Tuesday, September 15, 2009

City Defends Convention Trip

Written by Peter McIntyre Tuesday, 15 September 2009 14:40 107.5 KISSFM:

City officials are defending a decision to send a large contingent of Vernon council members to the Union of BC Municipalities convention later this month. Mayor Wayne Lippert, along with up to four councillors and the city's administrator, will attend the five day event in Vancouver. Lippert says the airfare and hotel will cost up to 800 dollars per person, but he feels it's worth it.

"It's very important and it's not a holiday. It's a lot of work and at the end of the week when councillor Gilroy and I got back, we felt like we needed a holiday because it is a lot of work. Lippert says it's an opportunity to meet with a number of provincial cabinet ministers and other organizations like the RCMP and BC Ambulance to discuss issues around the city and regional district.

Jack Gilroy will be making a return trip. "I've been on council for four years now and this is the largest contingent of council going down there and I feel it's a really good idea. We have tons of meetings with the ministers and it helps just to put a face to a name. "The city has cancelled the September 28th city council meeting due to having so many members at the convention. Gilroy doesn't have a problem with that, saying the city is only mandated to hold 12 meetings year and council will catch up.

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