Ron Seymour Kelowna Courier
The leadership abilities of Mayor Sharon Shepherd were called into question Monday by Coun. Carol Gran. Gran, who is not running for re-election in November, said she was “hurt to the core” by Shepherd‘s actions on the Simpson covenant issue. “I like you, and I value your friendship,” Gran said at the end of the regular council meeting, “but I was very hurt, and I wanted you to know that, and to say it in public.” On Aug. 18, the city announced it would appeal a B.C. Supreme Court ruling that found the covenant was an enforceable charitable trust under common law. The agreement was struck in 1946 when Stanley Simpson sold downtown land to the city on condition it be used only for municipal purposes. The city‘s position is that the covenant is outdated and unenforceable, and that the land would be better protected through modern-day zoning regulations. Around 10 p.m. on Aug. 18, Shepherd sent out a press release saying she would oppose the city‘s planned appeal. She was criticized by some councillors, who said her statement amounted to a violation of the rules of confidentiality that surround an in-camera vote like the one where the decision was taken to launch the appeal. “I‘m deeply dismayed by the mayor‘s actions,” Coun. Brian Given said on Aug. 19. In response to Gran‘s criticism on Monday, Shepherd said she‘d had “many sleepless nights” over the issue. Asked if that meant she regretted opposing the city‘s planned appeal, Shepherd said: “No, I haven‘t changed my mind on that at all.” If she had it to do over again, Shepherd suggested she would not have announced her opposition to the appeal just a few hours after council stated its intention to go forward with it. “I‘ve learned a little bit about process,” Shepherd said.
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