Debate pending on tight-lipped Penticton council policy

JOHN MOORHOUSE Monday, July 27, 2009 Penticton Herald:

It‘s time for Penticton city council to loosen its inter-governmental lips a bit, say a pair of city councillors. Councillors Dan Albas and Garry Litke have issued a notice of motion, to be debated at the Aug. 4 council meeting, over a city policy preventing council from taking a more vocal stance on issues outside its direct jurisdiction. The policy states that “in order to avoid conflict with other levels of government”, council members, city staff and city advisory committee members should refrain from taking positions on political issues beyond the scope or control of city council. Council members should “only address issues that are apolitical and within local government areas of jurisdiction.”

Albas said Sunday although there was no one single issue that prompted the call for the policy change, he pointed to a recent suggestion by Coun. Andrew Jakubeit that council write a letter to Penticton MLA Bill Barisoff regarding regulations which prohibit search and rescue personnel from riding in an ambulance to assist with a patient following an incident. City staff noted such an issue was outside the city‘s jurisdiction. “As council, we‘re supposed to represent the people of Penticton. If we find there‘s a matter than we feel that‘s important, we should be able to communicate that to our MLA or MP,” Albas said. “It‘s obviously a selective policy, because we‘ve sent items to the Union of B.C. Municipalities a resolution that is outside of our jurisdiction.” Albas said loosening the current policy would allow council to have a voice on senior government issues, as long as it‘s respectful and constructive. “I can‘t think of anyone in the provincial or federal government that wouldn‘t like to hear from a municipality on what it thinks is important on particular issues, especially when they have to do with mutual concern.” he said. “It seems kind of goofy that we can‘t a letter to our own MLA to discuss something Ð that we have to rely on the mayor to have a conversation on his own.” Litke said there are instances where this tight lips policy puts council and the community at somewhat of a disadvantage. “There‘s a policy that constrains this council from commenting on issues that are the jurisdiction of other governments,” Litke said. “But oftentimes the lines of jurisdiction cross and this council has in the past been reluctant to comment on issues such as that.”