Image credit: Mel Rothenburger

By Mel Rothenburger

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: Outcome of suspension should have been easy to predict

Mar 28, 2024 | 5:55 AM

THE LATEST BIT of turmoil at City Hall was always bound to end badly.

When Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson suspended acting CAO Byron McCorkell on Tuesday, it kick-started a chain of events that has become all too common.

Somebody leaks it to the media and by yesterday the whole world knows about it, though not the details. Councillors ask for a special closed council meeting. The mayor says he’s busy with family travel until Monday, but he can do it then.

Councillors issue a news release backing McCorkell and call a meeting for this afternoon.

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According to the B.C. Community Charter, the mayor was within his rights to suspend McCorkell without consulting council first.

Let’s face it — City Hall isn’t great at keeping secrets. Imagine if the mayor’s intentions had gotten out before he’d had a chance to tell McCorkell.

And, of course he hasn’t elaborated on his reasons for the move; it is, after all, a personnel matter.

His only Charter obligation was to bring it before council for ratification or reversal at council’s next meeting, when he could explain his thinking.

He contends council can’t rightfully make any binding decisions on the issue without him, and that several councillors should recuse themselves because they have family members who work for the City and are, therefore, ultimately responsible to McCorkell.

Deputy Mayor Mike O’Reilly fends off the notion that issuing a press release backing McCorkell before a special meeting was even confirmed taints the process. He has kept an open mind, he says.

Despite the chaos, corporate officer Maria Mazzotta is confident the process is going according to Hoyle.

Foreseeing the outcome didn’t require a crystal ball. Hamer-Jackson’s hope that councillors would suddenly see things his way was overly optimistic to say the least.

And one wonders what kind of working relationship he’ll have with administration now.

So what’s changed in the last couple of days? Nothing for the better, that’s for sure.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.