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.

sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檇 like to see it tightened,sa国际传媒� said Coun. Mohini Singh. sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檇 like to see it direct, and Isa国际传媒檇 also want staff to recognize that we are grown adults and we know what our responsibility is.sa国际传媒�

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

sa国际传媒淲hen I reflect on the Regional Districtssa国际传媒� (code of conduct) it starts with values, it starts with why we work this way. This one seems like itsa国际传媒檚 a law wesa国际传媒檙e imposing because theresa国际传媒檚 all this terrible stuff going on, which I donsa国际传媒檛 believe is the case.sa国际传媒�

Coun. Luke Stack said he didnsa国际传媒檛 feel the code, as currently drafted, would add to what council is already doing.

sa国际传媒淚 actually believe we already are accountable and transparent,sa国际传媒� he said.

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

sa国际传媒淚 donsa国际传媒檛 think any of us around here are children,sa国际传媒� she said. I think we all realize what we have to do.sa国际传媒�

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

sa国际传媒淟etsa国际传媒檚 be absolutely clear about what wesa国际传媒檙e saying.sa国际传媒�

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

sa国际传媒淭his came out so that we are as transparent as possible with regards to being a council,sa国际传媒� said Dyas. sa国际传媒淚 donsa国际传媒檛 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 itsa国际传媒檚 a criminal offence.sa国际传媒�

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.

sa国际传媒淎ny formal sanctions would be a decision of council,sa国际传媒� 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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