By Ian Holmes

Nanaimo councillors discuss community petition demanding cooperation

Aug 15, 2017 | 6:14 PM

NANAIMO — An online petition demanding Nanaimo City Council cooperate, sign a code of conduct and put an end to public discord appears to have caught the ear of some councillors.

The petition, containing a series of resolutions calling for respectful collaboration, was received by Council Monday night. Drafted by Matt O’Donnell, a self-described concerned bipartisan citizen, it called on Council and chief administrative officer Tracy Samra to sign on to the resolutions, resign or face increased public pressure.

The petition collected 350 signatures ahead of Monday’s meeting.

Councillors Diane Brennan, Jerry Hong, Bill Yoachim, Ian Thorpe and Sheryl Armstrong indicated they’d be open to signing a code of conduct. Coun. Jim Kipp was not at the meeting. Samra remains on medical leave.

Gord Fuller was the lone councillor to state he wouldn’t sign a code of conduct. Instead, he said the issue needed to be taken up at a provincial level, with efforts focused on revamping the Community Charter.

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“To make changes to the Community Charter that actually give it some teeth where there are ramifications for their (councillors) actions. Because right now the ramifications are slim to none,” Fuller said, adding the city’s internal policies are not really a code of conduct and have no “teeth” to force councillors to abide by their regulations.

Coun. Bill Bestwick said he would give “serious consideration” to signing the code of conduct.

“I honestly believe that my oath to the office was an overriding document that would provide for me the necessary commitment to the office of a councillor,” Bestwick said. “I will take under advisement the request to sign a code of conduct by the community. Am I going to do it tonight? I’ll take it under advisement, I’m not going to grandstand.”

The previous council adopted an internal code of conduct designed to provide guidelines beyond those established in the Community Charter. A June 2016 staff report showed the forms had been signed by mayor Bill McKay, Brennan and Thorpe.

McKay said the code of conduct was the will of the previous council and should be respected. He said if councillors didn’t agree with it, they should make an official motion to rescind it.

“I took the petition seriously…I signed (the code of conduct) today. It’s not just a piece of paper.”

Nanaimo resident Ed Chan, speaking in front of council, said no one is expecting perfect conduct from mayor and council.

“I think what we expect is when you do make a mistake that you own up to it…My only purpose to having our council sign a code of conduct is it’s a contract, it’s a gesture, it’s a symbol. It’s one that I think many people would appreciate.”

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes