Society forms to look at area's governance

By roger knoxMorning Star StaffJul 16 2006 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/

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Fed up with the bickering between local governing bodies, a group of area residents are forming a committee to study the way the North Okanagan is governed. Calling itself the Society For the Future Governance of the North Okanagan, the five-member directors are actively seeking membership into their society. "We've been talking to a lot of people upset with the way the various bodies governing in the North Okanagan are not working together, not getting along," said Vernon accountant Pat Lett, who is joined on the society executive by former Coldstream councillor Jack Borden, former Armstrong Mayor Eric Hornby, Fraser Financial Group president Gary Huston and ex-Kal Tire partner Richard Hamilton. The memberships are being sold at $100 and the society hopes to attract 1,000 members. That would give the society $100,000, plenty to pay a consultant independent of all governing bodies in the NorthOkanagan to conduct a study. The society has a list of five potential independent consultants. The chosen consultant will conduct an independent study of the North Okanagan and the communities that make up the region. It will focus on the political and administrative structures currently in place, and identify opportunities to improve the functionality of our communities, regional and sub-regional governments. In its 10-page terms of reference, the society lists 11 examples of infighting among Greater Vernon political participants, all headlines from Morning Star stories. Borden and Lett said it's time for North Okanagan residents to take action as it's becoming clear to the society that the current regional (North Okanagan Regional District) and sub-regional (Greater Vernon Services Commission, Electoral Areas Services Commission and Silver Star Governance Committee) political structure is totally incapable of creating efficient and effective government. "The only way that this can be accomplished is if we, as a community, independent of the political process, identify opportunities and challenges facing our community," said Borden. The terms of reference draft also includes statistics that show governance for the North Okanagan has 45 elected officials, made up of mayors, councillors and electoral area representatives, serving a population (estimated in 2002) at 73,227. That's one elected official for every 1,627 residents. The society compares that to the City of Kelowna, population 107,000, which has a mayor and eight councillors, and 27 elected representatives - one for every 6,185 residents - in the Central Okanagan Regional District. Once the study is complete, and society members endorse it, the plan will be presented to all politicians and political bodies in the North Okanagan, along with the provincial government. The consultant will be selected this summer and he or she will begin work in September. The final report is to be completed in December and will then be presented, "first and foremost," said Borden, to the residents of the North Okanagan. "The society, as a group, will not influence the consultant, nor make submissions to the consultant," said Borden. "Individual members may make submissions." Membership forms are available at Lett's office, 3105-37th Ave., or by calling 545-7117. You can also download a membership form off the society's website, www.sfgno.org. http://www.sfgno.org/revision_4.0.html