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Blaine Lake in ‘chaos’ after administrator quits: Reeve

Jun 29, 2017 | 9:58 AM

In the words of the reeve, the Rural Municipality of Blaine Lake is trying to get back on its feet.

“Chaos is what it is,” Reeve Will Chalmers said Wednesday.

Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Bertha Buhler recently quit amid serious allegations.

Her resignation letter states: “the continual barrage of verbal assaults, harassment and pressure against the CAO to execute the duties of the CAO in a manner that is unbecoming, morally unethical and without motion of council is unacceptable.”

Chalmers said there were concerns about one or two councillors in particular, but he declined to name them.

“She’s confided in myself that his presence in the room scares her. She mentioned that because of him and another councillor, she actually had the sergeant for the detachment of the RCMP, his personal cell phone is on speed dial on her phone,” Chalmers said about the former CAO.

Buhler’s resignation letter also states,”the continuing action has led to a highly toxic work environment that has jeopardized the health, safety and personal well-being of myself in such a manner that I find there is no other recourse to protect myself but to resign as CAO for the RM of Blaine Lake.”

According to Chalmers, residents are impacted in several ways without an administrator . They can’t make municipal hail claims, and there’s no one to handle reassessment concerns and appeals.

A special meeting is scheduled for Wednesday evening, during which councillors hope to appoint an acting administrator.

Blaine Lake is 82 kilometres north of Saskatoon.

 

ccarr@ckom.com

On Twitter: @ChrisCarr15