KELOWNA — Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) board members decided on Tuesday that one of their own, Patty Hanson, will be censured and sanctioned.
“Bridges have to be built and we do have to move forward, I think the board was clear to director Hanson about what’s appropriate and what’s not appropriate,” says Board Chair Gail Given.
The decision was made at a special hearing at the RDCO office in Kelowna.
Hanson was accused of breaching a confidentiality agreement. Details of board discussions at a strategic planning workshop were supposed to be kept private but Hanson reportedly revealed them to Okanagan Film Commissioner Jon Summerland.
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In a letter to the board, Summerland wrote, “Director Hanson warned me that no other councilor apart from herself saw value in continued funding of the Okanagan Film Commission. I was very concerned because this is my livelihood and I have given up a lot to do this job.”
However Given says Hanson had the wrong impression about the meeting.
“Two people had very different perspectives of the very same conversation, so you know, how we can all walk into a meeting and hear two different things depending on your particular emotion,” says Given.
With a vote of 8 to 3, directors decided that Hanson issue a public, written apology to the Okanagan Film Commission and Jon Summerland.
“If director Hanson does apologize, the board will have a clearer understanding of what her perspective is of the situation,” says Given.
“If the board has to make the apology that certainly sets a different path for the future. I think we have to be able to build bridges and build trust.”
Slightly more than half of the directors voted to remove Hanson from three committees for one year: the Economic Development Commission, the Okanagan Film Commission and the Southern Interior Beetle Action Coalition (SIBAC).
As for what Hanson will do next, she wasn’t talking to media and even her lawyer had little to say.
“I don’t have any specific comment in that regard and as for what she does next, I’m sure she will consider all of her options and make the best decision,” says Hanson’s lawyer Matt Blow.
Hanson has served on the board for 10 years and is currently in her fourth term.
Directors Cindy Fortin, Wayne Carson and Patty Hanson herself were the three who voted against the resolutions to censure Hanson and that she provide a public written apology.
The directors who voted against the third and final resolution that Hanson be removed from the three committees for one year were Luke Stack, James Baker, Wayne Carson, Cindy Fortin and Patty Hanson.
Eleven of the 12 directors voted at the special board meeting; Maxine Dehart was the only director who was not present.
~ With files from Blaine Gaffney
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