Robert Campbell, a 19-year veteran of Delta council, said this week that former city manager George Harvie has a duty to produce the evidence that would support the claim he was directed by council in 2013 to strenuously oppose public input on permits and licences required by the Enviro-Smart composting facility in Ladner.
“I was very surprised last week to learn Mr. Harvie now asserts that his determined efforts five years ago on behalf of Enviro-Smart – and notably his vociferous opposition to public consultation – was at the behest and direction of Delta’s elected Council,” said Campbell in a news release. “Delta staff have not been able to find any such directive, and I have concluded my own search and the only document I can find is the one relied on by Mr. Harvie as proof of his authority to act.”
The public document cited by Harvie is a 2013 report to Council ‘For Information Only,’ which was written by then councillors Ian Paton and Scott Hamilton.
The document was from the Agricultural Advisory Committee, which has no power to direct council. The 2013 report outlined farmers’ concerns regarding agricultural odour regulation, and was received for information by council with no action or direction recommended.
Harvie was quoted in the Optimist’s Sept. 14, 2018 on-line edition as saying: “The public record shows that I received direction from city council and as the city manager my role is to follow the direction of council and I did that.”
His interview recently with the Optimist followed widespread circulation in Delta of a Metro Vancouver memorandum dated March 28, 2013.
At the Delta council meeting held Sept. 17, the Metro Vancouver memo – authored by Ray Robb, the regional district’s environmental and regulatory enforcement manager – was released to the public.
“This nothing more than a search for the facts – and the bottom line is this,” said Campbell, “where is the evidence that Delta council was opposed to an air-quality permit and public consultation on the Enviro-Smart composting plant? Mr. Harvie has an obligation to answer that question as soon as possible.”
Campbell is seeking re-election to council on the Team Delta slate, headed by an incumbent councillor now running to be mayor, Sylvia Bishop.
