Extra vote not supported

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: May 11, 2012 1:00 AM

Coldstream’s pitch for a stronger regional voice is garnering some opposition. Lumby does not support Coldstream’s bid to have a second seat at the Regional District of North Okanagan board table. “It’s not fair to change the goal posts,” said Mayor Kevin Acton of the current process for determining representation. “The rule has been in place for years.” Presently, each jurisdiction is allowed one vote per 2,500 in population but it takes an accumulation of five votes to gain a director. Even with Coldstream’s population climbing from 9,471 in 2006 to 10,314 in 2011, the municipality is still only entitled to one board director. Coldstream is suggesting RDNO change its structure so there is one vote for every 2,000 people, meaning it would gain another seat at the table. As part of its proposal, Coldstream states it’s under-represented at RDNO. “Coldstream has a population of 10,134 and the same number of directors as Area E (Cherryville) with a population of 939,” said Coun. Maria Besso recently. Besides not wanting to change the rules, Acton has other concerns about adding another director. “There’s a cost involved,” he said. Vernon is entitled to a fourth RDNO director under the current system because of population growth during the 2011 federal census. “I don’t think it will create a power imbalance,” said Acton.