CITY HALL – Mayor’s pay docked 10 per cent for ‘misleading communications’
(Images: City of Kamloops)
Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson will have his pay docked 10 per cent effective today (Wednesday, June 12, 2024), according to a City news release.
The news release, issued without a contact person listed, says the move — approved by resolution in a closed meeting yesterday (June 11, 2024) — is in response to an investigation into a Code of Conduct complaint filed by Coun. Katie Neustaeter last year claiming the mayor had issued a false communication. It doesn’t say what the mayor said that was misleading.
The 10-per-cent pay cut includes “remuneration, travel expenses, insurance, and communications allowance.” It will be in effect for six months unless he issues an approved apology to Neustaeter.
Meanwhile, the mayor still has an outstanding lawsuit against Neustaeter for defamation. Neustaeter was reported yesterday to have filed an application in B.C. Supreme Court to have the lawsuit dismissed under anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) legislation.
According to a statement of financial information presented to Tuesday’s regular council meeting, Hamer-Jackson was paid $117,293 in remuneration, $11,400 in taxable benefits and $11,700 in expenses in 2023. (City councillors each received $46,916 in remuneration plus expenses.)
He said earlier he “isn’t in it for the money” and responded today by saying he doesn’t intend to apologize “for something I haven’t done.” Here is the compete news release issued by the City:
City Council Imposing Additional Measures to Further Accountability
Kamloops, BC—Council members are keepers of the public trust and must uphold the highest standards of ethical behaviour in order to build and inspire the public’s trust and confidence in local government. To that end, Council’s conduct is regulated by the Council Code of Conduct Bylaw No. 53, 2023.
Below is the Council resolution from the June 11, 2024, closed Council meeting:
WHEREAS section 3.11(a) of the Council Code of Conduct Bylaw No. 53, 2023 requires all members of Council to ensure that their communications relating to City, Council, or Committee business are accurate, and must not issue, or allow to be issued on their behalf, any communication that the member knows, or ought to have known, is false or misleading;
AND WHEREAS Council received the initial investigation report of Sarah Chamberlain, dated October 27, 2023, and her Addendum Report, dated January 9, 2024, in the matter of Council Code of Conduct Bylaw Complaints No. 2023-0001 and 2023-0002, in which Investigator Chamberlain investigated the complaint submitted by Councillor Neustaeter that Mayor Hamer-Jackson breached the Code of Conduct Bylaw by misleading the public;
AND WHEREAS Investigator Chamberlain concluded that:
“In the circumstances I find that, in making the Citizen Comments, he was in breach of his obligations under section 3.11(a) of the Code of Conduct.”
AND WHEREAS, pursuant to section 4.32(b) of the Council Code of Conduct Bylaw, Investigator Chamberlain recommended that Council “consider appropriate censures as found within the Code of Conduct, including consideration of a public apology and training on the Code of Conduct”;
AND WHEREAS, after consideration of all the circumstances and after reaching consensus, Council resolved as follows:
Pursuant to Part 4 of the Council Code of Conduct Bylaw No. 53, 2023, Council finds that Mayor Hamer-Jackson has breached section 3.11(a) of the Council Code of Conduct Bylaw No. 53, 2023 by issuing, or allowing to be issued on his behalf, a communication that he knew, or ought to have known, was false or misleading, as set out in the Investigation Report and the Addendum Report (the “Breach”);
Pursuant to section 4.35 of the Council Code of Conduct Bylaw No. 53, 2023, Council finds that the appropriate censures, sanctions, corrective actions, and/or other measures that are warranted by the Breach are as follows:
a request from Council that Mayor Hamer-Jackson issue a letter of apology, in a form and with content acceptable to Council;
mandatory training on his obligations under the Code of Conduct; and
mandatory training on respectful workplace communications or other interpersonal skills.
