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Delta mayor says as police board chair he’s forced to be ‘defenseless punching bag’
George Harvie says he’s forced to stay silent in his role as police board chair, something that must change SANDOR GYARMATI s g y a r m a t i @ d e l t a - o p t i m i s t .c o m
It’s imperative that an elected official who answers directly to Delta taxpayers be given an equal voice at the table. That’s according to a notice of motion Mayor George Harvie brought forward to Delta council on Monday afternoon following news last week that the Delta Police Department hired a public relations firm last year to help manage the fallout from a June 2020 incident involving Chief Neil Dubord’s wife, Lorraine Dubord. The contract was valued at $42,000. Harvie, whose motion was approved, in a statement issued to media last Friday, explained that under existing rules, any expenditure under $50,000 that fits within the budget does not have to go to council or the police board for approval. However, Harvie, who chairs the police board, said he would bring forward a motion asking city council to take steps to increase transparency by requiring any external contracts for public relations or communications services, regardless of value, to be brought to council for discussion and approval. Saying he’s not speaking as police
MARK BOOTH PHOTO
Delta council is taking steps to increase transparency following the news that the Delta Police Department spent $42,000 on an outside PR firm to handle crisis communications regarding an incident last summer involving the police Chief’s wife. board chair or on behalf of the board, Harvie stated Monday that the nearly half-century old B.C. Police Act places restrictions on him as appointed chair, including having to remain neutral during all discussions, only voting when there is a tie vote and unable to move a motion, as well as the chair not being able to take independent action with-
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out the consensus of board members, including public statements. “So how can I serve the interests of the citizens of Delta when as the only elected member of council on the board serving as chair, I can’t vote, can’t have an opinion, can’t make a motion, and can’t make a statement unless approved by the board? I wonder why I
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am even there. The media asked me an important question last week about an incident involving the use of taxpayer funds in the Delta Police Department. The current restrictions mean I had to stay silent in my role as board chair, relegating me to play the part of a defenseless punching bag,” said Harvie. DPD: see Page 3
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