“North Westside” – Angry at RDCO, want action
North Westside residents claim bullying, harassment by RDCO. Angry at RDCO, want action. Is the headline in the May 30, 2020 story by Wayne Moore with the CASTANET news organization.
The community is rife with dissatisfaction with our current local government model and the method and process of service delivery. We, as North Westside taxpayers pay ALL the bills for these local services (community parks, fire department, public water systems, planning/building and solid waste) why do we have no realistic say in their scope or how they are delivered. We have one vote out of thirteen in almost all decisions. Even in the unfringed North Westside if the area Director from the East (only other vote) votes opposed to myself, the issue is defeated so he not myself determines Part 26 Building and Planning Issues for our community. This is not democracy this is a two tiered model of governance practiced only in BC and results in the “tyranny of the majority” delivery, a phrase I picked up ironically at a Local Government Learning Academy Conference I attend a few years back. Upon first hearing this phrase I realised how much Electoral Area West governance resembles that remark.
All the residents of the North Westside and other areas of Electoral Area West want is the same treatment as our municipal neighbours have established for themselves in RDCO. The municipal directors vote in overwhelming numbers on issues and services within the EA that they neither participate or pay for. That means they are making determinations for our residents even when and if the locally elected representative for the area is opposed.
As no appreciable support or even empathy for my residents position and desires has been shown by the Board Chair or CAO I am pleased that the Community has chosen to get involved and approach the Province to intercede on our behalf. The NWCA has a second delegation request package for a Provincially funded restructuring grant as recommended by the North Westside Service & Issues Review after the Board Chair unilaterally rejected the first delegation request. As this request was never brought to the Board, again the residents are denied their democracy. I hope the second request delivered to the entire Board by email will receive the consideration it is due.
200531 – CHBC News Video North Westside residents hold rally seeking answers after fire chief suspended
200531 – Community Rally for NWFR Video: Community Statements to Facebook
Link to: NWCA Newsletter
Related Post Fire Department Situation as I Know It
Update: This Post contains many emails to the RDCO Chair & Board Members on the fire department suspensions. Here are the responses from RDCO & MLA Stewart:
From: Stewart.MLA, Ben
Sent: Monday, June 08, 2020 2:02 PM
To: Shannon O’Brien
Cc: ggiven@kelowna.ca; Wayne Carson
Subject: RE: North Westside RDCO
Hi Shannon,
On behalf of MLA Ben Stewart, thank you for sharing you concerns regarding the RDCO. I believe this matter is something concerned residents should take up with the RDCO. Human Resource matters are always sensitive matters due to the privacy of the impacted staff.
I look forward to the RDCO’s board making information about this matter, available when appropriate.
Thank you for your concerns as a resident of the North Westside community.
Sincerely, Chris Foreman, M.A.
Constituency Assistant
| Ben Stewart, MLA
Kelowna West Office: (250) 768-8426 E-mail: christopher.foreman@leg.bc.ca |
From: Shannon O’Brien
Sent: Saturday, June 6, 2020 10:27 PM
To: Stewart.MLA, Ben
Subject: North Westside RDCO
Mr. Ben Stewart,
I am writing to express concern around how the residents of the North Westside are treated by RDCO. Our previous Fire Chief was pressured until the only option was to resign as was the Assistant Chief. Currently our Fire Chief has been suspended indefinitely with a gag order as well as one of our lieutenants. We have very few local services and as a community are very proud of our Fire Department. Our area is large with several seasonal residents, we should still be treated respectfully, have equal representation ( Wayne Carson works very hard to represent us) and have the same benefits as others in the Regional District. We have requested Self governance but the RDCO squashed us at every turn.
Just a concerned citizen/ tax payer who wishes to enjoy all the benefits that are offered in the Regional District.
Sincerely, Shannon O’Brien
297 Shorts Rd
Director Wayne Carson – Central Okanagan West
I would also like to respond to the dozens of emails from North Westside residents to the Regional Board. As Chair Given and Director Fortin have responded I felt as the elected representative for this area it essential to respond as well.
I was elected to represent this area, the NWFR department, its members and the residents they serve. It is unacceptable that I find out about significant fire department suspensions from a Facebook Post, and “details” from angry residents by email and phone, is this how it happens in town? I had no, and still have no information confidential or otherwise from the RDCO Administration or RDCO Board Chair and this is obviously a problem that has clearly been festering for months.
