Mayor’s report so lengthy to “prove a point”

HAMER-JACKSON SAID HE DOESN’T POST ABOUT HIS ACTIVITIES ON SOCIAL MEDIA

MICHAEL POTESTIO STAFF REPORTER michael@kamloopsthisweek.com

Coun. Kelly Hall believes an unusually long mayor’s report from Mayor Reid HamerJackson during the June 27 council meeting was a deliberate attempt to hit back at council for recent criticism.

During that meeting, HamerJackson spent 18 minutes reading out his report, detailing activities he had engaged in — some of which dated back to March and April. Mayor and councillor reports typically last just a few minutes and describe what the elected official has been engaged with since the last meeting, which usually covers a two-week span.

After detailing about 10 topics, Hamer-Jackson said, “You guys wanted me to let you know what I’m doing,”

After 17 topics, the mayor

Last year, the Cit y of Kamloops used its por tion of provincial gambling revenue for hosting Cascades Casino and Chances Kamloops to help improve communit y facilities like the Hillside Stadium running track said, “Anybody getting bored yet?”

After listing 22 activities, Hamer-Jackson told council, “Almost done” and proceeded to list 13 more topics.

Hamer-Jackson told reporters following the meeting his lengthy report was made to prove a point.

“To prove a point that I’m busy and I do stuff,” HamerJackson said. “When I work through the day, I can’t tell them everything I’m doing all day long. There aren’t enough hours in the day.”

Hamer-Jackson said he is not on social media and therefore does not post about the events he attends, noting councillors may not realize he is attending many events.

“There’s a lot of pictures and stuff that they take of themselves. I don’t do that,” Hamer-Jackson said. “I’m at a lot of events you might not think I am.”

Hall and other members of council have been critical of the mayor for not being forthcoming in providing information to them of activities and meetings in which he has been engaged. They have also been critical of his lack of attendance at some public events.

The mayor’s attendance at public events was also raised during the June 27 meeting, when a member of the public addressed council, expressing his disappointment councillors had not attended a public forum on community safety and social disorder on the night of June 21.

The mayor attended the forum, while the rest of council did not, having attended the National Indigenous Peoples Day event at the Tk’emlúps Powwow Arbour.

Hamer-Jackson noted he managed to attend both events, having attended the arbour for about an hour and speaking with Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Chief Rosanne Casimir before leaving for the forum.

Coun. Bill Sarai responded that at the time the mayor left to attend the forum, city representatives were required on stage during the Indigenous Day event and three councillors had to step in his place. Sarai described the mayor’s actions as being disrespectful to Tk’emlúps.

“I’m not a stage guy,” HamerJackson said in response. “I’m not a performing guy.”

Councillors have raised issues with the mayor’s attendance at public events previously in the term and Coun. Dale Bass told KTW the rest of council came to the conclusion the mayor is not comfortable speaking in public — a conclusion Hamer-Jackson has rejected.