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The press asked Wagner about all those contracts the last mayor signed with senior managers. He says they were signed in bad faith:...

Reporter
"Last year there were certain contracts that were renewed for certain employees. Are these contracts a part of the intention of the new council to be reviewed?"

Bernard Wagner, Mayor - Belize City
"That represented the same contracts of which I spoke about. Those were the contracts that were given to some of the management officers. As a professional I felt that was an act of bad faith. You never give out contracts if you are demitting office. for the previous mayor to put his employees in a situation where they are now being scrutinized I think was poor judgment. We will continue to look at how that matter can be worked out or resolved. Certainly, it was an act of bad faith and we'll take it from there."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Have those employees, have you asked to display their loyalty to you? How do you work in a situation like that where you're not sure if the person immediately behind you has got your back?"

Bernard Wagner, Mayor - Belize City
"That's an ongoing challenge. When I came in here last week Thursday I spoke to the managers and I gave them my word. They clearly betrayed me into some sense, given the leaked memo, that was leaked out from them. I have asked the current city administrator to find out who perpetrated that act, because where I come from that's grounds for dismissal immediately. It was an indication where those people are telling me I am unwilling to work with you and we'll have to take it from there. I believe also that when a new council is put in office, those that represented the past regime should take the high ground. It shouldn't be a situation where I come for you, it should be a situation where you come to me and say 'listen I'm moving on'. You saw that with Joe Bradley, he left and a couple others have indicated that they will leave."

And while some Darrell Bradley loyalists are heading for the exits, the mayor has to figure out how he'll meet the council's large payroll commitments, and the weekly bills to the city's garbage contractor, Belize Waste Control. He seemed confident that he could:..

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"What is the financial situation with the Belize city council?"

Bernard Wagner, Mayor - Belize City
"The financial situation ongoing is the sanitation contract continues to be a thorn in the side of all council but we believe that with prudent management, the city council collects about $24 million per year and I believe as a financial mind that you should be able to run your business from those resources and be able to allocate those resources in an inequitable fashion where you are able to deliver the goods and services to the city."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Have you reviewed the payroll? Looked at the cash flow? Will you be able to meet that on a consistent basis without help from central government?"

Bernard Wagner, Mayor - Belize City
"The central government has already indicated that they will be unfriendly to us, so we will do the mayor Kevin Bernard formula. We will work our revenues, we will work along with the business community, we will develop partnerships."

The new council will meet in caucus tomorrow to decide on portfolio assignments.