I have read all your emails and share in your concerns, but if allegations have been made they must be addressed and that will be in camera. I believe as many of you have suggested that in light of the strained relationship (identified in the North Westside Services and Issues Report) that an independent investigation is required to satisfy all parties involved. I do believe that a mediated arbitration should be conducted by the Office of the Fire Commissioner of BC with them reporting back to the Board, due to the HR nature of the issue again most likely in camera. OFC will have the trust and respect of the whole fire department and that is most important as the firefighters are what this has to be about. The community would see the OFC as an independent agency, tasked with administering the Fire Services Act, as well as most aspects of the Provincial and local delivery of emergency services and programs. The OFC also had a good working relationship with Local Government during the development and implementation of the Firefighters PlayBook applicable to all fire departments in BC. The OFC was also instrumental in resolving the Bowen Island fire department conflict last year, also an HR matter, so experienced in the field. I would have no problem moving forward with any decision the Fire Commissioner endorsed and I would hope the RDCO Administration and Board could do the same.
The most important aspect to this “issue” is to get the problem out of the fire department and headed in the direction of a resolution that everyone can move forward from. With COVID19, potential flooding and an aggressive wildfire season approaching it is critical to keep the team on track, focused and feeling strongly supported by everyone.
Wayne Carson
Central Okanagan West Director
Chair Given
Thank you for your email. We want residents to know that your safety and protection is and always has been a top priority for us.
We have taken steps to ensure there is strong leadership and continuity in providing fire and first responder services in your community. Paid-on-call members of the department remain highly committed and dedicated to providing fire protection and first medical response service when called on to do so in their community to help their neighbours. There has not been any change in service provided by the fire department. If residents call 9-1-1 and ask for the fire department, members will be there to respond to their needs. Deputy Chief Mike Cantryn is leading the department in the short term and has the support of RDCO Fire Services Manager Ross Kotscherofski.
With respect to the human resources matter you note in your email, out of respect for privacy of those people involved and in accordance with Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy legislation, the Regional District cannot provide any details. The RDCO does not publicly discuss the reasoning behind its employment decisions. That is not just the case at present but is always the case. This would hold with all RDCO fire department employees or any other department that provides services for the Electoral Area.
Regards, Gail Given
Regional Board Chair
Director Fortin
Thank you for your email expressing your concerns about the suspension of North Westside Fire Chief Jason Satterthwaiste and Lt. Rob Gajda.
I apologize for the delayed response, as I required some days off to move into my new home. I also needed some time to try to better understand the situation that occurred with your fire chief and his lieutenant. Although, I must admit there has been very little, if not any, information provided by the RDCO Chair or CAO to Board directors at this time.
The decision to suspend Chief Jason Satterthwaiste and Lt. Robert Gajda is obviously very upsetting to many residents of the North Westside.
(Due to the high volume of emails I have received from residents, I am sending the same response to all. But I assure you that I have read each and every one of your emails.)
It was suggested on some emails that there be a third party investigation into the validity of these suspensions. I wholeheartedly agree. However, to get a majority of votes on this issue may be difficult.
It has also been noted in one of your emails that “The RDCO will not communicate this decision saying they are protecting the privacy of Jason Satterthwaite and Robert Gajda.” While I understand the importance of privacy, a possible solution may be to have a representative of the North Westside contact those two gentlemen and get written and signed permission from them for their situations to be discussed publicly. I’m not sure if that will suffice, but it could help. However, they may not want this discussed publicly. I don’t know, as I have not spoken to either of them.
I understand the need for transparency, which was noted in several emails. However, it is extremely difficult for me and other directors to be transparent when we are not informed, ourselves. This includes your Electoral Director, Wayne Carson, who, as I understand, was mostly left out of the loop, himself. However, Director Carson is a very hard working and passionate representative of his Electoral Area and I’m certain he won’t give up until there are some answers.
It was said by a few people that while they are unhappy about the suspensions, they don’t won’t to see this issue used as a platform for self-governance. While I agree that these are two different issues, I do believe that self-governance may have given the residents of the North Westside and their representative more say in what happens in their community. I have always been a supporter of a study designed to delve deeper into the issue of self-governance or incorporation, and did not feel the one that was conducted met that need. I am also in support of a delegation coming to the Board on both these issues.
So I do understand your deep frustration and will work with Director Carson is any way I can to have the suspensions looked into. I’m not saying whether they are valid or not, just that we need more information. We have been told that this is strictly a Human Resources (HR) matter, but in my opinion to keep Director Carson out of the loop was wrong. As mayor of my community, something as big as this would absolutely have been shared with me, prior to it occurring, with a full explanation. After all, we are the elected officials, elected by the people of our communities to represent them.
I don’t know what more I can add at this point. If the RDCO Chair or CAO decide to take this to In-Camera we will be restricted from even discussing it.
Best regards, Director Cindy Fortin
Related Media – CASTANET
