Williams Lake city councillors vote five-to-two to sign their name to agree to the city’s code of conduct at their May 28 council meeting.
The change to the code, which was adopted May 2, 2023, in adherence with new provincial requirements, was part of the annual review of the code, as part of the policy.
Council had discussed the code in-depth at their May 21 committee of the whole meeting, with Councillor Joan Flaspohler pointing out the policy asked council to sign a form to affirm their commitment to the policy, however the signature form was missing in the original version of the code of conduct.
Discussion on the code was once again debated, but there were no significant changes to the code itself except to add the attachment to provide a signature page.
Councillor Scott Nelson once again said the code was being “weaponized” and voted against reaffirming the code.
Mayor Surinderpal Rathor emphasized no changes had been made to the code and said he wanted to set the record straight about the code.
“Let’s be respectful to each other,” he said, noting even when councillors do not agree with a vote, they should respect their fellow councillors vote on the issue.
“Sometimes putting other people under the bus is not a great idea.”
Councillor Jazmyn Lyons said she quite likes how the code “backs up the integrity council is supposed to have and the respect we’re supposed to show each other.”
She pointed out the code allows councillors to state they disagree with a decision, but instead asks councillors not to make disparaging comments about each other.
The current code outlines specific expectations for council members to demonstrate and uphold the principles of integrity, accountability, respect and leadership.
Nelson said he follows these principles and believes they are already embedded in other ways for council, including in the oath of office, noting he didn’t believe the code needed to expand on these principles.
Both Councillor Sheila Boehm and Nelson voted against adopting the code of conduct, and the motion passed with the rest of council in favour.
READ MORE: EDITORIAL: Code of conduct eyed by city council
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