By Lyonel Doherty
Integrity, accountability, leadership, respect and openness – these are the principles that members of Oliver Town council must live by.
So says the new Code of Conduct policy endorsed by the Town recently.
Corporate Officer Diane Vaykovich outlined the policy before it was adopted. The policy regulates a wide range of conduct by elected and appointed officials, touching on issues including protecting confidential information, handling personal information, use of Town property, receiving gifts, conflict of interest, interactions with staff and use of social media. One section states that members must not make public statements attacking or disparaging Town staff.
Councillor Petra Veintimilla questioned the policy under the use of social media. One section states that members will refrain from using their social media account for purposes that include defamatory remarks, profane language, and statements that indicate a bias towards the subject of a public hearing.
The policy also says members must regularly monitor their social media accounts and immediately take measures to deal with messages by others that violate the code.
Veintimilla expressed a concern that this section is akin to “censoring us in our social lives.” She noted their social media activity doesn’t have anything to do with Town business.
Mayor Ron Hovanes said everyone has to be held accountable for what they say on social media.
Council amended this section by steering clear of personal social media accounts, replacing the wording to say “Town social media” account.
Veintimilla also questioned a section dealing with gifts. It states that council members cannot accept money, gifts or personal benefits connected to their duties of office.
She questioned the listing of pens that are classified as gifts. But the policy goes on to state that council members can accept gifts as an incident of protocol or social obligation.
Hovanes said he receives gifts from their sister city Bandai in Japan as part of protocol.
