Third Party Could Oversee Review

Posted on 8/7/2015 by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM

An independent expert may play a role in a review of Greater Vernon's master water plan. The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee will consider using an engineer, or other expert, to facilitate the review by a stakeholders advisory group. Chair Juliette Cunningham says the group Citizens for Change has suggested Don Dobson be used. "We will take that into consideration and there may be other potential facilitators for that process, but I think it's just having independent eyes to take part in that review," says Cunningham. Terry Mooney from Citizens For Change to the Master Water Plan is pleased the committee is considering their idea. "This is a paid contracted person who is independent of the process and has an expert's view. It's needed because the stakeholders committee is made up of lay-people and there are many technical issues," says Mooney. Mooney says his group could even cover some of the costs of the consultant. "RDNO can fund this project by themselves, but if they can't or don't want to, then we have some help we can provide (from a private grant) that would fund an independent consultant," Mooney tells Kiss FM. The review will likely get underway next month once the 14 members of the advisory panel are chosen. The applications are being accepted by the regional district for a couple more weeks.