Kamloops mayor has pay cut, barred from closed committee meetings

Kamloops City Council is busy “imposing additional measures to further accountability” this week.

On Wednesday, city council issued a statement saying the mayor’s wage was being cut by 10% for his failure to comply with a motion made in February.

On Feb. 6, city councillors directed that mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson sign and deliver an apology letter within 30 days. The apology was in regard to a reported code of conduct breach in 2023.

The statement said the mayor’s wage will be cut by 10% for six months or until he signs the letter of apology.

The decision was made during a closed meeting on June 11.

According to the statement, the complaint was submitted by coun. Katie Neustaeter in regards to public comments made by the mayor that were misleading.

A third party investigator found the mayor breached his obligation under the Code of Conduct.

The statement also says the investigator recommended “appropriate censures” such as a public apology and training on the Code of Conduct.

Now, on Thursday, city council has announced that the mayor will be restricted from attending the closed portions of any select committee meetings other than by invitation.

The latest resolution that has been made public was made during a closed meeting on May 28.

“Continued and repeated privacy breaches pose potential legal and reputational risks for the City,” says council in a media statement issued Thursday afternoon.

“In consideration of the findings outlined by Provincial Advisor Henry Braun at the May 7, 2024, Committee of the Whole meeting, City Council has resolved to take further action to protect the privacy and confidentiality of the municipal corporation, our partners, and our staff.”

Kamloops City Council has been embroiled in disorder and chaos for months now.

Shortly after the Braun report was published, in which the municipal advisor said “the current council governance situation in the City of Kamloops is not normal,” the mayor responded.

However, during the May 14 meeting, several councillors walked out of the room while Hamer-Jackson read a statement aloud.

Kamloops council then agreed to remove the mayor as spokesperson for the city in late May.