By STACIE SNOW Morning Star StaffJun 29 2007 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/
Roughly 200 individuals banded together to take action against city council during the Vernon Taxpayers’ Association emergency meeting held on Tuesday at the Schubert Centre. The meeting was called in response to the city’s implementation of an alternative approval process that would allow the city to borrow $20 million over a 25-year period for the construction of a civic complex. “We are faced with a council that is a dismissive dictatorship,” said Tony Stamboulieh, facilitator for the Vernon and District Taxpayers’ Association. “We believe we are heading to a place where council disregards public opinion and it is not acceptable. We need answers.”
Andy Danyliu, president of the Coldstream Ratepayers Association, said that the members are not necessarily against the proposed library, RCMP office, museum and art gallery; it is the abandonment of due process that has enraged the citizens. Steve Debella, an environmental and community activist, agrees. “Our city is growing and we do need those services,” he said. “If they went to a referendum most of us would vote for it because it is a benefit to our community but they need to do it in an acceptable way.”
At Monday’s city council meeting, members voted six to one to go ahead with the alternative approval process. Mayor Wayne Lippert said that the referendum has been discarded as an option because it is a time-consuming process and funding will not be available if the project is not completed by a 2010 deadline. “A referendum would put us behind our timeline for grants, whereas the alternative approval process fits within the constraints,” said Lippert.
Beginning on July 16, electors of the City of Vernon who are opposed to the borrowing may sign an alternative approval process elector response form. Electors will have 30 days to express their opinion to the bylaw. All elector response forms must be received by the city clerk before 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 15. The number of electors of the City of Vernon is estimated to be 27,772. If 10 percent of the estimated number of electors sign an alternative approval process form against the proposal, city council will not be able to proceed with long-term borrowing. “We believe that city council has a deliberate strategy to rush the process because no one can raise 2,777 signatures in July when everyone is away on vacation,” said Danyliu. “It is purposely designed to discredit our organization.”
At the meeting, the association passed three motions. They will compose and send a signed letter to Dale Wall, the Inspector of Municipalities in Victoria, to investigate the conduct of city council. In addition, the group proposed to rent a venue where people can have access to the petitions without going to the library, art gallery or city hall. They will also bring the petition door to door.
Lippert said that the association has every right to go ahead with the provincial investigation, and is glad that the community group is checking to ensure that council is following the proper processes.
However, he said that he is against the group setting up a venue or going door to door with the petition because it places pressure on citizens to sign. “There is not supposed to be any influence from outside organizations,” he said. “It is like a vote, there shouldn’t be anyone forcing anyone to sign. People need to be left to their own accord and decide to sign it or not sign it without feeling obligated to.” Despite the opinion of the mayor, Debella hopes that the petition will serve to wake up the council and bring the concerns of the community to the forefront. “The petition will show that there are people out there that care and are interested in the topic and saving our money,” said Debella. “If we have to, we will play their game but they need to know we are making up some of our own rules.”
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