EXCLUSIVE: Former Vancouver Chief Electrical Inspector Ark Tsisserev’s Firing–Anatomy of the Hatchet Job: Dr. Penny Ballem Hides Behind Surrogates, Mayor Robertson Deep in Fantasyland
Through the weekend and beginning of this week, I’ve been listening to a variety of different voices from City Hall. To describe the morale of city staffers as being at an all-time low, is to understate the case by a country mile. More so, the concerns from some very dedicated and qualified people about the aftermath of Ark Tsisserev’s firing, are as wholly palpable as they are deeply troubling.
Last month, when Mr. Tsisserev was dismissed as City Electrician and Chief Electrical Inspector, the actual act of the dismissal may have been illegal. Additionally, the reasons cited by Dr. Penny Ballem to ace-reporter Janet Brown of CKNW (“it’s restructuring”), and the reasons given to Mr. Tsisserev by his superiors (provided to me exclusively by a staffer), are worlds apart. Worse yet, the appointment of Mr. Tsisserev’s replacement may have put the public at risk, and that’s the opinion of dozens of electrical life safety experts in Vancouver.
And in my opinion, the City Charter has been violated as a result of heavy-handedness of the robotic sycophants under Dr. Penny Ballem’s reign of error.
For the purpose of keeping the chronology clear, let’s do a little retrospective and introduce some new facts that have been shared exclusively with this writer (I’m sure you understand the reason to protect city staff in any case, considering the iron-gloved intimidation that has become the hallmark of Dr. Ballem’s tenure):
1) Ark Tsisserev is hardly the Machiavellian type that you would expect to encounter, after the way he was spectacularly bounced from City Hall. He arrived from the Ukraine in 1978, with a Masters and PhD in Electrical Engineering. Other than the shirt on his back, he brought an honesty and integrity that many city staffers today maintain will never be seen again. In his efforts to become accredited in Canada, he actually re-read a Masters in Winnipeg and re-sat examinations earning his degree all over again–without a whimper, without a complaint. His polite, stoic, mild-mannered and highly competent ways are legendary at City Hall.
2) In the years prior to arriving in Vancouver, Mr. Tsisserev became widely regarded as one of the most celebrated electrical and life safety experts in Canada. He was an award-winning professional before (and after) being hired in Vancouver.
3) Arkady Tsisserev was appointed to the position of “City Electrician” in January of 1994 by the then sitting Vancouver City Council in accordance with Section 162 of the Vancouver Charter. He spent 16 years employed at the City, in a stellar career that mentored and lead dozens of happy, professional and qualified staffers–without a single complaint–ever.
The relevant section of the Charter reads:
The Council (meaning City Council only);
(a) may establish and equip such departments and officers as it may from time to time deem expedient in the exercise of its powers, and may assign
such functions and duties to the persons employed in such departments and offices as the Council may from time to time decide;
(b) may provide for the appointment, suspension, and removal of such employees as may be considered necessary, and may fix their remuneration and hours of work, and shall require that their appointment, promotion, and change of status be based on merit and fitness. (1953-55-162; 1955-114-6; 1957-85-6)” (Section 162, Vancouver City Charter)
So, how does this square with the General Manager at City Hall firing Ark Tsisserev as if he were a simple employee?
4) On the morning of January 21st., 2010, Bob Cornwell, the shop steward of the union representing the city electrical inspectors, and one other electrical inspector, Jason Rowley, were terminated as part of the budgetary layoffs announced by the City of Vancouver. Messers. Cornwell and Rowley received 60-day notices (but NOT Mr. Tsisserev). Both inspectors were respected and competent by all accounts. Some time during that same morning, Ark Tsisserev was summoned to appear at 2PM in the office of City of Vancouver General Manager David McLellan (who reports directly to City Manager, Dr. Penny Ballem). Upon arrival, Mr. Tsisserev was informed that he was being dismissed as a result of “budgetary” reasons (confirmed to me by two city staffers). Mr. McLellan then requested the return of Mr. Tsisserev’s Blackberry and ID-Access card(s). He was then ordered by Mr. McLellan back to his former office to remove all of his personal belongings which at the time was impossible, considering his 16 years of service (I’m told he was subsequently allowed to come in after hours to retrieve personal items). After this brief visit to his former office, Mr. Tsisserev was escorted to his car and was seen leaving City Hall property immediately thereafter.
