‘You’re not going to get anything done’: Former councillor feels Hamer-Jackson appointees won’t mesh with council group

KAMLOOPS — Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson opposed every single motion on Tuesday (Mar. 21) over Zoom related to the standing committees — all 8-1 decisions.

Tuesday’s special council meeting, which suspended the standing committees until a new term of reference can be established, is just the latest in a litany of drama between the mayor and the rest of council.

It’s been six months of in-fighting since they were sworn in Nov. 1.

“It’s huge. It’s something I know the council of the day here is really frustrated with — the chaotic behavior,” Deputy Mayor Kelly Hall told the media. “At the end of the day, we want to do well for the people of Kamloops. We want to provide good leadership, good governance.”

There has been everything from Hamer-Jackson’s recusal over ASK Wellness, then drama over deputy mayor assignments, and standing committee changes with his own people — all of which councillors say have come with untruths and belittling.

“He’s applauding us for the work we’re doing on committees today, but two days ago he replaced the chairs because we were inefficient and not doing a good job,” said Hall. “So what is it? And it seems to happen every day.”

Councillors say they have tried to invite Hamer-Jackson into the process, but he sometimes is more into his own agenda.

He didn’t attend in person on Tuesday, explaining to CFJC Today he was on a “fact-finding mission” on Vancouver Island related to social housing projects with fellow mayors there.

“There’s a lot more to our city, which is a $200 million business, and we need to get to it,” Sarai told Hamer-Jackson over Zoom on Tuesday. “We’ve had more special meetings in this term than I had in the four years previous, dealing with actions of yourself that don’t include the councillors that were elected beside you.”

Hamer-Jackson is under fire from council over his appointments on the five standing committees. He’s added nine of his supporters, including a campaign team member, failed council candidates and financial contributors to his campaign.

“He chooses the very people who have supported him on everything, thinking that’s going to make a difference,” noted former councillor and mayoral candidate Dieter Dudy, speaking to CFJC Today. “Well it’s not because you are still on the standing committees, you still needed that 50 per cent council presence, so if you have acrimony between council and mayor, you’re not going to get anything done.”

Hall added, “If you’ve got your friends who don’t really have an understanding or weren’t vetted or didn’t go through a process, I just don’t think that’s fair.”

Dudy is saddened to see what’s happening at city hall right now.

“Unfortunately, our mayor currently is acting as if this is a one-man show, and it’s not. There’s a complete unit here that needs to be allowed to express what they want to see happen within Kamloops, and actually do the business of the day rather than having all this bickering and fighting,” he told CFJC Today.

Dudy and the current council feel Hamer-Jackson needs to come to the table and compromise on some of his ideas. If not, councillors are still willing to get the job done without him.

“I think we can [overcome this drama]. I think you’ve got a very a diverse and dynamic council that is very strong in what we want to try and accomplish for the City of Kamloops,” said Hall. “And we won’t let this interfere with our ambitions in doing what’s right for the City of Kamloops.”

Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson was not available for an interview on Wednesday, but told CFJC Today on Tuesday he feels suspending the standing committees will slow down city business.