AND WHEREAS in its February 6, 2024, resolution, Council further directed that Mayor Hamer-Jackson sign and deliver the completed apology letter within 30 days of receiving a draft from then Deputy Mayor Bepple;
AND WHEREAS, on March 5, 2024, then Councillor Bepple delivered to Mayor Hamer-Jackson both a physical copy of the apology letter as well as an electronic copy of the apology letter for his signature and return to Council pursuant to Council’s February 6, 2024, resolution;
AND WHEREAS, to date, Mayor Hamer-Jackson has not issued, signed, or delivered a letter of apology in the form provided by Councillor Bepple and thus has neglected or refused to comply with Council’s February 6, 2024, resolution;
AND WHEREAS Mayor Hamer-Jackson was provided with advance written notice that: (a) at its June 11, 2024 closed meeting, Council would consider what, if any, additional measures it might impose on the Mayor pursuant to sections 4.38 and 4.35(k) of the Council Code of Conduct Bylaw No. 53, 2023; and (b) he was invited to provide comments to Council, either directly or through his legal counsel, at his discretion;
AND WHEREAS both Mayor Hamer-Jackson and his legal counsel were present at the closed Council meeting of June 11, 2024, and the Mayor chose to have his legal counsel make submissions on his behalf regarding Council’s consideration of what, if any, additional measures to impose on the Mayor pursuant to sections 4.38 and 4.35(k) of the Council Code of Conduct Bylaw No. 53, 2023;
AND WHEREAS Council heard and considered submissions from both Mayor Hamer-Jackson and his legal counsel regarding what, if any, additional measures to impose on the Mayor pursuant to sections 4.38 and 4.35(k) of the Council Code of Conduct Bylaw No. 53, 2023;
AND WHEREAS, as clearly indicated in the draft apology letter delivered to Mayor Hamer-Jackson on March 5, 2024, Council intends for the entire apology letter to be governed by the Apology Act, SBC 2006 c.19, and therefore not admissible in any court as evidence of the fault or liability of the person in connection with the matter;
AND WEHREAS (sic), after consideration of all the circumstances, including the comments and submissions made by Mayor Hamer-Jackson and his legal counsel, and after reaching consensus;
COUNCIL RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Pursuant to sections 4.38 and 4.35(k) of the Council Code of Conduct Bylaw No. 53, 2023 Council shall address Mayor Hamer-Jackson’s breach of the Council Code of Conduct Bylaw No. 53, 2023 and his failure to comply with its February 6, 2024, resolution, by hereby directing that the remuneration to which Mayor Hamer-Jackson would otherwise be entitled under Council Policy No. GGL-3, Remuneration, Travel Expenses, Insurance, and Communications Allowance be reduced by 10%, and that the reduction be effective from June 12, 2024 for a period of six (6) months or until such time as Council receives from Mayor Hamer-Jackson a signed letter of apology in the form already provided, whichever date is earlier.
City Council is committed to building trust in our community through accountability.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
I think a fundamental point that so many fail to grasp is that the local senior administrative hierarchy doesn’t work for the citizens of Kamloops. They work for the civic corporation AKA The City of Kamloops.
It is a distinction with a BIG difference. Rather than approaching concerns with an open mind and a commitment to reasonable, practical solutions, they follow one size fits all policies. Those policies are promulgated by other faceless bureaucrats from senior levels of government, goaded by NGOs and special interests and political “lowest common denominator “ electoral ambitions.
To argue that Kamloops is more desirable place to live than it was 20 years ago you have to be (to steal a line from a cantankerous former employer) “either ignorant, stupid or both”. I’ll cut some slack for the young because they have been propagandized by the education they received and poisoned by the algorithms in their social media feeds.
So, we elect a mayor who has spent the last 40 years solving individual problems with clients face to face. He sees the massive problem of drug addiction, homelessness and overdose deaths and has a front row seat at ground zero at his business on West Victoria St. His ideas run counter to the programs in place that don’t work here (or anywhere else).
So he gets the Captain’s chair in the big kids club and much to his surprise finds “ he ain’t in the club”. Not only is he not in it, he discovers the club is working just dandy for those who are in it, notwitwstanding its abject failures at nearly all it touches. On time and under budget are just children’s stories from the olden days…tax them until they bleed, blame the voters for their failures, give themselves a raise and tax them some more.
I’m one who never thinks it’s too late for a fresh start… or perhaps a restart. Maybe the Mayor and council should both recall an old sales 101 truism… if you are pushing someone, don’t be surprised if the push back. I’m certain there are many issues they could all agree to pull together on and actually accomplish something…that doesn’t cost $100 million. Start small, work hard and remember, you have two ears and one mouth for a very practical reason.
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Huh. Coun. Karpuk didn’t have to publicly apologize when he aggressively hounded the mayor (really hounded him) at a public council meeting for not signing two documents that were later found on Karpuk’s desk. Surely repeatedly accusing someone of something they didn’t do falls under the definition of “false and misleading.” But maybe the mayor wasn’t petty enough to file a complaint.
