Barnyard closed Thefts force 4H Club to remove animals from Beban. Page 7 Consultation continues Council discusses Colliery Dam Park. Page 20 Fringe benefits Annual theatre festival offers edgy pieces. Page 3
Secrets behind steeplechase Page B1
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 2013
VOL. 25, NO. 38
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Report points out governance flaws at city
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iNTERACTioN wiTh staff, other councillors a common problem among municipalities. By Tamara Cunningham THe NewS BULLeTiN
GREG SAKAKI/ThE NEwS BullETIN
RCMP Const. Sarah Brophey, front left, and Const. Jennifer McRae, perform in the Musical Ride on Saturday afternoon at Arbutus Meadows Equestrian Centre at Nanoose Bay. The Rotary Club of Parksville A.M. hosted three sold-out performances over the August long weekend.
Musical Ride becomes trip down memory lane By Brenda gough he RCMP Musical Ride has a long history of performing for Canadians, and when the troop of 33 riders and horses executed their cavalry drill and intricate figures last weekend in Nanoose Bay there was likely no one more thrilled than Cliff Hobbis.
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The 93-year-old Nanaimo resident was with the Musical Ride from 1956-58. Hobbis was a member of the RCMP for 10 years and was stationed in various communities across the country before retiring in Nanaimo in 1980. From his front-row seat at the Arbutus Meadows Equestrian Cen-
Quality & Service at Budget Prices Wisecrack Of The Week
I just put a dollar in the change machine but everything is still the same.
tre for the first of three shows, he recalled his days as a red-coated Mountie on horseback. He said that being part of the Musical Ride was the highlight of his RCMP career and seeing this year’s team brought back fond memories of his days in the saddle. u See ‘HOBBIS’ /7
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Significant tension, name calling and physical altercations among Nanaimo councillors and city staff members undermine any attempt at good governance and could be hurting the city’s ability to make decisions, a new governance report reveals. The recently released Watson Governance Summary Report says the city has crippled its own efforts at good governance with behaviour that could be considered “a substantial reputational risk for the city.” Distrust, name calling and sarcastic tones in correspondence between staff and council has left city staff feeling demoralized and some councillors feeling marginalized, it reports. It has also had an overall negative effect on the city’s ability to be high performing, make decisions and maintain the respect of other organizations. But city officials don’t all agree that there is a negative dynamic at City Hall or that it’s affected their ability to do a good job. They also wouldn’t comment on physical altercations mentioned in the report. Coun. Ted Greves, head of the city’s governance committee, says strife with staff members is nothing new for city councils, pointing to Toronto Mayor Rob Ford as a prime example. But he acknowledges that the practice does distract people from doing the work of the city and it needs to stop. The city might need to consult a mediator, he said. Mayor John Ruttan, however, is not convinced the situation at city hall is as dire as the consultant reports and is concerned the document has been released to the public. u See ‘REPORT’ /3
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