It’s interesting to note that the City went to great lengths to announce that not a single employee affected by their budget cuts would be laid off prior to the end of the Games and that sixty days notice would be provided to give them ample time to exercise whatever options they enjoyed under the terms of any union contracts. Mr. Tsisserev (as a manager) didn’t enjoy the protection of a union contract, but under the Charter his position as City Electrician (formally appointed by City Council) was considered sacrosanct. I wonder which “games” Dr. Ballem was referring to…
My perusal of the City Charter leads me to Section 312.
(1) There shall be a City Electrician appointed by the Council who shall
have such duties and powers in addition to those provided by this Act as the
Council may from time to time prescribe.(2) If the City of Vancouver enters into an agreement under Section 5 of the
Safety Standards Act, the City Electrician is a Local Safety Manager for the
purposes of the Safety Standards Act.” (Section 312, Vancouver City Charter)
Specifically, Mr. Tsisserev’s former position as “City Electrician” is mandated by Section 312 of the Vancouver Charter, which makes no reference whatsoever to budgetary issues as a means of defining either his “fitness or merit” for the position. This means that only an amendment to the Charter can affect any change in his status as an officer under the Charter.
Question(s):
Notwithstanding the incredibly damaging manner with which this man was summarily tossed, where the hell is the motion from Council? Better yet, change of the Charter comes only from Victoria, and NO such change exists…
But remember, the Mayor knows nothing about this matter as he told the always capable Lisa Rossington of CTV Vancouver. In fact, council had no clue about the dismissal(s), including of union members–leaders of which are said to be quietly seething, considering the overwhelming support they provided Vision Vancouver in the last election.
And isn’t the Mayor the head of council?
This all begs the additional question: ”Who is running City Hall?” Mayor Robertson’s lack of response to dozens upon dozens of emails and letters from the electrical and fire safety community expressing concern over Mr. Tsisserev’s sudden departure is extremely troubling. The Mayor has not responded to anyone, in any issue-specific manner, about any of the life safety matters identified here.
5) In the weeks just prior to being fired, Ark Tsisserev had brought to light many concerns with respect to life safety issues in and around the Olympic Village. The fire alarm system malfunctions in the Village were one thing, but he was also extremely vocal (specifically in the weeks immediately prior to his termination) about the absence of accreditation and clearance required by his inspectors for the purpose of accessing various 2010 Olympic Games venues and sites–in order to provide inspection services mandated by the Vancouver Electrical By-law. Even after his departure no such accreditation had been provided. This fact is particularly alarming, as the electrical components which make up the communication and broadcasting equipment employed by the visiting international community were never formally inspected by any Vancouver electrical inspector during the weeks leading up to and through the course of Vancouver’s Olympic celebration. Some have speculated that to deliberately hamper the ability of qualified inspectors’ access to these installations may have put the public at risk. The Mayor was informed, accordingly, in correspondence to his office by many concerned in the industry, but as of this date, has provided no response or comment for this either, other than to maintain that he is “not involved in staffing issues”
6) On January 22nd., 2010, Mr. Tsisserev’s former colleagues in the electrical inspections division were formally advised that Will Johnston, Director of Licences and Inspections, was the new City Electrician “in accordance with the Charter”. It’s interesting to also note that no formal announcement has been made (as you would expect with a formal City Council appointment). Remember, too, that senior staff invoked the City Charter when announcing Mr. Johnston’s appointment, but ignored the very same Charter when dismissing Ark Tsisserev. But here’s what is of much greater concern: When the electrical inspectors (Mr. Tsisserev’s former colleagues–all, hard-working, decent, professionally qualified electricians) vocalized their concerns that Mr. Johnston (as a Structural Engineer) is not qualified to perform the functions of the official “City Electrician” (as he has no formal training in either the provisions of the BC Electrical Safety Regulations or the Electrical Code), they were advised that he wasn’t going to be involved in the technical aspects of electrical safety but would rely on the expertise of his staff. That same staff were also assured that their decisions would receive the full backing of his position (as “City Electrician”) despite the clear misgivings they had expressed with his fitness for the job.
Mr. Johnston has (in his new capacity) recently accepted and signed off on numerous requests to deviate from provisions in the Electrical Code made by several electrical contractors. Requests for such variations are fairly commonplace and it is the City Electrician who has the final authority. So, I’m wondering aloud how Mr. Johnston does this bearing in mind the Association of Professional Engineers and Geophysicists of BC Code of Ethics and Conduct. (This would be akin to a fire protection technician certified only in the testing of fire extinguishers, signing off on a building’s entire fire alarm system). More to the point: It would be like putting a cardiac surgeon’s gown on a dentist and asking him to perform an angioplasty.
