Former councillor files formal complaint

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: June 15, 2010 7:00 PM

A former Vernon councillor has launched a process over questions he claims the city is dodging. Barry Beardsell has filed an electoral complaint with the City of Vernon under provincial legislation. That means an auditor will have to get involved. “These questions were first asked in early 2008 and despite repeated requests from me, I’ve received a pittance of information,” he said. “They call themselves an open and transparent city hall but they’re far from it.” The issues Beardsell has raised include a sewer levy for a specified area, sewer charges relating to Coldstream and grants from the Okanagan Basin Water Board. He is also seeking information on revenue from the city’s former fast-track approval process for developments.

Mayor Wayne Lippert says Beardsell is within his right as a resident to launch an auditor’s review, but he believes city staff has treated Beardsell fairly. “All of his questions have been answered but he didn’t get the answers he liked,” said Lippert. “I don’t see anything jumping out from this.” It’s not known what the auditor’s review will cost the city, but a similar process a few years ago came with a $7,800 price tag. “There is a cost to this process. Whatever the cost, we’ll make sure it’s public,” said Lippert. Beardsell puts any responsibility for costs of the reviwew back on to the city. “It shouldn’t have been necessary if they were doing their job,” he said. “If I can’t get simple answers from when I was still a councillor, what hope does the average taxpayer have?”

Coun. Bob Spiers, who initiated the last electoral complaint before he was elected to office, is calling on the city to maintain open communications with Beardsell.“I hope we make a point of interviewing him to find out what his real concerns are,” said Spiers.

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Don Quixote Note: What was said about interviewing Beardsell was actually: 'I hope that this time that the Auditors and/or lawyers that are required to report back to council interview the complainant.'

This refers back to Spiers complaint on January 12/2004 that was finally completed and reported back to Council on July 26, 2004 (6 months). For a "simple" complaint that took 6 months to figure out and report back in a 1 page report that said "The Investigation undertaken by the City's Auditors, BDO Dunwoody and their referenced letter from an independent legal firm, Fulton & Company, verifying that in their view the settlement of the actions relating to the Anderson Subdivision Specified Area was a lawful exercise of a power conferred upon the city."

This 6 month investigation never interviewed me and never asked for any information from me.

(Final reported result at Legal opinion backs Vernon's position) July 28/05