At least two Kelowna City Councillors are unhappy about not being appointed to the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) Board.
The issue was raised at council乌鸦传媒檚 May 26 meeting, which also addressed concerns about appointments to several committees.
After asking Mayor Tom Dyas if he planned to make any other appointments before next year乌鸦传媒檚 municipal elections, Councillor Gord Lovegrove questioned the mayor about his criteria for making the RDCO appointments.
乌鸦传媒淚 know I乌鸦传媒檝e made my expectations clear about wanting to be back on the board,乌鸦传媒� Lovegrove added. 乌鸦传媒淚 know you said when we had a private conversation that it乌鸦传媒檚 just fair to rotate, which I agree with.乌鸦传媒�
The mayor replied that any councillor could do an excellent job in any of the particular roles.
乌鸦传媒淢y job is to make sure that the appointments are as fair as possible to everyone across the board,乌鸦传媒� Dyas noted. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e trying basically to put the best foot forward.乌鸦传媒�
Under the Local Government Act, council appoints directors and, if needed, alternate directors to the RDCO Board by resolution. Kelowna has six directors on the board.
乌鸦传媒淚 make a suggestion,乌鸦传媒� Dyas pointed out. 乌鸦传媒淭hey乌鸦传媒檙e a selection of council.乌鸦传媒�
Coun. Mohini Singh was also not appointed to the board.
乌鸦传媒淚 respect your position of fairness and equity for all,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淭here are four years in our term乌鸦传媒攕o that would be that every councillor would get the opportunity to serve two years.乌鸦传媒�
Singh noted that she and Lovegrove would only serve one-and-a-half years.
乌鸦传媒淵ou use the term fairness, I乌鸦传媒檓 telling you I don乌鸦传媒檛 think it乌鸦传媒檚 fair, that乌鸦传媒檚 all.乌鸦传媒�
Singh also argued that she was the go-to person for many Indo-Canadian individuals regarding agriculture when she was on the RDCO board previously.
Dyas reiterated that, with regard to committee appointments, he strives to rotate councillors through the various positions.
乌鸦传媒淲ith regards to this (RDCO Board), it乌鸦传媒檚 a suggestion and it乌鸦传媒檚 chosen by council,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淭hat乌鸦传媒檚 just basically the rules. I know everyone wants to be there乌鸦传媒攖here乌鸦传媒檚 nine of us, and there乌鸦传媒檚 only six on there.乌鸦传媒�
This is not the first time RDCO appointments have caused tension among council.
In May 2024, Lovegrove, Singh, and Ron Cannan were replaced on the RDCO Board by Luke Stack, Maxine DeHart, and Rick Webber.
The appointed RDCO Board members, effective Sept. 5, are Mayor Dyas and Councillors Ron Cannan, Maxine DeHart, Luke Stack, Rick Webber, and Loyal Wooldridge (chairperson). Councillors Lovegrove, Singh, and Charlie Hodge have been designated as alternates.
Serving as a director on the RDCO Board provides approximately $17,000 in additional annual income for a council member, while alternates earn $90 for each meeting they attend.
