Directors feed calls for change

CLICK ON CARTOON TO ENLARGE

Aug 02 2006 EDITORIAL MORINGSTAR
Members of the Society for the Future Governance of the North Okanagan must be rubbing their hands in glee. At the same time that they’re trying to raise funds for a governance study, Greater Vernon politicians are bickering again. Stan Field and Cliff Kanester, BX directors, are boycotting a special Greater Vernon Services Commission meeting Thursday to discuss proposed changes to the bylaw that dictates how it operates. Kanester and Field are technically correct when they say that governance fits under the domain of the North Okanagan Regional District and GVSC, as a NORD committee, should not be holding a meeting about it. GVSC has no authority to make any changes to the bylaw. However, there is nothing wrong with commission directors discussing the issue and letting their superiors know how they feel. For Field and Kanester not to attend the meeting comes off as irresponsible. On the other hand, Vernon director Barry Beardsell, who asked for Thursday’s meeting, is also playing games. In the past he’s stated the new bylaw is too vague. Yet, most people who read the document will tell you the text is abundantly clear. With the exception of the City of Vernon, all other jurisdictions have approved the bylaw, making Beardsell a lone voice in the wilderness. The actions of Field, Kanester and Beardsell just feed into the perception of some residents that turmoil has taken over local government, and it’s time to look at alternatives. It’s possible it’s only a small handful of politicians creating problems, and the system, as we know it, operates fine. However, you can’t separate politicians from the political system and juvenile behaviour will continue to bring calls for a better way to do the public’s business http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/