A disagreement at City of North Vancouver council over whether to pay for council members to attend a conference in California escalated into an argument with the mayor threatening to kick one councillor out of chambers, Monday night.
The verbal brouhaha started when Coun. Linda Buchanan put forward a motion to allow councillors to attend the Safe Routes to School National Conference in Sacramento in August at the city's expense.
The estimated cost for one council member to attend the event is likely more than $1,000.
Coun. Rod Clark said the conference was an improper use of taxpayers' money, bringing up the recent Canadian senators' expense scandal.
"I'd like to term this as tap-dancing with Mike Duffy because good old Mike has presented himself to Canada as profligate spender of taxpayer dollars," Clark said.
Clark then went on to suggest that Buchanan's history as a school board trustee was being improperly brought to the city.
"If a certain member of council cannot get past their school board focus, perhaps the voters will send them back to the school board in the next election," Clark said, triggering a row with Mayor Darrell Mussatto.
Mussatto cut Clark off on the grounds that it is against council bylaws to question the motives of another council member. Clark continued making his point that the city council is "besieged by school board types" trying to push a school board agenda.
Mussatto shot back again, raising his voice. "Coun. Clark, you're not going to use that language again," Mussatto commanded.
"I have and I shall, thank you," Clark responded.
This led to a demand from Mussatto that Clark apologize, which he refused to do. When Mussatto told Clark he could apologize or leave the council chamber, Clark responded:
"Better get the (sergeant)-at-arms." It was not until Mussatto read out the bylaw Clark was violating that he relented.
"'...Under no circumstances shall a member attack or question the motives of another member.' You're questioning the motives of anther member. That's unacceptable, OK? Withdraw that comment," he said.
At that, Clark withdrew the remark and the discussion proceeded.
Coun. Craig Keating, speaking to the substance of the conference, read a long list of representatives from various levels of government, and professionals in environmental advocacy, public health, planning and architecture, who will be attending the conference.
"When I go through that list...what I see is a long list of things we regularly deal with in terms of how we plan communities," he said, drawing agreement from staff and other members of council.
Speaking in defence of the conference, Buchanan argued it is prudent for the city to look for best practices, especially as the school district goes through changes.
"I do believe the transportation of children to and from school falls within the mandate of the municipality. We are responsible for transportation, land use, and the built environments," she said. "The more safely we can get them there, the better, and I take the safety of the children in our community seriously and so if we can look at ways to get them there as safely as possible and work with others who have done a better job at this, then I am happy to attend."
Council eventually voted 5-1 to approve the funding out of the city's legislative conventions and delegations budget, with Clark voting against and Coun. Guy Heywood absent from the meeting.
According to the conference website, registration for the three-day event is $375 to $450 and single rooms at the host hotel are $100 per night.
Earlier in the day, members of council received an email from City Voices member Toni Bolton questioning the costs and how the city would be served by the junket. Bolton went on to suggest that the city could glean the same information from a website, or find a Canadian equivalent.
