Lac La Biche County councillor John Nowak used a public meeting during budget discussions to say he would like to add a lot of money to the 2017 financial picture for severance pay for complacent workers.
Lac La Biche County Councilor John Nowak said he wants to “instill” fear in complacent county workers who aren’ t doing their jobs.
During a discussion at Tuesday’ s council meeting about the 2017 budget and where funding allocations should go, Nowak stated he wanted the county to dedicate a big sum of money into severance packages for some county employees.
Nowak’ s reasoning was to motivate employees he feels aren’ t doing their jobs to be better workers by taking away their job security.
“There’ s just too much complacency,” said Nowak. “We hear about people who are afraid they’ re going to get fired and the only time you should fear for your job is if you’ re not doing your job and if you’ re not doing your job you should leave.”
Nowak believes there are county workers who are too confident in staying employed regardless of how well they are performing their jobs. He thinks the county dedicating a large portion of next year’ s budget to severance packages will show them that municipal officials are prepared to clean house if necessary.
Nowak did say that the fear tactics would only be directed at those not performing to county standards.
“People don’ t have that fear anymore,” he said. “And I want to instill that fear in them.”
Those doing their job properly need not be concerned.
Nowak felt many eyesores around the county make the area look less appealing than it should. He said staff should be directed to clean up the community, not ignore it. He referred to issues such as abandoned, burnt-out vehicles and concrete blocks along the sides of roads, and fallen signs that had not been put back up. He also said the exterior appearance of MacArthur Place was an issue.
“McArthur Place looks shabby and worn out and people do not care,” he said, believing these things had to have been noticed and simply not addressed by municipal staff. “Workers need to be reminded to do their best for the community.”
Nowak’ s outburst, and his passion for the topic, brought some colourful language to the public.
“There seems to be a complacency towards improvements that could be made in the community. That’ s complete sh-t.”
Nowak says he has been so disillusioned by what he sees as a lack of work ethic by some employees that it might affect his local political future.
“I have one year left here and I’ m not sure if I want to come back. There’ s just too much complacency!”
Councilor Wanda Austin, while less vocal, but said she agreed with Nowak’ s take on the issue.
“I agree with John,” said Austin. “I don’ t like people who don’ t pull their own weight.”
Just before Mayor Omer Moghrabi, brought the meeting back to discussion on other budget issues, Nowak made certain it was known he was serious about his comments going public, finishing his outburst with, “...and I hope the paper got all this so that everyone can know.”
Lac La Biche County currently employs approximately 180 staff members. Contract positions are also part of the municipality’ s workforce.
