The Town of Hanna council revisited discussions on updates to the town’s purchasing policy, the continuation of the Bylaw Officer program and the potential addition of a four-way stop downtown at the Nov. 12 meeting..
Council reviewed a revised purchasing policy that grants administrative staff greater flexibility for purchases under $25,000, with decisions guided by factors such as price, reliability and service quality.
Larger purchases or those requiring resources unavailable locally allow administration to seek competitive pricing outside the community.
To enhance efficiency and service delivery, administration would have the authority to approve purchases under $25,000 without requiring council input.
The policy also emphasizes prioritizing local purchasing when feasible, while permitting external sourcing to achieve cost and time efficiencies.
It was noted that membership in programs through the Rural Municipalities Association and Alberta Municipalities provides cost-saving opportunities without requiring competitive bids and spending authority and emergency purchasing procedures were clearly outlined in the policy.
“I have confidence in the staff to do the right thing by the municipality,” said Chief Administrative Office (CAO) Matthew Norburn, stating he would like to avoid unnecessary red tape for purchases.
“Our staff is more than capable,” said Mayor Danny Povaschuk. “I don’t think we need to micro-manage them.”
Council approved the Town of Hanna Purchasing Policy as presented.
Bylaw Officer
Following discussions at its Oct. 30 meeting, council decided to continue the bylaw officer program as a replacement for the peace officer program.
Council agreed on the necessity of a bylaw officer and proposed contracting the position under terms similar to the previous agreement, which offered part-time, flexible enforcement services totalling approximately 966 hours annually.
It was also agreed that the peace officer vehicle should be rebranded with updated decals and labelling to align with the bylaw officer role. This change falls within the existing budget.
Council approved the continuation of the program and directed administration to proceed with hiring a contracted bylaw officer and rebranding the vehicle.
Four-way stop
Further to discussions during the Oct. 30 information meeting, council debated the addition of a four-way stop at Second Avenue and Second Street West to improve pedestrian safety downtown.
Discussions revealed a lack of clear evidence that the proposed stop would significantly enhance safety, with some councillors noting that existing measures were sufficient to manage traffic speed and pedestrian crossings.
Mayor Povaschuk shared feedback from a social media poll he conducted, noting results were evenly split.
“It was 50-50,” he said, adding, “Council should leave it as is and reassess later on.”
Council chose not to proceed with the installation of a four-way stop and directed administration to remove the artificial stop lines at the intersection.
Cheryl Bowman
Multimedia reporter
ECA Review
