Tensions at Thompson City Hall reached a fever pitch during the Dec. 11 council meeting, resulting in two council members walking out about halfway through the evening.
With 22 resolutions and six bylaw readings on the agenda, this extra-long meeting provided councillors Duncan Wong and Ron Matechuk plenty of opportunity to inject their trademark opposition into the proceedings.
This dynamic really came to a head when council was looking to approve the city’s new grievance committee, which would comprise Mayor Dennis Fenske, Coun. Blake Ellis and deputy mayor Colleen Smook.
Wong objected to this resolution, believing that the proposed members of this committee wouldn’t be able to deal with potential conflicts impartially.
“When the union worker has problems with the management we need someone that is bipartisan in making decisions,” he said. “When I look at the names I cannot support this resolution.”
Coun. Dennis Foley chimed in by clarifying that members of the human resources committee also double as members of the grievance committee, and that Wong could have easily nominated himself.
“Had you done your due diligence and put your name forward you would be a member of the HR committee as a request,” he said. “There was no issue last year when it was going through, so I find it a little suspicious that all of a sudden, out of nowhere, that you have an issue with this.”
Wong responded by saying he understands the procedure but just doesn’t like the individual nominees for this committee. He also addressed Foley directly, saying: “And by the way, Coun. Foley, did you get a job yet? Why are you attacking me?”
Immediately following these remarks, the mayor demanded that Wong apologize to Foley before they continued.
After some back and forth with Fenske, Wong eventually relented by saying: “I’m sorry that he interpreted my meaning wrong.”
The resolution eventually passed by a 7–2 margin.
The conflict between Wong and Matechuk and Fenske reached a breaking point when council went over their cheques from the month of November.
Even though the total amount for that month was over $8 million, Matechuk asked chief financial officer (CFO) Jenny Krentz to identify several cheques in row, some containing sums as small as $70.
Fenske eventually put a stop to Matechuk’s line of questioning, saying he was deliberately slowing down proceedings for the sake of personal grudges.
“As far as the cheque register, councillors were all asked … to provide questions prior to [the meeting] so that the CFO could do their due diligence and provide those answers,” said Fenske. “To ask now for questions for cheques for $70 in an expenditure of over $8 million in that current month is ludicrous.”
When Fenske refused to allow debate on this resolution to continue, Matechuk walked out of council chambers, quickly followed by Wong.
“I guess I’m leaving too because you’re not practicing democracy right now,” Wong said directly to Fenske. ”So there’s no point sitting here to listen to the rest.”
Following this walkout, this resolution passed with unanimous support.
Bylaws
With Wong and Matechuk gone, the remaining resolutions passed at a far quicker pace, and the meeting eventually transitioned into a discussion about local bylaws.
First up was the third reading of a financial assistance program by-law, which is designed to help mitigate the expected economic realities that the city will be facing in 2018–19.
“The intent of the bylaw itself is to assist owners of a building or land in either the redevelopment or reconstruction [sector], either through a tax or service fee abatement,” explained city manager Gary Ceppetelli.
This bylaw passed its third reading with unanimous support, with Ellis saying it fits in perfectly with their Thompson 2020 initiative.
Council also approved second and third reading of the Norplex Pool debenture bylaw, which allows the city to borrow $340,000 for mechanical and electrical upgrades to this facility.
“I think the pool is at a state where if we continue to not put money into the pool in the next few years we have to look at closing it and that’s something I don’t want to see,” said Ellis.
The only person who voted against the bylaw was Coun. Judy Kolada, who believes that these upgrades should be funded through the city’s reserves instead of a debenture.
Council wrapped up this section of the meeting by passing the second and third reading of a zoning bylaw amendment and approving first reading of a bylaw that aims to cancel a leftover debenture amount of $2,910,884.47.
Mayor apologizes
Fenske ended the last city council meeting of 2017 by saying he regrets the way Wong and Matechuk conducted themselves.
“I want to apologize to the general public and to those in attendance,” he said. “It’s my job as the mayor of the City of Thompson to provide decorum in these council chambers. It can be difficult at times, but I do my best to that. But I take full responsibility for the actions of council this evening. I’m embarrassed.”
Even though the next regular council meeting won’t take place until Jan. 2, a special meeting has been scheduled for Dec. 13 at 5 p.m., where council will be discussing issues related to the Trailbreakers Snowmobile Club.
