Beardsell blasts proposed GVSC changes

By RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff Aug 04 2006 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/
A veteran politician believes the end of the Greater Vernon Services Commission could be drawing near. Director Barry Beardsell used a special GVSC meeting Thursday to slam proposed changes to it operations from the North Okanagan Regional District. “This is not reasonable and we should refuse to participate,” he said. “We may see the dismantling of GVSC and it may mean entering into a partnership between Vernon and Coldstream.” NORD’s proposed bylaw outlines GVSC’s responsibilities, but Beardsell fears they aren’t detailed enough. “It gives us no more clarity than the original bylaw we were given. We had a relatively clear section seven and now it’s been turned into an unclear situation.” Beardsell insists that GVSC was always to have responsibility for planning and staff, but NORD has changed its mind. “We should be in control of our own destiny,” he said. Beardsell wants NORD’s role left at approving budgets and bylaws, with other activities left in the hands of GVSC through maximum delegated authority. “I don’t think NORD would go for that,” he said. After the meeting, director Wayne Lippert had sharp words for Beardsell, who he sits with on city council. “This is his soap box. Council had these discussions and he took exception to the discussions and he walked out,” said Lippert. Lippert doesn’t believe the special meeting Thursday was necessary because the city has been trying to resolve its concerns with Coldstream and Areas B and C. “He (Beardsell) could bring so much to the table if he was positive about it. He’s bent on being negative,” said Lippert. Lippert is confident the issues surrounding GVSC governance can be resolved, but he admits the city has put NORD on notice that it could withdraw from the commission. He says notice is necessary to review the function's operations and it doesn’t necessarily mean the city will leave. Beardsell refused to further discuss the meeting with The Morning Star after the session was over. There were only four voting members of the GVSC board present Thursday, with Coldstream director Mary Malerby out of town and rural directors Stan Field and Cliff Kanester boycotting the session because they say governance is part of NORD’s mandate, not GVSC’s. The NORD board will receive a revised version of the proposed bylaw Aug. 9. No decision is expected except to send it out to member jurisdictions for input. Gary Corner, GVSC chairman, is confident outstanding governance issues can be resolved. “I truly believe the NORD board wants Greater Vernon to do its own thing,” he said.