Anti Amalgamation Mood At Meeting

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Friday, 10 January 2014 12:33
Coldstream residents braved the snowstorm Thursday night to express their opposition to amalgamation with Vernon. Coldstream Ratepayers Association acting president Steve Heeren says it was a good turnout. "One of our members counted everyone there, and it came to 65. We almost filled the Women's Institute Hall," he says. Heeren says no one spoke in favour, although at least one supporter did attend. He says they have struck a steering committee and will be planning future action. "People were really enthused about the subject of amalgamation, not in favour of it of course. The overwhelming sentiment was opposed to Coldstream being amalgamated with Vernon," Heeren tells Kiss FM. Heeren says the push for a study is coming from Vernon's business community with "a couple of people in Coldstream supporting it." The meeting was in response to a 3,160 name petition in support of a governance review by a local citizens group. 816 of the petition supporters were Coldstream residents. The Greater Vernon Governance Society will be making presentations to Vernon and Coldstream councils Monday, asking them to support a study into the issue. Members of the Governance Society from Coldstream are President Bruce Shepherd, directors Jack Borden, Darryl O'Brian and Mike Tindall. Jason Short of Vernon is the vice president, Peter Moore of Area C is the treaurer-secretary, and Bruce Acton of Vernon is a director. Non directors as part of the steering committee are Shawn Lee, Mark Budgeon and Bob Beckley all of Vernon, and Ken Dahlen of Coldstream. The group's members are outlined in information that will be presented to Vernon council on Monday.
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http://www.vernon.ca/images/uploads/council/agendas/packages/140113_2.pdf (p.43-114)

A. Mr. Bruce Shepherd, Coldstream, Mr. Peter Moore, Electoral Area C, Mr. Jason Shortt, Vernon, Greater Vernon Governance
Society, re: To Present the final petition results for the following question put to Greater Vernon Citizens:
"Do you support a review by local and provincial authorities, to develop a plan to combine our regional governments into a single entity, for the purpose of more efficient use of our local tax dollars?"
• Greater Vernon Governance Society Presentation (P. 43)
• Vernon Signatures (P. 47)
• Ministry of Municipal Affairs Guide dated October 2000, re:
'Managing Changes to Local Government Structure in British
Columbia: A Review and Program Guide' (P. 91)