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by Kathleen MartensA Rural Municipality of Russell councillor appeared at my desk one Wednesday upset about the reaction he was getting to comments he had made, which were published in a news story in the Feb. 17 issue.He was distressed, said Coun. George Olshewski, because his words had caused “hard feelings.”Now this may be true, but holding public office is not a popularity contest. And expressing your opinion in the course of making a decision on behalf of your constituency is not easy - especially when yours is the dissenting vote.But asking the press not to print comments in order to spare feelings is censorship and we defend the right to print public comments just as Olshewski has the right to speak his mind.If the expressed opinion is based on personal feelings and not on the overall good of the project and benefit to the municipality, then a councillor should expect some tough questions. Either way, public officials should be prepared to support, and at times, defend their decisions.Olshewski was the only councillor who objected to giving the $1,500 job of building a rig sprayer to Ernie Olson of Millwood. The rest of the council encouraged Olshewski, who made it clear he was unhappy with the proposal, to state his reasons for opposition - and he did.“You should have just said I was against it,” Olshewski pressed. “The whole council is upset you used those words and everyone agrees with them (council).”The sprayer job was not publicly tendered so councillors were relying on their knowledge of Olson’s work and the recommendations of his councillor, Dennis Trinder, to make their decisions. Olshewski did the same.To not mention Olshewski’s reasons - or his words - would have been unfair to Mr. Olson and to rural residents who reply on the press to tell them what happens at council meetings.But Olshewski didn’t leave it at that.He threatened that the press would no longer be allowed at council meetings, which is the same as locking the door to the public, and indicated the press would now have difficulty obtaining interviews with RM of Russell councillors.“I don’t think anyone will comment to you anymore.”He also hinted that future council decisions would be made in private, by a motion to go in camera.Coun. Alvin Kingdon has gone so far to say he is largely silent at meetings for fear of being quoted.Is that the proper conduct of a public official? How do his constituents know he is voicing their concerns?It is evident that Coun. Olshewski, who joined council after a byelection win by acclamation in November, has been getting some poor advice. That’s unfortunate, because he has a great opportunity here to change the direction of business it seems his council will be taking.He can decide not to conform and go on the record as opposing in camera sessions when they’re not necessary. He can also insist that council conduct its business in an open forum.Olshewski was, and still is, encouraged to express his views on the issue in a letter to this newspaper. The public will be interested in hearing his opinion and that of his council.
Newspaper Details
Russell Banner
Russell, Manitoba, CA
Wed, Mar 16, 1988
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
CA 05 May 2019
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