A Greater Vernon Services Committee member is lashing out at the very organization he helped found. Barry Beardsell, attending his last meeting as a director Thursday, had harsh words
for the committee. 
“GVSC is operating like a ship with no captain and no rudder,” he said. Beardsell has been associated with GVSC since it was formed in 2001, but Mayor Wayne Lippert did not reappoint him to the board as a Vernon representative. Beardsell believes problems with GVSC arose after the North Okanagan Regional District downgraded the agency from a commission to a committee. “It’s been useless and not worked well for the public,” he said. “It doesn’t have any power or authority. It’s just waffling and not getting anything done.”
As an example, Beardsell points to a recent budget meeting where three directors left the room. Without a quorum present, the meeting could not continue. “It’s indicative of how GVSC has operated for two years. It’s pathetic,” he said. Beardsell believes the situation is partially the result of some key players. “I won’t na
me names but there are a couple of people,” he said. If GVSC is to continue, Beardsell insists some changes are required. “GVSC needs an effective administrative person such as we had before so the business of GVSC is 
looked after by its own administrative person,” he said.
Currently, GVSC is overseen by Brian Reardon, who is administrator for the regional district. Gary Corner, GVSC chairman, doesn’t support Beardsell’s views. “GVSC does what it’s supposed to and that’s deliver services in parks, recreation, water and economic development,” he said. Corner admits, though, that politicians and staff have been focused on a variety of service reviews requested by the City of Vernon and Areas B and C. “We have so much going on, especially at the NORD level. It’s certainly muddied the waters,” he said.
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