Councillor claims she's being excluded from meetings

Rookie St. Andrews councillor Joy Sul claims she has been excluded from municipal business relating to governance and personnel issues, matters that are dealt with by a committee she chairs.

By Austin Grabish, The Selkirk Record

Rookie St. Andrews councillor Joy Sul claims she is being excluded from municipal business relating to governance and personnel issues, matters that are dealt with by the very committee she chairs.

Sul made the claim at last Tuesday’s council meeting, and asked Mayor George Pike for clarification on what exactly her role with the committee is. 

She told council she had no committee report to present, yet again, and claimed to be excluded from recent maters related to the committee.

“It just seems like every meeting I’ll be saying no report,” she said. 

“I have been excluded from certain meetings.”

She cited the recent hiring of a mechanic as one example of her being kept in the dark. 

“I had no idea,” she said when referring to the new hire.

She added she was only informed a day before Tuesday’s meeting about an employee’s reclassification that was handled by another councillor. 

“I would very much appreciate to know if I am chair of this committee or not,” she said.

Pike told Sul she is indeed the chair of the committee and that particular issue was being addressed by Coun. Rob Hogg, because the matter related to the transportation department, which he is responsible for. 

“Some of the areas overlap,” Pike explained.

Pike said information relating to the new hire was discussed with all members of council at a regular meeting.

He added only two people applied for the job, and one lived out of town and couldn't make it to the interview when answering Sul’s question why she wasn't informed of the interview process. 

Sul pressed Pike as to why she wasn't informed or part of the interview. 

“My question is why am I not being advised of these meetings if this is what I’m chair of?” she said.

Pike said council took note of Sul’s concern and would be kept in the loop in the future. 

“We’ll make sure you're included,” he said. 

 -- First published in the Selkirk Record print edition July 23 2015 p.10