Kilger Council’s Covenant with CAO Norm Levac to be decided at Cornwall Ontario Council Meeting Monday June 10

council nov 14 2011CFN – Just when you thought our Mayor Kilger and his council couldn’t get any weird out pops this new document that’s to be signed by the Wild Bunch.

 

They are calling it a CAO Covenant, you know, like a pact or something a coven of evil Witches would do or some swiney dark cabal.

 

COUNCIL-CAO COVENANT
WE, as members of the Cornwall City Council shall:

 Carry out our responsibilities as set out in the applicable legislation,  bylaws and policies.

Was something stopping them up to this point?

 Make decisions which we believe to be in the best interests of the citizens of our jurisdiction.

See question above.   Does that confirm that they have not been doing so up until now?

 Review the background information and advice made available to us by the administration prior to rendering a decision.

That would be the Fitzy rule as executed in the Robert Menagh case would illustrate.   Again, councilors are allegedly elected to lead.  I would expect any responsible councilor to not only depend on administration; but do extra homework on their own too.

 Seek further input from our CAO when we are unsure of the issues or  direction to be taken.

Um, how did that work the last two councils?

 Refrain from making any commitments on behalf of the Council to individual citizens or groups.

And that’s your magic muzzle folks.  How could any councilor bring to  light any wrong doings of council if they sign this whopper?

Could this video have been shot if Councilor Rivette had signed such a ridiculous clause?  NOPE!

 Refrain from any public or private criticism of our administration wherein individual employees are identified.

I know there’s a lot of Chinese investment in Cornwall, but have we adopted their government?  Any councilor that signed onto that statement should immediately resign or be turfed.

 Act as good stewards of the City and as public servants of our citizens through ethical conduct.

You mean like withholding mail and persecuting Whistleblowers?

 Provide effective leadership through guiding the corporation of the City through annual or longer term goals and priorities (the Council’s Business Plan), through the budget approval process and by agreeing to reasonable policies which reflect, in our views, the best interests of a majority of our citizens.

Did whoever prepped this dog not read what the Mayor and Council have already signed? Their declaration of Office?


 Ensure that we formally evaluate the performance of the CAO at least once annually and involve the CAO in this process.

The CAO is only employed at the whim of council.  They only serve council and are only responsible to council.  They also somehow are there to check council if it goes awry.  Do you see the conflict yet? 


We agree to respect the apolitical nature of the office of the CAO and to receive his/her advice as being in the perceived best interests of the community and/or organization. We will respectfully listen to  comments in response to questions posed at Council meetings and will ensure that the CAO is accorded a respectful audience. We will   not bypass the CAO in our search for information and will coordinate  any questions/concerns relative to the jurisdiction of the  administration through the office of the CAO.
 We agree to respect the apolitical nature of our senior staff and will  treat their advice and reports with respect. We will not knowingly or willfully interfere with their work and will coordinate concerns  through the office of the CAO.

Head shake time.   It’s like a list of things done by this council in the last term.   Is this a Norm Levac letter trying to spell out how dysfunctional things have become under Mayor Kilger?

And what good is such a document if there are no teeth to any failure to comply?   After all the Municipal Act is near toothless.

The Mayor and Council have clearly not lived up to their oath of Office.  Has our current CAO done anything about that?

1. I will truly, faithfully and impartially exercise this office to the best of my knowledge and ability.
2. I have not received and will not receive any payment or reward, or promise thereof, for the
exercise of this office in a biased, corrupt or in any other improper manner.
3. I will disclose any pecuniary interest,direct or indirect, in accordance with the Municipal Conflict
of Interest Act.
4. I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second (or the
reigning sovereign for the time being).

And I make this solemn promise and declaration conscientiously believing it to be true and knowing that it is of the same force and effect as if made under oath.

Do you really need more than number one for almost all of the duties of council or mayor?   Number 2&3 spell out the conflict stuff for those who didn’t go past grade 10 like our Mayor.  Or was that 9?

Number 4 – well that’s boilerplate and of course missing from the new black and evil pact that someone at City Hall has conjured up.

What do you think of this new CAO Covenant Cornwall?  You can post your comments below.

Cornwall Free News Subscribe

16 Comments

  1. Like any Fraternity, they need to commit to keep their loose l^ps tight. That is what got them in so much trouble before this. So much went to friends in coffee shops, favorite(s) at the beer halls ie(S.F.). The city needs to SEE an action such as this, not to hide issues, but to give the assurance of a trust nature of the council in general. Like it or not, what has past has past or is in litigation. Otherwise, I like the fact they have made a concrete effort to keep their dirty laundry indoors. Good for them. Now lets get back to spending real time on real city business.

    Any future whistleblowing will have its own direction and media thoughts as will other issues out of the control of council. Bottom line that I like is it is long past time to get back to work and that is what I see them doing. In the past Councillors and yes, perhaps the Mayor took it upon themselves to do CAO work. This sets the tone as it should have been, but now will be. Other concerns will be managed at election time. I wish them all well with it.

  2. Why not……………………..just be honest to the people of Cornwall?

    Why not…………………….treat people of Cornwall equally?

