Ā鶹AV councillors have several concerns with a new code of conduct that applies to them.
The draft document, which is mandated by the provincial government, sets out rules council must follow in fulfilling their duties and responsibilities.
There are also provisions in the code outlining how councillors are to interact with each other, city staff, the public and the media.
Several councillors felt it was too lengthy, duplicated the community charter, and that some of the wording could be open to interpretation.
āIād like to see it tightened,ā said Coun. Mohini Singh. āIād like to see it direct, and Iād also want staff to recognize that we are grown adults and we know what our responsibility is.ā
Coun. Loyal Wooldridge, who chairs the Regional District Central Okanagan Board, said the document feels punitive.
āWhen I reflect on the Regional Districtsā (code of conduct) it starts with values, it starts with why we work this way. This one seems like itās a law weāre imposing because thereās all this terrible stuff going on, which I donāt believe is the case.ā
Coun. Luke Stack said he didnāt feel the code, as currently drafted, would add to what council is already doing.
āI actually believe we already are accountable and transparent,ā he said.
In agreeing with other councillors, Maxine DeHart added she felt the code also had to be reworked.
āI donāt think any of us around here are children,ā she said. I think we all realize what we have to do.ā
Coun. Charlie Hodge also took issue with what he called ambiguity in parts of the code.
āLetās be absolutely clear about what weāre saying.ā
READ MORE: City lowering flags to half-mast in honour of former Ā鶹AV councillor Horning
Mayor Tom Dyas commented that he was surprised that council spent nearly 90 minutes debating the issue.
āThis came out so that we are as transparent as possible with regards to being a council,ā said Dyas. āI donāt see anything in here that would cause any great concern for anyone because, at the end of the day, we truly police ourselves other than us going completely offside where itās a criminal offence.ā
The code also lays out complaint and resolution procedures which would include a preliminary assessment and, if a complaint is accepted for investigation, a referral to a third-party investigator.
āAny formal sanctions would be a decision of council,ā said Laura Bentley, deputy city clerk.
Council voted to receive the report for information, with councillors Stack, DeHart, Hodge and Singh opposed.
Staff was requested to bring back a revised code of conduct based on council input.
READ MORE: Wildfire near Peachland grows to 8 hectares and considered āout of controlā
gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on and subscribe to our daily and subscribe to our daily newsletter.
