Metro Vancouver chairman Lois Jackson won’t be asked to explained to Township council why, over the objections of council, she appointed Mayor Rick Green to the region’s standing committees.
A motion asking Jackson to explain in person why she ignored a resolution of council was defeated in a majority vote on Monday, Jan. 24.
Councillor Charlie Fox’s motion that Jackson “clarify her decision not to heed council’s motion” and install the councillors according to a resolution was defeated.
“I’m in a quandary as to whether there is any value in asking the chair to meet with us,” Councillor Steve Ferguson said.
He added that he would be surprised if Jackson would agree to a November, 2010 resolution naming council members to half a dozen Metro Vancouver committees. Council kept Green’s name off the list of preferred appointments.
On Dec. 10, Green wrote to Jackson asking to retain his seat on those same committees. Jackson agreed.
His letter was written without council’s knowledge. Green told The Times that before he wrote to Jackson, she had asked him about possible appointments. A letter she sent to him on Jan. 20 confirms that assertion.
“I did speak to you to see if you were still willing and able to contribute time to committee work in the coming year,” Jackson’s letter states. “Your answer was yes, you would be pleased to serve if appointed.
“Most of the committee members, including yourself, Mayor Green, have served the region in an exemplary fashion for the past two years. As chair, I feel your experience and knowledge should not be lost or wasted, but instead be expanded, as we conclude much of our work plans in this, the last year of our three-year mandate.”
Fox said that Jackson “did not have all the information she needed” when she ignored the council resolution and reinstated Green to the committees.
Councillor Kim Richter agreed. “I’d like her to come and talk to us in open meeting (and explain) why she did what she did.”
Last autumn, council stripped Green of his Metro Vancouver directorship after he admitted misleading council over another matter.
Jackson is the long-time mayor of Delta. Green served one term on Delta council before moving to Langley more than a decade ago.