By Andru McCracken
The Rocky Mountain Goat Newspaper has learned that Mayor Gene Runtz is being censured by council.
For what, we don’t know.
McBride council and administration had no comment for the newspaper.
However we have learned a decision to remove Runtz from his role as the alternate to the Regional District of Fraser Fort George was a form of censure.
Reasons for censure may be related to closed meeting topics, according to a former chief administrative officer in the valley, who spoke in general terms on the topic.
Anne Yanciw has dealt with censure in other communities and she says censure is designed to be a public process.
“It’s a public shaming, but not in so many words.”
Elected officials can have sanctions imposed like being removed from committees and removing their travel budget.
It’s not uncommon when council feels a member’s conduct has been subpar.
Recently, a Port Coquitlam council removed a councillor’s access to confidential material. According to the TriCity News councillor Laura Dupont was investigated by an independent investigator and was said to have breached the Community Charter by disclosing materials from an in-camera meeting.
Council unanimously agreed that Dupont’s breach was unbecoming and that her actions merit her censure and removal as the city’s representative on all external boards and committees.
