Police Reserve topped back up by required amount for now !

Yesterday at Council in an unanimous vote $787,483 was placed in to the Police Reserve representing the 2007 Police operating surplus. The funds will come out of the Casino reserve in 2008 so as to "that the RCMP reserve funds transferred for the Middleton Road project be rectified. "

There will be a Special Committee of the Whole meeting of Council, Friday, May 16, 2008, at 9:00 am discuss the draft Interim Reserve Policy.

Coun. Beardsell the main proponent of reserve rationalization proposed deferring the meeting for 1 week as he could not attend. As this would preclude two other councillors from attending due to a conference they would be attending the date and time remains the same.

A simple change to a Thursday date this week (*at finance committee meeting perhaps)would have seemed to be a solution where the council could have the proper attendees at this crucial meeting. Another opportunity missed with the results that anything decided by the Council at the Friday meeting will be dissected by Coun. Beardsell when he gets the full report of any important reserve changes that were made.

*May 15, Thursday: Finance Committee 1:00 pm Kalamalka Lake Room
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The expected balance at 2008 year end for these two reserves (before any operating surpluses or revenue) now will be:
RCMP reserve will increase from $61,607 to $849,090.
Casino Reserve will decrease from $1,108,002 to $320,519.

Vernon Land Advisory Committee - VACANCY

The Council of The Corporation of the City of Vernon is seeking to fill one (1) vacancy on the Vernon Land Advisory Committee. The purpose of the Committee is to provide City Council with advice and recommendations on land related matters, as referred to the Land Advisory Committee by City Council, including strategic and long range planning for City owned lands. The term of this vacancy is two (2) years.

Those persons who reside in the City of Vernon and who are interested in serving on the Vernon Land Advisory Committee, are requested to pick up a Volunteer Application Form for Civic Committees, Commission and Boards, and submit the completed form no later than Monday, January 28, 2008, or click below for a copy of the volunteer application form.
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Don Quixote Note: The residency in Vernon was not a requirement under the old Land Corporation. It has obviously changed for membership on a land committee.

Hesperia Plan Proceeds

By Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM

Plans to develop a site in Okanagan Landing for attainable housing, are moving forward.The Hesperia Development Corporation has reached a three million dollar deal, to purchase 69 acres above Apollo Road and Okanagan Avenue, from the city. Corporation spokesman Ken Stewart tells KISS FM, the plan is to develop the land over the next five to seven years, for people with moderate incomes. "That's mid range incomes, (around) $60,000 to $100,000 a year. It's that end of the community that's been left behind by the increase in house pricing." Stewart says the next step will be servicing the site which will take up to two years.Hesperia is a corporation that's owned by the city, and run by a group of directors. Any profits will go back to the city.

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Working poor housing - CHBC Video
Web posted on Tuesday, 22 January 2008

Vernon council is making home ownership more attainable for mid-income families.

Land purchase protested

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - January 20, 2008

Opposition is arising over the City of Vernon’s latest property acquisition. The Vernon Taxpayers Association is questioning the purchase of the Vernon Medical Clinic properties on 31st and 32nd avenues for $1.4 million. “There are no plans that have been made to the public regarding this property,” said Tony Stamboulieh, association spokesman. “They talk about a greenway that would be deserted after 5 p.m.” The medical clinic will lease the property from the city until Jan. 31, 2010, with a one-year renewal option to follow. The purchase price of $1.4 million was reduced by $125,000 through the two-year, pre-paid lease. “Is it a smart move to buy property that costs $1.4 million and for three years you are stuck with minimal rent?” said Stamboulieh.

