Relatives of Langford city councillors and city employees will be allowed to sit on city committees despite worries from some councillors that the decision could create an echo chamber.
Langford councillors have adopted a policy that spells out the circumstances where immediate relatives can be appointed to council committees.
Mayor Stew Young said the policy allows all citizens, including staff and councillors’ relatives, the opportunity to give back to their community.
But the decision has caused a bit of a rift on a council usually so in lockstep it draws joking comparisons to politburo sessions.
Coun. Lillian Szpak voted against the policy, calling it a matter of principle and ethics. She’s worried it threatens the integrity of Langford’s unique committee system. Unlike most other municipalities, Langford populates its committees with mostly volunteers rather than elected officials, the theory being that the citizens reflect community views.
“The whole point of having the non-elected [committee members] is so you can access those voices from beyond the elected voices so we can listen to the community,” Szpak said. “I don’t want … a sense that we can fill seats with family members. Theoretically, you could have family members on every single committee, and I don’t think that’s right.”
Spzak said Langford’s pattern of unanimous votes is due in part to the committee system providing the opportunity to work through issues beforehand. “It’s not that we’re lockstep. It’s because through our processes, we have plenty of opportunity through committee to examine something and iron it out if we have issues with it.”
Coun. Denise Blackwell was the other councillor who voted against the policy. She said positions don’t come vacant often.
“In my opinion, we’re better to go out to the community. I have a daughter who is very bright and talented who could well sit on committees. But I would never contemplate putting her there, because I think it’s a conflict,” Blackwell said. “It’s easy just to look around and pick friends and family and what have you.”
Young said a staff report was requested after the adult daughter of Coun. Lanny Seaton was suggested for a committee post.
The mayor said he saw nothing wrong with the idea, but others raised questions. Young said staff couldn’t find another B.C. municipality that had a policy on relatives serving as municipal volunteers.
“I wanted to get the message out that we appreciate the volunteers. I don’t want to be seen that because somebody is a politician, your kids or your relatives cannot serve on a committee or volunteer to help me with my Mayor’s Golf Tournament,” Young said.
“One person in 25 years, I don’t think it’s an issue.”
Szpak and Blackwell stressed that their opposition had nothing to do with the people involved and was all about the principle.
Under the policy, elected officials can’t have relatives join them on the same committee.
