Kamloops City Hall. (Photo via City of Kamloops)
Already stripped of his ability to officially speak on behalf of the City, the Mayor of Kamloops is being forced to take another — literal — step down.
City Council has ordered Mayor Reid-Hamer Jackson to vacate his current office on the main floor of City Hall, being assigned a different office on the floor below.
“There are currently four active WorkSafe complaints against the Mayor from City staff,” Councillor Mike O’Reilly told Radio NL when asked why Council has decided to make the move. “This isn’t something that Council’s just coming up with. There are very serious concerns, and we are acting on that and protecting our staff.”
O’Reilly says the move stems from an external report commissioned by the City to address work place concerns which have been developing since the current term of council took over two years ago.
“Council received a report detailing key considerations and recommendations from a security and safety risk assessment,” said O’Reilly. “The report identified the need to address the current work place violence and harassment climate.”
O’Reilly argues Hamer-Jackson isn’t being pushed into a dark hole in the basement of the building, noting his new space is currently being renovated.
“The Mayor’s new office is going to be directly below council chambers. It is the most accessible office at City Hall,” suggested O’Reilly. “It’s right on the corner of the building on 1st Avenue. It’s got glass windows, a glass door.”
O’Reilly says Hamer-Jackson has until October 22nd to move his personal belongings into the new office space, saying if the Mayor isn’t willing too make the move, “We’ll do it for him.”
Hamer-Jackson, for his part, has told Radio NL that he has few details on the move itself, saying he was informed by a journalist that the move had been made.
He does say he wants to see any direct evidence of the allegations against him which has prompted Council’s move.
Hamer-Jackson tells Radio NL that — aside from days when council is in session — he hasn’t had any direct contact with City staff “in months.”
