On April 3 Mayor Mark Sager said that a proposed code of conduct, for the seven members of West Van council, did not command the support required to pass into law.
However, following concerns raised by Positive Voices members, and others, the council decided to vote in favour of “first reading”. They postponed the substantive votes so that councillors would have more time to study the 17-page document.
The North Shore News reported on the matter - West Van council waffles on ethical code - and also published an editorial and letters in favour of a proposed new code. However their columnist Kirk Lapointe wrote a classically contrarian piece - against a code - designed it seems more to stimulate debate than win any arguments.
The council is free to amend the proposed code if they believe it to be necessary. But if they throw it out entirely, they will be out of step with councils right across BC, and will have to explain themselves to the provincial government.
BACKGROUND: Council report on Code of Conduct (District of West Vancouver)
Positive Voices strongly urges members of West Vancouver council to approve the proposed code for the following reasons:
The BC Ministry of Municipal Affairs, the Union of BC Municipalities and the Local Government Management Association recommend that all councils adopt a code of conduct, as a minimum standard of best practice to discharge their duties.
Public servants at all levels of government are required to adhere to codes of conduct. In West Van ’standards of conduct’ which apply to municipal staff, also extend to volunteers on public boards.
So a ‘no’ vote might suggest that our local elected officials think they’re better than members in our community.
Reports of chaos and dysfunction in councils from Lions Bay to Kamloops, and Tahsis to Harrison Hot Springs, suggest an uptick of questionable behaviour in local governments across BC.
We want to ensure that doesn’t happen there.
Members of virtually all professions have codes of conduct which they must adhere to, in order to maintain their designation and employment. These include lawyers, real estate brokers, investment advisors, not mention the entire health and education, and public sectors.
It is likely that several thousand WV residents abide by codes of conduct in various capacities, directly and indirectly. And in fact at least five members of the current council are or were previously members of a professional group and subject to their respective codes of conduct.
A decision to reject one would erode rather than build confidence in the professionalism and ethics of our mayor and councillors.
The mayor and council in West Van are responsible for acting in the best interests of the district and all its 45,000 residents. They have a fiduciary duty to oversee an annual budget of $135 million plus fixed and natural assets valued at well over half a billion dollars.
Residents will welcome more checks and balances to safeguard good governance for the community.
On April 24, West Van’s mayor and council have the opportunity to pass a code of conduct and meet the best practice standards that are being adopted across BC.
If respectful and professional conduct are important to you, please share your views with the mayor and councillors.
Voice your support for the code of conduct at Monday’s council meeting in person, or by phone/ electronically.
Click here for more information about participating, or call 604 925-7004.
Or click on the button to send an email: