Nanaimo council will push a proposal for a three-year municipal term to the upcoming Union of B.C. Municipalities conference, but several politicians have their own ideas for improvements.
Coun. Diane Brennan pitched a resolution at a council meeting Monday requesting the province go back to three-year municipal terms. It’s an issue that could be debated by B.C. politicians when they gather for the UBCM convention later this month.
In 2013, delegates at the UBCM supported holding elections every four years and government extended the term in time for the next election.
Brennan previously told the News Bulletin she thinks some people will hesitate if they are asked to put in eight years, or a second term, and the experience levels of councils across the province will be downgraded. She also said, Monday, that four years is a long time that can seem endless and it’s a long time to wait to change direction.
Councillors supported the discussion moving to a larger table, but had their own ideas for changes that could be made within local government.
Coun. Jim Kipp said he’d prefer to see some accountability, that council must have a strategic plan drawn up within six months, start to deliver it and in two years there’d be a form of questionnaire or referendum to see how the strategic plan is moving forward and how the budget is being delivered.
Coun. Jerry Hong questioned if there shouldn’t be an increase in terms to five, six or seven years if more experienced officials are wanted and said he was confused about the wording and gist of the motion.
“If its just to get rid of crappy councillors and you don’t want them for four years, so people can say let’s turn them over … well, let’s just call it that because this doesn’t make any sense to me,” said Hong, who expressed interest in having a cap on the consecutive terms someone can serve.
Coun. Gord Fuller would rather see issues of recall for city councillors go to the provincial government and issue of changes to the charter for penalties against breaches of duties as a councillor or mayor.
“I would much rather see more meat put on that than on terms,” he said, adding four years gives a person consistency and will encourage far more people, and far more people of lower income means to run.
“If they got elected and they could bring their views to the community, they would at least have four years of surety on being paid a decent wage for what is, yes, a part-time job,” he said.
The UBCM runs Sept. 25-29 in Vancouver.
