A council divided has turned to outside help to bring an end to the divisive and dysfunctional atmosphere in its chambers.
Sturgeon County councillors unanimously supported a motion from Coun. Karen Shaw to bring in an independent governance consultant to help the council become effective and functional again.
Shaw argued council needs outside guidance to create a code of conduct and reinforce how councillors should behave when it comes to in camera decisions and other council matters.
"We clearly are struggling and we need that guidance and we need participation and commitment."
Other councillors agreed with the need for council to come together.
"The last few months the split on council has become an embarrassment," said Coun. Dave Kluthe. "I think it is time this comes to an end and we get this council working back the way it is supposed to be working."
Coun. Tom Flynn said it made sense for council to try to come together.
"I think it is probably a good move so we do function better and I don't see any downside to an opportunity like this."
While there was unanimous support for dealing with the issue, councillors seem to see the root of the problem differently.
Heartland controversy
Mayor Donald Rigney argued the divide on council was more to do with the controversy over the Heartland transmission line.
The county's current CAO, Peter Tarnawsky was previously fired over his involvement with the county's presentation to the Alberta Utilities Commission on the line. The county's formal submission on the line stated the county wanted to see it approved without delay, which was in distinct contrast to council's position that the line wasn't necessary.
Following Tarnawsky's departure, then CAO Chris Micek resigned and during an in camera discussion on Nov. 8 county councillors moved to hire back Tarnawsky as the interim CAO.
Rigney, Kluthe and Coun. Don McGeachy all opposed even adding that issue to the agenda and Kluthe and Rigney left the room before the vote re-appointing Tarnawsky, while McGeachy voted against it.
Rigney said the controversy over those decisions has to be resolved as part of this move to reform council.
"I don't think we have any hope of moving ahead unless we can bring some resolution to those."
Out of order
Rigney attempted to bring that issue up during the debate on Shaw's motion, but Shaw insisted that was not part of the issue and raised a point of order to cut off Rigney.
When Rigney disagreed he put the issue to a vote and lost four to three, getting support from McGeachy and Kluthe.
Rigney said he was outraged at being silenced.
"We are in politics and we are in government," he said. "Debate is what we should do."
Shaw argued the atmosphere in council is bad for the county's operations because it puts out the wrong image.
"Who would want to work or invest money in such a toxic environment?"
Shaw said there has been a serious breakdown in governance at the county and she expects all of council to be part of this process to fix it.
She said she wants council to resolve this issue itself, but if that doesn't happen she is prepared to take the issue to the provincial government.
"If they don't show up then I will go to Municipal Affairs and bring them in and they can review the tapes and they can see for themselves who has been functioning and doing things by the rules."