I was eager to ask Mr. Johnston about this, but my two-week old message to his office must be part of the mulch in the new City Hall vegetable garden. I also wanted to ask him how he felt about the fact that his appointment to “City Electrician” does not meet the conditions of “fitness and merit” set out in the Charter–that MUST be met.
I then wanted to ask how it was that no city electrical inspectors were allowed to inspect Olympic venues: Electrical contractors had applied for permits and engineering drawings were submitted and reviewed by plan examination staff. The necessary corrections were made to the drawings before the permits for each site or each venue were issued–but access was DENIED to electrical staff seeking to inspect these same Olympic venue facilities prior to the commencement of the 2010 Games–in violation of the Vancouver Electrical By-law.
So…now I have a few questions to ask all of you…
Think I’m overplaying this? Do you believe that there is no chance, that, for example, at LiveCity, a major Olympic sponsor has NO FIRE ALARM PANEL under their tent?
Do you believe that if something happened anywhere at the Games, you’d hear about it?
The picture below is from this last weekend. It’s a fire that started because of faulty wiring at one of the Olympic venues–clearly uninspected. Copies have been circulated to the appropriate authorities including the Vancouver Fire Department and Vancouver Police Department.
Ark Tsisserev, the most respected electrical life safety inspector in this country, was fired from his job at the City of Vancouver, right prior to the 2010 Games because he was raising issues which SOMEONE (or some group) didn’t want you to hear about. His firing was purposely and maliciously executed because he was doing his job–and that became a ‘problem’–and now the serious life safety issues he brought forth have been realized. You weren’t supposed to hear about this. They don’t want you to see this picture. Have a good look.
So who gave the order? Who decided to get rid of Ark Tsisserev, a man only interested in the safety of athletes, citizens and eventually the hundreds of buyers who are expected to purchase Olympic Village units to save harmless the City of Vancouver (read: YOUR pocketbook) for having stepped in as financier of necessity to Millenium Development?
Who benefitted from such an obvious case of wrongful dismissal? Not you.
Somebody had the presence of mind to kill the breaker in the shot below, thankfully.
The Mayor, Dr. Ballem, their Vision counterparts on council and associated staff henchmen, through their viral ineptitude on this file, have willfully ignored serious life safety issues, in favour of Olympic photo-ops for the Mayor and his minions. This time they got lucky.
And maybe, so did you.
Ark Tsisserev was fired–because he was a competent, consummate, honourable professional, who was obliged as much by station as by conscience to speak up. He was canned because he knew too much, and wouldn’t stay quiet. This had nothing to do with budgets–just bollocks.
This entire sordid, gong-show was fueled by a Mayor’s Office, who clearly lied about what they knew and when they knew it and a City Manager who is obviously hiding–and for good reason. Life safety issues apparently don’t matter to these people.
Ark Tsisserev was the only leader willing to lead.
And care about your safety and that of your family.
The electrical contractors and life safety experts are absolutely correct: As a result of Ark Tsisserev’s firing, the City is not as safe–not even close.
What a complete disgrace.
alex. i have never liked your conservative values and am not a climate change skeptic. i do not smoke cigars or drink martinis and i do not collect wives or wear fancy suede shoes. i hated the fact that gregor came out as a candidate for mayor in your column at 24hr and i knew it was only a matter of time before you gave up on us. im sorry we did not cut you off from pieces that you got from some of our campaign staff. honestly, i dont think you and i would agree on anything. but i have to get something off my chest. i read this blog daily and never missed a single column you wrote because youre one of the best writers this city will ever see. i hate to admit that this article you wrote on the firing of the electrical inspector is super investigative journalism. even i think gregor needs to answer to this because it is about protecting public safety. im not surprised you are getting the run around. you have cornered vision very badly on this and even though i wish you hadnt, it is one of the finest pieces written about penny ballem (who i expressed my concerns over but no one listened to me)
reluctantly, i say congratultions.
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Anon:
It was not my choice to have Gregor announce in my column when I was at 24 Hours. But you should be complimented for smart strategy. No one was more widely read on local issues and rather than announcing in traditionally left-supportive political columns like Allen Garr’s or France Bula’s, the smart move was to come to me. you were looking for crossover support from independents, who always read my stuff.
