Village resident compiles timeline of concerns
A Lions Bay resident has added her voice to others in the province calling for a watchdog to oversee municipal governments, and insure actions taken are both ethical and accountable to the public.
Long-time resident Norma Rodgers compiled a timeline of Council actions and events and this month has forwarded it to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs. The document has also been widely circulated through the village, so The Watershed contacted Rodgers and members of Council for comment.
"I sent this timeline to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs itemizing the reasons for the appointment of an ethics commissioner to oversee municipal governments and protect resident rights," said Rodgers.
"Before this last election, the village was running well. We had long-term staff in place who had plans for our community and were successful at applying for infrastructure grants for projects our small tax base can't cover. Then in 2022, a new Mayor who promised change was elected. Since then, I've attended every council meeting and read all public government information. This timeline of facts and events is a reflection my concerns."
As yet, The Watershed has not received a reply from Lions Bay Council to our request for comment.
Rodgers is by no means the first local resident to express concerns about accountability within municipalities. For years, New Westminster councillor Nadine Nakagawa has been lobbying the province to establish a Municipal Integrity Commissioner to oversee municipal affairs in the province.
Last week Nakagawa spoke to CBC's Gloria Macarenko regarding her concerns, citing ongoing disruptions among a number of provincial municipalities, including Lions Bay. She said she'd like to see a provincially-appointed individual who operates at arm's length to protect both elected members and the public from misuse of power by elected officials.
"I think in examples of really egregious harm by elected officials, I think they should have the ability to remove elected officials from office. Right now there is no mechanism to do so."
Nakagawa's plea followed a letter sent earlier this summer to the Vancouver Sun from Port Moody Councillor Haven Lurbiecki, calling for a provincial ethics watchdog to oversee municipalities.
"Did you know municipal councils are self-regulating bodies?" wrote Lurbiecki. "There is currently no place for councillors or councils to turn outside of council itself to seek neutral investigations or other support around issues such as legality, conflict of interest, code of conduct complaints and bullying."
While the province of BC sets out guidelines for responsible conduct for municipalities, there is no official ombudsman or means of enforcement in place, beyond the appointment of advisors. And now, the call for accountability among municipalities has reached Lions Bay.
Rodger's seven-page document includes a list of resignations, appointments and specific concerns she has documented from attending council meetings and from the public record.
"Without an ethics watchdog, there is no recourse for residents. Look at the cost to local taxpayers from the dismissal without cause of the long-time CAO and subsequent departure of almost every experienced staff member," said Rodgers.
"There have also been unprecedented delays and secrecy regarding municipal audits in 2023 and 2024. I agree with the councillors from New West and Port Moody. I urge the province to create a municipal ethics commissioner that supports councils and councillors with neutral reviews, investigations and advice. Lions Bay and other dysfunctional communities need this resource to protect residents."
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