Dissolution
Tension between two City of Powell River elected officials came to a head recently over a staff report that recommended dissolution of a select committee.
Stan Westby, chief administrative officer, has recommended that the Westview waterfront project committee be dissolved. His report noted that as waterfront projects have progressed from the design stage to the construction stage, the committee’s agendas have become primarily informative. “This was not the purpose of the committee and it is time consuming and costly,” Westby wrote in a report that he presented at the March 17 committee-of-the-whole meeting.
Councillor Chris McNaughton, committee chair, bristled at the report, which he said was an “underhanded” attack by Mayor Stewart Alsgard on him personally. “I asked Mr. Westby where this came from and why I wasn’t consulted, as the chair,” McNaughton said. “He indicated to me that Your Worship asked him to prepare this report.”
While that is in Alsgard’s purview, McNaughton said, he was concerned about the lack of communication. “Part of the legacy this council inherited, and you’re the only one left from that legacy, is the fact that previous councils had struggles with communication. We’ve been trying to address that matter and here is an example internally where I’m going to ask the question, why was the chair not consulted, why was the other council member not consulted, why did we not take this to the committee and work with the committee?”
McNaughton pointed to other instances where “that kind of behaviour has occurred...I’ve certainly taken it on the chin a number of times, Your Worship, over the last couple of years...If it’s just personal, it will roll off my back, generally, although it’s upsetting. When it starts to affect the organization and the work that I’m doing, I find it problematic.”
As an example, McNaughton said, Alsgard went to the president and manager of PRREDS (Powell River Regional Economic Development Society) to ask to have him replaced as the tourism representative. “Mr. [Jay] Yule said to me that he basically responded by saying he’s not going to do your dirty work,” McNaughton said.
Alsgard responded by saying that Westby was doing his job when he prepared the report, because he has received input from staff who are concerned about the amount of time they have to devote to the committee. He also said the committee has had a lack of quorum on some occasions and committee members may wish to discuss their views about whether the committee should continue. “The report is not any kind of a vindictive attack upon any particular thing,” Alsgard said. “Time moves on, times change, let’s look at the efficiencies here and how this can be done and not treat it as a sinecure that must exist purely because it’s been established.”
Richard Stogre, manager of engineering services, said the committee has grown into something “quite big” and “unfocused. The intent of the committee has been lost in the process.” He also said there are a number of staff involved in “something that is so diffused, we basically get nowhere. There is no solid direction.”
Information flows to the committee, not to the committee-of-the-whole, then to council, where decisions are made, Stogre added. “It diffuses the message,” he said. “I’ve seen that so many times.”
At the end of the discussion, councillors agreed to refer the issue to the upcoming strategic planning session.
Savary power
BC Hydro has begun work on a Community Electricity Plan for Savary Island. The plan will gather information about the island’s current electricity situation and how to meet future electricity needs. It takes a look at the possibility of BC Hydro service, the implications and cost of above ground power lines compared to below ground power lines, GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions related to current on-island electricity production and different ways to supply electricity such as connection to the BC Hydro grid, small wind or solar systems, renewable-diesel hybrid systems and other renewable sources.
The agency explored the possibility of bringing power to the island six years ago, but at the time the issue was controversial and there was no program. Now some funding could be provided through the Community Electricity Plan. Preliminary estimates indicate it would cost the community $85,000 per kilometre for overhead wiring and $500,000 per kilometre for underground wiring.
To be eligible for BC Hydro service, the following criteria must be met: there should be 10 homes occupied year round and there must be “substantial” support for the program. A Community Energy Plan is developed for the area at no cost and no obligation. If the community then decides it wants electrification, BC Hydro recommends to the BC government that the community be added to the list for scheduled service.
Savary Island property owners have an opportunity to participate in two community workshops about the issue. One was held in Vancouver at the end of March. The second is being held from 10 am to 12:30 pm on Saturday, April 9 at the Savary Island fire hall.
Readers who would like more information about the Community Electricity Plan or its process may contact Rhea Halfnight LeFlufy at [email protected] or at 604.528.1927.
Peak forum
Powell River Peak is hosting an election forum on its website during the course of the federal campaign. The forum has information about candidates, election stories from newspapers in the riding and a section where voters are able to pose questions to candidates and comment on issues.
The election forum can be found by clicking the Forum link at the top of the Peak page. It will be posted until the day before the May 2 election.
