Brighton CAO Bill Watson speaks to a recommendation brought forward during Monday night’s council meeting. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)
A motion to put together an ad hoc committee to oversee the storm water master plan was struck down by Brighton council after councillors stated they do in fact have confidence in their staff.
CAO Bill Watson brought forward a recommendation that stated “Council is unusually involved in issues around storm water management and has a clear disregard for staff expertise and experience”.
The report continued to say: since council did their own technical review of the Storm Water Masterplan Update RFP, determining to award contrary to staff’s recommendation and despite the extra cost of $96,000, staff does not feel that they have authority nor the confidence of council to manage this project. As such, staff feels that a Committee of Council members to oversee and manage the project would be appropriate at this time.
Councillor Brian Ostrander says he believed having two or three sets of eyes on storm water management issues was fine but he had complete trust in the staff.
Mayor Mark Walas says he feels the report came forward out of frustration.
Councillor John Martinello says he was doing his due diligence which he sees as his right and his duty.
Both Ostrander and Martinello stated they saw the recommendation as staff’s refusal to do the work.
Watson says he is there because he’s qualified, not just to take orders.
Ostrander says he’s asked for this plan to be updated for three years now but he is happy it’s going forward and it will be done.
The recommendation to establish an ad hoc committee was struck down with those around the horseshoe saying they did have faith in staff to do the work.
