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Communications function good to have if district can afford it

The $100,000 core review has already started to help municipality

Editor, The Record:

Letters from ousted councillors Paul Horn and Mike Scudder are a further attempt by former politicians to rewrite history through rose-coloured glasses.

The results of a core review are but a snapshot and fodder for establishment of action plans.

The published results of the core services review indicate some areas the district is doing well and areas requiring improvements. But too much confusion, fear and controversy existed, each being exacerbated and not likely to go away. The review was a sound business idea to try and establish a foundation.

Mr. Horn still does not get it. Sadly, he takes one recommendation, again out of context and from his misguided perspective, robbing substance from the “call for re-establishment of a communications function.” Clearly, in context to a community need, clear communication is paramount and if affordable, a public relations officer is a valuable asset.

However, this was not the fact and the scenarios emerging were the previous council made and announced decisions, culminating most notably with the PSIT debacle. Hence, the public was aware of what was happening regardless of district statements to the contrary. This spawned perceptions of hiring a spin-doctor to presumably get district opinion published in such a way as to  get public favour for district decisions. The public, and presumably CRMG candidates, recognized this folly and all felt the position ought to be terminated.

Thus, returning to a public relations communication need, for the right reasons, may be evident and prudent, but it could be as simple as employing a person or retaining a public relations firm, as needed, to vet media releases, convene interviews or write scripts, as need arises.

The $100,000 core review has already helped our community.

George F. Evens

Mission