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Vol. 120, Issue 115
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New cafe serves up tasty treats Page 2
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The long days of summer are best spent at the lake, especially on a paddle board. Six-year-old Gavin Valade found his happy place when he met up with Rossland grandma and grandpa (Wendy and Michel Valade) at Christina Lake this month.
Municipal watchdog highlights 2014 Warfield council in report meeting by telephone, didn't record it, and failed to take necessary steps to ensure people were aware of the meeting and could listen in. The meeting in question was held to discuss the refund of recreation fees, her summary states, noting the investigation found the village didn't follow provisions under the Community Charter related to open meetings, notice of meetings and electronic meetings. “Basically we never made a resolution at the council meeting to have that telephone call,” said Crockett. “So there's no record and everything you do has to have a track record.” The phone call was to ask every-
BY SHERI REGNIER
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Contact our sales department Inglehart & Dykstra 250.368.8551 ext 201 and 203
Times Staff
Wrist slapped and lesson learned says the former Mayor of Warfield. Bert Crockett, a 12-year village politician, was speaking about the BC Ombudsperson’s annual report which calls out his council directive to hold talks and a vote by phone in private. The municipal watchdog looked into the matter and concluded the business should have been on record as a special meeting and carried out in a public venue. Released in June under the title “Lines are Now Open,” according to Ombudsperson Kim Carter, Warfield council held a special
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body how they felt after the discussion at council, he added. “To give them a couple days to digest before we actually took the vote – to make sure everyone was comfortable with their decision.” It was that action that had “Jacques” (the report maintains confidentiality) lodging a complaint with the provincial office, saying he tried to get an explanation as to why the meeting was closed and was told it was conducted in accordance with the Community Charter. Dissatisfied with the reply, “Jacques” contacted the ombudsperson because her job is to probe complaints about maladministration.
Her findings show the Community Charter was in fact, not followed. The charter is the rulebook for municipal government and procedures, and states notice of a special meeting must be given at least 24 hours in advance and include the date, time, place of the meeting and must describe the purpose of the meeting. Additionally, open telephone or teleconference meetings have limitations – meaning they can't be in a space that is out of the public eye or ear, and minutes must be recorded by delegated municipal staff. None of the requirements were adhered to in the Warfield case, See OMBUDSPERSON’S, Page 3
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