Login / RegisterGeoff Meggs drops code of conduct complaint against Adriane Carr
Vision Vancouver councillor Geoff Meggs has dropped a complaint against Green councillor Adriane Carr about her public criticism of the city manager last week.
Meggs said he believes some of Carr’s comments went against Vancouver’s code of conduct, and he wanted to ensure the councillor agreed.
“Since we agree, there’s no dispute,” he told the Straight by phone following a meeting with Carr and Mayor Gregor Robertson today (February 21).
“I wanted to clarify that. So it’s clear, and I can withdraw the complaint. It doesn’t have to go further.”
The complaint arose after Carr accused city manager Penny Ballem of overstepping her authority by informing the councillor a motion she submitted would not be included on the council agenda.
The motion called for information on any potential impacts to the city’s budget stemming from the park board’s controversial plan to change its operating agreement with community centres.
Carr later apologized for her comments about Ballem, after Robertson suggested they went against city council’s code of conduct.
The Green councillor told the Straight she had a good discussion with Robertson and Meggs today and agreed on “a number of things”.
“Number one that some of the words that I used did breach the code of conduct, and that I have already apologized for that, so councillor Meggs is dropping his complaint...and that we all agree in moving forward that we would look at and try and seek much greater clarity around the process whereby motions reach the council agenda,” she said in a phone interview.
Carr added she still disagrees with the process that was undertaken by the city manager, and wants to avoid a similar situation in the future.
“I haven’t wavered in that,” she said.
Robertson said in a statement that he, Carr and Meggs had a constructive meeting and now consider the issue resolved.
“Councillor Carr acknowledged that some of her comments were outside the Code of Conduct, and Councillor Meggs has agreed to withdraw his complaint,” he said. “We collectively agreed that I will take next steps with Council and city staff to clarify the process by which the Council agenda is produced.”
