New advisor appointed to help with dysfunction at Kamloops city hall

The province hired a new advisor to help with the "dysfunction and discord" at Kamloops city council earlier this month.

Former Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun is expected to remain in the role until June, according to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs.

He's the second person to be appointed to the job. City council asked the ministry for help mediating its "dysfunction and discord," Coun. Margot Middleton said last fall.

Peter Fassbender, the former mayor of Langley and former MLA, was previously appointed to the role with a report expected by April. The ministry simply said it was going in a "different direction" when he was ousted in December.

Braun's report at the end of his contract will likely include recommendations aimed at helping council work together, but it won't be enforceable. 

Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson said he hasn't been told why Fassbender was fired, but he said he's not concerned. Instead, he's looking forward to working with Braun.

"It's not going to cost (city) taxpayers money, not like the other code of conduct investigations," he said. "So I think it's great."

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