Letter: A message to city’s new council

A few points for the new mayor and council to ponder.

Passing the Baton: From the present mayor to the newly elected leader, it’s very nice to hear that Mayor Marianne Matichuk is willing to help Brian Bigger have a welcome beginning in his newly elected job. Something she was not given by the John “The Bus Driver” Rodriguez — he just stepped on the gas and left.

Transparency, Accountability, Honesty, Integrity: These are words we all have heard from the prospective people who ran for council. Big words, easy to say, but it seems people have a hard time standing behind them.

We have experienced this municipally, provincially and federally.

Accountability: Council has to focus on the right thing to do and remember who they are doing it for.

Transparency: Let the taxpayer know what is going on. Don’t run and hide behind closed doors and deal with hidden secrets.

Worry less about yourself or your ward alone — this is the City of Greater Sudbury and we should be acting as a whole, not saddled with the “me-me-me” attitude we have experienced in the past.

Honesty: Be Honest with yourselves and us, the taxpayer. Don’t allow hidden agendas to arise and rile the troops.

Integrity: If you do the job to the best of your ability, for the good of the taxpayer and the city as a whole, you may have a position in the future, not just for a pension subsidy or fame. Elections happen every four years.

Proactively: Take ownership of problems and successes, and don’t blame the person across the table from you.

Try and work collectively — whether you agree or not, at least try and agree to disagree. It means the lines of communication are open. Thus, there is a little maturity going on in the meeting.

I could rant on and on, but I wouldn’t have to if there was a little more honesty, integrity, transparency and accountability around the council chambers.

Brad Anderson
Greater Sudbury