As for this post, I’m flattered that you think so highly of it. I hope you haven’t given yourself away. Your friends in Vision can be VERY vindictive. Particularly, Dr. Ballem and her wrecking crew. They destroyed the career of an honourable man, and all over nothing–conjured up, make-believe reasons. The real problem here is the Mayor. His very poor performance through this scandal is astonishing. He is not a leader, just the suit Vision have put up until another one comes along.
For the record…I no longer “collect wives”, Maryanna would find that quite humorous. Considering it’s our 9th wedding anniversary today, that’s particularly funny. You’ve obviously done your research, though, nothing like a brown suede brogue. Thx for stopping by. I appreciate your candor and kind words. Cheers!
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Bob Cornwell was also Ark’s assistant who is/was responsible for training and quality control coordination for the Electrical Inspection Branch.
Jason Rowley was told he was being laid off because he was the junior member of the Branch. Jason is not junior, and when this fact was provided to HR, they chose to ignore it instead of correcting it.
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Hi Shocked: I’m not shocked at all. Many HR depts are often shoved around, particularly under such tight political circumstances. Pity for Messers Conrwell and Rowley, as they are very highly regarded by many peers and I thought it was worth including that, since they were treated with such unnecessary contempt by McLellan–clearly under orders of Ballem (but again, who gave the order for all this?). Thank you for this information. If there is anything else you’d like to share confidentially, pls feel free to contact me through the ‘Contact’ tab on the main header of this website. Take care. And good luck!
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Wow!! This raises many questions though.
1) If Vancouver did indeed violate the Vancouver Charter, who polices it, and what are the consequences to mayor, council and city manager?
2) Is the Vancouver Charter really just a useless piece of paper in that regards?
3) Which laws may have been broken by not allowing electrical inspectors access to Olympic venues?
4) Were laws broken, in the issuance of permits without inspection at venues?
5) Are these laws civic, provincial, or federal?
6) When Gordon Campbell was Mayor of Vancouver he successfully enacted a change that made suing the City of Vancouver with regards to condo developments, impossible.
However, if the city has shown a disregard for their charter and very obvious negligence, wouldn’t that trump any law on the books?
7) If any of this requires action by council, where is their documentation and why hasn’t it been made public?
I have many more questions but will start with these.
Surely there must be consequences for violating the charter.
If so, what are they so the citizens of Vancouver can make sure these thugs can’t do any more damage.
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1) Presumably a complaint would need to be made to Victoria, since the Charter is written by them.
2) No. But the process of appealing is laborious. Unless it’s a very serious issue (and I would argue this case is) the impetus to lodge a complaint just wouldn’t be there.
3) I think you need to look at this in reverse: what laws were not enforced in substandard conditions? The specific denial was obviously either by VANOC, or the City just capitulated.
4) Hard to say, my understanding is that permits were issued but subsequent inspections disallowed. Penny Ballem and the Mayor MUST answer for this. If it’s happening at the Olympic Village, it must be happening elsewhere in Vancouver. The Olympics are all but over.
5) A combination.
6) Yes, it would, but again, it would be up to the province.
7) Because no documentation exists. Vision councillors have been warned about this issue and everything is being funneled through some PR lackey in City Hall. Think about how much Vision Vancouver cares about your safety. not much at all.
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Mr. Tsakumis you can add my name to what I am sure will be a long list of readers congratulating you. I have worked with the city of Vancouver for many years. It is exactly as you wrote. Ballem has destroyed us with the way she has pushed people around. Even those she uses to do her dirty work cannot stand the sight of her. Great story and excellent writing. Thank you for standing up for the rights of city employees. Kudos!
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With pleasure. Someone has to stand up for you guys since your union bosses don’t have the testicles to stand up to Vision; Ballem is too busy empire-building and the Mayor is a coward. Thx for your kind words. Be well–and watch your back.
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Excellent piece of work.
It seems Vancouver City hall is going through the results of Gordon Campbells “DeRegulation”.
With this piece of legislative thinking (tinkering is more like it), common sense goes out the windows only to be replaced by the erratic and dangerously flawed thinking of people who think they know better.
There will continue to be more of these events happening and possibly people being killed through policy decisions and actions, all attributable to deregulation.
Campbell has set in motion an almost cancerous blight in british Columbia, where the government is slowly losing control of many things. Vancouver City Hall is so close behind, that should there be an abrupt stop in motion, penetration would be affected – you fill in the blanks !
