Central Okanagan East director Patty Hanson admits she has missed nine of the last 10 board meetings despite a bylaw that says missing more than four in a row can result in removal. She also admits to being paid for those months, despite the board having to pay a stipend of almost $100 to her replacement for each meeting she misses.

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'THEY'RE ACCUSING ME OF A TON OF STUFF. IT'S REALLY UPSETTING.'

KELOWNA – A Central Okanagan Regional District director who was sanctioned, censured and forced to formally apologize for disclosing confidential information last December, is in trouble again, this time for months of missed meetings she was still paid for.

Central Okanagan East director Patty Hanson admits she has assigned a replacement to attend nine of the last 10 board meetings despite a bylaw that says missing more than four in a row can result in removal. She also admits to being paid for those months, despite the board having to pay a stipend to her replacement as well. 

“Yes (it is fair),” she says. “Because I’m on stress leave.”

Hanson says the board has been treating her “very badly” ever since she was sanctioned and removed from several committees for disclosing confidential information and misrepresenting a private board discussion to Okanagan Film Commissioner Jon Summerland.

“Sarcastic comments at the board level,” she says. “I can’t take it anymore, that’s why I’m on sick leave.”

FILE PHOTO - Okanagan Film Commissioner Jon Summerland speaks to the Central Okanagan Regional District Board of Directors prior to the board voting to censure and sanction director Patty Hanson in December 2015.

(MARSHALL JONES - MANAGING EDITOR / iNFOnews.ca)

Hanson says she has a note from her doctor saying she is “relieved from sitting at the Regional Board… and will return when it’s safe to do so.”

“They ignored my doctor’s note and are forcing me back,” she says.

Hanson believes she is under investigation for missing at least three months of meetings but board chair Gail Given would not confirm or deny.

"The board hasn't released anything publicly," she says. "She has attended one of the last ten (meetings) and that will be the subject of an in-camera meeting."

Hanson says her replacement Mark Bartyik — her neighbour — will attend next week's meeting as he has done most of the year. But for the first time since May, Hanson will be there as well.

“I’ll be in the gallery,” she says. “They’re accusing me of a ton of stuff. It’s really upsetting.”

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