Conflict at RDOS over ‘bail outs’

‘Rural directors only have to justify it to themselves and there’s no one really holding them to account,’ Penticton mayor says

Bailouts and slush funds were among the terms thrown around at a regional district meeting Wednesday as directors debated the merits of discretionary funding and accountability.

A committee of the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) ultimately decided an annual public report from members about where such money is going is the extent of control needed.

“I’m not questioning the honesty or integrity of my fellow directors,” said Princeton Mayor Frank Armitage. “But I would like to see a summary coming in.”

Of the two types of funding, grants in aid are used to support non-profit organizations serving residents, whereas rural project funding goes to almost any project of a rural director’s choosing.

The latter was the subject of most of the debate.

“Part of the problem with the rural directors is it’s a one-person show,” Penticton Mayor Andrew Jakubeit said.

“Rural directors only have to justify it to themselves and there’s no one really holding them to account.”

“Who decides and how much goes to these slush funds?”Armitage asked later. “That’s the most polite term I can used here based on my experience.”

Keremeos mayor Manfred Bauer came to the defence of the rural project funding.

Rural directors ì”have a good idea how much money they need plus contingency,” he said, adding, “There is very, very little money in contingency.”

The committee tried to come up with a solution that benefitted the public without overstepping any boundaries.

“I often get constituents saying, ‘Quit asking. we elected you to make these types of decisions. We don’t want to be asked about everything. We want to be asked the million-dollar questions,’” said Area E (Naramata) director Karl Kozakevich.

“I think each director can certainly decide if they want to have a committee that helps them or constituents, but it’s not something we can force them, to do.”

Tom Siddon, director for Area D (Kaleden/Okanagan Falls), added he’d never had a complaint either.

Penticton Coun. Helena Konanz argued that areas have an obligation to each other, not just to their citizens.

“I would love to know who you bailed out. It’s not just me, it’s the people of Penticton who would like to know who you bailed out,” she said. “That is what I think needs to be recorded.” Even after coming to the decision that an annual report would suffice in increasing transparency, the debate about rural projects continued.

“Am I understanding correctly the board is not concerned about rural projects?” RDOS CAO Bill Newell asked as the committee meeting wrapped up.

“The accountability there works. I think we spent 45 minutes talking about something that never was a problem,” replied director for Area F (West Bench) Michael Brydon.

“But it’s been twice now where it’s come back to the board about allegations of conflict of interest,” Jakubeit interjected, “and the conflict is never challenged.”

The only response he received was a joke about his hat, a garish cycling helmet he was forced to wear after Penticton lost the annual Bike to Work Week challenge to the RDOS.