The new mayor of Saanich has been in office for only 17 days and already he has cost the municipality almost $500,000, unnecessarily forced the departure of a long-term public servant and been censured unanimously by his fellow councillors.
Unless Mayor Richard Atwell learns from this debacle, Saanich faces a rough four years.
As the Times Colonist’s Bill Cleverley reported last week, Atwell met chief administrative officer Paul Murray before the new mayor had been sworn in and told Murray he was out. The rationale seems to be that Murray had worked with former mayor Frank Leonard and therefore had to go so Atwell could bring in his promised agenda of “change.”
The mayor’s push to get rid of Murray, who had worked 13 years for the municipality, put everyone in an untenable situation and made it impossible for Murray to stay. The municipality said as much in the news release that announced Murray’s departure: “The actions taken by Mayor Atwell left council with no viable options other than to proceed to end the employment relationship with Mr. Murray.”
It is clear that Atwell stood alone throughout this. The same news release includes this statement:
“At the Dec. 8, 2014, in-camera council meeting the following motion was supported unanimously by councillors: ‘That council does not support actions taken by Mayor Richard Atwell, whether as mayor-elect or mayor, with respect to the ongoing employment of Paul Murray as chief administrative officer of the District of Saanich.’”
It is an extraordinary news release, which not only turfs Murray, but also condemns the mayor and points out that his actions will cost the municipality $476,611 in severance payments.
“This equates to 0.50 per cent of taxation money that cannot be used for other initiatives of the municipality,” the release says.
Few mayors have faced such condemnation by their councils, especially so soon after an election.
Atwell campaigned on a platform of change, and voters elected him based on that platform. Change comes with a cost, and parting company with Murray could be part of that cost.
It would help everyone — citizens as well as councillors — if the mayor spelled out more clearly the kind of changes he wants to see and the implications for the municipality.
It would also help if Atwell acknowledged that regardless of his platform, he has only one vote on council. Premiers and prime ministers with majority governments have enormous powers. Mayors, especially in municipalities without party systems, have no such power. If they hope to lead, they must earn the trust and co-operation of their fellow councillors.
Atwell became mayor with no experience in elected office. Most mayors have years on councils or school boards, so they understand the nuts and bolts of the job. Longtime public servants such as Murray have knowledge and experience that offer administrative stability even when the faces change around the council table.
Dumping Murray sends messages that should worry the voters of Saanich. It suggests that Atwell thinks Murray worked for Leonard; in fact, he worked for the district and people of Saanich. It politicizes the bureaucracy when public servants are supposed to be apolitical. Murray’s job was to serve the district, regardless of who sits on council. He should be judged solely on his work performance.
It also sends a message to anyone who might want to apply for Murray’s job. Strong candidates are likely to shy away from Saanich if they know that they will be treated as political appointees rather than public servants.
If Atwell wants change, he will have to build trust and relationships. He cannot dictate change. He must get it by persuasion.
