PETERS: Mayor’s no good, very bad week could have been avoided

The decision numbers 153 paragraphs over 43 pages and went entirely in Neustaeter’s favour.

It was more one-sided than the Blazers’ 11-1 win over Victoria Tuesday night. In that game, at least the Royals avoided being completely shut out.

The court must now decide whether Hamer-Jackson will reimburse the taxpayers for the tens of thousands of dollars they shelled out to defend Neustaeter, whom the judge said did nothing wrong.

As this week began, the mayor was under the weather but recovered enough to participate virtually in Tuesday’s council meeting, where he had two motions up for debate.

The first, attempting to end the practice of catered meals for councillors and staff during mealtime meetings, did not get seconded so it wasn’t even brought forward for discussion.

The second, which would have prohibited the city from hiring family members of councillors going forward, was roundly derided before it was voted down in another lopsided result.

Councillors stated such a policy would discriminate against qualified applicants on the basis of their relatives.

Piling insult atop injury was the finding of the most recent code of conduct investigation into a complaint filed by the mayor against Councillor Dale Bass.

Right here on CFJC Today, the councillor had pointed out characteristics of the mayor’s conduct in an interview. Hamer-Jackson thought those comments were out of line and asked for an investigation.

But ostensibly because he doesn’t like the investigator, who has repeatedly ruled against him in the past, the mayor didn’t participate in the investigation.

It’s no surprise then, that it didn’t go his way.

Had Hamer-Jackson heeded the many calls to drop his personal vendetta against Neustaeter, had he sought and received input from city staff on his motions and had he participated in the code of conduct investigation, he would have given himself a chance for some wins this week — or at least the chance to avoid the losses.

Instead, it was a week that put both the mayor – and Kamloops taxpayers – further in the hole.

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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.

by James Peters

PETERS: Mayor’s no good, very bad week could have been avoided

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