By Charlotte Helston Info-Tel Multimedia January 27, 2014 - 5:01 PM
VERNON - The City of Vernon refuses to put the question of amalgamating Greater Vernon to rest just yet. The councillors voted not only to support the Greater Vernon Governance Society’s request for a study on the matter, but also to put the question on the 2014 municipal election ballot. They are also encouraging the rest of Greater Vernon to do the same. “There seems to be enough interest in our whole region in exploring this and taking a look at least,” Coun. Catherine Lord said. The Governance Society gathered 2,930 signatures from across Greater Vernon and insists it's enough to prompt a review. Lord believes putting the question of whether or not to do the study on the municipal ballot would involve more people in the discussion. “It’s not going to cost anything to put that question on the ballot and we’re laying it to rest once and for all,” Lord said. Coldstream council and Regional Distirct directors from Areas B and C have said they are against the study, which would investigate the pros and cons of uniting Greater Vernon’s four jurisdictions under one governance structure. MLA Eric Foster has said the province needs the support of at least two jurisdictions to proceed with the study. Electoral Area C director Mike Macnabb thought the matter had been putt to bed when the District of Coldstream and Areas B and C said no to the study. I’m just wondering to what end this will be. Some people say let's answer the question once and for all. The question comes up every five years. So really, it will never be answered—doesn’t matter how many studies there are,” Macnabb said. Coldstream councillor Maria Besso disagrees with asking the province to fund a study on amalgamation. While the province would pay for the review, local staff would still have to do the work, Besso said. And that would mean taking resources away from other projects. “You will have to be involved...” Besso said. “The province will not do that work for you.”
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Vernon makes push for governance review
by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Jan 27, 2014 at 4:00 PM
The City of Vernon is heading in a direction different than that pursued by its neighbours. On Monday, city council unanimously voted to ask the provincial government to commence a study to determine the most efficient and cost-effective governance model for Greater Vernon, including the current structure. "We need to know what the benefits are and the negatives are," said Coun. Mary-Jo O'Keefe. While Coldstream and Areas B and C recently turned down a request from the Greater vernon Governance Society to seek such a study, the city will ask the jurisdictions to support its request to the government. Also, council has decided, in principle, to ask Vernon voters in the November civic election if the city should pursue the creation of a restructure committee and it will encourage Coldastream and Areas B and C to ask their residents the same question. Mayor Rob Sawatzky insists the city is not intruding in the matters of other jurisdictions and he respects any decision they will make. "We're not trying to tell them what to do," he said. Maria Besso, a Coldstream councillor, says most residents in her municipality oppose amalgamation and a study would consume limited staff resources. "They (city) are welcome to make resolutions and send letters but I don't think it will go anywhere," she said.
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Vernon Calls For Governance Study and Vote
Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Monday, 27 January 2014 17:27
Vernon council is calling for the province to conduct a study into the governance issue in Greater Vernon, even though its regional partners don't see a need for it. Vernon also wants to put the plan for a study to it's voters this fall. Councillor Bob Spiers says Coldstream and Areas B and C will also be asked to put it on their ballots this November. "I don't see any reason why they shouldn't consider it, just to put it (the issue) to bed once and for all." Councillor Catherine Lord doesn't see any downside to finding out the pros and cons. "We can get a report that says, for example, in Coldstream and Vernon your taxes are going to go up or down. Here are some of the benefits, but until we get that information, we're just guessing." Mayor Rob Sawatzky says they're not trying to tell other communities what to do, the motions are just a model for how Vernon would like to deal with it. "And if another jurisdiction would like to follow the same model, good for them. Everyone has autonomy on those sorts of decisions, and they should do what's best for their electorate." Coldstream councillor Maria Besso -- who attended Vernon's meeting-- says she totally disagrees with the motions. "It's not a study just to give us information on new governance structures. It's a study on how to bring the governments together, so we're not in favour." Besso also feels a study would impact Coldstream's staff. "We're in the midst of doing a lot of very important work for out constituents right now, and this would be a huge time consuming distraction for our staff, so I am not in favour of it." Area C director Mike Macnabb doubts the province would proceed with a study if three of the four jurisdictions were opposed. "If the province is seeing there's only one jurisdiction that has an interest, then what about the other three? So if they don't see a clear indication, why would they support that financially?"
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