Councillor enters fray

Dear editor: In his letter of July 3 (Herald), Ian McIntosh implies that staff turnover is a problem in Summerland and council is to blame.

Human resources matters are, of course, strictly confidential so I cannot comment on the CAO’s, Mr. McIntosh’s or anyone’s departure, but if you do some Google searches you will find a lot of information regarding retirements of Summerland District staff, including a story in the Penticton Herald Sept. 17, 2014, announcing the CAO’s retirement Dec. 31, 2014. This was long before the election, how could this have anything to do with the current council?

Mr. McIntosh also lists new positions, including one in development services.

However, when he was with the district there were three people in the department (one of which also wore a “second hat” part time). When one person left they were not replaced. Construction is very strong again, and we are going back to three employees.

He also includes an economic development officer as a new position, however, it is also not a new position. There has been an economic development officer in Summerland several times, including when Mr. McIntosh was with the district. Furthermore, our current economic development officer is on a term position funded by a grant from the provincial government.

Similarly, the cultural centre project manager will be funded by a provincial grant and will only be with us until the new cultural centre is completed.

We have hired a new human resource manager, which I feel is essential in an organization of Summerland’s size in today’s day and age. Their wages will be partially offset by reduced consulting fees.

We are also hiring a professional electrical engineer. Summerland owns its own power distribution system but has never had its own fully qualified electrical engineer. The expectation is that their salary will again be partially offset by reduced consulting fees. Just as significantly, the $6 million grant to install solar power in Summerland means the need for a professional electrical engineer will increase.

The sustainability/alternative energy coordinator is also part of this initiative and a new position, but it is very likely we would not have received this grant without their contribution and this position enables us to get other grant funding.

Lastly, Mr. McIntosh says that his current tax bill is 30 per cent more than what he paid in 2014, clearly implying that that is how much taxes have gone up in Summerland.

Property taxes depend not only on the municipal, regional district and school taxes but often, in large part, how much their property value changed in relation to other properties.

Some past councils proudly put through zero increases, cut back staffing and postponed capital reinvestment to score cheap political points, but it was short-sighted and harmful to long term viability.

We will soon be getting a report on the state of our infrastructure. I have not heard or seen anything of it, but my guess is you had better be sitting down when you read it. Richard Barkwill Councillor, District of Summerland will fit right in and have access to the shoot-‘em-up parlours they apparently need.

That way they will not be able to foul Penticton’s churches and downtown core. In reality I would see that they suffer much more severe treatment if I could, but society says you mustn’t be that way.

Next step install signage to the entrances to our beautiful community that proclaim that Penticton is a place to stay forever but “if you are here to break the law, drink and use drugs in a public place, occupy and damage city and private property, your life is about to get complicated.” Very, very complicated. Paul Crossley

Penticton they are going to make life complicated for what I call the real victims: the homeless, the drug addicts, and the mentally ill.

How about sending the sellers and dealers of drugs to jail. Not a five-star resort, a real jail: no TV, no golf course, no computers, no visits to have sex, just a good old jail, then throw away the key.

You may have noticed that I did not attack the police force, the reason being they can do what they can, but the ability to do their job is restricted by stupid laws that protect the criminals and in fact make our judicial system redundant. Bob Otway Penticton