Thx for listening. Just couldn’t help myself.
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Fill in the blanks? That’s what I’m here for.
Thx for sharing your pithy comments. Always a pleasure.
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Man I fell sorry for Vision Vancouver. If you do to them what you did to expose Sam they won’t be able to sit down! HA!
BTW, where is your friend Suzanne Anton in all of this? If she wants to be mayor she needs to piledrive these fools with this kind of material. Great post Alex.
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Ah, but the fair Ms. Anton is busy with real priorities: Sending out releases garnering support for Sam’s torch run; hanging out and supporting a transvestite/transsexual prostitute that was rightfully rejected by her own party in the last election; having dinner with about a dozen people all wondering what she just said all for the tidy sum of $1000 per plate…her work is indistinguishable from Vision’s–short on logic, long on laziness. And the NPA are fully adrift of reality.
Thx for stopping by. I appreciate your thoughts. Be well.
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The way I see it Alex is like this:
Either, the Vancouver Charter has become only a softer quality toilet paper and then, the City should lock in a contract with Charmin, or, we have a clear case of witchcraft at City Hall.
I say, burn the Witch.
PS.
And Alex, please, do it for me, stop calling Ballem a Doctor. If she was she would have behaved like one; something like carrying a stethoscope around her neck, white coat, soft shoes, nice person, dispensing drugs to patients, maybe cutting out body parts here and there, you know, medical crap, instead of behaving as Chief Human Resources Proctologist, considering her appetite for administering colonoscopy after colonoscopy…
But you know what they say; it’s no fun until it’s you… Penny!
Uh oh! Gotta go! Charmin.
Ultra!
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Glissy…you never cease to amaze…or put a big smile on my face.
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Well GR, she is definitely performing one of a doctor’s jobs. She is cutting out whole bodies rather than just a chunk at a time. It saves the cost of a cleanup crew.
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True enough. Ballem is as ruthless as she is arrogant.
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It is only normal one supposes that, the longer I have followed you, the more I learn of your peccadilloes. The fact that you smoke and drink is not peccant, and I have done so and moreso, than is my share, but I have arrived at that time of life when it is not advisable to continue. You claim that you no longer “collect wives”. I presume you have found that it would be cheaper to collect thoroughbred race-horses. There is absolutely nothing wrong with wearing brogues, be they suede or not, they are a sign of good taste. We don’t all look good in Doc Martins. I have heard that you are also guilty of being independently … well, independent. This now, is worrisome. In his Advice to the Rich, Hilaire Belloc begins with the somewhat somber but necessary warning to: 1) Remember that you will shortly die. 2) Let us hear a little less about your taxes. We will then jump ahead to 13)DRINK HEARTY: There is no more detestable sight than a rich teatotaller, it always connotes dipsomania – a poor one is bad enough. And finally ahead to #17) I say it for the second time: DRINK HEARTY.
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Don’t worry…I could use a little dipsomania now and again. Yes, I stopping collecting wives, mine and others’–not necessarily cheaper…just fortunate enough to have located a woman who doesn’t see very well, thankfully.
And I must tell you, Hilare Belloc is one of my favorites. His advise is as entirely relevant as it is excruciatingly funny, more than I can find the words to say. Bless you, Sir Lawrence.
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We can only hope that after they get all the Olympic starbursts out of their eyes, the major media follow up on the real fireworks contained in your terrific article. Looks to me like many of the blinds are still drawn shut at our supposedly “transparent” City Hall.
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Thank you Harv. Yes, I hope they decide to do something, but goodness are they sure set on cheerleaders. It’s quite over-the-top. Nonetheless, this is a life safety issue. IF the mainstream press doesn’t cover it, what does it say about how much they care about public safety.
I remember, once long ago, the media used to care…..really. Thx for stopping by my friend. Much appreciated.
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Me thinks you both should be awarded Websters for your work; past, present and future!
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Very kind RS, but I think in order to win a Webster you have to be part of the clique that is either affiliated to the big show or write for a sponsor etc. I’ve been nominated multiple times, and knowing Jack the way my family did, it’s a privilege–but in my category, CityMike, Commentator of the Year, they have awarded it to reporters who do the opinion piece, but only half the time. They shoudl be considering ONLY commentators, or rename the award. Your compliment is too generous, though, as I do not belong in a category with Harvey Oberfeld. His kind will NEVER come our way again–he’s in a class all by himself.
