Who could this councillor be calling?

Posted Feb 2, 2012 By Dorothy Ellis

Dear Editor,

Aren't we all happy that once again it is that time of year when we have to pay our property tax? Now, I don't mind paying my fair share of tax understanding that the municipality provides services to us all. But what burns me is when I recognize and become aware of waste in the municipal governance system at a time when a lot of regular folks are struggling. I've become aware through the Municipality of Centre Hastings vouchers for January 25 council meeting that Councillor Kramp-Neuman's cell phone billing to be paid by the municipality totals $799.96 and one of these bills was in the amount of $404.99. It must be noted that none of the other councillors have submitted cell bills on this month's vouchers. This raises a significant question, "Who could this councillor be calling on behalf of the municipality to rack up these kinds of bills, especially knowing that cell phone bills have been almost nil from other councillors? The perception is readily becoming that this kind of billing is an abuse of the system.

Question! Does the municipal policy allow councillors to submit for payment their personal cell phone calls from their private cell phone? I understand that Ms. Kramp-Neuman does not have an assigned "municipal phone." Why is it that this particular councillor does not list her home phone number on the municipal web site when every other council member including the reeve does?

It is time Councillor Kramp-Neuman became aware of the reality of the financial hardship many taxpayers in our municipality endure and begin to demonstrate constraint.

Dorothy Ellis, Roslin