Kamloops mayor wants council to decide on his pay cuts publicly

Kamloops city council will again vote in a closed-door meeting whether to continue holding back the mayor’s salary, but the mayor wants it to be done publicly.

Not only would that violate council’s norms since adopting a code of conduct, it’s not allowed under the city’s own bylaw and perhaps provincial law.

But Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson, who hasn’t received a full paycheque for nearly two years, is calling on his colleagues to let the public in, arguing there is “no meaningful privacy interest remaining” as his numerous sanctions have been continually reported.

“I am therefore prepared to waive any privacy concerns relating to my own interests in this matter and formally request that the citizens of Kamloops be permitted so see and hear the full discussion, reasoning, concerns, explanations and positions advanced by all parties regarding further restrictions against their elected mayor,” reads a letter he sent to council, dated May 21.

As the votes have always been done in closed meetings, it’s not clear whether council discussions on Hamer-Jackson’s ongoing sanctions include legal advice or privacy for other city employees, but both would require it to remain in-camera.

A mayor’s salary would be around $120,000 in Kamloops, but it’s been steadily reduced by more than half over last two years. Cash-strapped Hamer-Jackson has been paid less than $23,000 so far this year, according to his most recent pay stub which he partially provided to iNFOnews.ca.

In his letter, Hamer-Jackson argues he has taken courses prescribed by council while claiming his requests for evidence of his poor before haven’t been appeased.

While he has taken courses, specifically for privacy law and another for respecful conduct in the workplace, he hasn’t signed any of the apology letters council required. Meanwhile, code of conduct investigations have been made public, which he repeatedly refuses to take part in.

iNFOnews.ca reached out to the deputy mayor this month, Coun. Katie Neustaeter, and corporate officer Maria Mazzotta for comment on Hamer-Jackson’s request.