By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: December 09, 2008
A Vernon politician has refused to sit on a public agency because his heart’s not in it. Coun. Bob Spiers has turned down a request from Mayor Wayne Lippert to sit on the city-owned Hesperia Land Corporation. “I’m not a great believer in what we are doing there. I would be a detriment,” he told council Monday. “It (council appointee) should be someone who supports attainable housing in that matter.” The Hesperia Land Corporation is responsible for establishing a development plan for 69 acres on Apollo and Longacre drives. Private developers would then construct up to 1,000 residential units and some commercial lots.
But Spiers says the city should be more focused on meeting the needs of people that don’t have a place to live than pushing ahead with the Hesperia project. “I’m more in favour of us putting our money into affordable housing than attainable or market housing,” he said. “Hesperia is directed towards people earning between $56,000 and $96,000. I’m not sure they are our priority.”
Lippert says he suggested Spiers for the appointment because he would bring a different perspective to discussions at the corporation table. “I thought he would be the devil’s advocate,” said Lippert. Council’s representative to the Hesperia corporation will be Coun. Mary-Jo O’Keefe while the alternate will be Coun. Patrick Nicol.
Appointments have also been made to the city-owned Capt. Bailey Way Corporation, which is looking at development of 10 residential units and hangars at the airport. Representing council at that corporation will be Coun., Jack Gilroy and the alternate will be Spiers.
