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March 11, 2014 - 12:09 PM
VERNON - Once again, the City of Vernon is the only jurisdiction showing any interest in the question of amalgamation.
The City asked Coldstream and Areas B and C to consider putting the topic on their 2014 municipal election ballots, but Vernon councillor Bob Spiers says its clear they have no intention of doing so.
In a letter to council, Areas B and C representatives Bob Fleming and Mike Macnabb said they do not support asking residents if local government should pursue a study on amalgamation. Coldstream has also said they will not be putting the question to voters in the fall referendum.
Spiers says Vernon council will have to decide if it’s still worth it for the City to put the question to voters. He’s of the opinion it doesn’t hurt to ask.
“It would just give direction to the next council,” Spiers says.
“I wish Areas B and C (representatives) would give their citizens the same right, the same opportunity to see whether they truly represent their constituency, but they’re not going to.”
The governance debate flared up again last summer when the Greater Vernon Governance Society launched a petition and gathered 2,930 names from the four municipalities. The society thought it was enough to prompt a review on the pros and cons of amalgamation, but learned they needed the support of at least two municipal governments to garner action.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call 250-309-5230.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014