File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

City Hall

‘You may have to get a court order’; Kamloops mayor refuses office move to City Hall basement

Oct 8, 2024 | 3:20 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson says he does not intend to obey a council vote that would see his office move from the main floor of City Hall, adjacent to council chambers, to the building’s basement.

Last week, Deputy Mayor Mike O’Reilly revealed the move, saying it was made in the interest of staff safety. O’Reilly noted there are four outstanding Worksafe BC investigations against by the mayor, initiated by complaints from city staff.

During his mayor’s report within Tuesday’s (Oct. 8) regular council meeting, Hamer-Jackson asked what it would take to force him to move.

“If I decide I don’t want to leave my office, is there going to be a court order for me to leave the office?” the mayor asked.

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“I certainly would hope that that wouldn’t be the case,” responded Acting CAO Byron McCorkell. “Basically, the action that council has taken with regards to staff safety and confidence so one would hope you would abide by the direction of council. I’ll be abiding by the direction of council to do whatever we require to do to make the move happen.”

“At this point, there is an RCMP file on the ongoing… things going on at city hall, so at this point I will not be moving,” said Hamer-Jackson, “so you may have to, I guess, get a court order.”

CFJC Today inquired with Kamloops RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Crystal Evelyn, who was checking into whether there are any open investigations regarding goings on within city hall.