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HUMBOLDT — A tense exchange unfolded during Humboldt city council’s May 25 meeting as Coun. Marilyn Scott publicly questioned city manager Joe Day over an email she said intentionally excluded herself and Coun. Karen Siermachesky from information distributed to the rest of council.
The discussion took place during the inquiries portion of the meeting and centred on a May 21 email related to a matter scheduled for discussion at the May 25 council meeting.
Scott said the email was sent to Mayor Rob Muench and councillors Sarah McInnis, Roger Korte, Dave Rowe and Larry Jorgensen, but excluded herself and Siermachesky.
“My inquiry is to the city manager. On May 21st, 2026, you sent out an email regarding, a matter that was to be discussed in council’s meeting tonight,” Scott said during the meeting. “But instead of sending it to the whole of council, it was sent to the mayor and Councilors McGinnis, Cordy-Roe, and Jorgensen. But you stated that you were intentionally excluding myself and Councilor Surma-Chesky from that email, with the result that we were not, receiving the information that other councilors received on the matter that we were going to be expected to cast a vote on.”
Scott argued the exclusion raised concerns about fairness and transparency under Saskatchewan’s Cities Act.
“Under the Cities Act and also under common law, you are accountable to the city council as a whole, not to individual members,” Scott said. “You and we all also are subject to ethical guidelines that require us to perform our jobs with openness, transparency, and fairness.”
The City of Humboldt’s Council Code of Ethics Policy states that members of council are expected to conduct and convey municipal business in an open and transparent manner so stakeholders can understand the rationale behind decisions. The policy also states accountability and responsibility for both actions and omissions.
She then asked Day “to please explain under what authority you would ever have been permitted to exclude two duly elected city councilors from information being provided to the rest of council on, that would be a matter likely to be considered by them, for a vote.”
In response, Day said administration would review the matter as part of a forthcoming notice of motion related to council procedures.
“Mr. Mayor, through the inquiry, I think we’ll look into that matter,” Day said. “Obviously, it is, part of what, forms your notice of motion for next month’s council with respect to process and procedures required by Cities Act and, and bylaws with respect to distribution of information.”
“I don’t believe it was a contravention of anything, but again, we’ll go through that process to determine that,” Day said.
Scott pushed back, saying councillors cannot effectively make decisions without equal access to information.
“There is an obligation to treat all of council equally, to provide the same information,” Scott said. “It is not possible for us to actually effectively vote on any issue if only some of the council are receiving that information.”
Scott also stated she and Siermachesky only became aware of the email thread after another councillor informed them about it.
“And had we not been advised that this was going on by one councilor who came forward and said, ‘This is not right,’ we wouldn’t have been aware of it, so we would’ve missed that whole thread,” Scott said.
Scott again asked under what authority councillors could be excluded from information distributed to other members of council.
“I think it’s been asked and answered,” Day replied. “I don’t think that there was a violation of any processes.”
Scott responded by expressing concern over Day’s interpretation of the situation.
“That is frightening to me that that is your interpretation of this, that you actually think that you can withhold information from councilors,” Scott said. “But then I’ll deal with it in a separate issue, potentially a complaint. Thank you.”
The city’s Council Code of Ethics Policy includes a formal complaint process allowing a member of council, organization or individual to file a complaint alleging a contravention of the code. If a complaint is substantiated, council may impose measures ranging from a reprimand to restrictions on access to civic services or council information.
The discussion concluded shortly afterward before council moved into an in-camera session.
SaskToday requested comment from Day following the meeting but did not receive a response.
Scott later told SaskToday she would only comment on matters discussed publicly during the meeting.
“I will provide comment related to what occurred in the public portion of that meeting but am, unable to elaborate on any matters discussed in camera,” Scott said in a written response to SaskToday.
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