Kamloops council friction surfaces again; Hamer-Jackson walks out as closed meeting is about to begin

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson decided against attending a closed meeting of council Thursday morning (April 6), an act of protest against the meeting’s apparent purpose.

Council met at City Hall Thursday for a special public meeting with only one agenda item — to move into a closed session to discuss matters subject to solicitor-client privilege.

When council voted on acceptance of the agenda, Hamer-Jackson opposed, reasoning that the subject matter had more to do with a personal matter than one relating to council business.

“I feel this is more of a personal issue, not a city issue,” said Hamer-Jackson. “I don’t feel that the taxpayers should be paying for personal issues.”

As Hamer-Jackson explained his objection, both Councillor Mike O’Reilly and Acting Corporate Officer Amanda Passmore interjected in an attempt to prevent him from breaking confidence.

“What is in front of us is to move into closed and anything that is in closed is held in confidence and can’t be discussed — any component of what the meeting’s about,” said O’Reilly.

Hamer-Jackson continued his objection to the closed meeting, stating his belief that the meeting was called to discuss public accusations made against him in a March 17 news conference. The news conference was called in response to Hamer-Jackson’s controversial appointments of members of the public to council’s standing committees. With the seven other councillors behind her, Councillor Katie Neustaeter read a statement describing a fraught working relationship between the councillors and Hamer-Jackson, including “repeated disrespect, violation of personal and professional boundaries, belittling and constantly disruptive behaviour by the mayor.”

“In a press conference, open to everyone, there were allegations against me of crossing personal and professional boundaries,” said Hamer-Jackson Thursday. “I would like to ask Councillor Neustaeter what those are.”

“Mr. Mayor, we have not made the reason for the move into closed public,” Passmore interjected as Hamer-Jackson spoke. “The reason for the move into closed is under Section 91(i) (of the Community Charter), the receipt of advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose. No other information has been released to the public about the purpose of the closed meeting.”

Hamer-Jackson then moved to add a public inquiries section to the agenda, but his motion did not receive a seconder.

Finally, Hamer-Jackson stated he would recuse himself from the closed meeting due to his objection.

Passmore told him there was no conflict of interest, so he was not required to recuse himself, but he was free to leave the meeting if he wished to.

Hamer-Jackson then departed council chambers, with Deputy Mayor Margot Middleton taking the chair as the motion to move into the closed meeting passed.

On Wednesday, CFJC Today published a letter written by Hamer-Jackson’s lawyer David McMillan calling on councillors who made allegations against Hamer-Jackson to detail them publicly or resign.