REID ALL ABOUT IT – Mayor wants disclosure of ‘harassment’ documents

An occasional glimpse into the mayoral life of Reid Hamer-Jackson.

A pair of lengthy motions from the mayor will come up for discussion at the Sept. 22 council meeting. One is a proposal for a review of the homeless storage, laundry and washroom facility at 48 Victoria Street West. Hamer-Jackson says the parking area next to the small building isn’t being used and should be returned to parking space for City staff instead of paying for spaces at the B.C. Lotteries Corp. He also says the services provided at the small building may be provided at existing shelters…

His other notice of motion renews his efforts to obtain records relating to allegations he bullied or harassed staff. It states he is prepared to provide his own communications from the beginning of the current council term “and the same transparency should apply equally to all participants, subject only to information legally protected from disclosure.” He wants all members of council, lawyers and current or former City managers and directors as well as himself to provide the records to an independent reviewer…

After Hamer-Jackson presented his notices of motion at this week’s council meeting, Coun. Dale Bass brought forward one she’d tabled the previous meeting regarding co-operation with TRU on equity and accessibility. When the mayor began asking questions, Bass told him he could wait until Sept. 22. Hamer-Jackson reminded her that her motion was actually up for discussion now, at which point Bass blamed her confusion on having to listen to his lengthy notices….

Coun. Margot Middleton seems to think Stuart Wood School might be a good location for the new police station. She gave notice of motion to explore potential locations other than the one on which the detachment building currently sits, adding that Stuart Wood should be among those looked at. Of course, any use of the Stuart Wood site for a police station would require that the beautiful heritage building would have to be torn down….

Meanwhile, Castanet reports that Hamer-Jackson has been given four more months to sell his Tru Market car lot on West Victoria Street. Beem Credit Union received a court order in June in connection with a business loan of $452,794.85 secured against the property. A lawyer for Beem said the credit union agreed to an extension past the Sept.1 deadline.