A City of Kamloops select committee that is looking in the structure and terms of reference of the City’s standing committees will aim to be done with its work by July 11.
That is according to Councillor Mike O’Reilly, who is chair of the select committee said during Thursday’s inaugural committee meeting at City Hall.
“I think we need to keep it tight and succinct, so regardless of what direction we go, the [standing] committees can continue the work that’s being done,” he said.
“Without committees we are we are still functioning well but it is a lot more strain on councillors, a lot more strain on staff. And so that’s my goal, is for this committee to be wrapped up by then.”
All standing committee work has been put on pause pending this review.
The committee voted 3-1 to direct staff to look into the terms of reference, committee structures, and procedural bylaws in other communities and report back to a future select committee meeting. Councilors O’Reilly, Nancy Bepple, and Margot Middleton were in favour, with Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson opposed.
“So, you don’t want staff looking into other communities, Mr. Mayor?,” O’Reilly asked Hamer-Jackson following the vote.
“Well, it’s a waste of time,” the mayor replied.
Committee members also called on staff to look into the addition of an application process for the public to participate on standing committees.
City CAO David Trawin noted that while the select committee can make recommendations that allow members of the public on standing committees, under the community charter, the mayor has the power to accept or reject any suggestions.
Prior to that discussion, councillors also voted 3-1 to accept the terms of reference for this new select committee. Hamer-Jackson was the sole vote in opposition, saying he felt members of the public should be part of this select committee.
“Have we picked this committee in a fair and equitable way?” Hamer-Jackson asked.
O’Reilly noted there was a strong mandate from the rest of council – an 8-1 vote – that councillors make up the committee that would look at standing committee terms of reference.
“This was the people that we wanted around the table. And I’m very happy and honoured that you accepted the nomination from Councillor [Kelly] Hall at the time to be on this committee as well, so you can share your opinion,” O’Reilly said.
At a March 21 meeting that established the select committee, councillors noted they had concerns about confidentiality when it came to having members of the public on standing committees, as proposed – and later rescinded – by the mayor
Speaking Thursday, Bepple asked whether members of the public are part standing committees in other communities, and if so, how confidential information is handled. She also suggested that public committee members be bound by the same conflict of interest rules as councillors are.
CAO Trawin noted that while council can censure elected officials for breaching confidentiality, they don’t have that power in the case of a member of the public. He also noted that it would be up to the mayor to remove public members from committees if there are issues.
Saying she was in favour of some unelected representation on those committees, Councillor Middleton went so far as suggesting “shadow select committees” that mirror the work of the standing committees, but without any confidential information.
At present, members of the public serve on Engagement Groups, which were established to feed suggestions through to council-only committees, which in turn would send things to city council for a vote.
O’Reilly noted a potential lack of efficiency if public members were part of standing committees, saying that unlike councillors, they are not as up to speed in city business and processes.
The next select committee meeting is set for May 11.
– With files from Brett Mineer