Stamboulieh also wonders why the city is pursuing major land use issues when the official community plan review won’t be completed until June. “It’s arbitrary and behind closed doors,” he said of council decisions. “Major expenditures are a deep concern for citizens and they (council) need to change how they govern and spend our money.” Coun. Juliette Cunningham defends the purchase, saying the Vernon Medical Clinic operators were looking to leave that site. “We don’t want them to leave downtown. That could have a negative impact on business because the clinic brings a lot of people downtown,” she said. The city hopes the medical clinic will relocate to the city-owned Bennett parking lot on 29th Avenue if it’s redeveloped. Cunningham insists no decisions have been made about the future of the medical clinic lands.“It could end up with artist studios, who knows,” she said, adding that Vernon should look to other communities when it comes to revitalization. “Kelowna has really opened up more of its downtown and made it pedestrian friendly.”In terms of the $1.4 million price tag, Cunningham believes the lands would have only become more expensive if the city didn’t act now. “Cost of land is such an issue so not to have foresight is foolish,” she said.

Medical clinic lands picked up by city

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - January 16, 2008

More taxpayer dollars have been locked up in downtown Vernon property. The City of Vernon revealed Monday that it has purchased the Vernon Medical Clinic properties on 31st and 32nd avenues for $1.4 million. “It’s a valuable piece of land between the publicly owned civic complex and Cenotaph Park,” said Coun. Patrick Nicol. The medical clinic will lease the property from the city until Jan. 31, 2010, with a one-year renewal option to follow. The purchase price of $1.4 million was reduced by $125,000 through the two-year, pre-paid lease.

The acquisition of the medical clinic lands is connected with the city’s plans to sell the Bennett parking lot on 29th Avenue. The city hopes to see a mix of land uses on that site, including possibly the Vernon Medical Clinic. If the Bennett parking lot project occurs, the city will have to decide what to do with the medical clinic lands. “There are a number of plans and once they are concluded, they will come forward,” said Mayor Wayne Lippert, adding they will be part of downtown revitalization. Nicol envisions development opportunities on the medical clinic lands, as well as some public uses. “There needs to be more walking areas,” he said.

However, not everyone on council is pleased with the latest acquisition. “How much more money will be spent on real estate?” said Coun. Barry Beardsell.“More than $4 million is tied up on the Coldstream Hotel site and now we are paying out $1.4 million on the medical clinic.”
Beardsell says he is not aware of any plans for the medical clinic lands. “People should be very concerned about the spending of the city. Things have gone off-track,” he said.

Land advisory originals announce retirements

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - January 13, 2008

A committee that oversees the City of Vernon’s land matters is undergoing some major changes. Jack Borden and Richard Hamilton, who are original members of the land advisory committee, are stepping down from their duties. “I have been there since its inception and I’ve decided to retire from all committees I’ve been involved in,” said Borden, a businessman and former committee chairman. That is also the same explanation from Hamilton, who is also a businessman. “I have served four-and-a-half years and I thought it was enough time,” he said. Hamilton and Borden were originally appointed by the previous council to sit on a land corporation that acted separately from the city. However, current council decided in late 2006 to downgrade the corporation to a committee, which only serves in an advisory role to council. Borden and Hamilton were the only members of the former corporation to move on to the new committee structure. Since then, the land committee has been busy, negotiating potential deals for the city, including the Bennett parking lot downtown and the Vernon Medical Clinic site.

Hamilton feels quite confident leaving the committee at this time. “The people there are quite capable and there’s a broad spectrum of people there,” he said. The committee consists of four members of the public as well as a council representative. Borden also stands behind the need for the land committee. “There’s some excellent members on the committee,” he said. “They are definitely providing an excellent service to council.” As a result of the retirements, city council recently made a new appointment to the committee and is looking to fill the other vacancy.

City scolded for ignoring housing

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - November 14, 2007

A chunk of publicly owned land is going on the block, but a Vernon councillor fears the need for housing will be ignored.On Tuesday, council gave approval to the Vernon Land Advisory Committee to interview two companies about the potential purchase and redevelopment of the Bennett parking lot on 29th Avenue. Lone opposition came from Coun. Pat Cochrane. “Housing should be downtown,” Cochrane told his colleagues and members of the land committee. Cochrane believes the emphasis of any new building will be on commercial and office space and not housing.“I am very disappointed we haven’t made it a requirement on this site,” he said.

