By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: November 07, 2008
Vernonites took advantage of their last major opportunity to question all of the candidates for mayor and council Thursday. About 350 people attended a forum hosted by the Vernon Performing Arts Centre and one of the more contentious issues was a strategic plan on fire services and the potential impact on Okanagan Landing’s volunteer firefighters. Patrick Nicol, an incumbent councillor, said he needs to look at the report, but he supports the volunteers. “You have been dedicated for too long not to listen to you,” he said to Ed Forslund, Landing fire chief, who asked that action on the plan be delayed until costs are revealed. Jack Gilroy, an incumbent councillor, tried to clarify the situation. “This study isn’t to get rid of volunteers. This is to provide better service,” he said, adding that response times, especially at Predator Ridge, must be considered.Newcomers running for councillor also waded into the debate.“It’s a thinly veiled attempt to turn the volunteer hall into a satellite of the Vernon hall staffed with paid firefighters,” said Doug MacAulay. For Shawn Lee, considering the long-term needs of the fire service makes sense in a growing community. “We must look at the real issue and that is, if my house is on fire, will someone come and not fight about whose jurisdiction it is?” he said. Mary-Jo O’Keefe believes city hall has handled the situation poorly. “Sometimes we are not respectful of the groups involved. To not involve them (early in the process) is wrong,” she said.
Discussion also revolved around potential amalgamation of Coldstream and Areas B and C into Vernon.“Ultimately that will happen but it will only happen when those people want to join us. It’s not our decision to go and grab those territories,” said Bob Spiers, who is running for councillor.
But Eric Kowalski, who also wants to be a councillor, insists the city must be co-operative with its neighbours first. “We need to figure out how we can work together and then we can talk amalgamation,” he said.
Some of the mayoralty candidates also took on the issue of amalgamation. “Our current system is unfair. We have facilities in Vernon that people in Coldstream take advantage of,” said Steve Campbell, referring to the city picking up the tab of the Middleton Way extension. Rick Thorburn’s entire campaign focuses on annexing Areas B and C, and he says it would help provide necessary land for industry as well as address funding inequities for infrastructure. “They are an integral part of our community but they are not at our council table.”
Candidates were also asked about the alternate approval petition process, which current council unsuccessfully tried to use to borrow money for a civic complex. “I would never do what we did in that civic complex debacle. I will take my share of the guilt about doing it so poorly,” said Juliette Cunningham, a councillor running for mayor, adding that more public consultation is needed on such matters. But Mayor Wayne Lippert stated that the proposed complex would have included much-needed space for the RCMP and art gallery, and the space crunch for those agencies is a growing problem. “We have moved city staff to other (leased) locations to make room for the RCMP,” he said.
Some residents also wanted to know where the new councillor candidates stand on expanding trails and recreation facilities. “We need to find more ways to encourage people to get out and walk and bike. They will enjoy the city and see what it’s all about,” said Peter Greening. Brian Quiring envisions upgrades to Polson Park. “I’m going to push hard for replacement of the grandstand and that will increase the use of the park,” he said. Ray Carling believes that expanded trails help improve road safety.“Over time, people use these paths and that takes the danger off the main roads,” he said.
Parks are also a focus for Buffy Baumbrough, an incumbent councillor. “We are looking at trails, natural areas and sports fields,” she said, adding that a focus for her is establishing a grasslands park. There was also talk about Vernon’s spray irrigation program and the need to get rid of treated waste water. “Future developments should have dual water systems. There could be separate pipes for gardens and parks,” said Steve Debella, who wants to be a councillor.
There was also some focus on city hall’s relationship with the public.“I want more transparency and accountability and less red tape. I want the city to be more open when questions are asked,” said Floyd Edwards, who is seeking the mayor’s chair. Gordon Thomas, a councillor candidate, believes that his career and life skills would be an asset to the community and allow him to be objective when dealing with issues of concern.
Mayoralty candidate Tony Stamboulieh was asked if he could be co-operative if elected, and one resident wondered if Stamboulieh is in favour of anything or just against city hall. “I’m all for the official community plan and developing downtown. I have a lot of ideas that are positive. And most positive is having a community where its voice is heard,” he said.
