"If we don't, who will?"

North Bay’s agencies, boards and commissions will be invited to brief city council about their budget cuts this Thursday, though not all councilors think it’s a good idea.

Council approved a motion by Coun. Maureen Boldt Monday night calling for the ABCs to publicly identify their budget reductions.

Very important information be shared
Budget chief Peter Chirico said last Thursday the ABCs have found savings in their budgets.

And Boldt said last night it’s “very important” that information be shared with the public.

“This will be the first time in my memory that a council has asked the ABCs to come back to them and it just shows how seriously we’re taking this budget process and how we expect them to follow our wishes,” Boldt said.

“Even though they can levy us, we still asked them to cut their spending and I believe most of them have good news for us and we should tell the public that in public.”

Double-edged sword
While Coun. Daryl Vaillancourt said he would support Boldt’s motion he believes it could also turn into a double-edged sword.

“We’re asking them the same questions twice,” Vaillancourt said, “so I support this because I know the citizens have to see it, but at the same time I don’t see what this will do for us as a council.”

Vaillancourt was also concerned having the ABCs back could begin to harm the “healthy working relationship we have with them.”

Never hidden
With the final budget wrap-up meeting on Thursday, Chirico said time has become a little too tight to ask the ABCs to make a second set of presentations. He offered instead to provide summaries Thursday of revised ABC budgets.

“We are going to deal with this in public, it was never hidden and then all of a sudden the levy or whatever from the ABCs is dropped upon the public,” Chirico said.

“It's just the logistics of getting them all back that’s the biggest problem, and the timing, so I’m not going to support the motion to ask them back.”

Put it on paper
Coun. Tom Mason said city departments have reduced their budgets by three per cent where as the ABCs originally came to council three weeks ago with a six per cent increase.

“Let’s bring these agencies, boards and commissions back to the public chamber, lets see what they’ve done, let them put it on paper in black and white and show us where they have saved the taxpayer money,” Mason said.

“Yes we’re making progress with the ABCs but we must continue to have transparency, to have accountability, we must question and challenge these ABCs, because if we don’t who will?”

Coun. Dave Mendicino said he’d like to see ABCs come back to council.

“I see a big turnaround this year and obviously we have taken them to task,” Mendicino said.

“I think the ABCs are getting the message, where they certainly weren’t getting it last year, and this year they’re getting hammered again.”

Accountable to the public
At the same time, though, Mendicino said he’d be satisfied hearing a summary of ABCS cuts Thursday night from Chirico and stated he would vote against the motion.

Likewise, said Coun. Mike Anthony.

“Your idea is good and we can do it next year, but this year I don’t think we have enough time to get them back,” Anthony said.

Coun. Sarah Campbell said it all comes down one thing.

“They are accountable to the public no matter what they do, they serve the public and serve the public well,” Campbell said.

“And it will be in their best interests to make an appointment to be here, and they should be keen to stand here and show to the public that they’ve cut their budgets, and they shouldn’t be shy at all about coming back again.”

Boldt called for a recorded vote. Chirico, Anthony and Mendicino were all opposed to the motion while the rest of council including Mayor Vic Fedeli were in favour.