But Cochrane’s concerns were dismissed by others around the table.“As part of the interview process, the committee can raise the issue,” said Coun. Juliette Cunningham.The two companies that responded to an expression of interest are MKT Arkle Development Management of Vancouver and Plainsman Companies of Vancouver.The city hopes to see a mix of land uses on the site, with the developer also providing 120 parking stalls that will be owned and managed by the city. There is also a letter of intent that would see the Vernon Medical Clinic sell its properties on 31st and 32nd avenues to the city and then move into a new building on the Bennett parking lot site. The city could also possibly acquire the Elks and Royal Canadian Legion halls, with those groups also moving into the Bennett parking lot building.

If the Vernon Land Advisory Committee is not satisfied with the interviews with MKT Arkle and Plainsman, other firms may be selected for discussions. The committee was also seeking council approval to offer a 90-day purchase option to one of the developers if interviews go well. But that didn’t go over well with Coun. Barry Beardsell.“That leaves council out of it. It’s just a blank cheque,” said Beardsell. Ultimately, the land committee was instructed to put any 90-day purchase option before council for support.

Vernon Land Committee needs Vernon Residents to Volunteer

http://www.vernon.ca/news/wftc/070819.pdf

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

REAL ESTATE MANAGER (City of Vernon)

http://www.vernon.ca/employment/real_estate_manager_pdes.pdf

REAL ESTATE MANAGER (Part-Time – Temporary – 3 year term)
Competition #: 57-COV-07 Closing Date: July 10, 2007
Rate of Pay: $61,475 annually (Exempt)
Days/Hours: Tuesday to Friday - Hours 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (28 hrs/week)

Reporting to the Manager, Planning, Development, and Engineering Services (PDES), the incumbent is responsible for the management and development of the City’s real estate assets, and acquisition of property and rights of way related to City projects. The incumbent provides professional real estate advice to City Council, the Land Committee, senior administration, other City divisions and outside agencies. He/she relies on a commitment to professional appraisal principles, a good knowledge of real estate values and trends, paralegal experience, the Local Government Act, the Community Charter, the Land Title Act, the Land Registry Act and City bylaws and policies.

Council hands land committee a $75,000 real estate manager

Vernon Daily Courier staff http://www.dailycourier.ca/

City council has responded to a staff recommendation and created the new position of real estate manager to handle the city’s land dealings. The position will be part-time – 28 hours a week– and command a yearly salary of $75,000. “The idea behind this position is that we have been using so many different individuals to handle our real estate dealings. This will coordinate everything through one individual,” said Coun. Patrick Nicol, “Given the volume of acquisitions and road works we have going on, we think the position will probably pay for itself.” The position is only scheduled for a term of three years, which allows council to review the benefits and costs of having a single real estate manager.“Whether the position will be effective or not, time will tell. It will have to be proven,” said Nicol.

Coun. Barry Beardsell, the only member of council to vote against the creation of the position, said that the lack of substantial debate concerned him. Beardsell also said that he views the position as an unnecessary extra layer of administration. “This is coming out of left field after the budget has already been done. There was little debate at the June 5 in camera meeting,” said Beardsell. The salary for the position will be paid out of the land committee budget, and although it may seem high to the public, Coun. Jack Gilroy said the nature of the position calls for a high salary. “That’s the rate you pay. It may seem exorbitant but look at what real estate agents make each year,” said Gilroy. Gilroy added that the problem will be finding a suitable candidate, not paying him or her. “Business is pretty good in the real estate market now so I just hope we can find someone.” The position would deal with all aspects of the city’s real estate dealings and whoever staffed the position “would be very busy”, said Gilroy. Gilroy also hinted that the successful applicant may be responsible for some significant deals in the future. “There are lots of in-camera items that will be coming out in the next few weeks that I can’t discuss right now,” said Gilroy.

