Since someone decided a long time ago that the world needed a 24/7 news cycle, I apologize up front to the scroll-and-click crowd for bringing you some old news from September and updating it with what happened in December.
I know, what the heck is wrong with me, right?
But I’m guessing some of you might be interested in the topic.
Especially, if you’re the complaining type.
Anyway, here we go…
Back in September, NPA mayoral candidate Kirk LaPointe — remember him? — announced during the civic election campaign that he would create an independent “office of the ombudsperson” if his party won a majority in November.
And I quote: “It will be a new independent mechanism to impartially ensure city government follows procedures. It will investigate public complaints, it will report its findings and it’s going to influence change at city hall.”
Interesting, right?
Well, as city hall watchers know, LaPointe couldn’t knock off Gregor Robertson and Vision retained its majority at city hall. One of Vision’s re-elected councillors was Andrea Reimer, whom I quoted in my story back in September.
She pointed out that B.C.’s Office of the Ombudsman already exists and has jurisdiction over local governments. She said LaPointe hadn’t done his homework. And she deflected his accusations that Vision had the most secretive administration in the city’s history.
So I was kind of surprised when I reviewed the minutes of a Dec. 16, 2014 council meeting at which NPA Coun. George Affleck moved a motion to establish an independent office of the ombudsperson.
The surprise was in the fact that council unanimously approved an amended motion to have city staff report back to council on setting up such an office — and a lobbyist registry “to resolve resident disputes with the city and continue to increase transparency respectively.”
I should note, though, that Reimer made sure staff’s work will include investigating whether opportunities exist to provide a municipal ombudsperson and lobbyist registry through “existing provincial institutions, so as to reduce costs to taxpayers and provide greater independence.”
That’s kind of what she was getting at back in September.
Anyway, I wanted to hear more from Reimer, so I called her up and got her voicemail. I also emailed her and received an automatic reply that said she was with her family until Jan. 14 and didn’t have access to email, texts, phone, social media or other forms of mobile or online communication.
Sounds like she’s in heaven.
Hope to hear from her soon.
* * * * *
For the scroll-and-click crowd, some breaking news (at least it was when I posted it online Wednesday): Longtime city engineer Peter Judd is retiring in April. City manager Penny Ballem sent out a memo to staff this week, saying “he has been a tremendous support to me and all his colleagues. I will miss his sage advice, his sense of humour, his creative thinking and his strong commitment to our city initiatives whether they be the Greenest City, addressing homelessness, getting the best value for our taxpayers, mentoring immigrants trying to become qualified to work in Canada, or helping council understand the landfill operation.”
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