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I still suspect that Vancouver City Hall was instructed to rubber stamp the various installations related to the olympics by either Vanoc, the IOC, or Victoria any and all possible combinations of the three. All these installations were time sensitive and there was no way that such things as safety should stand in the way of the five-ring circus. Mr. Tsisserev was seen as a thorn in the olympic side and had to become collateral damage.
This whole scenario just emulates what has been occuring federally and provincially for quite some time. Our various governing bodies systematically ignored the many commissions put in place to regulate them and their decisions, and if challenged, done their best to intimidate them into submission.
The only thing democratic about our political system is the right to vote after which all bets are off. Sooner or later this illusion of democracy will become evident to the masses but I fear it will be too late.
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And you may very well be right.
Incidentally, the only party that could deny access to city electricians wishing to provide inspection to the Olympic venues, is VANOC.
So the question is: Why would the City of Vancouver allow this to happen knowing full well that athletes, visitors, revelers and families would be less safe? Is this a risk a responsible staff would allow?
I think not.
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Of course it isn’t, but the old adage that rules are meant to be broken could well apply here. Many of the rules and regulations we are exposed to are based on a worst case scenario, and as such, certain entities are willing to roll the dice. I don’t agree with it, but many others do, especially if there is a possibility that a major extravaganza could be derailed by rules or regulations that are perceived as being superfluous.
As in most cases, the general public must adhere to the letter of the law, but certain entities seem to be above the same law even if they are the ones that enacted it.
Just one man’s opinion.
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And you’re not wrong. I just fear this crew in Vancouver will go unchallenged. Where are the bloody NPA? Sean Bickerton wants to be everything to everybody, Michael Geller is busy trying to figure out if the Olympic Village $195M land price is recoverable and how that just might happen, Suzanne Anton is off on ‘Selfish Island’. This is a serious matter that affects life safety issues in this town. Where are they, the wannabes? Nowhere, that’s where. This is a story that demands the attention of those who wish to replace Vision. Meanwhile, the administrative beatings and intimidation will continue at City Hall.
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I awaited this piece with great anticipation and I must say you have delivered with unparalleled gusto. Simply first rate. Primordial politics have no place when it comes to such important safety concerns.
The additional facts regarding the non inspection of Olympic venues are absolutely staggering. I would opine that taken in totality, there are criminal offenses that have occurred here and need to be addressed by charge.
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Thank you comrade. I tried very hard to get as much information out there as I could without jeopardizing any jobs at City Hall. There a re a whole slew of folks that are not happy with what’s happened and the real issue here is that as a result of ham-fistedness of Penny Ballem and the duplicity of the Mayor and his Vision colleagues, life safety issues abound. And, apparently, they don’t care. It’s really quite troubling. In that sense, they are much worse than Sam ever was. He would have never allowed such a thing to happen. These guys don’t care who gets hurt in the process, so long as the photos are taken and the canapes served. I NEVER expected this kind of failed governance from Gregor or Vision. It’s beyond words.
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Hi Alex, City Hall, MSM & Translink, was a Triumvirate, which did transform Vancouver into a Mini-Dictatorship, via VANOC on today’s WE paper has a “Transit Alert” warning that the bus service will return to “Normal?” and SOME Olympic road closures will end, notice the SOME, could that be a precursor of “Permanent”.
Most of the bus routes changes were unessessary as were most non-stop areas, both greatly inconviniencing the disabled and seniors, we should ask is a faster VANOC trip more important than the unloading of a disabled senior outside a medical building on Broadway? Or why should an Olympic emergency have special requirements, an emergency is an emergency.
My point:
1.City Hall AGW crowd didn’t yet get the message, that their “CO2 theory” is Bunk and will try to keep SOME closures to strangle traffic to downtown, with the bonus of a generous profit from all the extra tickets.
2.The MSM did “swallow” Translink propagand of “Great Olympic “ transit delivery, appallingly crowded buses, stops unessarily removed with complete lack of info ON/WHEN/WHY. Most of these commentators are not bus riders and the occasional trip will not an expert makes.
Why are not ALL drivers properly trained how to drive a bus, a bus full of people it is not a racing car and sudden braking/acceleration should be reserved for emergencies, not used at every bus stop or red light, some drivers can do it extremely well.
Why waste resources and manpower having up to 9 buses stopped at the bottom of Davie Street and probably countless others all over town. The buses should run non stop, except for an occasional short driver brake, in consequence using less buses and drivers.
