Kelowna councillors have several concerns with a new code of conduct that applies to them.

The draft document, which is mandated by the provincial government, sets out rules council must follow in fulfilling their duties and responsibilities.

There are also provisions in the code outlining how councillors are to interact with each other, city staff, the public and the media.

Several councillors felt it was too lengthy, duplicated the community charter, and that some of the wording could be open to interpretation.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檇 like to see it tightened,害羞草研究所� said Coun. Mohini Singh. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檇 like to see it direct, and I害羞草研究所檇 also want staff to recognize that we are grown adults and we know what our responsibility is.害羞草研究所�

Coun. Loyal Wooldridge, who chairs the Regional District Central Okanagan Board, said the document feels punitive.

害羞草研究所淲hen I reflect on the Regional Districts害羞草研究所� (code of conduct) it starts with values, it starts with why we work this way. This one seems like it害羞草研究所檚 a law we害羞草研究所檙e imposing because there害羞草研究所檚 all this terrible stuff going on, which I don害羞草研究所檛 believe is the case.害羞草研究所�

Coun. Luke Stack said he didn害羞草研究所檛 feel the code, as currently drafted, would add to what council is already doing.

害羞草研究所淚 actually believe we already are accountable and transparent,害羞草研究所� he said.

In agreeing with other councillors, Maxine DeHart added she felt the code also had to be reworked.

害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 think any of us around here are children,害羞草研究所� she said. I think we all realize what we have to do.害羞草研究所�

Coun. Charlie Hodge also took issue with what he called ambiguity in parts of the code.

害羞草研究所淟et害羞草研究所檚 be absolutely clear about what we害羞草研究所檙e saying.害羞草研究所�

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Mayor Tom Dyas commented that he was surprised that council spent nearly 90 minutes debating the issue.

害羞草研究所淭his came out so that we are as transparent as possible with regards to being a council,害羞草研究所� said Dyas. 害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 see anything in here that would cause any great concern for anyone because, at the end of the day, we truly police ourselves other than us going completely offside where it害羞草研究所檚 a criminal offence.害羞草研究所�

The code also lays out complaint and resolution procedures which would include a preliminary assessment and, if a complaint is accepted for investigation, a referral to a third-party investigator.

害羞草研究所淎ny formal sanctions would be a decision of council,害羞草研究所� said Laura Bentley, deputy city clerk.

Council voted to receive the report for information, with councillors Stack, DeHart, Hodge and Singh opposed.

Staff was requested to bring back a revised code of conduct based on council input.

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gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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