Turner Valley town council voted unanimously to reinstate Coun. George Wallace after a tumultuous past 11 months in which the councillor was stripped of his duties.

Turner Valley councillor George Wallace has been reinstated with his full duties by council members, Feb. 1. Wheel file photo

In March, council unanimously passed a vote of non-confidence against Wallace. Since then, Wallace has attended council meetings and cast his vote, but he could not attend committee or board meetings as a council representative.

Following the vote of non-confidence, Mayor Dona Fluter would not clarify the reasoning behind the vote of non-confidence, but she did say a letter Wallace wrote to the Western Wheel criticizing council’s reasoning for the high cost of the new water reservoir played a part in the decision.

On Monday council agreed to reinstate Wallace. Following that meeting, Fluter said they agreed to allow Wallace to be a council representative on boards and committees because he has accepted the new code of conduct — as have all the council members.

“We believe Coun. Wallace has made a commitment to work within these guidelines (roles and responsibilities laid out in the 2010 Corporate Review) and the code of conduct and the Municipal Government Act (MGA),” said Fluter. “Our goal is to provide the community with the best representation we can.

“I look forward to him participating. He has made a commitment to work with council. That doesn’t mean we’re always going to agree, but that’s what makes a good council.”

There is no policy on speaking out publicly against decisions made by council among the newly clarified policies and procedures. However, Fluter said prior to council making a decision is the time to voice an opposing opinion.

“It’s your responsibility to convince me I should be thinking like you (when an issue is debated among council members). That’s where you have the opportunity to persuade your council,” said Fluter.

When Fluter said when she does not agree with a decision voted through by council, her approach is to show support for the process.

“I respect the rest of my council members, so I would speak about moving forward,” said Fluter.

Wallace said he is pleased to be able to once again carry out his responsibilities as a councillor.

“I’m happy. I’m very happy that I’m back on getting my input in and getting the information I’m looking for — it makes my job much easier,” said Wallace. “The advantage to taking me off of the committees was zero.”

Wallace first learned the rest of council was interested at reinstating him on Jan. 21 at a meeting to discuss the 2010 Corporate Review conducted by consultant Glenn Pitman.

Wallace said he doesn’t understand why council decided to reinstate him and he still doesn’t know why council stripped him of his committee appointments in the first place.

“I don’t know why they took me off and I don’t understand why they’re putting me back on, but I’m happy to be back on,” said Wallace.

He said he does regret the letter he wrote to the Western Wheel.

“I regret signing ‘councillor’ on that. I think that’s what made them (Turner Valley council) so uptight. I wish I’d have just signed my own name. I think they thought I was speaking for the council,” said Wallace. “I still believe I should be able to carry my opinion. But I may need to go about saying my opinion in a different way.”

tneely@okotoks.greatwest.ca

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