Thursday, December 06, 2007

Vernon taxpayers get ambushed at NORD.


They had their first NORD meeting with the new appointees for 2008 present. Among the highlights was a contest for the Nord Chairmanship between Mayor Gerry Oglow of Armstrong and Earl Shipmaker of the City of Enderby. Mayor Oglow was reelected as the NORD Chairman and will serve a new term. Electoral Area "F" director Hermann Halvorson was elected vice chair without opposition replacing Mayor Wayne Lippert of Vernon.

Township of Spallumcheen's director Lorna Bissell was acclaimed as Nord Chair to the regional Hospital Board with newcomer Director Jack Gilroy elected vice chair by acclamation.

Stan Field stepped down from his original appointment to the Valley Wide Governance Committee and Director Halvorson of Electoral Area "F" and Director Fairbairn of Electoral Area "D" were appointed to this Super Regional Board by a 7-6 vote.

The Four members to this august conclave of elders are:
  • Mayor Gerry Oglow of Armstrong representing the medium sized community
  • Mayor Wayne Lippert of Vernon representing the larger City
  • Director Halvorson of Electoral Area "F" representing the rural community.
  • Director Fairbairn of Electoral Area "D" representing the rural community
(Voting in the negative on the two new appointees were Corner, Lippert, Gilroy, Cummingham, Oglow and 1 other)

Those voting in the negative seem to want a city of Vernon appointee so that the three major Okanagan cities (Kelowna, Penticton and Vernon ) would each have 2 representatives including their respective Mayors.

On a voting strength vote it wouldn't have been close but with a simple one area one vote unweighted vote the small areas stepped up and thwarted the larger municipalities.

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