Wanted: Man or woman of steel to enforce town bylaws. Requirements: A thick skin and the ability to put up with abuse from the public. Wage: Depending on experience, but don’t expect to live off it.
It was unfortunate to hear that Marie-Eve Roberge left her position only after a month on the job. Apparently, she was subjected to a litany of abuse from the public, which is appalling to hear.
If you contravene a bylaw, you can expect either a warning or a ticket, and often a discount if you pay the fine within a certain period. Those are the rules and people are expected to abide by them. If the Town didn’t have rules, imagine the chaos that would ensue.
There is no need or excuse to berate an employee for doing his or her job. If you park downtown, you should know the rules. If you’re a visitor with a tent, you should find out where you’re allowed to camp. If you contravene a bylaw and get caught, you should be expected to pay the fine or have a really good excuse not to.
But don’t verbally abuse the bylaw enforcement officer if he or she doesn’t show you the discretion you think you deserve. Take your lumps and learn from the experience.
We give bylaw enforcement officers a lot of credit for what they do. It’s a thankless job, and the public often looks upon these people as the enemy. But we often forget that these individuals are working on our behalf to keep the order in and the chaos out.
Roberge acknowledged that she wasn’t suited for the job. She’s accustomed to people being nice to her, not treating her like an incorrigible leper.
We also suspect that her comments about Loose Bay didn’t help her cause in the community. Despite this, she has valid concerns about the treatment of migrant workers in Oliver and Osoyoos.
We are encouraged to hear that Marshall Enforcement Services are looking for a replacement for Roberge to act as a liaison between the community and French Canadian pickers. But again, that person will need nerves of steel to put up with all the abuse.
Look at how the RCMP does it. They have a special aboriginal constable (Sue Harper) to deal with issues on the Indian reserves in Oliver and Keremeos. It works well and bridges an important gap in these communities.
