Commissioners head off Craig’s involvement in Kingston affairs

BY NANCY KELLY

Kings County Register

Months of discord between members of the Kingston village commission came to a head at the group’s November 12 meeting.

Since June, tension at the village meetings has been increasing, with Muriel Craig increasingly at odds with her four fellow commissioners over procedure, protocol and village issues.

A motion brought foward November 12 by waste water commissioner David Lowe, calling for the elimination of the tourism portfolio, held by Craig since she joined the commission nearly nine years ago; added fuel to the fire.

Chairman Steve Nickerson said the motion came about as a result of discussions held between commission officials, village staff and a representative of Service Nova Scotia, which governs the Municipal Government Act. He confirmed Craig was not part of the discussion, or made aware of the decision to eliminate her portfolio, prior to the meeting.

In making the motion, Lowe called it a necessary move to ensure cross-training of commissioners should Craig choose not to re-offer for another term next spring. None of the other village portfolios held by Lowe, Dale Clarke and Lorne Reid are currently under review.

Craig was visibly surprised and shaken at the meeting. “Frankly, I was shocked when David pulled out that piece of paper with the motion on it.”

She charges the motion was prepared for him to present at the meeting. "It didn't look like he thought it up on the spot. This move was clearly planned and without my knowledge."

Later at the meeting, Craig was dealt a second blow when the commission failed to endorse her as the village representative on the Kingston Steer Barbecue committee. Craig has worked as part of the steer barbecue partnership on behalf of the village for many years. The commission instead chose a member of the village public works staff to attend meetings.

Tension increased again when clerk/ treasurer Bill McKennan presented a code of conduct, ratified and signed immediately by all commissioners - with the exception of Craig. She said the document was first presented to her at “an emergency meeting” the week previous. At that time, it was inferred the document was drafted in response to her interactions with village staff and to “put her in her place. “Before I sign anything, I want a record of complaints against me,” said Craig when contacted November 13.

Citing privacy issues, Nickerson said he couldn’t be more specific about the village’s current interpersonal and legal troubles, but he did confirm the village is dealing with several legal proceedings and community complaints at the moment.

He defended the commission’s November 12 actions affecting Craig, saying while “painful,” they will help create a more functional group. “We needed to clear the air and create a healthier work environment. We did what we had to do to achieve that goal.”

Craig, it seems, is prepared to do the same to clear her reputation with the commission. “I am not sure what avenue I am going to take, but I am not done with this. And I am not a quitter, so I won’t walk away from my duties as a commissioner for the village.”

Craig says her focus is to remain “productive” and fulfill the remainder of her term, which ends in May 2009.