Rules result in village reassignments

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Jan 19, 2016 at 12:00 PM
Lumby is adjusting its regional representation to conform to the rules. Mayor Kevin Acton has removed Coun. Lori Mindnich as alternate director to the Regional District of North Okanagan board and appointed Coun. Randal Ostafichuk as the alternate so he can also continue to sit at the White Valley Parks, Recreation and Culture Advisory Committee table. “He’s doing a great job there and he’s half way through his activities there (WVPRCAC),” said Acton. “To move him from there doesn’t make sense.” The shift in appointments is a result of RDNO reviewing its policies and realizing that only the primary director or alternate director to the regional district board can sit on advisory committees. Acton is the village’s director to RDNO, so a decision had to be made on alternate director. Acton says Ostafichuk has played a strong role at parks and rec, while there hasn’t been much call for Mindnich to serve as alternate director. “I miss very few regional board meetings,” said Acton. Mindnich says she understands that Lumby’s appointments must follow RDNO rules. “Randal will have a chance to see what goes on there,” she said of the regional board. Acton admits that RDNO stipulations mean fewer elected officials are involved in making decisions or familiar with what’s taking place. “There seemed to be no conflict,” he said of having non directors and alternates participating. This is the second time that a jurisdiction has had to adjust appointments since RDNO reviewed its policies. Coldstream recently removed Coun. Gyula Kiss from the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee because he was neither a director or alternate director at the board table.