With just a week left in Vernon’s alternate approval process, both sides in the dispute aren’t backing down. 
Both the city and the Vernon Taxpayers Association are confident their differing positions will be successful when the last of the petitions are handed in by 4 p.m. next Wednesday. “Some people will be in favour and some will be against,” said Coun. Jack Gilroy of the city seeking approval to long-term borrow $20 million for a new library/civic building. While the Vernon Taxpayers Association has demanded a referendum be held, Gilroy defends the alternate approval petition process, saying it conserved time so government grants for the building aren’t put in jeopardy. “We are going to build this building. Even if they get 2,777 names (10 per cent of voters), we will still build it,” he said. Gilroy added that city council wanted to avoid a situation like occurred in Coldstream where residents turned down borrowing through a referendum and a municipal office was still constructed. “We didn’t want to build it when it was voted down.” If long-term borrowing doesn’t occur, other funding options for the city include short-term borrowing, using reserves, selling property and going to full referendum. Gilroy insists 
that Okanagan Regional Library needed a financial commitment from the city and the alternate approval process was the best way to achieve that.
Both the city and the Vernon Taxpayers Association are confident their differing positions will be successful when the last of the petitions are handed in by 4 p.m. next Wednesday. “Some people will be in favour and some will be against,” said Coun. Jack Gilroy of the city seeking approval to long-term borrow $20 million for a new library/civic building. While the Vernon Taxpayers Association has demanded a referendum be held, Gilroy defends the alternate approval petition process, saying it conserved time so government grants for the building aren’t put in jeopardy. “We are going to build this building. Even if they get 2,777 names (10 per cent of voters), we will still build it,” he said. Gilroy added that city council wanted to avoid a situation like occurred in Coldstream where residents turned down borrowing through a referendum and a municipal office was still constructed. “We didn’t want to build it when it was voted down.” If long-term borrowing doesn’t occur, other funding options for the city include short-term borrowing, using reserves, selling property and going to full referendum. Gilroy insists 
that Okanagan Regional Library needed a financial commitment from the city and the alternate approval process was the best way to achieve that. On the other side of the issue, the Vernon Taxpayers Association is confident it will gather 10 per cent of voters names, which is necessary to stop the city’s plans for long-term borrowing. “I’m feeling heartened by the wonderful connections we’re making with the community,” said spokesman Tony Stamboulieh. “I think people will be surprised about what the citizens have to say. I am sensing a great deal of frustration. People are fed up with the views and behaviour of city council.” And while the city has tried to focus on the need for the building, Stamboulieh says that isn’t his group’s concern. “It’s the (alternate approval) process. It’s the lack of information. It’s the arrogance of the mayor — that he’s going against the wishes of the people who voted him in.” Mayor Wayne Lippert could not be reached for comment.
1 comment:
Sounds like the gorilla is the most arrogant of all of them.
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