Tim Probe removed from RM of Sherwood council

[LEP]

I think there is an ombudsmen to approach if you know of a conflict.

But I would be careful about crying wolf in a small community. If you have proof, go for it.

[WiltonRanch]

I'm of the opinion that councils and reeves would never dare to run "their" meeting as they do; if only those "public" meetings were televised in some form or other.

That and actually allow access to the information being considered in open sessions.

As it is now; you can sit through a whole meeting; without seeing or hearing hardly a shred of what should be the subject of the matter being decided. Between the BS and misinformation; and outright denial of facts and rebuttals; it is a near complete waste of any gallery attendee's time. Even when you wait for months for a submission to get before council; you can count on being threatened with RCMP removal if you attempt to say one word.

And I do know what I'm talking about; this isn't a riddle and conflicts of interest are rampant and not enforced when brought to council's attention.


A clear and present danger.

Sad thing is if this corruption is not cleaned up at the local level it gives reason for provincial government to amalgamate rms so there are less to deal with oversight. Even buffoonish spending of taxpayer money will warrant the same result if not brought to task. Then people do lose the advantage of having a local rm.

[chuckChuck]

Amalgamating RMs would help to reduce conflicts of interest and decisions that are often skewed by very local politics. It is hard for small RM councils to make difficult but necessary decisions that make rate payers unhappy with local councillors and reeves.

[WiltonRanch]

Amalgamating RMs would help to reduce conflicts of interest and decisions that are often skewed by very local politics. It is hard for small RM councils to make difficult but necessary decisions that make rate payers unhappy with local councillors and reeves.

True enough. However, smaller rm government if run properly can be more reactive to local situations than a larger regional type government. Sad reality of politics is people get the government they deserve. Apathy, and irrational people elect poor government or cause the loss of rights.

[GALAXIE500]

All councillors are to adhere to a " code of ethics" bylaw in their individual RM's. On our local council I have seen first hand how those "ethics" are interpreted and followed. The sooner there is an amalgamation , the better. Some of the crap that goes on in some of these little communities is pathetic,and needs to be changed. Time to clear out the driftwood!

[oneoff]

I too have seen first hand exactly how councillors pretend or actually don't want to know how to handle the conflicts of interest that are inevitable. Those conflicts aren't bad in themselves.

They become problematic when not handled by strictly and properly distancing from all aspect of council decision making.

An open invitation is made for ratepayers to themselves think "conflict of interest" through.....and then for the first time in their lives to attend a full council meeting to see exactly what this means in reality.

[oneoff]

Read the Tim Probe and RM Sherwood court cases. Go to the Sask Ombudsman page to see the shit that may be going on right in your small town or RM.

Ask for the declaration forms of your local councillors; just like you do for the monthly minutes LOL. And their annual updates...and the form B's that are to be submitted within 30 days of any new conflict of interest that has arisen.

Can YOU handle the truth. Do you give a shit or are you just a willing enabler?

This will change ....because it has to. You want the provincial government to do what happened to health districts. You do know the provincial government is the master of Municipalities. They now recognize that each of their own MLA's must sit down with and discuss these matters with a full fledged professional person so that no one can say they weren't aware.

At least take a look at www.legassembly.sk.ca/mlas/disclosure-statements/ to see the tip of what is expected of each and every elected official, at each and every publically governing body.



IF IT ISN"T HERE ALREADY....THEN EXPECT IT SOON...AND WITH accountability and impartiality. Consider it a learning experience and take the time to do a bit of it

[farmaholic]

What happens when the gravel the RM need is on the land of a councilor? Other than the landowner leaving the room when discussions around it are conducted.... it would seem no matter the outcome, he may appear to be in conflict. And remember.... sometimes there is only afew people there to make the decisions.

Micro government may be the best way to describe it. And the smaller it is, the tougher is would appear to be non biased. I'm not making excuses.... sometimes there is too much self serving with the internal dealings of an RM(gravel, clay, equipment used by staff for personal jobs or for councilors) or roads being built or taken care of to a different standard than others.

I think it is a thankless job

[checking]

Every time I hear that thankless job bullshit, I feel like puking.

I like you, farmaholic, but see it like it is, which is as galaxie explained.

[oneoff]

With respect; "fholic" ; to say "it is a thankless job" ...that is one of the oldest and most damaging statement that can be uttered. It conveys that we should be grateful and that the rare people who do hold elected representative positions should never be subject to opposition; whatever their goals or agendas.

It demeans the expectation that decisions are meant to be based on the evidence...the overall public good; and the notion that "conflicts of interest" have no place around a council table.

For those who think that all that is needed to handle "conflicts" is to declare it and leave the council chambers...there is little hope of changing the way such conflicts are commonly handled.


Read what the Ombudsman says must be done to handle such situations.

There are at least five components Declare... Disclose....Abstain...Refrain...Leave

https://www.ombudsman.sk.ca/uploads/files/news/97//municipal-coi-brochure.pdf


I don't think its clear enough that lobbying, or deliberately conveying your personal position on your "conflict" at any point before the rest of council makes their motion or bylaw...is also an important item that must be disclosed and recognized. Otherwise the whole council is complicit in what amount to a conspiracy.

So its somewhat complicated and ideally in all but rare cases; persons should either be one or the other (public representative or simple member of public) at the same time.

Recusing is another word if you don't understand "conflicts of interest"