琉璃神社 councillors have several concerns with a new code of conduct that applies to them.

The draft document, which is mandated by the provincial government, sets out rules council must follow in fulfilling their duties and responsibilities.

There are also provisions in the code outlining how councillors are to interact with each other, city staff, the public and the media.

Several councillors felt it was too lengthy, duplicated the community charter, and that some of the wording could be open to interpretation.

鈥淚鈥檇 like to see it tightened,鈥� said Coun. Mohini Singh. 鈥淚鈥檇 like to see it direct, and I鈥檇 also want staff to recognize that we are grown adults and we know what our responsibility is.鈥�

Coun. Loyal Wooldridge, who chairs the Regional District Central Okanagan Board, said the document feels punitive.

鈥淲hen I reflect on the Regional Districts鈥� (code of conduct) it starts with values, it starts with why we work this way. This one seems like it鈥檚 a law we鈥檙e imposing because there鈥檚 all this terrible stuff going on, which I don鈥檛 believe is the case.鈥�

Coun. Luke Stack said he didn鈥檛 feel the code, as currently drafted, would add to what council is already doing.

鈥淚 actually believe we already are accountable and transparent,鈥� he said.

In agreeing with other councillors, Maxine DeHart added she felt the code also had to be reworked.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think any of us around here are children,鈥� she said. I think we all realize what we have to do.鈥�

Coun. Charlie Hodge also took issue with what he called ambiguity in parts of the code.

鈥淟et鈥檚 be absolutely clear about what we鈥檙e saying.鈥�

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Mayor Tom Dyas commented that he was surprised that council spent nearly 90 minutes debating the issue.

鈥淭his came out so that we are as transparent as possible with regards to being a council,鈥� said Dyas. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 see anything in here that would cause any great concern for anyone because, at the end of the day, we truly police ourselves other than us going completely offside where it鈥檚 a criminal offence.鈥�

The code also lays out complaint and resolution procedures which would include a preliminary assessment and, if a complaint is accepted for investigation, a referral to a third-party investigator.

鈥淎ny formal sanctions would be a decision of council,鈥� said Laura Bentley, deputy city clerk.

Council voted to receive the report for information, with councillors Stack, DeHart, Hodge and Singh opposed.

Staff was requested to bring back a revised code of conduct based on council input.

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gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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