Earn more, work less

By Richard Rolke Jun 13 2007 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/

If you only want to work part-time and make oodles of cash, has the City of Vernon got a deal for you. As of Monday, council is looking for an individual to serve as real estate manager. They will manage the city's land assets that are leased out, as well as negotiating the purchasing and selling of property. It all sounds rather mundane until you get further into the details. The three-year position consists of 28 hours per week and $75,000 a year for both wages and benefits. Based on my rudimentary math skills, that's $51 an hour. Now the city's argument is someone is needed to deal with its empire, everything from the parkade and the Coldstream Hotel property to negotiating with people who want to snap up an old road right-of-way. Apparently considerable money has been going towards consultants and having someone permanently on the payroll will reduce those costs.

That may all be true, but a T-bone paycheque for chuck steak hours is mind-boggling. At the same time council members were raising their hands in favour of this one, a steady stream of residents were heading into city hall to pay their property taxes. I wonder how many of them have that kind of dough rolling into their coffers? Probably very few. Coun. Barry Beardsell, who was the only one to oppose the motion, is right when he says the city is sending the wrong message to residents. "It's just an add-on to the bureaucracy and it's a fairly expensive one," he said. Those who backed the expenditure are trying to distance themselves from the $75,000. "That's just the upper limit. We could get someone in there for less," said Mayor Wayne Lippert. That's possible, but highly unlikely. I have come to learn that the upper limit quickly gets written in stone, especially once anyone interested in the job has seen the figure published in the media. You aren't going to ask for less when you know there is more sitting in the cookie jar. ertainly a case can be made that the high-end salary is necessary to attract someone with considerable skills, especially when they could be doing quite well in today's red hot real estate market. But there are people throughout the community, including right inside city hall, who have equal or greater responsibilities that don't see compensation anywhere close to that. And what about those folks who stock store shelves, pour coffee or flip burgers? The pay isn't great but our economy and society would grind to a halt without them. I don't doubt that a real estate manager will ultimately prove beneficial to city operations, but all this decision does is reinforce the public perception that politicians like to spend, spend, spend. But enough of that, I've just looked at my T-4 and I need to get a resume into city hall.

Coldstream Hotel Site in play !

Declassified Motions - From April 23

That Council supports the Vernon Land Committee recommendation regarding the Coldstream Hotel Site to issue an 'Expression of interest' to the development community for a commercial development, conditional that inclusion of a residential component is to be encouraged.

Declassified Motion - From May 14

That Council Supports the recommendation from the Vernon Land Advisory Committee to appoint Mr. Ray Foisy to the Vernon Land Advisory Committee for the remainder of 2007.

Airport and Land Committee openings should be filled!

I went to see the 2nd meeting of the Airport Committee yesterday afternoon. I was hoping to get the financial statements of the Airport for Dec. 31, 2006 and to see when the business proposal for Taxiway Charlie would be presented to the full Council. The financial statements would finalize the adjusted profit that would be transferred back to the City of Vernon for the 3 years that the Airport was a Corporation. My estimate is an effective $95,000 in profit and over $100,000 in Capital Reserve Fund. (Not to mention the $15,000 finally authorized by GVSC last month to be paid to Airport for the 2006 study!) Maybe the full council could use these monies to lower the Residential Tax burden on Monday's tax rate vote.

The Meeting was cancelled - No Quorum !

Both the Land Corporation and the Airport Corporation were dissolved as at Dec. 31, 2006 and replaced by Advisory Committees. Apparently at that time three of the directors of the Land Corps decided not to continue( Were they fired or did they quit? ). In late March the Council finally decided on the membership and structure of the new committees and Council Liaison were appointed to both committees. (Cunningham to Land and Beardsell to Airport).

Both Committees were intended to run with 4 members from the community, 1 council rep. (voting) and staff participation. Both committees have only 2 members left from original Corporation days and to date there has been no advertisements for volunteers to serve.

With only 2 public members available and a Quorum of 3 needed it is incumbent upon the appointed council member to either show up or arrange a replacement or postpone meeting so the Public and Media will not be inconvenienced by going to meetings that are cancelled due to a quorum call.

