SYS Supervisor Statement: Part 1 of an update on the work to be done during the remaining supervisory mandate:
Note: this is a long statement

Dear SYSRC Residents:

This is Part 1 or 2 statements.

I am in the last four months or so of my supervisory assignment. The purpose of this week’s two statements is to provide a high-level list of the work and/or statements that are currently mapped out to be done between now and the immediate post election period.

There will be a full reporting on each issue at the time it is addressed and completed. The list is at a very high level with little detail because in most cases, details don’t exist yet. It is in a somewhat chronological order, but the order could change, either because some work took longer than planned or because new issues appeared and affected the order.

There could also be other topics uncovered as we go along or I may have forgotten one or two but for now this is the list. Nothing is cast in stone. This list is forward looking so none of the activities and work done prior to this are included.

Here is the list of work:

• Paying the bills and keeping the lights on
• Following up on residents’ concerns as they pop up
• Staying on top of potential emergencies
• Posting a series of seven statements over seven consecutive weekdays on the topics of effective governance and election engagement
• Developing information kits for council election candidates…a statement will announce when they are ready
• Developing and implementing financial and administrative processes:
  • In the coming weeks, we will complete our assessment of finance practices at SYSRC
  • This process will allow us to identify strengths and areas of improvement for current policies, processes, systems, tools etc.
  • Using this analysis, we will be able to make improvements over the coming weeks/months to ensure that all key finance functions are controlled, transparent and solidified for the future and to propose further changes to the next council if and as necessary
  • This will ensure strong financial management and transparency in accounting, financial reporting, purchasing, policies and practices
  • This work will include a review of the past actions and a professional recommendation on whether a forensic audit is a warranted expenditure
  • There will be a statement on this
• Work on the Development of an Emergency Operations Committee:
  • This committee will be created before the next council is sworn in as an interim committee
  • A statement will come out on this and will layout the plan and timelines for implementation
• Posting an update on the Fire Exit roads activities since the SYSRC proposal
• Hiring of interim clerk (previously reported in December) and transfer of duties from the Supervisor to the clerk…there will be a statement
• Working on By-laws (work and update):
  • Several by-laws were scheduled to be passed in third reading before loss of council quorum
  • We are going to review those to insure they match updated NB legislative requirements enacted in 2025 and amend if and as needed
  • We will run a comparison between all the by-laws currently on the books in SYSRC versus those in our neighbouring communities to see if we have glaring omissions in comparison to those communities
  • Applicable new by-laws will be drafted
  • A decision will be made as to which by-laws need to be passed before the next council arrives and which can be recommended for passage by the next council
  • All draft by-laws that need to be passed prior to the next council will be posted on the SYSRC web page and Facebook for 30 days giving all of you a change to comment in writing before they are adopted
  • Those by-laws that can wait will be presented as recommendations to the next council
• Policies and procedures (work and update):
  • Essentially the same process as for the by-laws will be followed
• Human Resources (HR) plan and policies:
  • Once the final report from the consultant is delivered the results will be posted as well as the report in its entirety
  • The report will propose a permanent HR structure going forward including job roles, job descriptions, desired education, training and experience and salary scale
  • No one will be hired permanently unless by the next council
• Doing follow-ups to the February series on governance and the election sometimes in April to answer the questions that were asked by you during the first go-round in February and a reminder to stay engaged and to vote
• Doing an update on the Fire Smart Survey when there is information to report
• Preparing a final report to Council including recommendations to council:
  • There is much more information on this item in Part 2 tomorrow
• Preparing a briefing binder for the new council:
  • There is more information on this item in Part 2 tomorrow
• Swearing in and directing the training of the new council and staff:
  • There is more information in Part 2 tomorrow
• Preparing and presenting a report to the Local Governance Commission (LGC) on the lessons learned from the mandate
• Saying my goodbyes in a statement as I leave you

More information on the final report to council, swearing in process and training for council members and staff are in Part 2 which comes tomorrow.

Don Ferguson
Supervisor SYSRC