A Kamloops City Councillor says a new municipal adviser could be assigned to the City in the not to distant future.
That is according to Councillor Kelly Hall, who says that was his key takeaway after a discussion with Municipal Affairs Minister, Anne Kang at a recent Local Government Leadership Academy training session in Richmond.
“I took the opportunity, with colleagues in tow, and talked to her about the situation here in Kamloops that we’ve asked with respect to having somebody come up and work with us,” Hall said during his councillors report at the Feb. 6 City Council meeting.
“We all know the history that we had. You know Peter Fassbender that was assigned and then all of a sudden disappears. She assured me that the assignment is forthcoming.”
The ministry had assigned Peter Fassbender as a municipal adviser for Kamloops in December, but relieved him of his duties without any explanation not long after.
“The Province has decided to take a different direction for the municipal advisor for Kamloops city council,” a December statement from the Ministry said. “The focus continues to be on helping the Kamloops City Council resolve its challenges so the people of Kamloops can be best served by their elected officials.”
“We will work quickly with the City to determine the best fit for a new advisor. We thank Mr. Fassbender for the work he has done.”
Fassbender’s brief appointment came about three months after Kamloops Council reached out to the province asking for help in dealing with the “dysfunction and discord” that has plagued Mayor and Council since they took office in the fall of 2022.
Hall says the Minster also assured him and his colleagues – Dale Bass, Margot Middleton, and Bill Sarai – that Kamloops was “top of mind.”
“She had some very encouraging comments and she was, I think, very forthcoming in talking about how we’re doing such a great job, and she looks forward to having somebody assigned,” Hall said, noting it was a “great opportunity to cheerlead for Kamloops to a minister.”
“It was nice to be able to chat Minister Kang, because it was an opportunity to put Kamloops forward.”
