At the recent Olds special council meeting to receive submissions on the formation of a municipality-controlled corporation, I spoke about the refusal of council to meet with the boards of directors of O-NET and Olds Institute. Mayor Michael Muzychka correctly informed me that there were two special council meetings that we attended. I failed to clarify that I was referring to the opportunity to meet and discuss, and to be informed, before council chose to initiate a legal process as a "hostile takeover." The special council meetings did at least give us an opportunity to be introduced to the lawyer and manager hired to dissolve Olds Institute and oversee the management of O-NET, and for us to be informed of the new order.
I know our councillors chose to run for office to do their best for our community. Unfortunately, as a collective, the mayor and council appear to have followed questionable advice that has precipitated a costly, divisive, and unnecessary legal situation. In this instance it would have been very advantageous for council to have discussed the desire to move O-NET into a municipality-controlled corporation with the board of directors of O-NET. Together we would have charted a progressive path forward leading to a win-win-win for O-NET, town council and our community.
Warren Smith, former town councillor and member of the board of directors of O-NET,
Olds