Why waste money on useless downtown bus schedules which nobody reads, except the drivers, instead provide READABLE maps of the routes, which even with the radical recent route changes we didn’t get.
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Sounds like a plan to me! Thx for this, much appreciated.
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One word for Vision Vancouver:
Bastards.
Every single one of them.
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Through the Charter, the Province gave Vancouver several things:
- the right to set it’s own building and electrical safety bylaws,
- through zoning bylaws, the ability to control it’s environment,
- the ability to collect fees in support of same, and,
- the responsibility for ensuring public safety.
Clearly they have failed on the latter count.
This is an all or nothing proposition. You can’t set all these fancy “green” guidelines and collect all those lucrative permit and development fees without protecting the public through inspections, issuance of occupancy permits, and enforcement.
In a similar fashion the APEGBC has been granted, through the Engineers and Geoscientists Act, the sole and exclusive right to regulate the licensing of professional engineers. Similar to the Vancouver Charter, this monopolistic privilege comes with a serious responsibility – to protect the public. The first two items in the APEGBC code of ethics state that APEGBC members shall:
“(1) hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public, the protection of the environment and promote health and safety within the workplace;” and
“(2) undertake and accept responsibility for professional assignments only when qualified by training or experience;”
Clearly, by a structural engineer has no business signing off on complex electrical life safety equivalencies, even if he or she relies on the advice of others.
Thank you for sticking to this story Alex. I sincerely hope that once the flame has been extinguished, some disinfecting sunlight will be allowed to shine on the toxic mess at City Hall.
Mr. Ark Tsisserev deserves some answers.
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Thank s very much for this Observer. I have even more information that I will release this week. Stay tuned. And thx so much for stopping by.
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Alex, I have to disagree with your comment about union bosses not having testicles Vision heard the same message as did the NPA, time for change, accountability and transparency. Theefficincies and waste has to stop. Management has put the city at risk. councillors and the Mayor get the information that management wants them to see.Give Vision and Ballem credit for cleaning out city hall. I have real problems with the head of Electrical being tossed out, I hear that the department head and him did not see eye to eye due to his hard line on safety.Oh by the way the head of that department once was a heavy duty mechanic, do you think he took the same schooling as Ark. Investigate that and I am sure you will see he knows 12 and 24 volt electrical. The city manager has a part, but so does the General Manager of Engineering. I believe it came from that wing of the hall and MR.McLellan was just the notifier.Change is not a bad thing and Vision has done just that, some dont like change and will squabble and whine until they adjust and realize,change aint so bad. Lets oust the weasels and get the ones with testicles in the drivers seat..
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You must be living on another planet. Inefficiencies pal? That stems from the cover-ups. Maybe you should talk to some of the union guys I’m talking to. They are LIVID. Ballem and Vision credit??? For what pray tell? Screwing the taxpayers royally?? For making Judy Rogers look like a schoolgirl with ribbons in her hair, sitting in granny’s lap? Give your head a shake. You clearly are drinking Visions bathwater, and that’s fine. But do not tell me Ark’s firing was because he towed a “hard line” on life safety issues. THAT’S PRECISELY WHAT THE DAMN JOB REQUIRES OR PEOPLE DIE. Wake up. And for your information…being a heavy duty mechanic DOES NOT qualify you for the job Ark was doing. Don’t believe me? Well, come around here by the end of this week and read all about it. I’ll be lighting the fuse shortly… hope your friends are all in matching Kevlar…
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Cover ups? the city is full of cover ups, mostly white collar ones. The problem is getting to the right source to expose them.Members have tried for years to light the fuse but it keeps getting cut off. We dont call the top brass “TEFLON” for nothing, inquire about the confidential agreements signed to keep past employees mouths shut, there is quite a few. The heavy duty mechanic did not replace ARK, he is Arks boss and is no where near capable of filling his shoes. Catch someone in a bad situation and that is enough leverage to worm your way to the top. Its not what you know its who you know. The bathwather tastes no different than the shit I have to deal with in a sewer trench.
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Pal, this site is read by dozens of union guys. My maternal grandfather was a union man up in Kitimat for years. My paternal grandfather was a union organizer for the railroad in the late 1800s and early 1900s. We get union around here. The are the working man, the hard working man for the most part. Are there lousy members? Sure, like there are bad cops and sub-par bakers.
