I have lived in St Albert since my wife, three children and I moved west in 1979. I have always been a proud resident of this city until now.
I have lived in St Albert since my wife, three children and I moved west in 1979. I have always been a proud resident of this city until now. I have been to several council meetings and listened on line, read the St Albert Gazette as well as watched the meetings on Shaw TV.
Quite frankly, my wife and I are appalled at the bickering and posturing that goes on. It's like a gong show. Meeting rules of order are sometimes ignored. And "point of orders" are not used enough to bring some ramblings to an end. Roberts Rules of Order should be adhered to.
Also when council makes a decision it seems to me that during debate and voting councillors have made their views known. It is unfair to attack those decisions later in the Gazette. Beating a dead horse does nothing to help.
The biggest problem is this St Albert secret society that just likes to hide behind anonymity and bring down city council because they did not get what they wanted in the last election. What a bunch of cowardly bullies. If you elect an individual in a democracy you are, unless laws are broken, stuck with that individual until you can vote them out the next time around. So it did not work in your favour, get over it.
Instead of a council meeting, it has become like labour management bickering. Does council have to hire a mediator?
Coun. Sheena Hughes asks a lot of unnecessary questions that seem to me to be just grandstanding to the public. They could be answered by polite questions to city staff out of council. Homework could help. Coun. Cam MacKay likes to call … well just say I am not sure what his agenda is. He needs to quit nitpicking and get down to city business not his own. We need some decisions on big important issues not your personal beefs with the mayor and others in the administration. If he loses in a council decision, it seems to me that he cannot let it go and get on with business. There is a big waste of money hanging on like a pit bull. Coun. Bob Russell needs to put his mind in gear before opening his mouth. I have heard nothing but negativity out of this man and some outright offensive remarks regarding other council members. Fight your battles on the council floor, and when you don't get your way please accept it and don't take your fight outside council. This is my opinion and mine only, and only I decided to write this after hearing the complaining of a few of the individual residents that continue and continue and continue to write negative things about the rest of council and the mayor. They do have that right and so do I.
I am going to come clean up front, unlike other writers to the Gazette. I have been a long time resident, supporter, volunteer and voter in this community and Coun. Tim Osborne is my son-in-law. I could not meet a more industrious, competent, and moral person. He decided he would like to serve his community. My daughter could not have picked a better husband. The result is that many will say, "Of course that is his opinion, he is prejudiced."
Hate to tell you, I also have the right to one.
Frank Wright, St. Albert
