Dispute sends Foisy walking

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: April 08, 2011 1:00 AM
A veteran politician not only stands behind his convictions, they lead him right out the door.  For the second time since February, Cherryville director Eugene Foisy has temporarily walked out of the North Okanagan Regional District board room to avoid voting on Greater Vernon governance.  “The electoral areas fought for years to have only our vote directed to our communities. We didn’t want Coldstream and Vernon having a say on things in our community,” he said after Wednesday’s meeting.  “Even if the Local Government Act says I can vote on Greater Vernon issues, this doesn’t effect me or my community.”  On Wednesday, a majority of the directors agreed to amend the bylaw that established the Greater Vernon parks and recreation function so the largest jurisdiction has the same number of votes as all of the other participants combined when at the regional district board table.  NORD staff state that all board members, not just function participants, can vote on changes to bylaws that create services. There is no legal ability to abstain, so under procedures, Foisy would have been recorded as being in favour of the motion if he did not raise his hand in opposition. Instead, he decided to leave the room until after the vote was conducted.  “Why can’t I abstain? I don’t want to vote yes or no,” he said. The push for the bylaw amendment has come from Coldstream and BX-Silver Star which are concerned Vernon could gain another vote if its population increases during the next census, and it would be able to control all decisions.  But Foisy isn’t convinced with that argument.  “There is a balance now (between the jurisdictions) and it’s not working,” he said.  “There are real problems that haven’t been addressed, and until they sit down and start working on it, what we do means nothing.”  The next step is for the proposed bylaw amendment to go to Coldstream, Vernon, BX-Silver Star and BX-Swan Lake for consideration.  “If two-thirds of the participants agree, it changes, and if there isn’t two-thirds support, it doesn’t change,” said Jim Garlick, Coldstream director.  “This is a commitment to keep it (function) in the same structure as it sits now.”  Mike Macnabb, BX-Silver Star director, says his constituents don’t want a function controlled by Vernon.  “Why should Area C spend $450,000 a year with no meaningful vote? There is no point of going into a service if there is no feeling of fairness,” he said.  Opposition to the bylaw amendment came from Vernon’s three representatives.  “You are tampering with something that has worked for years,” said director Patrick Nicol.  Director Wayne Lippert denied the city wants to control parks and recreation issues.  “When has Vernon ever voted in a block to stop anything good that happens in Greater Vernon? Probably never,” he said.  A majority of directors have agreed to initiate a new review of the parks and recreation service.