ABC Vancouver commissioner Jaspreet Virdi says board meals an instance of wasted taxpayer {dollars}
Article content material
A deep and contemporary fracture inside the Vancouver park board was clear on Monday evening as commissioners gathered for the primary time since Mayor Ken Sim revealed his intention to cast off the board — resulting in a breakdown inside his personal social gathering.
As new board chair Brennan Bastyovanszky thanked outgoing chair Scott Jensen at first of the assembly, he went on to notice that Sim’s announcement final week was made with out public or political session.
Commercial 2
Article content material
Article content material
This drew a right away rebuke from ABC Vancouver commissioner Jaspreet Virdi, asking whether or not Bastyovanszky’s feedback had been “an announcement or a speech.”
Virdi later challenged feedback Bastyovanszky made in regards to the Memorial South Park pond earlier within the yr, because the board debated employees’s Water Precedence Motion Plan 2024.
Lower than every week in the past the 2 males had been members of ABC Vancouver, which in October 2022 secured six of the seven seats on the park board — with the remaining seat going to Vancouver Inexperienced social gathering commissioner Tom Digby.
Sim had threatened to cast off the Vancouver park board earlier than final yr’s election, claiming it might be operated extra effectively beneath the rule of metropolis council.
As a substitute, he ran a group that in the end seized complete management of the park board — till final week, when three of these ABC commissioners refused to abide by Sim’s rule and are actually sitting as independents. They’re Bastyovanszky, Laura Christensen and Scott Jensen.
The remaining ABC Vancouver commissioners are Virdi, Marie-Claire Howard and Angela Haer, with the steadiness of energy now in Digby’s palms.
Dawn
Article content material
Commercial 3
Article content material
Firstly of Monday’s assembly, Digby requested that sure guidelines be suspended which might enable him to place ahead an emergency movement referring to Sim’s latest announcement. The vote went 4 to 3, which was not sufficient to safe a two-third majority wanted on this explicit case.
In consequence it was voted down, main to at least one loud boo from the packed public gallery, which included former three-time commissioner John Coupar, former longtime metropolis councillor Melissa De Genova and a number of former commissioners.
Digby tried once more to get his emergency movement handed later within the assembly that additionally failed. He was later vital of a movement put ahead by Haer to create a seaside chair and umbrella rental service.
At that time Virdi mentioned that if council was in management they might have the ability to shortly decide on a seaside rental service. That movement failed.
Nevertheless, on the finish of the assembly, Bastyovanszky was permitted to submit an pressing movement asking commissioners to “save to park board”. This drew a hefty spherical of applause.
Jensen mentioned that he has had no contact with Sim in no less than six months. Jensen and Virdi then had a loud squabble over Sim’s determination.
Commercial 4
Article content material
Virdi mentioned that he felt sick as a result of whereas motions had been handed at parks board, nothing was carried out at council stage.
Virdi mentioned the board was redundant and a waste of cash – together with the meals that had been served to commissioners.
Bastyovanszky’s movement was handed 4 to 3.
The assembly was adjourned at 10 p.m., at which level two former parks board commissioners and a member of the general public accosted Virdi and criticized his statements. This interplay lasted for eight minutes after which Virdi mentioned “it’s a troublesome place to be proper now.”
The Metropolis of Vancouver will want permission from the provincial authorities to amend the Vancouver Constitution to permit the disbandment of the park board. The province might additionally ask for a referendum.
Bookmark our web site and assist our journalism: Don’t miss the information it’s essential to know — add VancouverSun.com and TheProvince.com to your bookmarks and join our newsletters right here.
You too can assist our journalism by turning into a digital subscriber: For simply $14 a month, you will get limitless entry to The Vancouver Solar, The Province, Nationwide Publish and 13 different Canadian information websites. Help us by subscribing in the present day: The Vancouver Solar | The Province.
Article content material