Mayor Ed Wood announced he has received an official letter from the Harrison Hot Springs Village Council of a vote of no confidence, signed by all four members of village council.
A vote of no confidence demonstrates that the mayor does not have the support of members of council. A cursory search of the local news archives turned up zero past no-confidence votes in recent village or District of Kent history.
It91Ƶs not yet clear what may happen on a municipal level. However, past provincial and federal no-confidence votes, if passed, would have resultd in a new election or a majority party would have been given the chance to form government.
Wood said he would be happy to attend a hearing but would not attend a meeting that is closed to the public.
91ƵI want (the hearing) in public and I demand that (it is) public,91Ƶ Wood told council. 91ƵThis is nothing more than a calculated ambush on the mayor91Ƶs office and an assault on my personal professional standing.91Ƶ
Wood decried treatment toward him as 91Ƶthe latest example of playground politics at its worst.91Ƶ
91ƵIt91Ƶs an embarrassment for the village to have four of our elected officials acting in this manner,91Ƶ Wood said. 91ƵTheir actions create a toxic work environment for city staff, damage the reputation of the city and have far-reaching impacts on all of us.91Ƶ
Wood added he 91Ƶremains committed91Ƶ to the well-being of the village staff and the community.
Much of what has transpired over the first few months of the new council term have been highly unusual, not the least of which is allegations of 91Ƶillegal91Ƶ meetings without the presence of Wood and Coun. John Buckley, who is the deputy mayor. Evidence of specifically an illegal meeting reportedly held before the Jan. 16 council meeting has not yet surfaced as of publication.
Additionally, three village managers 91Ƶ CAO Madeline McDonald, deputy CAO Debra Key and community services manager Rhonda Schell 91Ƶ went on leave. It was announced earlier this month that McDonald was retired; the other two managers remain on leave as of publication.
Wood would not read the official letter in the meeting.
91Ƶ With Files from Sheri Regnier