Borrowing policy shot down by St. Andrews council

By Austin Grabish, The Selkirk Record

A policy that would have allowed municipal staffers to borrow equipment from the RM of St. Andrews for personal reasons didn’t receive blessing from council at a meeting on Feb. 24.

Council decided not to pass the policy, which would have allowed everything from computers to saws to graters from being borrowed.

St. Andrews Mayor George Pike said there were several concerns raised with the policy.

He said concerns about safety and liability on the municipality’s part were contributing factors that led to council’s decision to strike down the policy.

“It was defeated we’re not borrowing any equipment,” Pike said.

“It’s municipal property and it shouldn’t be out being used by staff or citizens it’s common sense.”

The 2008 policy is one of several the RM’s council has recently reviewed.

“We’re in the process of reviewing all policies and bylaws,” Pike said.

Coun. Rob Ataman said he wasn’t necessarily opposed to the policy and said it could be talked about at a later time at council.

“Personally I didn’t care either way if it went,” Ataman said in a brief phone interview Sunday.

“It’s something that’s quite common in a lot of businesses.”

But Ataman agreed with those who thought the policy should be struck down.

“There were some in the audience that didn’t like the idea so we asked for it to be pulled out,” Ataman said.

“Really it’s something that doesn’t have a place to sit in the municipality.”

Pike said it’s not clear if municipal workers were borrowing equipment before last Tuesday’s meeting, but it’s a possibility because the policy was on the RM’s books.

“I mean it was in there so I guess the opportunity was there,” Pike said.

Equipment that could have been borrowed under the policy included audiovisual technical gear, tools, electrical or electronic machinery, computers and computer accessories, shop equipment and both motorized and non-motorized equipment.  

Although the policy, which is not a bylaw, didn’t pass council can still visit it at a later time. 

-- First published in the Selkirk Record print edition March 12, 2015 p.10