To the Editor,
I felt compelled to write when I saw the editorial regarding the Keremeos core services review. While these reviews are often marketed as neutral third party reviews this is far from the truth. For example, the company KPMG (which is involved in core service reviews in Prince George and Vernon) is a sponsor member of the Canadian Council for Public Private Partnerships. I find it hard to believe that this company would not have a bias for privatization.
Instead of looking outwards and paying tens of thousands of dollars for a consultant to come in and review municipal services, we should be looking to our own employees, managers and citizens. Keremeos has excellent, qualified, competent employees who could provide insight on how the Village could run better. CUPE municipal workers support internal evaluations, including evalu ations of contracted out services, in order to achieve efficiencies and improved services.
In addition to the cost of the review taxpayers will also be on the hook for the hours of work the employees must dedicate to
the review. While employees and managers are locating documents for the review or speaking with the consultant their own daily duties will be put aside. I sincerely hope that the village will be keeping track of the staff costs for this review so the taxpayers know exactly how much money this review cost them.
Brian Hillson, Acting President CUPE 608