A Harrison Hot Springs councillor has proposed an investigation into village administration.
During the Monday meeting of the Harrison Hot Springs Village Council, Coun. Leo Facio requested to establish a committee to “consider and inquire into workplace-related matters regarding the administration of the village.”
Under Facio’s proposal as presented at the meeting, council would establish a committee of two to four members of council to report their findings and recommendations to the council as a whole. The council would direct interim CAO Kelly Riley to work with legal counsel to “conduct a privileged and confidential probe into workplace-related matters” involving current village administration.
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Following a discussion with the interim CAO, Facio moved to refer the proposal back to staff, asking them to put together terms of reference (TOR). TOR, in this case, likely refers to a document explaining the structure and purpose of a committee.
Mayor Ed Wood said the motion was “a smart decision.”
“It is the chief administrative officer’s responsibility to look after staffing, and I think it’s important that council doesn’t interfere with that process,” said Mayor Ed Wood.
Council unanmiously approved moving Facio’s proposal back to staff.
Facio’s request for the investigative committee’s creation comes about four months after the former mayor and re-elected Coun. Michie Vidal requested a closed council meeting to discuss “concerns in administration.” Mayor Ed Wood denied the request.
Three village managers have left during Wood’s first few months as mayor. Ex-CAO Madeline McDonald was retired, effective Jan. 31, while deputy CAO Debra Key and community services manager Rhonda Schell remain “on leave” as of publication. Key’s and Schell’s names still appear on the contact page on the village’s website under their respective positions. Operations manager Tyson Koch is acting deputy CAO in Key’s absence.
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During the question period, one resident asked Wood what he would do if he was named in the proposed investigation.
“As the mayor, you’re ultimately responsible for what’s going on in this village,” the resident stated. “And if these allegations are proven to be correct and true, and you had any part of it, are you prepared to step down?”
“I can’t comment on that,” Wood replied.
In other council business:
– Council reviewed a Union of British Columbia Municipalities resolution to the Lower Mainland Local Government Association Executive Board. The UBCM resolution calls upon the province to create an independent local government ethics commissioner within the Ministry of Municipal Affairs “to serve the public, elected officials and officers in an advisory, instructive and investigative role in the application and enforcement of codes of conduct.”
– Council received a letter from Sgt. Mike Sargent of the Agassiz RCMP clarifying misinformation concerning an RCMP vehicle parked near Memorial Hall during the previous council meeting. Sargent indicated speculation on social media that council requested the presence of the RCMP was false.
“For clarification purposes, no requests have been received from either Mayor Wood or any of the council members to have the RCMP present at these meetings,” Sargent wrote. “Given the current increased tensions and growing hostility within the community and significant increase in resident attendance at the meetings, I have instructed my team to be visible in the area whenever possible in the interest of safety for all residents of the village.”
– The 2023-2027 financial plan received its third reading. The adoption is slated for a future council meeting.
The next regular Harrison Hot Springs Village Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 3, at 7 p.m. at Memorial Hall (290 Esplanade Avenue). Venue may be subject to change; check in at www.agassizharrisonobserver.com for any updates.
Online attendance is also available via Zoom; those interested can register through harrisonhotsprings.ca. Video recordings of the meetings will be archived on the village’s YouTube page.