Oakville Beaver EditorialA year ago, the Town of Oakville proudly announced the expansion of its townwide Rzone operating procedure.
At the time, Mayor Rob Burton proclaimed: “The Town is dedicated to creating an environment for all our residents, employees and visitors, where there is a sense of belonging and that encourages participation. Treating everyone with respect is an inherent part of the way we do business and the Rzone is a great symbol of that commitment.”
The Rzone applies to all Town of Oakville facilities, properties, Town-sponsored events, programs, in written or verbal communications, in Town vehicles, or at any other location where Town staff are present.
Apparently, though, it doesn’t apply to the Town Council Chambers.
How else can the shabby treatment of Ward 5 Councillor Jeff Knoll by many of his council colleagues on Monday night be explained?
For those of you who may have missed the story, the Ward 5 councillor exploded in frustration Monday night after being excluded for the third year in a row from a variety of community committees requiring council representation.
Knoll put his name forward for membership on seven committees and went away empty handed — again.
It’s not like there are not enough positions on committees to go around. Ward 4 Councillor Roger Lapworth and Ward 2 Councillor Cathy Duddeck are each on seven committees.
Knoll also rightly points out that Council is violating its own rules of not letting councillors serve more than two years on a committee.
The third-term councillor contends he was purposely excluded by a subset of councillors because he endorsed the former mayor in the last municipal election and frequently speaks his mind on council.
“I don’t simply blindly sit there and vote on things,” he said. A pity that can’t be said for many of the other councillors.
For the record, Ward 3 Councillor Mary Chapin and Ward 5 Councillor Marc Grant did not support the motion excluding Knoll from the committees.
Fortunately for Knoll, his talents appear to be more highly regarded at Halton Regional Council. At the regional level he is president of the Halton Community Housing Corporation, chair of the Halton Region Housing Task Force, chair of the Halton Diversity Advisory Committee and member of the Halton Youth Advisory Committee.
Council’s action Monday night was petty and spiteful.
http://www.oakvillebeaver.com/opinions/article/285802
