Editor: If Jack Froese (letters, The Times, May 4) wants to make a serious attempt at seeking the mayor’s office, he needs to go back and do his homework. His support of Councillor Jordan Bateman’s accusations that Mayor Rick Green is “being a passenger” indicates that he has no knowledge of what has gone on in council meetings over the past two and one-half years.
From the first meeting following the 2008 election, Mayor Green has been the hardest worker on council. He has stood up to the bullying of Bateman and the “Kurt Alberts” majority.
The majority of council, led by Bateman along with Councillors Charlie Fox and Grant Ward, have displayed their displeasure that their beloved Alberts was defeated, right from that first council meeting in December 2008.
Bateman and company have fought Green’s every attempt at thinking outside the box to reduce tax increases. It is no wonder the mayor has learned to watch his words. The last time he attempted to hold the majority accountable for a taxpayer- funded $8.8 million blunder, they called in the RCMP to shut him up.
Even Councillor Kim Richter has now joined in, by proposing a motion to basically turn the mayor’s office into just another councillor’s position. Richter, with the unanimous support of all councillors, has sent a motion to Township lawyers to investigate eliminating the mayor’s post of all mayoral duties and responsibilities.
This would turn the mayor into a ninth councillor. Attendees at that meeting were left with the perception that even if Green needed more paper for his office printer, he needed a council vote of approval.
The present councillors have placed blame for Alberts’ defeat upon Green, but they have failed to acknowledge that it was the voters that kicked Alberts out of office.
Ben Penner,
Langley