Reference your Column Vendor Bender.
Managing editor Mr. Neil Godbout begins his piece correctly addressing councilor Brian Skakun with some semblance of respect. But as he builds a head of steam he shows his bias in ultimately referring to said councilor as, Skakun.
If the mayor deserves her respectful title, then I believe Godbout should swallow some of his own vitriol and slow down with the disrespectful terms to an elected councilor.
I think I know where councilor Skakun is coming from and I believe that he is quite right to examine the minutiae in the contracting, be it for services rendered or products supplied.
Your company, Prince George 123 is a perfect example of needing to examine contracts more closely. This company could well sell the city products or services in a wide variety of forms if it keeps its totals under the stated $50,000 dollar mark. Why it could supply pens at $20,000 and paper at $40,000, paperclips at $16,000 and well, it goes on.
By staying within the financial limits set, there could be a very nice little earner going on to friends and family. Or even to brothers and sisters in whatever society that members of the city purchasing/contracting group belong in their private circle. For example, if this is allowed to continue, then how many contracts are being delivered on the shake of a hand or by showing the correct ring or badge?
So now we can see where your Prince George 123 company is circumventing the rules and regulations. Numbered companies are there purely to obfuscate. In some less laissez-faire city councils, members must say what service clubs they belong to, who they are related to when appointing contractors who have bid and where there is any chance of a perception of a breach of the public trust.
When the local newspaper and council departments show such a hissy fit when asked for such as simple thing as "Excuse me but where did this money go?" methinks something is rotten in the State of Denmark. When money can change hands without close supervision and those in the public trust spread contumely and derision on a man elected to do just what councilor Brian Skakun is doing, asking that even the little financial transactions should be dealt with openly and with a paper trail.
Mike C. Shepherd
Prince George
