Council plan for Servus deserves some kudos
I have been very critical of the lack of information and lack of clarity that has surrounded the problems at Servus Place.
I believe that council as a whole believes this is a serious issue that needs to be dealt with.
Although I reserve total judgment, I do agree that the 17 point plan council is looking at is a large step in the right direction. Transparency with the involvement of a citizens task force certainly helps address some credibility issue that have surfaced. It is their terms of reference which will be the telling story.
I am still very concerned of what will happen in the end. Will the peer reviews tell us that no recreation center, whether in Ft. Saskatchewan, Grande Prairie or Sherwood Park, can stand on its own? That is not what was sold to the residents and taxpayers of St. Albert by the administration in the past.
Will the consultants be actually listened to this time, and not forced to make changes so the reports "Tell the story we want it to tell"?
Finally, will the administration be completely open with the reviews that will occur? Will we have no more of the type of blame shifting such as we have seen on the software issues? Our mayor has said there are no sacred cows on this issue, and I believe that he means that. My hope is that information that is held within the bowels of City Hall is completely available with those so tasked in dealing with it.
I believe that council as a whole believes this is a serious issue that needs to be dealt with.
Although I reserve total judgment, I do agree that the 17 point plan council is looking at is a large step in the right direction. Transparency with the involvement of a citizens task force certainly helps address some credibility issue that have surfaced. It is their terms of reference which will be the telling story.
I am still very concerned of what will happen in the end. Will the peer reviews tell us that no recreation center, whether in Ft. Saskatchewan, Grande Prairie or Sherwood Park, can stand on its own? That is not what was sold to the residents and taxpayers of St. Albert by the administration in the past.
Will the consultants be actually listened to this time, and not forced to make changes so the reports "Tell the story we want it to tell"?
Finally, will the administration be completely open with the reviews that will occur? Will we have no more of the type of blame shifting such as we have seen on the software issues? Our mayor has said there are no sacred cows on this issue, and I believe that he means that. My hope is that information that is held within the bowels of City Hall is completely available with those so tasked in dealing with it.
Labels: Review
posted by Andy | 4:19 PM
2 Comments:
It will be most interesting to see who gets appointed by the City to sit on the Citizens' Task Force to review the Servus disaster without impartiality and prejudice. Would you care to speculate? Elke Blodgett
I suspect that if council is making the appointments that it will be a relatively transparent process. After all, the public will know the members, and with this huge fiasco I do not see how council will do anything but attempt to be as open as possible.
As for actual members, I suspect that council will be looking for taxpayers who may have some expertise in the 17 areas that have been identified.
The terms of reference will be the telling point, more so even then the members, in my opinion.
Andy von Busse
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