Central Saanich councillor, living in Caymans, cites 'unwarranted attacks' in resignation letter

Terry Siklenka’s has officially resigned from Central Saanich council, citing “unwarranted attacks” on his integrity. 

“It is not fair to put myself, my family, or this council in this perceived compromising position even though we have always had the communities [sic] best interest at heart,” Siklenka said in his letterof resignation, received by Central Saanich council on Monday.

The councillor was found to be working in Grand Cayman after being granted a six-month paid leave by the municipality on Nov. 5.

Siklenka has made arrangements to reimburse the municipality for pay and benefits he received while on leave, Mayor Alastair Bryson said in a prepared statement.

Bryson noted that council had no idea Siklenka was out of the country when it made the decision (while in closed session) to grant Siklenka the leave for personal reasons. His whereabouts weren’t confirmed until Nov. 21 after his photo and biography appeared on a Caymans-based air-conditioning company website.

“Had Councillor Siklenka not resigned last week, I was prepared to use my authority as mayor to require council to reconsider its prior decision to grant leave in light of the new information,” Bryson said.

 In his letter of resignation, Siklenka stated that council requested he take a leave of absence rather than resign and that at no time did he ask to continue to be paid.

But Bryson said that’s not entirely true.

Siklenka’s initial request was for a year’s leave and at no time prior to Nov. 26 did he offer to resign. It was council’s decision to continue pay during the leave.

“Councillor Siklenka’s request for leave was silent with respect to pay; it was council who decided to grant him leave with pay such that any benefits he was receiving and access to employee support programs would continue during the leave,” Bryson said.

Because Siklenka had already missed three consecutive council meetings, failure to grant him leave would have disqualified him from holding office if he missed one more meeting.

“In my opinion, a member of council would have to have significant reasons to vote to deny a duly elected councillor’s reasonable request for leave to deal with personal issues which he has stated are beyond his control,” Bryson said.

“This is especially true  when denial of leave would result in his immediate disqualification from elected office, as was the case in this instance.”

While not naming him directly, Bryson took aim at comments made by Coun. Zeb King, the sole councillor to vote against granting the leave.

King had been critical of both the decision, which he believed was made without enough information about Siklenka’s situation, and the fact it had been made during an in-camera meeting.

“It’s distressing because we’ve got that fiduciary responsibility and I take that seriously and I hope everybody does. I think these in-camera meetings are dangerous for that reason because they need that scrutiny of people watching and ensuring their elected representatives are asking all the right questions,” King said last month.

Bryson said council members share equally the responsibility to ensure the public trust is protected.

“As mayor, I would hope that members of council would refrain from attacking each other’s integrity without identifying substantive concerns,” Bryson said.

He said the matter was dealt with in-camera in keeping with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

King said he stood by his earlier comments.

“I stand by everything that I said. There’s a difference of opinion around this table, which is consistent with the same difference of opinion that reflects the vote that was had. I don’t share the view of the rest of council,” King said.

Both councillors John Garrison and Cathie Ounsted said, given the same circumstances, they would make the same decision again.

Coun. Adam Olsen said, that in hindsight, the decision to grant the leave was a mistake.

“At the time with the information I had it was an act of goodwill. It was taken advantage of which was frustrating. But I also will continue to err on the side of compassion,” Olsen said.

 A byelection will be held, likely in March.

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