The better solution would be for the CITY to advertise for volunteers for these important committee positions. At the last call there were several volunteers that were turned down for the Land Corps position that may wish their application to be reviewed ? If these committees are important it is imperative that a full committee is available as soon as possible.

Members abandon committee

By RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star StaffMar 14 2007 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/

The City of Vernon is looking to fill vacancies on a controversial committee. Three members of the former Vernon Land Corporation refused to continue on with their duties when council shifted the organization to a committee structure. “They didn’t like the new terms of reference,” said Mayor Wayne Lippert. Michael Tindall was among those who didn’t apply to move from the corporation to the committee. “It became an advisory committee (to council) instead of an action corporation,” he said of the previous activities of negotiating land purchases and sales.

Both the corporation and committee came under scrutiny because of honourariums paid to directors. Such payments were offered under the former council but the previous council decided to do away with them. Tindall says he sits on a number of volunteer boards and a lack of honourarium didn’t play a role in his decision. Tindall also insists that he didn’t voluntarily abandon his duties. “We were all actually fired,” he said of the city’s decision to move from a corporation to a committee. The other directors who left are Pat Lett and Larry Rivard. Lett would not comment on the matter while Rivard could not be reached.

That leaves only chairman Jack Borden and Richard Hamilton as original corporation members who moved to the committee. “The corporation wa disbanded and as a consequence, all of the directors were terminated. Council gave the directors an opportunity to apply to the committee and only two chose to do that,” said Borden. While the committee is more firmly controlled by council, Borden believes it can be effective. “The format is different but we still have a job to do,” he said. That view is shared by Hamilton. “There are projects and ideas on the go that are worth following up on,” he said. The city is currently looking to fill the vacancies on the committee.
It was decided Monday to reduce public representation on the committee from five to four, with a councillor now part of that group

Were they fired or did they quit?

By Scott NeufeldTuesday, March 13, 2007 http://www.dailycourier.ca/article_1028.php

Three members of the former Vernon Land Corporation have left, but the reason for their departure depends on who you ask.Mayor Wayne Lippert revealed after Monday’s council meeting that there are three vacancies on the land committee following the resignation of Pat Lett, Larry Rivard and Michael Tindall.“They didn’t like the new terms of reference of the corporation going to a committee,” Lippert said. The mayor also added that the members quit in part because they would no longer receive a $6,000 honorarium.

However, Tindall told the Vernon Daily Courier that he didn’t quit, he was fired.“I asked the mayor point blank, ‘are you here to fire us?’ (Lippert) said, ‘Yes,’” according to Tindall. “All of the directors on the Land Corp were fired Dec. 19 by the mayor.”Two of the members, Richard Hamilton and Jack Borden, decided to re-apply for the new land advisory committee and will continue to serve the city. Tindall said that once the corporation lost its autonomy, he was no longer interested in being a part of it.“The corporation had a fair amount of leeway in terms of independence and bringing things forward to council,” he said. Losing the honorarium did not impact his decision not to re-apply, Tindall said.

As a member of a number of different volunteer boards including one at Okanagan College, he said he’s willing to offer his services at no charge.“I sit on six (boards). It takes me a lot of time and even costs me money,” he said. “It’s not a big deal; I was a member of something, now I’m not.”Tindall said he’s not surprised at council’s decision to reign in the power of the land corporation. He said, however, that he’s disappointed in the direction the city has decided to take.Lippert made his comments after council voted to cut one member from both the land advisory committee and the airport committee. After the meeting, when asked who would be forced off each committee, Lippert revealed there were already some vacancies on the land committee.“Some advertisements will be going out probably this week,” he said.

