EDITORIAL – Latest chapter in City Hall’s saga of Feuds, Leaks and Audiotape
(Image: CFJC)
An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.
THERE’S A NEW CHAPTER in the City Hall saga of Feuds, Leaks and Audiotape.
Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson has now turned over material to City councillors and Human Resources manager Colleen Quigley related to the taping of a conversation between him and CAO David Trawin in March.
The material was demanded by councillors after he revealed his wife had made the tape while they were driving.
So what does this material reveal?
The conversation with Trawin begins with the usual pleasantries, after which the mayor asks for an update on the Noble Creek Irrigation System and a pending call to government in Victoria.
Trawin replies that the province is going to allow emergency work to be done but that the bank upstream from the intake has eroded due to frost, putting a property in jeopardy. That might mean the mayor will have to declare a state of emergency.
Hamer-Jackson replies that he’s been asked by a citizen to take a look at the site and “is there anything that I should know?”
Trawin says it’s “absolutely” OK to take a look, and adds that the mayor can say the Province has agreed to allow emergency works to save the intake for this year, and the City will work with the ministry over the year.
The conversation ends with agreement that the mayor will talk with the forests minister soon. That’s it.
In his covering letter with the submitted material, Hamer-Jackson explains he‘s not aware of any other audio recordings or transcripts of audio recordings of conversations between him and any staff member.
Nor is he aware of any notes taken at his direction by any non-City representative of conversations with staff members without their knowledge.
So the question is this: Is a single legally taped conversation that contains no confidential information really worthy of another secret council meeting, another expensive third-party investigation, and another dramatic announcement about looking into the mayor’s “practices”?
I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.
Mel Rothenburger is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
This is nothing but a distraction by Council and Trawin.
The real strory here, and has been since Mayor Hamer-Jackson first took office is the leakers. This ABSOLUTELY has to be investigated with every FOI available.
When the truth comes out – this council is going to be shown as a complete disgrace for what they have tried to do to Mayor who is honestly trying to get some accountability in our city management and current council.
By the way – was it ever revealed who the real “screamer” was during the incident apparently in the mayor’s office that traumatized many employees? Is this part of the report that council doesn’t want let out? Media has seen it but yet the Mayor says he hasn’t yet even though he has requested it to be released.
This Mayor is massively supported by the community – the councillors forget this. They are in their ivory towers pretending they are superior.
Bring on the investigations – the truth needs to come out!
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Whoa C of K. Why makes you think for a moment “This Mayor is massively supported by the community”? He was elected with only 35% of the votes. There is no doubt if there hadn’t been three councillors running and splitting the vote, Mr Reed – Jackson would still be trying to sell cars.
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I would like an in-depth investigation. But not for this non-crime and non-issue. I’d like to know who is leaking confidential information from closed council meetings. Why doesn’t council want to investigate? Do they already know and want to protect, or do they simply not care? Do they not understand that the city is required by law to fully investigate the leaks? The hypocrisy at city hall is astounding. Maybe it should be investigated as well, lol.
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If indeed that is the content of the call in its entirety, this “investigation” is another waste of time and taxpayer’s money. Seems kind of desperate, actually.
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The leak of confidential email by councillors is a much worse offence than a tape recording, yet council and administration have condoned the leak. I sure hope that the leak is reviewed by the provincial government, or better yet that a whistleblower on City staff or someone affiliated with the media outlets comes forward.
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How do you know that was the sole “hot content” of this “scandal”?
The way Trawin, his staff and the gang of eight made it out to be, as reported in the local media, sounded like an unspeakable crime was committed.
Perhaps it appears it is Trawin, his staff and the gang of eight are the unspeakable whiners our city doesn’t need.
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