By Lyonel Doherty
After years of saying no to proclamations, the Town of Oliver is having a change of heart by bringing them back.
On Monday, council barely approved a motion to rescind the old policy and bring forward a new one that would allow the Town to make proclamations on a case-by-case basis.
Mayor Martin Johansen and councillor Dave Mattes voted for it, while councillors Larry Schwartzenberger and Petra Veintimilla voted against. Committee of the Whole Chair Aimee Grice abstained from voting, which by law is recorded as in favour.
The topic was raised during a discussion on council policies, some of which raised eyebrows, such as the one about budget deliberations shall be performed in camera.
Mattes made a motion that council rescind the resolution or policy that prevents the Town from making any proclamations relating to events.
“It wasn’t so much that I thought they were good or bad. What this policy or resolution says is it takes this council’s choice away.”
Mattes said proclamation requests should come before council, and at that point members will decide whether to make the proclamation or not.
He said the controversy began years ago (in 1999) when council was asked to proclaim gay pride day. Council said no and the group threatened the Town with a lawsuit. As a result, council decided not to make any more proclamations.
Mattes pointed out that every other town in the Okanagan Valley makes proclamations.
But Schwartzenberger said he wanted information on the legal implications of making proclamations. He’s curious to know what other towns and cities do, and if you can get into legal trouble by approving one proclamation and not another.
Grice said she would like the Town to make the decision on a case-by-case basis, judging by the merits of each.
Johansen said he was surprised to come to Oliver and find out that it doesn’t make proclamations.
“Having worked in a municipality (Kelowna) for 20 years that did, it was a little surprising to me.”
