On the surface, a resolution unanimously passed by town council at its regular meeting Monday night was aimed at calming the masses, so to speak, in stating the town only was in the preliminary stages of balancing the 2004 budget and that no decisions had been made yet.
It also was a thinly-veiled, but well-deserved, slap on the wrist for Mayor Dan Onichuk.
There’s no question budget woes have been the talk of the town ever since it was revealed two weeks ago that Fort Frances is facing a whopping $2.8 million deficit in 2004, which could (could, not would) translate into a 67.5 percent tax hike for residents.
And, of course, it wasn’t long before rumours were flying over whose job would be cut, which municipal staff would face a wage rollback, and how high user fees may climb. Why, there was even word the Fort Frances Museum was about to be locked up.
But while rumours always will be a part of small-town life, it’s an entirely different matter when the mayor is fuelling them by his actions or comments. One councillor actually phoned the Times last week after hearing Mayor Onichuk on CBC Radio—both aghast at what was said as well as miffed over the impression this all was a done deal when, in fact, council had made no decisions yet.
The mayor certainly is entitled to his opinion, and in many ways he is the spokesperson for the town. What’s important to remember, though, is that the mayor is just one vote—and that the opinions of the other six councillors are just as valid.
Mayor Onichuk only has been on the job for just over two months and he, as well as the other newcomers on council, deserve a little leeway as they get comfortable in their positions. That said, however, the mayor appears to be leading as if he’s the boss, rather than as an equal member of a seven-person team.
That’s the wrong tack—especially in a “crisis” situation in which everybody’s input and viewpoint is needed to come up with the best solution to solving the town’s current financial mess.
Hopefully, the mayor took that message to heart Monday night.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
