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Letter to the Editor re: Reply to letter dated January 8, 2020

Another letter to the editor from Carter Currie
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January 19, 2020
Reply to Letter dated January 08, 2020
Derelict/Nuisance Property 1511 Hastings St.
 

City Manager Jim Puffalt,

I thank you for the opportunity to have the Administrative Review Officer review my complaint (inquiry) regarding 1511 Hastings St.

Administrative Review Bylaw 5200

(3) The Review Officer shall not investigate any matter after the expiry of twelve (12) months from the day on which the complainant should have been aware of the incident complained of.

Complainants and procedure

9(1) Subject to section 8, any person or group of persons affected by a matter of administration or a decision taken by the City, an agency of the City, or a Controlled Corporation of the City may file a complaint, in writing, with the City Manager.

(2) Upon receipt of a complaint pursuant to subsection (1), the City Manager shall:

(a) inform the person making the complaint of the procedures that will be followed;

(b) promptly transmit the complaint to the Review Officer and provide a copy to the Department Head responsible for the matters, decisions, act or omission complained of;

(c) inform members of City Council of the existence of the complaint,
together with a description of the general nature of the complaint.

(3) In the event the concerns of the complainant involve a decision, recommendation, act or omission of the City Manager, the complaint shall be filed with the Mayor, 

It’s striking that after filling a complaint August 15, 2018, now 17 months later, the Administrative Review Officer is going to interview my wife and myself concerning this complaint if I do what you offer.

Shouldn’t that have been the first step taken by you and Chief Montgomery, when I filed the complaint? You did say you took the complaint seriously, in your reply email, to my complaint.

Let me say hypothetically (a complaint against the City Manager) how does my complaint that goes to the city manager then it’s  passed on to the Review Officer provide us a fair review? 

I notice you also failed to mention the name of the Review Officer, so a citizen can go directly to him or her with a complaint.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but we don’t get a copy of the written report on his or her findings? So how is that any different than where we are at now, except I’ve gone public and the Moose Jaw Express is kind enough to publish my editorials.

So Mr. Puffalt in your unique style, I knew when I met with you the chances of seeing the house restored to a livable condition in a reasonable time wasn’t in your ability. Your a man of fancy words and reports, not a man of action. You and Chief Montgomery compliment each other’s weaknesses and not strengths.

Let’s take a step back in time to October 2018: the meeting you asked for, I attended with Michelle Sanson - Director of Planning and yourself. Remember the question you asked me, ‘what did I expect to see happen with the property in question?’ To which I replied, ‘it should be demolished if not returned to a livable state.’ I replied that I preferred the latter if possible. Remember Mr. Puffalt, both you and Ms. Sanson’s response was silence. 

So Mr. Puffalt, you would think with 20-plus years in city administration and many classes to add to your resume, this situation doesn’t speak well of your management ability.

If and when I decide to take the next step, I will take whatever step deemed appropriate at that time. For now, I consider going public a good step and letting the good people of 1500 Hasting St., know what is happening with 1511 Hastings St. I also believe the citizens living next to a Derelict/Nuisance Property, also deserve to know, what their city officials are doing.

So, Mr. Puffalt I thank you for the information, but I will decline the offer. I would say going public is having a positive effect! In the spirit of truth and transparency, I will let you know there will be more editorials forth coming.

-- Carter Currie

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.  

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