Council agrees with Elvena, will push for recall at SILGA
Petition calling for change signed by 3,000 residents
Penticton city council has agreed to take a recall motion to the next level. In a unanimous vote of council, a resolution will be submitted to the Southern Interior Local Government Association. If passed by that body, it would then be sent to the Union of B.C. Municipalities for consideration and, if approved there, forwarded to the B.C. government for action.
“With four-year terms, I do believe citizens should have the right to recall,” Coun. Campbell Watt said, noting a petition with 3,000 signatures of local residents calling for the right to recall municipal politicians.
Council debated the issue Tuesday, with the focus of discussion mostly on a staff suggestion to also implement a non-existent provincial integrity commissioner.
“I think the more we put in the resolution, the less chance there is that it will pass,” Coun. Helena Konanz said.
Noting that the SILGA meeting is Feb. 24, Mayor Andrew Jakubeit said the “wordsmithing had to be dealt with today.”
Elvena Slump, who conducted the petition in 2015, was pleased with the outcome.
“I am pleased that council has listened to the voice of 3,000 people who want recall,” Slump said following the meeting. “To me, a lot of this hinges on how they word the resolution. They have to give government a reason why it will be a workable plan.”
In her presentation to council earlier this month, Slump also addressed electoral reform.
Council did not directly deal with that but promised an additional advanced poll in the 2018 municipal election plus a second location for voting.
Corporate officer Dana Schmidt said $100,000 will be budgeted for the election.
Council did not commit on Tuesday to a mobile ballot box for seniors who are shut-ins. Mayor Andrew Jakubeit said that concern will likely be addressed at a future meeting.