Fairbairn named RDNO chair

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Dec 12, 2014 at 1:00 AM
There are differences of opinion over leadership at the Regional District of North Okanagan. Rural Lumby director Rick Fairbairn was elected chairperson Wednesday after being challenged by Vernon director Juliette Cunningham. “The chairperson should be from the electoral areas because this is the governance for the electoral areas,” said Fairbairn in a campaign speech to board members. Cunningham disagreed. “The chairperson has to represent every jurisdiction equally,” she said. “I have proven in the last three years that I try to understand the points of view of the electoral areas.” Fairbairn, who was vice-chairperson, says he gained a lot of skills while serving as interim-chair after Patrick Nicol’s death in January. “Over the last year, we have experienced a lot of important issues here — parks and water — and I am looking for a smooth transition from the previous council to the new council,” he said. Cunningham defended the concept of having a chairperson from Vernon. “City of Vernon representatives have been really dedicated and have proved how we can work together,” she said. When it came to selecting a vice-chairperson, it was a three-way race between Cunningham, Lumby director Kevin Acton and Coldstream director Doug Dirk. Acton was selected by a majority of directors.
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Regional district is for everyone
by Editorial - Vernon Morning Star posted Dec 12, 2014 at 1:00 AM
It wasn’t a surprise that rural Lumby director Rick Fairbairn was elected chairperson of the Regional District of North Okanagan. After all, he has been on the board since 2002, has been vice-chairperson and has been acting chairperson after the death of Patrick Nicol in January. He has developed a range of skills that are necessary to oversee the district. However, some of his comments Wednesday were unfortunate. “The chairperson should be from the electoral areas because this is the governance for the electoral areas,” he said, while soliciting support from his colleagues (also seeking the job was Vernon director Juliette Cunningham). Yes, RDNO is the only form of governance that exists for the five rural areas whereas the district’s municipal members have city halls to oversee operations. But the reality is that regional districts play a critical role in municipalities. Under legislation, RDNO is responsible for solid waste, while it also handles water, culture and major parks for Greater Vernon. In fact, Greater Vernon issues have dominated the board agenda, including how to recover from a failed water referendum and constructing a new ice sheet. The major thrust of the regional district is co-operation, and consider that virtually all municipalities have rallied behind Cherryville in its fight over a logging road. There is no us and them at the table. Fairbairn insists that the chairperson should come from a rural area but he is just the fourth electoral area director to be chairperson in almost 25 years. The others have come from the municipalities of Armstrong, Lumby and Vernon. Fairbairn must remember that while he was elected to the board by residents of rural Lumby, now that he is chairperson, he is responsible to the entire region.