking the time to talk to him.
I guess in some people’s eyes being passionate about what you stand for and what you believe in is being a blowhard!
I don’t see it that way. I would rather know what my councilors stand for before I vote for them rather than elect someone who doesn’t have enough faith in his or her own judgement to take a position on any issue!
Flying under the radar is just another way of never having to defend your position! After all what happens behind the scenes usually stays behind the scenes.
I ask you, do you want transparency? Or do you want hidden agendas! Your choice. Mr. Frizzel certainly hasn’t earned my vote by hiding in the shadows!
When Ben questioned him about his status in council and how he was relegated to an outsider, he danced around the issue. I loved Ben’s comment about, “If I wanted to dance, I would have worn a skirt”.
Anyway, I want a council that works together and doesn’t have splinter groups. Not having Sheri Green as Mayor might help that somewhat, but I want to make sure the next council doesn’t have the same issues.
Oldman1, don’t forget Hall is also supported by labour council. It must be costing their union members a fortune this election. It is a sad day when we there seems to be a desperation to vote in a whole gang. Anyone else with an opinion is considered an outsider. I have to ask what’s in it for them? I for one am not trusting this whole mob thing. I think unions have their place. Running City Hall isn’t one of them
After asking candidates up front who is supporting them, I found out that some are also supported by provincial political parties and by business groups but those groups are not as forthcoming as is the labour council about who supports who.
Really doubt any provincial party contributed to any of the candidates. Just isn’t done. As far as labour council dollars – is that hard earned money its members are required to pay in union dues and seems they have no choice if it is spent to support their executives’ decision of who to support in civic election. I hope any union member has the freedom to become informed and choose whom they wish. For the business people, I doubt you will find the whole works voting for the same candidates. Think all candidates have some business support. Instead of asking candidates up front who supports them, how about spending the time to ask what they stand for, what they plan to do for our city, how they will work together. Important things
So Zena any other mob running city hall except unions is okay then?
Absolutely not Seamut. That’s why I will vote for candidates that stand on their own and can have a say. Get something done for our City. That might be a mix of independent thinkers and one or two of the labour council folk. We aren’t voting in teams, just those we think will be hardworking, fair and acting for us all.
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