Seven of Nanaimo’s eight city councillors have released a statement explaining in more detail why they have called for the resignation of Mayor Bill McKay.
In a letter sent to the Times Colonist, councillors Jim Kipp, Bill Bestwick, Jerry Hong, Wendy Pratt, Ian Thorpe, Bill Yoachim and Gord Fuller said McKay’s attendance record and treatment of the city’s chief administrative officer, Tracy Samra, have forced their hand.
Only Coun. Diane Brennan did not sign the letter. Brennan was also the only councillor not to sign a letter, handed to the mayor last week, that expressed a lack of confidence in his leadership.
“The majority of council is co-operating and working effectively on constructive solutions for the betterment of all of Nanaimo,” the group wrote in a joint statement.
“There are seven councillors who are enjoying working together and it is most unfortunate that the mayor has chosen to follow his own agenda, which undermines council as a whole.”
McKay, who has said he will not resign, did not respond Thursday to requests for an interview.
In the statement, the councillors note McKay has attended just 18 of 29 meetings over the past three months, has not responded to questions from council or Samra over a three-month period, has made repeated attempts to remove Samra from her position as interim CAO, and undermined council by failing to carry forward the wishes of the majority of council on a number of key issues.
In interviews this week, councillors bemoaned a shutdown in communication with the mayor’s office, and suggested McKay has bullied Samra.
During a committee of the whole meeting on Monday, residents suggested an investigation into the allegations of bullying be launched.
While McKay told council he would welcome an investigation, Samra said it’s not necessary.
“I see no need for any other type of investigation. … We have everything we need in front of us to do our work,” she said.
She also noted that despite the sniping, she felt it was a great time for Nanaimo council, “a time for change” and that she felt the “overwhelming support of the council.”
Pratt maintained the council is still heading in the right direction.
“Whether the mayor chooses to be a part of that or not is up to him,” she said. “Ideally, we want him actively involved in the work of council moving forward. The longer this impasse goes on, the less hopeful we are.”
