Reid Hamer-Jackson was excluded from a second closed meeting of council on Wednesday afternoon (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

RHJ EXCLUDED

‘I’m not going to sit on my hands’; Kamloops mayor excluded from second closed meeting this week

Dec 8, 2022 | 5:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — For the second time in less than a week, Kamloops Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson has been excluded from a closed meeting of council.

City council held a special meeting with just one item on the agenda, a motion to approve a closed meeting directly following the open meeting. That motion was approved by a 7-1 vote, Hamer-Jackson was alone in opposition (Mike O’Reilly was not present).

Prior to the motion being approved, the mayor had a list of questions for CAO David Trawin.

“Who initiated the request for the legal opinion — members of city council or staff?” Hamer-Jackson asked of Trawin.

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“I received some correspondence from an outside party, which potentially put the city, in my opinion, at a potential legal risk. I forwarded that on to our solicitor for comment. Our solicitor got back to me and, based on that opinion, I requested that council authorize a legal meeting.” responded Trawin.

The mayor continued to press city staff on conflicts on interest.

“I can tell you it was potentially more than a conflict of interest,” stated Trawin.

The city’s solicitor, Denise McCabe, explained further why the meeting would need to exclude the mayor from the meeting.

“The reason for closure of this special meeting and the recusal of yourself is less to do with conflict of interest and more to do with the fact that the city is receiving solicitor-client privileged information that you may be personally be adverse in interest,” said McCabe.

That means that Hamer-Jackson’s legal interests are likely in opposition to that of the city.

After leaving the chambers, Hamer-Jackson spoke with media, stating he feels that the letter referenced by Trawin came from ASK Wellness.

“I was elected on the safe and secure Kamloops, I was elected on accountability,” said Hamer-Jackson. “And that is what my goal is going to be. And I can’t do that if at the my first meeting ever I’m not even allowed to say somebody’s name who’s allowed to bring a delegation in front of me,” said Hamer-Jackson.

The mayor is referring to the CEO of ASK Wellness Bob Hughes, who presented at the council meeting on November 15.

A legal battle of letters has gone back and forth between the lawyers for ASK and Hamer-Jackson, but at the end of the day, the mayor says he is willing to work with ASK if he gets a retraction.

“That individual walks into here with a legal document saying, ‘I am retracting,’ I will shake the guy’s hand and say, ‘Let’s get on with it,'” said Hamer-Jackson. “I think it would be an injustice to the citizens of Kamloops if I go into council meeting and keep having to recuse myself.”

CFJC News has been informed that further details into the closed meetings could be made public on Friday (Dec. 9).