File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Kamloops council

Kamloops mayor asks council to release confidential documents, move forward with working relationship

Sep 5, 2023 | 6:04 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson says he and the city’s eight councillors should move forward from the long list of scandals and controversies that has plagued them since they were sworn in last fall.

To that end, at Tuesday’s (Sept. 5) regular meeting, Hamer-Jackson urged council to make public a series of confidential documents stemming from their working relationship.

“I would suggest… for council to consider releasing the December letter that they gave to me. I would also ask (council) to release the full Integrity Group investigation, release (minutes from) closed council meetings due to false allegations and innuendos pertaining to myself and release (minutes from) closed council meetings due to personal matters about any councillors’ not-city business.”

Beginning in February, the Integrity Group investigated allegations of bullying and mistreatment of staff made against Hamer-Jackson by several employees.

In parallel to its work on city business since its October inauguration, Hamer-Jackson and council have dealt with a series of controversies and demonstrations of friction.

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After making his plea, Corporate Officer Maria Mazzotta told Hamer-Jackson any council decision to release confidential documents to the public must be made in a closed meeting.

Council held a closed meeting Tuesday and has another planned for next Tuesday (Sept. 12) to deal with land matters and government negotiations.