Land and Airport Advisory Committees rules to be approved Monday

March 27, Tuesday: Airport Committee 1:30 pm Okanagan Lake Room

Agenda Backup P.21(land) P.23 (airport) (full report)
Changes to the Airport Advisory and Land Advisory Committees. (To be approved on MONDAY)

• Vernon Land Advisory Committee
• Membership will be 4 members appointed by Council from the community at large.
• A Council member shall be appointed as a Council Representative and as a member having a vote. ( Cunningham to Land committee).
• The Chief Admin. Officer and Deputy Chief Admin. Officer shall be appointed as staff liaisons.
• A regularly scheduled meeting of the VLAC will be held once each month or as determined by chair. Notice of meeting shall be posted on City Hall bulletin board. As the intent of the committee is to deal with land related matters, the majority of meetings will be held "in-camera"* in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act and/or the Community Charter.
• Agendas will be prepared by the Chairman and circulated to the committee members by the Friday preceding the Committee meetings.


• Airport Advisory Committee
• Membership will be 4 members appointed by Council from the community at large.
• A Council member shall be appointed as a Council Representative and as a member having a vote. (Beardsell to Airport committee)
• The Airport Manager shall be appointed as the staff member responsible for the operation of the Airport.
• The committee will meet at a time and date as agreed by the committee members. Notice of meeting shall be posted on City Hall bulletin board.
• Agendas will be prepared by the Airport manager and circulated to the committee members by the Friday preceding the Committee meetings.
• Meetings are open to public.

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*An in-camera meeting must be preceded by an open meeting where a motion to move in-camera is made under sections of the Provincial Acts.

Land Committee Members:
Richard Hamilton, Jack Borden ,

Were they fired or did they quit? Pat Lett, Michael Tindall, Laurent Rivard are no longer on committee effective Dec 19/06 apparently??

Airport Committee Members: Ian Hawes, Chair Robert Scott, Ross Burrows, Doug MacAulay, Rick Thorburn

Agenda HIGHLIGHTS of REGULAR OPEN MEETING OF COUNCIL MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2007 AT 1:30 PM

AGENDA AGENDA BACKUP

• Mayor Wayne Lippert will present Mr. Dave Richards, with a certificate of recognition for his valuable contribution, and long service to the community as Chair of the Heritage Advisory Committee.
• Mr. Earl Hansen, Executive Director, Downtown Vernon Association, re: Safety Audit Report & recommendations. (P. 17)
• Councillor Patrick Nicol, Chair, Finance Committee, re: Committee Update.
• For review and approval, Amended Terms of Reference, Vernon Land Advisory Committee (p.21)
• For review and approval, Amended Terms of Reference, Vernon Airport Advisory Committee (p.23)
• Memorandum dated March 5, 2007, from Mr. Dale Rintoul, Planner, re: Heritage Advisory Committee – Proposed Demolition Permit Fee Increase for Heritage Buildings. (p.25)
• THAT Council supports the recommendation from the Finance Committee that they support the Pine Beetle Prevention Program; AND FURTHER, that the budget shortfall of $40,000, for 2007 for the Pine Beetle Prevention Program, be funded from the Public Works reserve funds; AND FURTHER, that additional funding of $10,000 per year, will be requested, in future budgets, for the years 2008 through 2011. (p.33)
• Letter dated March 6, 2007, from Ms. Jody Anderson, Deputy Corporate Officer, Regional District of North Okanagan, re: Grant Request from Okanagan Science Centre. (p.39)
• THAT Bylaw #5060, “City of Vernon 2007 Financial Plan Bylaw Number 5060, 2007", - a bylaw to adopt the “Financial Plan” for the Years 2007 – 2011, be adopted. (P. 67)
• Letter dated March 6, 2007, from Mr. Brian Reardon, Administrator, Regional District of North Okanagan, re: North Okanagan / Columba Shuswap Hospital District Board. (P. 131)
  

Council shoots down fees

By RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff Feb 18 2007 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/

A controversial committee won’t be getting paid by the City of Vernon. The proposed 2007 budget does not include $30,000 in fees for service for the land committee despite its members putting in a request for such funds. Coun. Juliette Cunningham voted against the fees for service, saying the land committee should be treated the same as other city appointees who are purely voluntary. “All of our committees are valuable and make a contribution,” she said. “It’s not fair to separate one from the rest and provide remuneration.” The committee had suggested they get $85 an hour for initiatives considered beyond their monthly meetings.

