Councillor slams review

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - November 04, 2007

Valley governance review includes only one major mayor.A Vernon politician believes a valley-wide governance review is already off track because it doesn’t involve the mayors of the Okanagan’s three largest communities. Coun. Barry Beardsell says the creation of a nine-member committee to pursue governance options clearly goes against the direction of the provincial government by only having one mayor of the three big cities involved.“It leaves a lot of questions about the process,” said Beardsell.Vernon Mayor Wayne Lippert is part of the North Okanagan contingent on the committee, but the mayors of Kelowna and Penticton are missing. Instead, those communities are represented by councillors who also happen to be chairmen of their respective regional districts.

In an Oct. 4 letter to the valley’s three regional districts, Community Services Minister Ida Chong stated, “I expect the nine-member task force will include the mayors of the three largest cities.”Beardsell believes the proper chain of command should be followed.“The mayor is the main person representing a community and Ida Chong saw it that way,” he said. Beardsell is concerned the views of regional district officials could dominate those from municipalities when it comes to consider future governance options for the valley.“Are the three largest cities having their own voices heard?” he said.But Jerry Oglow, North Okanagan Regional District chairman and Armstrong mayor, dismisses Beardsell’s suggestions.

“The most important task is to get on with the consultation process. I want to hear from the public about (governance issues),” he said.From NORD, Oglow represents small municipalities, Area C director Stan Field represents rural communities and Lippert speaks for Vernon on the committee.“It was important that the City of Vernon be represented and Mayor Lippert has a keen interest in this matter,” said Oglow.Oglow points out that he, Lippert and Field all sit on the NORD board.“I’m there to speak to the issues of the small communities — the Armstrongs, the Enderbys, the Lumby, the Spallumcheens and Coldstreams. I’m not there particularly there to represent the regional district,” he said.