By Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
History was made at Tuesday’s Town council meeting when water councillors were “excused” not long after the meeting began.
Councillors Rick Machial and Parminder Sidhu left council chambers immediately after Mayor Martin Johansen said water councillors were to be excused from the table (following the completion of water matters).
This is a new rule in the wake of a previous council decision to exclude water councillors from taking part in the rest of meeting after water issues have been discussed. The decision was based on a legal opinion (in a closed meeting) initiated by former mayor Ron Hovanes.
Machial and former water councillor Andre Miller raised a concern about not being invited to that closed meeting. Both have been water councillors for 28 years and were never excused from the table. They voted on water-related matters only.
(The Oliver Chronicle has submitted a Freedom of Information request to the Town to see the minutes of the closed meeting.)
Machial told the Chronicle on Thursday that it felt strange leaving the table early.
“To tell you the truth I am starting to think Andre was the lucky one not having to be treated like that.”
The councillor said he suspects the next four years is not going to be very fun on council, and he may bring up the issue again.
“It’s going to be hard to feel like part of a team,” said Machial. “Hopefully the new council will revisit the decision.”
Sidhu could not be reached for comment.
Read more: Water councillor miffed at council decision
Johansen said he doesn’t know the history behind the decision to seek the legal opinion.
“However, I’m confident the former mayor and council made a decision they felt was in the best interest of the Town.”
Johansen said his desire is to make sure the water councillors are acknowledged and respected as a valuable resource, and have every opportunity to provide input on all matters involving water. He noted their input is critical to the successful management of Oliver’s water resource.
Water matters at Tuesday’s meeting included a water quality summary report for October and the adoption of the Travel and Expense Bylaw.
In his report, Machial said it appears that Oliver residents are consuming a lot less water, which is a good thing. But he expressed his worry about having to “jack up” the rates if the revenue (from fees) starts dropping.
“We want water conservation, but we need to collect that revenue (too).”
In his report, Sidhu said he visited Sportsmen’s Bowl Road where new culverts were recently installed. He also spoke to a resident about flooding concerns in the wake of this spring’s major flood event and evacuation order.
Johansen asked the water councillors if Oliver has reached the “tipping point” for water capacity considering the establishment and irrigation of more wineries.
Machial said he’s not concerned, but acknowledged there are limitations, noting there isn’t a lot of excess capacity in the canal.
Director of Operations Shawn Goodsell agreed, saying they are limited to what they can add to the system until the Gallagher Lake siphon repair is completed.
But he pointed out that vineyards generally use less water than orchards.
