If Elvena Slump ran for council this would be her platform

PENTICTON – Elvena Slump made headlines last week after she received a legal threat from the city for emails she sent to city council and senior staff members about the roles of senior staff in city government.

Slump is no stranger to municipal politics, running for a seat on city council herself in 2008. Even though she didn’t win, she continues to diligently follow what goes on at City Hall.

Since then, Slump, 76, has released a statement outlining what she wants to see from electoral candidates during the upcoming municipal campaign.

She wants to see more transparency at City Hall, for example, by holding more City of the Whole meetings rather than in camera meetings that are private to council and senior staff.

Removing the “One Employee Policy” that requires councillors to go through the mayor and city manager if they want to talk to senior staff, would also help increase transparency and improve communication at City Hall — the lack of which has started lawsuits, including the potential civil case between Slump and the city, Slump said.

City Hall needs more insight and overview from tax payers, which could be accomplished by launching a new board of Economic Development, she said.

She also suggested creating “a Fee for Service structure for city services used by residents of the (Regional District) and those residing on (Penticton Indian Band) lands.”

She said services such as recreation should be cost shared among all users and not subsidized by the tax payers of Penticton.

There are a handful of people who have announced they will be running for city council in the November 15 election, including Andre Martin, David Korinetz, and current councillor John Vassilaki, who will run for the mayoral bid. Despite the number of people who have come forward, official platforms have not yet been announced.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Meaghan Archer at marcher@infotelnews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.