In a rare exhibit of public acrimony, Creston Mayor Ron Toyota was taken to task at the July 8 committee of the whole meeting for acting without consulting town council.
Toyota wrote a letter of support for a funding application by the Friends of the Ingham Arts and Culture Centre Society under the federal New Horizons for Seniors program.
Discussion about the request drew mixed responses from councillors, with Coun. Gerry Schmalz expressing concern that the organization had not provided information requested at previous meetings. Schmalz said that making improvements to the building with public funds could be a waste if the society is unable to raise sufficient money to enter into a purchase agreement with the Ingham family.
At a previous council meeting, the society’s request for a permissive tax exemption was not approved, but council asked for documents showing what the current agreement between the society and the property owners is.
Toyota said it was his understanding that further documentation had been provided to the town’s finance director, who was on vacation.
“It would be embarrassing if council doesn’t approve the letter of support, but that is your choice,” Toyota said. “It could be withdrawn.”
“Has this letter already been sent?” asked Coun. Wesley Graham.
After more discussion it came out that the letter had indeed been sent to enable the society to meet the funding application deadline, which was prior to a committee or council meeting.
“Then I wonder just what our purpose as councillors is, if we are not being kept in the loop,” Graham said. “In previous circumstances like this we have been able to make decisions by email, but we didn’t know anything about this.”
Toyota admitted to council that it was a mistake that no effort had been made to poll councillors before writing the letter of support.
“Time was short and we were just trying to support the work of a local group,” he said.
Council Briefs
•Support was recommended to extend Centennial Park’s closing time from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. on July 15 to accommodate a Teen Action Committee event.
•A grant of $500 was recommended to support the Footlighters Theatre Society in its participation in Theatre BC’s Mainstage provincial festival in Kamloops.
•In response to a letter of complaint about parking congestion on Elm Street between 18th and 20th Avenue South, staff will monitor the situation in the coming months.
The problem might be mitigated by the removal of a house adjacent to New Life Church, Ross Beddoes, director of municipal services, reported. With the house gone, additional parking will be created. If street parking congestion continues, he said, property owners in the area will be polled to see if they favour parking restrictions.