Inaugural meeting brings first debate to new Vernon City Council

Following the swearing in the new Mayor and Council gave brief speeches where they promised to serve the public and their needs, work collaboratively, and be transparent.

The inaugural Vernon City Council meeting was then held to appoint members to some roles, which did spark some discussion and debate.

Gares had recommended herself, Fehr, Durning and Scarlatescu serve on the Regional District Board of Directors, but Fehr opposed this motion, stating he would prefer to see Sawatzy serve on the board over Scarlatescu as he previously served as Mayor of Vernon and has knowledge in municipal affairs, and has experience as a doctor and in the agricultural sector he could bring to the RDNO.

“While Councillor Scarlatescu is a welcome addition to Council, I do not believe it is fair nor good governance or practice to place a brand new Councillor into a secondary, complex, policy-making organization before they have acquired at least a year of foundational municipal experience,” Fehr explained during the meeting.

“This proposed adjustment aligns our strongest subject-matter expertise with the region’s most pressing resource challenges, ensuring Vernon is represented by highly experienced voices during the crucial first year of this mandate.”

Scarlatescu disagreed with Fehr’s proposed amendment, stating the RDNO’s purview covered arts and culture, economy, and recreation, and not just water and wildfire preparedness. Scarlatescu also stated he was elected as a Councillor as the public wanted a new voice at the table and he believed he could bring his own experience to the RDNO as well.

However, Scarlatescu was ultimately ousted from the RDNO seat in a vote of four to three, with himself, Gares and Durning voting against the amendment. The other Councillors were selected to be alternates and fill in those seats if needed.

Vernon City Council also selected Gares, Durning and Sawatzky to sit on the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee. Fehr was originally recommended to fill that role but made a friendly amendment to have himself removed and replaced by Sawatzky instead. Again, the remaining Councillors were selected to serve as alternates.

Speaking with Vernon Matters following Monday’s meeting, Gares said the decision as to who filled what roles was up to council.

“In our role we make recommendations and sometimes they will be supported and sometimes some differences will come up and we’ll find a new direction, but I support the decision of council,” the new Mayor of Vernon stated.

Gares also confirmed that the positions on the RDNO Board and GVAC were for one year, and there could be opportunities for the other members of council to fill those roles at a later date.

In the meantime, the Mayor said the inaugural meeting served as a great first step in bringing the new council together, and that they were ready “to collaborate, bring our skillsets, bring our knowledge to the table” in order to “make some policy shifts that can address some of the concerns the public has had during this campaign, which is dealing with transparency and accountability. Those, I think will be metrics that we start to work through over the next year or so.”

Vernon City Council will hold their next meeting in the Council Chambers November 10.

by Liam Verster

Inaugural meeting brings first debate to new Vernon City Council

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