Alberta Municipal Affairs officials met recently with Sundre's council to discuss services the government provides to help communities maintain and potentially even improve services for residents.
Among the main messages relayed on Thursday, Feb. 16 by three public servants from the department's Municipal Services and Legislation Division during a meeting in council chambers was that the government has numerous resources for municipalities of all sizes.
The division's intent is to "work with municipalities and your associations to strengthen the capacity and viability of municipalities in Alberta," said Desiree Kuori, municipal advisor.
She addressed council members accompanied by colleagues as well as municipal dispute resolution advisors Lisa Awid-Goltz and Irene Black.
They also talked about the impending Modernized Municipal Government Act ó a document that essentially outlines the rules of governance that elected officials are expected to adhere to. Following the fall election, Municipal Affairs will offer workshops to explain the new rules to members of council, local officials heard.
The existing Municipal Government Act has for at least one of Sundre's councillors been a restrictive set of regulations that he said merely hampers his capacity to serve effectively, and that local autonomy has in many ways been greatly eroded over the years.
"There's not enough flexibility," said Myron Thompson, whose years of political experience as a former mayor and even a Member of Parliament have left him weary of jumping through bureaucratic hoops.
"The Municipal Government Act is an impairment to getting things done," he said. Little towns are run differently from big cities, he, said adding that regulations should be more lenient to bypass certain rules that aren't as applicable to small municipalities as opposed to large centres.
The councillor also expressed concerns over what he considers to be provincial responsibilities that have been passed onto the shoulders of local municipalities.
"The biggest example I have is the river that's running through our town," he said, adding both the local council as well as Mountain View County have over the years spent significant sums of money to mitigate flood concerns.
"That just isn't right ó that's a provincial property. The province is responsible, yet it's passed down."
Another of the veteran councillor's grievances was regarding MGA rules that he considers barring him from "talking" with town staff and being unable to get to know them.
Awid-Goltz said efforts have been made to ensure local decision-making remains in the hands of municipalities.
"The people that make those decisions and what works best for you, is you. Not the government, not us. That's why we really try to support decision-making at a municipal level," she said.
The MGA was not meant to fit all sizes, said the advisor, adding there is flexibility in the legislation.
As for talking with staff, the advisors said a conflict with provincial regulations regarding direct communications only comes about when elected officials attempt to give specific directions, which can have budgetary ramifications. Those regulations are designed to protect taxpayers from any elected members of council acting on their own in making decisions that affect everyone.
"Council's role is to set policy. Administration's role is to implement it," said Kuori.
Additionally, it was stated that elected officials are always welcome to talk with staff, but members of council simply cannot give specific directions.
"You guys are welcome to speak to us at any point," said town employee Michelle Smith, a development officer.
"Get to know us, know what we do ó but not direct us (in a way) that could affect the budget or what we've been set out to do by our administration. There's a very big difference between talking and communicating with us, and directing us."
During the course of about two hours, the government officials also underlined the province's commitment to helping small communities cope during a time when many Albertans are choosing to live in or closer to cities.
"From a council point of view, we were curious about the services Municipal Affairs offers," Mayor Terry Leslie said.
"We learned a great deal about how they can help," Leslie said adding local officials now have a better understanding of available resources, which can assist council in negotiations with regional partners such as Mountain View County.
The mayor said he also appreciated hearing about the educational opportunities Municipal Affairs will make available following the fall election.
