In-camera information spills out during a public forum
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Responding to criticism last fall that too much business goes on behind closed doors, West Kelowna council has come up with an official policy on reporting out information from in-camera meetings.
The policy follows B.C.’s Community Charter, which sets out legal terms for in-camera meetings and outlines what matters must and may be discussed behind closed doors.
Essentially any personnel, property or legal matters must be discussed behind closed doors.
Anything else involves some discretion, based essentially on whether council and staff feel there is a possibility that the information being discussed could harm the municipality if it is known publicly before being resolved.
Council has agreed that when it deems a matter is resolved to the point that it will no longer harm the municipality, council will rise and report on the information at a public meeting.
Council did just that with two items this week.
First, it announced it had developed a plan for the eventual transition of the Westbank and Lakeview Irrigation Districts to municipal operation. That must happen within the next 15 months.
Second, it gave notice it will opt out of an expensive regional district parkland acquisition program.
Council has had at least 10 in camera meetings so far this year. During last fall’s election campaigns, criticism arose during all candidates forums, revealing a public perception that council was being selective about which items it discussed in-camera and therefore meeting behind closed doors too often.
jluciw@kelownacapnews.com
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