    Why not…………………….work for the people of Cornwall?

    Why not…………………….be transparent and open to the people of Cornwall?

    Why not…………………….stop making Cornwall look so bad?

    Why not…………………….listen to the people of Cornwall?

    What took you clowns days and thousands of dollars took me 1 minute to come up with a clear vision, dad always said KISS (keep it simple stupid)

  3. The wagons are circling again when you see these clowns trying to muzzle any other decent councilor who may be thinking of fessing up & reveal the real truth of corruption & conflicts of interest.Sad really when they sell their soul to the devil

  4. “Refrain from making any commitments on behalf of the Council to individual citizens or groups.”

    Does this mean they are going to have all their meetings in camera now or are they just going to ban non-clique citizens from the meetings?

  5. On another note seeing this story does touch on Council. What gives Counselor Gerald Samson the right to drive his car and talk on his cell phone with it up to his ear? 12 noon yesterday on Second St.

    Because he is now a counselor and ex cop I see he still thinks he is above the law. So to add to my comment above.

    Why not……………………lead by example to the people of Cornwall.

  6. Keep voting for crooks Cornwall!
    Nothing will change until these criminals are put to the curb!
    How am I suppose to know who to elect if I don’t know how they voted in a closed session? When there is no transparency, you know the crooks are involved! Next time you vote, replace them all except for the one, yes the only one who dares keep us informed. Thanks Andre and stay in the light.
    Remember, when you see these politicians around town, let them know that they are crooked and deviant! Remind them that they work for you! Ask them why they aren’t siding with MR. Rivette
    and we the taxpayers? I will!

    The problem is that most Cornwallites are only interested in who is on “Dancing With The Stars” or “Survivor” and alike.
    WAKE UP PLEASE!

  7. Loose lips sink ships…..thats why Kilger’s ship is sinking!

  8. Same old farts elected year after year after year……. what do you expect of a place that has never changed for the better but went backwards into the S – Pile. Gerry Samson one of the families who thinks that they are above the law and own Cornwall aka Fossoli. They are a bunch of old fossils for sure – nothing has changed except it got worse than ever before. The government is only good as its people and people deserve what they elect.

  9. My goodness……

    We should be happy that they have come together and formulated rules and regulations. Even though somewhat late in the game, it is never too late to try or do something different to hopefully make things better.

    The city is damned if they do and damned if they don’t. If we want change we must try to change our attitude first and foremost. Can’t we try to give them the benefit if the doubt for once?

    @claughter………..No one on this earth is totally honest all the time, especially when adding politicians to the equation.

    When looking at the bigger picture, some citizens also make this city look bad and it certainly doesn’t help our image…..not only some politicians.

  10. Surely this is someones idea of a joke ! This smacks of juvenile thinking ! This is the kind of script you would expect from a group of children trying to develop a rules of conduct for admission into their new club. This cannot be real ! Besides what self-respecting politician would sign such an instrument which serves to handicap how they are able to serve the individuals that they are supposed to represent? Anyone therefore that would sign a covenant (restrictive) of this nature must be a fool and not fit for public office. Got to close my eyes and cross my fingers on this one !

  11. Why should we reward these asshats more time to continue with all the corruption, coverups, bullying and unaccountable actions going on at 360 Pitt. This covenant of Norm Levac proves to me that they at Council are so incompetent and they do not know what they are doing after 7 years. We as a city should gather now and ask the province for a bi-election and not wait until October next year. We can no longer afford this Mayor and council. These past 7 years have been a complete total, expensive, waste of time, while Cornwall has gone down the tubes due to the fact that this partisan group of clowns now too old and having no vision to make this city what it could and should be. Their job is not rocket science and had they simply abided by the above rules of cornwall laughter and their oath of office we as a city would not be in this prediciment now.Such a shame!!!

  12. lmao just seeing what the minutes of this mondays meeting has in it is giving me a headache

  13. By the way Jamie have you heard the term ‘red herring’? Lord knows you lead with them all the time.

    Now you can understand me better. Just saying.

  14. Author

    no DS you still confuse the crap out of me 🙂

  15. Good… 🙂

  16. I’m coming into this venue a little late and am wondering did this even come up at Council Monday night? You could be the most right on this being a “Norm Levac letter…” It could be the result of Council hiring a new CAO, keeping him in the dark about the years prior to his hiring, but having him issue formulated releases for their benefit–not his or the City’s. Mr. Levac is an intelligent, fair-minded individual who, once informed, would tell it as it is without the constant need for a legal opinion and would never be party to nonsense and deliberate cover-ups. He would also do his homework and not just rely on what he is told. He is more than capable of thinking for himself and we are lucky to have him in this position. This Council, on the other hand, lack all of these qualities and have dug themselves into such a hole, they haven’t got a clue on how to get out. I looked at Council minutes for May 27, I believe, and saw the strangest bylaw at the end that I wonder if it is even legal. Maybe my interpretation is wrong, but it seems to say that everything at Council meetings–closed or open–is passed unanimously. Do our elected officials not have an individual voice anymore? Democracy in this City has surely hit an all time low. You vill do what I say, vhen I say it, and you vill enjoy it.

Leave a Reply