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By Corey Fischer
DVA To Respond To Councillors' Comments

DVA To Respond To Councillors’ Comments

Jan 25, 2019 | 12:02 PM

Officials with the Downtown Vernon Association say the business group looks forward to giving its side of the story at an upcoming Vernon council meeting.

Councillor Scott Anderson made some comments at Monday’s meeting that suggested the 620 member association is a “closed shop with its own agenda,” and hasn’t been listening to concerns from its members regarding homelessness and other issues.

Councillor Kari Gares also got involved, saying on Monday, businesses are “angry and frustrated,” adding “no one is advocating for their concerns.”

The City has invited the DVA to attend a future meeting to talk about its mandate and guiding values which executive director Susan Lehman says they will do.

Lehman told Beach Radio News, they won’t be making any further comment until then.

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“We’re working to make our presentation to council, but no, the board won’t be making any commentary. We don’t want get into a back and forth with city council.  There is no positive movement in that,” said Lehman when contacted by our news department.

The councillors made their comments after a letter from the DVA sought clarification of comments made by Anderson and Gares at the Jan. 7th meeting of council.

“The Downtown Vernon Association’s requests for clarification of context of comments made by Councillors’ Gares and Anderson during the January 7th Regular Council Meeting, were addressed quickly and to the satisfaction of the DVA Board on January 17th. Despite this resolve, there remained a great deal of discussion among Council during the January 21st Regular Council Meeting regarding the DVA’s activities and mandate,” says a news release issued by the DVA Friday.

The next regular meeting of council is Feb. 11, but it’s not known if the DVA will be appearing then or at a later date.

by Corey Fischer

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