Imagination park PAGE A3
Rangers ride PAGE A13
passing off the gloves PAGE A20
OBSERVER QUESNEL - CARIBOO
SINCE 1908
Friday, June 21, 2013
VOL. 99 NO. 84
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Carson Avenue crash Traffic was halted in both directions on Carson Avenue Thursday afternoon after a collision between a Ford Escape and a transport truck. RCMP are still investigating. Jonas Gagnon photo
Mayor’s name added to law suit over city manager severance AUTUMN MacDONALD Observer Reporter Mayor Mary Sjostrom’s name has been added to the five other councillors being sued over severance paid to former city manager John Stecyk. In the amended petition, Sjostrom is named as an official respondent. She was personally served the papers Monday. “I am not surprised to be named in the amended affidavit,” Sjostrom said. “There were many errors in the original petition and as mayor I was part of the decision. Council was acting under the legislation given to them and some folks disagree. This is a
waste of time and taxpayers money and I hope closure for everyone can happen quickly. As for Coun. Sushil Thapar not being named in the suit he has sworn an affidavit and is part of the stance against council. “That is his decision and the rest of council remain united. We have many great things happening in our city and we are moving forward.” Back in April of this year five city councillors were served, they were: Couns. Micheal Cave, John Brisco, Ed Coleman, Scott Elliott and Laurey-Anne Roodenburg. According to the documents, the seven petitioners were seeking $170,469
to be paid back to the City of Quesnel. That amount was the final payout Stecyk received when he “resigned for personal reasons” in May of 2012. The petitioners: Sylvia Battley, Wayde Battley, Larry Dunn, Jean Gelinas, Jan McKinney, Wally McKinner and Linda Buxton are seeking two orders: • “… pursuant to the Community Charter that each of the respondents has voted for a resolution authorizing an expendenditure of $170,469 contrary to the Community Charter and is personally liable to the City of Quesnel for that amount.” • Cost of the proceeding.
In addition to finances, the petitioners are seeking, in line with the Community Charter, that each councillor and the mayor who voted for the severance be disqualified from office for three years from the day of the vote. The amount in question stems from departed city manager John Stecyk, his contract and a final payout upon his departure of $170,469.13 – a payout that was voted on and approved by the five councillors in question. Stecyk was hired in December 2010, his contract conditions were for a five-year term with an annual income of $125,000, “that the city could terminate the contract with
just cause without notice or pay in lieu of notice and the employee could terminate the contract by providing three months’ notice.” At a meeting on April 16, council resolved to terminate the contract with Stecyk for cause. Numerous other meetings were held in which the city’s executive committee, the mayor, some councillors, the city’s lawyer and Stecyk’s lawyer discussed Stecyk’s termination. In May the city issued a press release: “Quesnel city council has announced it has accepted the resignation of city manager John Stecyk effective immediately. Stecyk, who is resign-
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ing for personal reasons, came to the city in Janaury 2011.” The petitioners maintain the release is false because “council had not authorized such a release; Stecyk has not resigned for personal reasons; and while the mayor and some councillors had discussed payment of some severance to Stecyk, council had not discussed the issue.” At a meeting on May 7, the five councillors currently served each voted for a resolution that the city pay Stecyk severance in the amount of $170,469. The respondents have 21 days to file a response and any counter-claim.
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