Editor:
I feel compelled to write regarding the changes in the city bylaws department, as outlined in the front-page story in the March 24 edition of KTW (‘Saying bye to the bylaws department’).
Full-time employees working in the department should be grandfathered and exempt from taking the physical assessment test. Or, at the least, the city should base the requirements on years of service.
When they were originally hired, there were no expectations of passing any such fitness test.
Having previously worked for BC Sheriffs Service, I knew that, as part of my employment, I needed to pass the Sheriffs’ Officer Physical Ability Test.
Taking the test at 35 years of age was stressful enough. I certainly would not want to take it at 60.
I can understand why this would cause added stress to employees and create a “toxic” work environment, as was alleged by a former bylaws employee Don McConnell.
Put yourself in the shoes of an employee such as McConnell, with 30-plus years employment.
I am appalled that he had to make the decision to retire early, which undoubtedly he has been penalized for in his monthly pension payments.
Let’s leave the policing in our city to the people trained to do so — Kamloops Mounties.
Kel Ly
Kamloops
