Three of Norman Wells council walk out in eight-minute meeting

A Norman Wells council meeting was abandoned after just eight minutes on Tuesday as three members walked out.

Council passed a resolution last week calling on one of its number, Heidi Hodgson, to resign over allegations she leaked confidential materials, among other concerns.

Hodgson denies violating council procedures and bylaws. She says she is being targeted for raising questions about governance, litigation and financial oversight.

According to its agenda, Tuesday evening’s council meeting was set to scrutinize the latest RCMP figures, monthly reports from senior staff and a presentation from the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.

“Sanctions” also formed an agenda item.

In the event, virtually none of the agenda was covered. Within two minutes, an attendee identified by staff as councillor Trevor Smith had hung up after pressing Hodgson for a written apology and receiving none.

Accusing Hodgson of disseminating “libellous statements” by email, Smith told council: “I will excuse myself from this meeting and I will be getting in touch with you all later on, some time in the future.”

Hodgson, in an email after this article was first published, wrote: “I do not believe an apology is warranted for holding and expressing a minority view about governance and litigation strategy.”

In a brief lull, council managed to approve the night’s agenda, ask one question about the RCMP monthly report and approve a prior meeting’s minutes.

At that point, Mayor Frank Pope spoke.

“We as a council have wasted many hours dealing with internal matters caused by a member of this council,” Pope said.

“This has impacted our work for our community – hours of valuable time wasted on crap. No more. That ends now. Instead of one step forward, two steps back, it’s going to be three steps forward and no looking back.”

Pope said the town’s senior administrator, Cathy Clarke, had “taken the majority of abuse, bullying, and inflammatory comments from a councillor and others in this community.”

“She took it all in stride, without one derogatory remark in response, until the bullying impacted on her staff. Then she became a grizzly bear in their defence from the bullying and improper remarks,” the mayor said.

“I wish to apologize to Ms Clarke, her staff and those members of council who do work so hard for our community that I did not personally do enough to protect them. For that, I apologize to all of you.

“Tomorrow is a new day. As of 9am tomorrow morning, I will be at our office, revitalized and ready to battle for our community with a dedicated team of council and staff working together.”

Pope said the town needed to focus on its residents, the “horrendous” cost of living and fuel resupply as the community’s largest employer, Imperial Oil, begins shutting down the oil field that has operated in Norman Wells for the past century.

“I am right now going to leave this meeting, take a short mental health break, go outside in the beautiful northern air – which is freezing cold right now – and I want to reflect,” the mayor concluded before leaving the room.

Councillor Bob Greek followed Pope in exiting the meeting, leaving town governance officer Taylor Machura to declare it without quorum and adjourn proceedings at 7:08pm.

Pope could not be reached following the meeting for comment.