As for cover-ups being of the white collar variety: Last I checked, the people I have referred to as being responsible for the hatchet that finished off Ark Tsisserev, are ALL wears them–white collars one and all. City Hall has never been so deeply politicized–ever. That’s the overwhelming consensus of the workers that have contacted me. I’ve recd 14 emails, in confidence, not one positive about this firing; all concerned about the culture of the iron-fist that has gripped their workplace. It’s a toxic environment under Penny Ballem, to be sure. Ark Tsisserev was fired for purely political reasons, and you can read about that here as soon as I get one more document authenticated. As for the bathwater, forgive me, perhaps I was too strong, but keep your chin up. The lies we were all fed by the Mayor and his henchmen are starting to be revealed–HERE! Good luck pal.
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I saw the news story about the firing of Ark Tsisserev on Global News tonight. While it makes Ark out to be a sweet an kind man, I must object to that. He is very arrogant.
Yes he has a wealth of electrical knowledge however he is not shy about pointing that out or making you feel inferior in front of others. In fact sometimes he is just down rught rude. Yes he can be endearing on a personal level – he is quite the nice person, however when you start talking about electrical systems the only opinion that matters is his. I’ve personally seen him berate and disparage other professional electrical engineers in the middle of meetings. I don’t care what the Vancouver Charter is written on, it does not give him the right to be so rude to other people. Why don’t you ask Ark’s former manager if there are any issues with Ark? I’m sure you would find there are more examples than what I have pointed out.
I feel that there is more to this story than the city suddenly getting rid of a nice old man. I don’t want to get into the middle of this fight as I am sure there is more to this story than what you or I know. However given his history that I have seen in technical professional meetings, I wouldn’t be suprised if this was in the making for years.
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Just prior to all this nonsense and Arkady Tsisserev’s firing, he circulated a questionnaire through his department. He wanted an honest assessment of his management and leadership so he set up a chain email with Bunsen Leung as the “head”. All the responses were “filtered” so you couldn’t see who wrote what (in other words they were guaranteed anonymity). The reviews were absolutely glowing. As for his “arrogance”: He wrote the Code, so maybe you came to him with an interpretation that obviously skewed the meaning to fit your agenda? I would imagine his response would seem “arrogant” in that case. I don’t know anyone whom I’ve spoken to that encountered any arrogance at all in all of the years of working with him.
You seem to be all alone of this one, Erving.
Care to elaborate?
I’m sure anonymous posters will crawl out of the woodwork now to smear him. It’s part of City Hall’s plan. Sick people.
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Ark is one of the most professional and competent people I have ever met. In addition he would return phonecalls on the same day, regardless of his workload, which, I can assure you, was huge.
Firing the Chairman of the Commitee that wrote the CEC makes us look like a bunch of incompetents, and I am sure it will be another city’s gain.
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Thx for stopping by Pete. Yes, he is every bit as professional and pleasant as many of his friends and former colleagues told me about. Thank you for coming by again. Very best to you.
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Or the province’s gain. I still maintain that the plan of Dr. Ballem and Mr. McLellan is to deep-six the electrical branch of the city and bring in the B.C. Safety Authority. The BCSA is currently technically insolvent and they would LOVE to get the $2M- $4M per year that the electrical branch makes.
They should both be immediately fired. Their brand of “engineering” is going to cost the city millions. Plus the lies… oh the lies…
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I met Ark at a ” Fire Safety Seminar” several years back,
I had no idea at the time that he was the Chief Electrical Inspector for the City of Van. He was very nice, approachable and when I would ask the Sales person who was standing at a particular “booth” about their product he would listen intently and then correct them if they made a mistake1 He could site Electrical code verbatim off the top of his head. This guy lives,eats and breathes Electrical Code. He loves his job.
Unfortunately the very traits he has are no longer sought after qualities in ANY large organization.
Honesty, integrity and the willingness to speak up when your superiors are dangerously wrong or misinformed seems to be a dying breed of worker these days( and who can blame people in this day and age).
What disgusts me MORE than the typical petty, vindictive, back stabbing politics de jour at Van City Hall( because their turn WILL come).
Was the jingoistic pro Olympics media that slavishly fell in lockstep behind whatever “SillyHall” said.
Bobblehead dolls couldnt agree faster than some of the “news reporters” in this town….. We deserve what we get if we buy their fishwrappers.
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Ark Tsisserev was a first class electrical life safety expert who the city was privileged to have in her corner.
Ask former chief Dave Jackson about what Tsisserev meant to the city.
Great comment.
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