Middle ground found over committee structure

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: January 29, 2009 6:00 PM

Consensus has surfaced over how Greater Vernon’s shared services should be administered. Details on how the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee should operate were hammered out during a joint meeting of Vernon and Coldstream councils, as well as the directors for Areas B and C Tuesday. “It’s a move in the right direction,” said Jim Garlick, Coldstream mayor. Coldstream had proposed that GVAC be split up into two separate entities for water and parks and recreation, and to allow more officials to sit at the table than is currently allowed. What was decided on Tuesday, though, was that everything remain within one committee and the voting structure remain the same, except for the possible addition of the Vernon School District on some parks matters and an agricultural representative on issues dealing with water. Coldstream would also be able to have alternate directors when their regular representatives aren’t present.

Garlick believes Coldstream’s concerns about representation have been addressed. “Now we have two representatives on the committee. If it’s workable, let’s make it work and move ahead,” he said, adding that he doesn’t want GVAC to become bogged down in governance discussions. The recommendations from the joint council meeting will now be passed on to the chairman of the North Okanagan Regional District, which determines committee structure. There also appears to be some middle ground forming on trying to keep all jurisdictions involved in water distribution. “We’ve got a good start and everyone is talking,” said Wayne Lippert, Vernon mayor. “Everyone has an open mind and wants to do what’s best for the citizens.” Last spring, the city announced it would withdraw from regional water distribution for a number of reasons, including a lack of co-ordination on capital projects among jurisdictions and the belief that customers are confused over the governance structure. Everyone at the table Tuesday says there is a need to work out the matter on their own and to avoid going to costly arbitration. “A lot of this stuff can be resolved,” said Mike Macnabb, BX-Silver Star director. Lippert believes much of the recent conflict can be linked to some former politicians.“The personalities that were there were causing this. It’s the structure that’s been screwed up by us politicians,” he said.