Eyebrows are being raised over the poor attendance record of one of Coldstream’s elected officials.
Coun. Peter McClean has been in Arizona since November and has only attended two meetings since the beginning of November.
“This situation with Coun. McClean is out of hand,” said Coun. Pat Cochrane, who is upset that McClean is still collecting a paycheque without putting in the work.
But McClean says he is working while away, reviewing agendas and has asked to be a part of meetings through online conference abilities.
“Despite efforts to get council into the 20th century, they still have yet to create the policy to allow us to attend meetings via the Internet while away; something commonly done in the digital world today,” said McClean, adding that all elected officials have iPads provided to them therefore the capability is there.
But Cochrane would like to see stricter attendance requirements and wants Coldstream to add pressure to the provincial government to change the rules.
“So he can’t just fly in here every six to eight weeks,” said Cochrane.
Along with missing several council meetings, McClean hasn’t attended any finace or committee of the whole meetings. In total he has missed 12 meetings - six council, four COW and two finance.
“When you sign onto council you’ve got to be here,” said Mayor Jim Garlick.
According to the B.C. Community Charter, “if a council member is absent from council meetings for
(a) a period of 60 consecutive days, or
(b) four consecutive regularly scheduled council meetings,
whichever is the longer time period, the council member is disqualified from holding office.”
McClean plans to return full-time at the beginning of April, and will be back for one more council meeting, as not to be absent no more than three consecutive regular meetings, in following provincial rules.
One issue that has arisen with his absence is a recent tie vote (with only six attending members of council) on an Agricultural Land Reserve farm housing variance application from Coral Beach Farms. McClean’s vote is needed to break the tie, if Mayor Jim Garlick decides to bring it back to council for reconsideration. There is 30 days to bring it back.
The last meeting McClean attended was Feb. 14, therefore he would have to return for the March 27 meeting in order for the issue to be reconsidered.
In the meantime, he says it is unfortunate that council is not supporting and developing a healthy agricultural community.
“The fact that some council members support special interest groups over the development of new agricultural practices, let alone agriculture itself is concerning but past practices like the prior councils agricultural plan and certain councillors’ efforts impose restraints on agricultural practices within and outside of the ALR should receive some deeper scrutiny.
“Unfortunately council cast their vote on Monday and I just hope that the agricultural community is paying attention to how they are and can be treated with so little regard.”