Corporations get downgraded

By RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star StaffDec 17 2006 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/
Two controversial, publicly owned corporations are now more firmly under the control of Vernon council. Council has decided to dissolve both the land and airport corporations and only allow them to operate as simple committees starting Jan. 1. “They were set up by the previous administration as a way to go and it’s now been recommended that they’re not the desired way for a municipality,” said Coun. Barry Beardsell. Mayor Wayne Lippert insists some operational changes were required for the agencies that oversee the city’s land holdings and the airport. “They weren’t working as true corporations. They were still under the direction of council and weren’t stand-alone,” he said. Some residents have accused the corporations of being too secretive and Lippert says re-establishing them as committees will allow them to be more open. “We believe in being open and transparent. That’s not to say they weren’t but there was a perception,” he said. The latest uproar was over the fact that land corporation directors receive an honourarium although those on the airport corporation and other committees don’t. The city’s finance committee has recommended to council that honourariums be scrapped. Ian Hawes, airport corporation president, didn’t learn about council’s shift in policy until Wednesday. Hawes is adamant that the corporation did a good job, and he hopes similar activities can still occur within a committee structure. “My only fear is the airport won’t get the same level of attention because the city is busy with other things.” Corporation members have all been invited to sit on the committees, but Hawes isn’t sure what he will do because of the time commitment. “I’m not sure I’d be satisfied being on an advisory committee when I’m not sure what its role will be,” he said. That’s also the view of Jack Borden, land corporation president. “Assuming the mandate of the committee is the same as the corporation’s, I will reapply to be appointed,” he said. Borden believes corporation status is not needed to oversee the city’s land holdings, and a committee can fulfill all objectives. Pat Lett, who also sits on the land corporation, was surprised by the city’s move. “It’s their prerogative and the corporation as always served at their discretion,” he said.