Just minutes after leaving a contentious Shelburne Municipal Council (MODS) meeting Monday, Sable River fire chief Todd Sisk physically confronted SCT editor Timothy Gillespie, threatening him with dire warnings if SCT published any stories mentioning Sisk or including his photo.
RCMP report advised
When advised by Gillespie that reporting on public meetings was "what I do", Sisk - at 6'2" and 250 pounds - suddenly rushed toward Gillespie and, puffing out his chest and pressing his face just inches away, hissed his threat to Gillespie that the editor would find himself "on the sharp point of a lawsuit" if he wrote anything negative about the fire chief.
Gillespie has been advised to report the threatening behaviour by Sisk to the local RCMP detachment.
The MODS meeting featured a presentation by Sisk and Fire Department board chair Marg Dawe, seeking support from MODS Council for funding to purchase a fire pumper to replace one recently condemned as not roadworthy.
After Sisk was told by Councilor Roger Taylor and others that support by the Sable River community would be essential to any MODS support, the meeting devolved into a contentious exchange between Sisk and members of council, with the chief insisting that he knew provincial law better than the councilors did regarding the Registry of Joint Stocks acceptance of members in a non-profit society.
$1.5 million area rate increase for Sable River property owners?
Sisk told Council that he had the community support he needed and also mentioned the controversial special resolution he authored, which he said authorized him to proceed in obtaining $1.5 million in funding, which would result in an area rate to Sable River property owners. The resolution has been challenged by Sable River residents, 125 of whom signed an appeal to government officials to quash the resolution.
Forgeries?
Despite all of the evidence to the contrary, Sisk insisted to Council that it was only six members of the Citizens group who were concerned with the financial and other irregularities in the operation of the Department. Sisk also accused the Citizens of using forged names on the appeal request.
Concerned Citizens represent Sable River community
Councilor Roger Taylor replied that, at the commmunity meeting organized by the Concerned Citizens, 60-80 residents showed up. When asked at the meeting whether they felt the Concerned Citizens represented their interests, the response was a resounding "yes."
Although Sisk is a very recent arrival to Sable River, he complained to Council that "There's just a small group of people who have made trouble for decades."
Accusations, hearsay and invective
Sisk and Dawe tried to introduce a letter from a former resident which was filled with accusations, hearsay and invective directed toward the Citizens, but a point of order was called and the recitation was cancelled.
Ignoring mediation agreement
Sisk and fellow board members signed a mediation agreement requiring the withdrawal of the funding resolution, but the Board presentation submitted to Council now challenges the validity of that agreement. At the Council meeting, Sisk insinuated that the resolution gave him and the Department permission to move forward on the purchase of new vehicles.
Continued bad faith
Responding to the Board's presentation in a letter to Council, the Citizens described that act as an example of the continued "bad faith" positions the Board has taken in the on-going conflict with the Citizens group. Other incidents of bad faith were iterated, including refusal to honour the agreement to provide Citizens with Board documents surrounding business discussed at their meetings, refusal to provide Citizens with a copy of the Standard Operating Guidelines of the Department and arbitrarily terminating a mandated revision of department by-laws, among other actions.
Where is the report?
Sisk has refused to provide records to residents for the repairs he insists were necessary to Department vehicles. Councilor John Roscoe questioned Sisk on the matter. "Why would you refuse to provide copies of the paperwork to local citizens?", he asked. "Where is the report?"
Resolution scenarios
During the meeting, outgoing CAO Ken Smith gave an update of the conflict to Council, after explaining that there had been little recent progress in resolving the issues between the groups. Smith outlined five different possible scenarios for a resolution, which he expects to elaborate on at a January Council meeting. The options included a change in Council policy regarding funding for fire departments, a broad and long-term review of fire service needs of eastern Shelburne County and a facilitation process to work through the differences of the two groups. There has been discussion among councilors of consolidating fire departments in the eastern County.
Need to show community support
Two Councilors asked Dawe and Sisk how they possibly expected to get any support from MODS for purchase of new fire fighting equipment if they cannot show that the community is solidly behind them, adding that there seemed to be a wide gulf between the two factions. Sisk insisted that, despite all evidence to the contrary, they had the support of the community.
SEE CONCERNED CITIZENS LETTER TO COUNCIL RE: FIRE DEPT PRESENTATION
