Directors fight to keep GVAC intact

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: November 03, 2009 7:00 PM

There is opposition to disbanding the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee. North Okanagan Regional District directors will consider a request today from the City of Vernon that GVAC be eliminated and water and parks and recreation matters be dealt with at the NORD table. “It’s wrong,” said Mike Gavinchuk, BX-Swan Lake director, of the city’s plans. Gavinchuk believes there is a need for the committee to investigate issues, taking workload away from those at the regional board. “They can find out the information, discuss it and pass it on to the board for a vote,” he said. Gavinchuk added that the guidelines governing GVAC are clear and it is not an independent body because it falls under the jurisdiction of the NORD board. “The final decision is up to the board.”

Mike Macnabb, BX-Silver Star director, also wants to keep GVAC, saying it gives officials a chance to review issues there and at NORD. “It allows you to make a better decision,” he said. Macnabb, though, says some structural changes may be necessary to reduce any possible confusion between the committee and the board. “There are some Vernon reps at the committee and they are different than the ones at NORD,” he said. City officials have been upset since the regional board overturned a GVAC decision on a proposed sedimentation pond at BX Ranch Park in August. “They have no authority,” said Jack Gilroy, a city director, of why GVAC isn’t required to continue. Gilroy says one of the problems is GVAC members have access to public delegations and staff presentations, and there is a need to streamline the process by just having one group of politicians involved. “The information will go directly to the board than just GVAC,” he said. With BX-Swan Lake and BX-Silver Star opposed, Gilroy isn’t sure if support will come from Coldstream to disband the committee. “There’s been talk of it at the board level before,” he said.