A mayoralty candidate in Brooke-Alvinston has accused the current council of being a lapdog to former Administrator-Treasurer Rick Holland and of mismanaging public funds, especially pertaining to the local community group.
Ken Dew made his comments at council’s meeting on July 9.
“Rick Holland would say jump and you (council) would say, how high Mr. Rick?, said Dew during his five-minute presentation.
“There has been no council, just a one-man show.” he said. “Unfortunately, all at the taxpayers expense.”
He complained about the lack of tenders for some projects as well as the hiring practices of the municipality.
“It’s not what you know, but who you know,” he complained.
But, councillors did not take his criticism lightly.
“I am insulted by your comments,” said a visibly agitated Councilor Frank Nemcek. “We don’t jump through hoops for anyone,” he added.
Councillors Jim Hayter, Ken Alderman and Wayne Deans all expressed similar sentiments in the comments made by Dew
“I’m sitting here with my head held high,” said Hayter. “And I’m not going to bow down to you or anyone else,” he said.
“We don’t have to hang our heads for anyone,” said Deans. “We’re proud of what we’ve done as a council,” he added.
And while Councilor Alderman, along with his council colleagues, all agreed that Dew had every right to the make the comments, he said he didn’t agree with the accusations.
“I thought I represented our constituents to the best of my ability,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the local community group, Helen Lomax also responded to the assertions of Dew.
“We have never asked for a penny from council,” she said. “Have we received help from council? You bet. Are we grateful? You bet.
But she was quick to point out that all money received from council has been in the form of bridge financing and has either been or will be repaid in full.