Mayor Wayne Lippert says a previous honourarium was understandable as the directors did all of the committee’s work, but that’s no longer the case. “We’re getting some staff to do things now,” he said. Lippert expects some committee directors may walk away because there isn’t a fee for service. “I’d like to work out a terms of reference to keep them involved. But the indication is we’ll lose some,” he said. Jack Borden, committee chairman, can live with council’s decision. “We serve at council’s pleasure and I will stay on the committee based on the terms of references approved by council,” said Borden. But while Borden will remain, he isn’t sure about his colleagues. “I don’t know what their decision will be,” he said.

Borden has always insisted that the fee for service would recognize the extensive knowledge and skills of the committee members, but their actions were not monetarily driven. “The money was inconsequential. It stemmed from the fact that when we were first approached (to join the committee), we were offered a stipend. It covered a lot of our costs,” he said.

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Feb 18 2007 EDITORIAL http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/

It doesn’t come as a surprise but Vernon council still deserves praise for scrapping payments to the land committee. Had the city’s 2007 budget included $30,000 in fees for service for members of the land committee, it would have continued an unacceptable double-standard with other boards within the city’s domain. Land committee members have claimed they bring certain skills to the table that benefit the city. But the same can be said about the advisory planning committee, the athletic commission or any other panel. The difference is that all of these groups have been strictly voluntary and no remuneration has been issued.

It would be easy to point fingers at the land committee members, but that wouldn’t be fair. They stepped forward to oversee the city’s land holdings and their interest in the community should be praised. If anyone is responsible for the discrepancy between various committees, it is the former council. The politicians prior to 2005 established the land committee — then known as a corporation. And with no clear policy, land committee members were left without access to staff resources unlike other boards. With so many tasks before them, some form of remuneration made sense at the time. But the current council has corrected that situation by providing the assistance of staff. Now the question will be whether land committee members continue to serve the community despite no remuneration. Despite the changing playing field, hopefully they will recognize eliminating the fees is based on fairness for all, and that their knowledge and experience are still required.

Fee fuels strong debate

By RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff Jan 24 2007 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/

Financial compensation for a committee is fuelling considerable debate at Vernon city hall.Council tabled the land committee’s proposed budget and terms of reference Monday because there is extensive division over a requested fee for service. “We need an opportunity to wrap our heads around this,” said Coun. Juliette Cunningham. Previously, committee members received an honorarium for attending meetings. It’s now suggested they get a fee for service of $85 an hour for initiatives considered to be beyond their monthly meeting responsibilities.

Strong opposition comes from Coun. Barry Beardsell. “All of the other (city) committees do not get paid,” he said. “It sends the wrong message to the other committees. The land committee is valuable and the expertise of the individuals involved is appreciated but it sends the wrong message.” Beardsell added that if a skill of a specific committee member is required, that should be considered by council before any money is committed. Jack Borden, committee chairman, defends the fee for service, saying the members have extensive knowledge that can prove beneficial to the city. “Directors have always made a substantial contribution to the projects it initiates,” he said. “It requires time in the field, time in the office, time preparing reports and time meeting with developers. This is extraordinary work above and beyond any other committee is expected.”


That brought a sharp response from Beardsell. “When the city came up with the zoning bylaw, time put in by the individual members of the advisory planning council was enormous,” said Beardsell. “And now with the official community plan, the time put in will be tremendous.”While Beardsell is concerned about perception, Borden says there is no need to worry about open-ended spending. “We’re not asking council for an open cheque book on the $30,000 (budget for fees).” Support comes from Coun. Patrick Nicol. “It’s a very different beast than any other advisory committee has been asked to do,” he said.

New Game at City Hall

Click on Image to Enlarge