Head Bay Rd Both Directions - Head Bay Rd, in both directions. Washout between Malaspina Rd and Harbour View Rd (5 km east of Tahsis). Road closed. Detour not available. Next update time Tue Dec 26 at 2:00 PM PST. Last updated Tue Dec 26 at 8:03 AM PST. (DBC-59261)
Thanks to Crystal Payne for getting the ball rolling on this. It was a fun time.
A councillor for the tiny west coast village of Tahsis who was the subject of a court application says he is stepping down from council next month, part-way through his first term. The Village of Tahsis filed a petition against Doug Elliott Dec. 1 in the Supreme Court of B.C., seeking an order to vacate his seat after he failed to attend several consecutive council meetings.
The petition, under B.C.’s Community Charter, also asked that Elliott be disqualified from holding office until the next general election.
Court documents said Elliott twice told council he planned to resign this fall but did not provide a written resignation letter, despite requests to do so.
In a statement on Monday, Elliott said his resignation would take effect Jan. 31.
In the meantime, he said he is “working with numerous individuals in my community to research the steps that are required to dissolve the status of the village and have the [Strathcona] Regional District take control before the existing council buries us in massive debt.”
Tahsis, west of Campbell River, is a former mill town that once had a population of about 2,500. The mill shut in 2001, and today the village’s population is close to 400.
Elliott said he decided to run for the five-member council last fall following a tax increase in 2022.
He said he was concerned about lack of services from the village and about the municipality’s “dwindling cash reserve since the mill closure.”
Two decades ago, the village had about $7 million in reserves but that amount had dropped to approximately $800,000 by November of last year, he said.
Since the mill closed, councils have not adopted financial plans that would replenish reserves, Elliott said.
“I campaigned on resolving this issue, promoting economic development on the mill site and restructuring the public works department.”
He said he also wants to see improved services and better infrastructure.
Differences with council led him to miss meetings, said Elliott, adding he has been overwhelmed by residents urging him to stay.
Tempers rose in March when the Elliott took the gavel from the deputy mayor, who banged it many times during a heated meeting. The mayor was absent that day and the deputy mayor chaired that meeting.
cjwilson@timescolonist.com
Village of Tahsis: Temporary Water Shut Off Alert for Alpine View Rd between Rogers Rd and Harbour View Rd alertable.ca
The Village of Tahsis has gone to court seeking an order vacating the seat of a councillor who failed to attend four consecutive council meetings and was not ill or injured and or on a leave of absence.
The village wants Coun. Doug Elliot to be disqualified from holding office until the next general election.
Tahsis filed its petition on Dec. 1 in the Supreme Court of B.C.’s Victoria registry, asking for an order under B.C.’s Community Charter.
In its petition, the village said Elliot verbally told council on May 2 and July 4 that he intended to resign effective Sept. 18, 2023.
He did not attend council meetings on Aug. 1, Sept. 12, Sept. 25, Oct. 3, Oct. 17 and Nov. 7, it said.
The village unsuccessfully tried to obtain a written resignation from Elliot, according to the petition.
Elliot could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.
The community of about 400 people west of Campbell River made headlines in May when Elliot took the gavel from the deputy mayor during a heated meeting. Council is made up of a mayor and four councillors.
The village’s website has posted a public notification of censure and related sanctions for Elliot, citing actions he is alleged to have taken, including breaching confidentiality of city materials and making derogatory comments about other council members and senior staff.
Council voted in favour of deeming Elliot’s conduct unbecoming of a member of council and approved a motion of censure.
He was subjected to sanctions include restricted access to closed meeting agendas, which he was allowed to view on paper only in the village office, under supervision. He was also required to issue written apologies to the village and to individuals.
On Oct. 10, the village sent Elliot a letter asking him to provide a written resignation in accordance with the Community Charter, which says a council member can resign in writing.
An email was sent to Elliot on Oct. 24 again asking for a written notice.
As of Dec. 1, Elliot had not provided a written resignation to council at a meeting or to city hall.
Council then voted in favour of a resolution saying Elliot was disqualified from holding office on council because of his absences.
The first wreath making session happened in 2014 so it has a long tradition. Here are two examples of items you could make. Or you could bring a container and make a centrepiece. Details from Harmony below.
