What happened to frank open and public discussion?
To the Expositor:
Does Billings apologize to its citizens?
So violating the Municipal Act goes on in Billings and being caught at it does not merit any comment from the mayor and council? And this is not the first time under this leadership, is it? These questions are for starters but I have a bunch more. Is there a copy of the Act in the town office? Has anybody read it thereabouts? On assuming office is anyone required to read and understand it? Do they have to take an exam on it? Is Harper secrecy catching? Has this disease of contempt for the electorate spread to quiet little Kagawong? Are we to assume that if a person loses a public election this person can secretly be appointed by a secret meeting held in Billings council to make sure this person returns through a secret back door? Should we now be expected to regard such a person as accountable to tax payers who did not elect her/him? And should we not commend publicly the town clerk for objecting to this “in camera” decision before being overruled by the mayor? That is why we have a professional town clerk paid out of tax revenue to guide council, so why would the mayor and council not listen to her? Is this not clear evidence of council’s determination to violate the Act? What is council trying to hide by its predilection for going “in camera?” What happened to frank, open and public discussion? What happened to the tradition of Lester B. Pearson? Why did his values not come with his brief case? Do we have a party of one in Kagawong? Can we know who lodged this complaint so I can thank the person?
Joseph Gold
Kagawong
