City Hall Censorship?

A heated moment at City Hall has fueled a censorship debate among Penticton city councillors.

Strong words were being exchanged between Mayor Jack Kimberley and resident Robert Mayers when City Administrator Leo den Boer ordered the live video feed to be stopped.

Mayers is involved with a building permit dispute regarding some repairs he made to his building on Westminster Avenue back in 2003. The matter was taken all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada in 2004 and scheduled to be heard again at Wednesday morning's council meeting.

Kimberley says that Mayer was 'in contempt of court' for his actions and suggested that he had little respect for city council. At this point, the video feed was ordered off by den Boer.

When the recording resumed, Councilor Dan Ashton objected to the disruption of the feed.

“I think that if the cameras are going to be in there, they are either on or they are off, there is no in between. It's a public meeting and I have no problem with the cameras being on as long as they are on the whole time,” says Ashton.

He says he understands that den Boer is doing his best to protect all those involved, including the public and council but he feels it is unnecessary.

“It is a public venue and it shouldn't make a difference if someone is sitting there or not,” says Ashton.

Ashton's objection had support from Councilor John Vassilaki.

Kimberley says there is no need for a review of the city policy when it comes to recording council meetings.

“The fact that the cameras went off does not negate the fact that there was media in the room, it wasn't like we were trying to hide anything, it was all in the open and all duly reported. Councils concerns have been expressed, so we will leave them on,” says Kimberley.

Den Boer could not be reached for comment.

Council broadcasts its meetings on the Internet and has the recordings available to the public on its website.