On a related note: Council removed the right of the public to file code of conduct complaints b/c each one is so expensive to adjudicate. How much are Coun. Neustaeter’s seemingly endless code complaints costing taxpayers?
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I believe Kamloops cozy power structure was shaken when their candidate DD didn’t get in. Granted RHJ is not helping himself the lurking creatures in the background would’ve regardless made every attempt at silencing dissent.
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There certainly seems to be a double standard, Bronwen.
I sent an email to “Acting Deputy-Mayor” Bepple yesterday regarding what I thought to be a double standard. Some time ago, an email that Mayor RHJ sent to other councillors that had a notice on the “footer” that the contents were intended only for the recipient(s) should have remained confidential. Yet the contents were heard by the Mayor being broadcast via radio media while the Mayor was driving on the Overlanders Bridge on his way home!
Talk about release of sensitive information “that could cause harm or financial loss”. Who would have sent that information to the local radio station except someone who had been a recipient of the email from the Mayor and that email stated the content was strictly for the recipient???
A while later, I received a very feeble short email from “Nancy”. No use of her title; perhaps a peace offering or an olive twig.
The gang of eight is copious in its share of highly publicized bashing of the Mayor but take no ownership of the very type of behaviour which constitutes a breach of confidentiality.
Thanks to a local media person who was given a second chance at life for using that chance to make the best of every opportunity to join in the public humiliation of Mayor Hamer-Jackson.
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What next in a society where we elect governments devoid of any civic responsibilities. Choosing a scapegoat for all the city’s problems has fixated the council to marginalize the said scapegoat and therefore solved the problems they identified in their platforms. Rampant self-absorption has replaced civic responsibilities and communal ethics as they write platitudes to failed promises. What next “Bread and circuses”?
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What is going on is a fierce response to the accountability pledged my Mayor Hamer-Jackson. Council and administration want to maintain the status quo at all costs. Free lunches must not cease!
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This (mayor) has milked us for over a hundred thousand dollars and done nothing but pick fights. It’s long over due for this guy to go back to wherever he came from. Council shouldn’t have to spend their valuable time babysitting a spoiled brat. Go pout somewhere else and let the adults get to work.
And to think we are going to be out at least another three hundred thousand before he’s gone.
Council should claw back 100% of the salary and donate it to Ask Wellness, then he would finally doing the street people some good.
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Seriously? The council have also acted like a bunch of spoiled brats determined since day one to muzzle the mayor. Talk about pouters throwing tantrum after tantrum. All 9 need to go. Just look at the spending this council has done in the past year. This is not sustainable. The blame for this gong show rests with all of them.
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By your logic, Acting CAO McCorkell, who has cost taxpayers in the $millions for his wrong-headed changes to Bylaw Officer job descriptions, should work for free. Or be fired.
And what about the administrator(s) responsible for losing a $million or more on the Northbridge Hotel property? Should they be working for free now too? Maybe for a few years until their salaries have covered the loss?
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RHJ is always shooting his mouth off that he isn’t in for the money. Just more empty words unless he is prepared to act on them. Step up to the plate RHJ and donate your salary. Otherwise go back in your office and shut the door. OOOPS, not sure if you are allowed in your office.
Prediction, RHJ will run again, he has never had such a soft job in his life or made so much easy money.
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Lay off the nastiness Bob and take a good look on the mirror together with Bass and Bepple.
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There doesn’t seem to be any mention about the St. Paddy’s Day debacle.
Perhaps could I have not read deeply enough into this document and missed it?
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What a bloody joke this council is. If “accountability” was so important there is a LOT Trawin and McCorkell need to be held accountable for.
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I’m getting so tired of this conflict between the Mayor and Council and the obstinate actions of the Mayor towards Council, as well as the vindictive motions from Council towards the Mayor. It sure puts our city in the spotlight (nationwide, I think) showing that we are really a “small-town” instead of a growing, thriving community. It needs to stop.
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Aren’t we all just so very tired of this gong show. The bullies are doing everything they can to push the mayor out. Shame on them.
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And just on earth who is the bully? Investigate after investigation has identified RHJ as a bully who has a temper tantrum when he doesn’t get his own way. Council cannot effectively move ahead until this guy learns or is willing to work as a team. Frankly I’m not holding my breath.
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Seems to me that council is not prepared to work with the Mayor either. They keep shouting their mouths off as well. Works both ways if you look at all the evidence coming out of city hall.
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