Here we go again.
This week after releasing a statement on the departure of city manager John Stecyk, Coun. Sushil Thapar says he was asked to sign an agreement stating he would not discuss anything regarding the “resignation.”
Thapar maintains the release is misleading and has since filed a request for all financial implications the departure would incur under the Freedom of Information Act.
This is getting ridiculous. The in-house fighting and rumours circling city hall are making Quesnel look bad.
The legal confidentiality agreement raises eyebrows, but, more importantly, completely undermines a term used often in this political gong-show: Transparency.
“I’ve never been asked to do that before,” Thapar said, adding it was Mayor Mary Sjostrom who asked him to sign the legal document, vowing to remain mum on “anything Stecyk.”
Certainly Mr. Stecyk should enjoy his right to a private “resignation” but why the legal document? If he’s leaving for “personal reasons” fair enough. Anyone can understand and respect that.
But what’s with the gag-order?
Thapar has since filed a Freedom of Information request, requesting all financial implications of Stecyk’s departure.
Certainly if the information was initially forthcoming we could have avoided this mess.
So why isn’t it?
This needs to be dealt with once and for all.
An open, public discussion is needed on this issue. Continuing back-and-forth allegations is only going to further undermine the integrity of this community.