It is interesting that the mayor mentions the purchase of the sculptures more than once and as a perceived negative decision by council. He should. The objection to the purchase was not about the money.
The $260,000 price paled in comparison to the total operating budget of $110 million. The objection was to the process. The decision was made on the spur of the moment, with unanimous consent to waive the time period between the first, second and third readings so that the decision could be made without due deliberation. The decision was also made against the advice of the city manager who recommended the purchase be postponed until the 2011 budget. The decision also reflected the mindset of city council: property tax dollars are limitless.
While council did review the budget in detail, removing $19,000 for bottled water and reducing the city manager’s expense allowance by $4,000, the defining expenditure for the new council appears to be the $600,000 per year for three years to plant shrubs and flowers and present a more appealing view to visitors on the deteriorating concrete along the south side of St Albert Trail. The shrubs and flowers will probably not survive the winter conditions: cold, snow, and salt.
One must wonder if our vanity is more important than fiscal control.
Norm Harley, St. Albert
