Mob rule

Few will mourn the departure of Merlin Dewing from Shire Hall. The former chief administrative officer was civil and courteous, but rarely engaging. He wasn’t warm or friendly. He didn’t put his energy into currying favour among council, staff or the public he served. He was direct and dispassionate.

Merlin Dewing came to Prince Edward County to do a job. A difficult job. Last week, council dumped him for doing that job.

When Dewing arrived in October 2011, he inherited an administration that was burdened by inflexible labour contracts and saddled with more than 80 buildings, with neither the means nor a plan to look after them. It was staggering under the weight of a crumbling network of roads, bridges and waterworks, a pile of debt and a culture of complacency.

“Because we’ve always done it this way.” It was the refrain that echoed from every corner of the municipality when Dewing first toured County facilities. Since amalgamation, no one had asked why, or how, things were done. No one had asked if there was a better way.

Meanwhile, the tax burden on residents had more than doubled, and services were deteriorating.

This is the swamp he walked into. And while many of these challenges remain with us—and will for some time— Dewing established order, responsibility and clarity where previously there was only the way things had always been done.

Dewing demanded more from every employee. In return, he delivered training and career mobility. Merit determined advancement.

He challenged the community to take ownership of its halls, libraries and museums. Some viewed these challenges as threats to beloved community places. But looked at another way, the CAO was doing what others wouldn’t—being honest and straightforward about the prospects to renew these spaces. And in his way he was helping the community protect these assets. But few saw it this way.

Perhaps most dangerously, Dewing insisted that council understand its role— that it learn the distinction between governance and administration. But many council members reacted poorly when the Municipal Act was explained to them.

“We were elected to run the County,” they argued. Many of them still believe this.

These councillors had become accustomed to picking up the phone and calling the public works garage to arrange for a backhoe over to clear a constituent’s ditch or cut back some brush. It was likely an unfair and unwieldy system even when the townships were on their own, but today the County is a $50 million business, with more needs than resources. It likely didn’t work then. It certainly doesn’t work now.

Besides, governance is hard. It requires folks to sit down to debate policy, define procedures and prescribe enforcement. They must consider the implications of their decisions. They must work within financial constraints.

To be clear, my lament is not for Merlin Dewing. He made mistakes. The municipality lost some folks who deserved to be treated better. He made choices that, in some ways, may make the County a more expensive place to live.

But restructuring an organization of this size and complexity was always going to lead to some unintended consequences and to make some folks unhappy. It was always going to be messy business cleaning up a decade or more of neglect. Dewing understood that, but it didn’t shake his resolve to do his job to the best of his abilities.

Besides, Dewing will come out just fine.

It is you and I who will pay for this fiasco. This new council began with such promise. A week-long budget process diligently undertaken. Then nothing. Nearly four months later, their only significant achievement is an empty CAO chair.

With this single act they have propelled the municipality backward, likely into disarray for some time.

Every management decision will be second-guessed. Difficult choices will be deferred. Paralysis will take hold. We are adrift.

Perhaps my greatest disappointment in this mess is in Mayor Robert Quaiff. He had the opportunity in these past two weeks to demonstrate leadership by heading off this ill-advised confrontation before it became a full-blown disaster. Instead, he followed the mob.

Mayor Quaiff said in a statement on Friday that Dewing’s leadership approach no longer aligned with the vision of the current council. Okay—so let’s hear it, Mayor Quaiff. Please explain to the 25,000 residents of Prince Edward County what you have in mind for these next four years. Are we going forward or back?

This had better be good.

rick@wellingtontimes.ca