Editor's note: Mr. Rennick writes in relation to the story Peter Chirico says he's running for mayor of North Bay.
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To the editor:
In May 2012, Mr. Chirico resigned from council to take the job as managing director of community services for the City of North Bay.
In that position, he subsequently oversaw the $12 million renovations of Memorial Gardens which ended up costing taxpayers $16.2 million. The principal and interest on that loan are still being paid
Chirico later confessed that his confusion was because he was unaware that the 13% GST was payable on renovation costs. This fact would not explain the entire overrun and this is from a person, who at the time of his resignation from council a year earlier, was the budget chief and taxpayers’ representative regarding city expenditures and taxation levels.
This is also a person who stated qualifications at the time included 30 years of experience in banking and finance.
He also indicated that our current Mayor and a former CAO were aware of the overruns. Both subsequently denied this fact. However, after being fired from community services, he was mysteriously awarded a $200,000 plus golden handshake which speaks directly to this matter.
In a déjà vu moment another councillor, Marcus Tignanelli, recently resigned to take a job in the community services department. I think it must be $100,000 salaries and complete lack of responsibility that is the attraction.
Based on previous the voting preferences of North Bay citizens who seem to prefer style, or name recognition to the detriment of substance, don’t be surprised if he is the first choice, especially for those people in this city who are anxious that the status quo be maintained.
D. D. Rennick CPA, CA
North Bay
