A Friday the 13th filing in B.C. Supreme Court against Vision Vancouver Coun. Kerry Jang and Geoff Meggs by citizens who say they were in conflict of interest over the Metro Vancouver-proposed Heather Place rezoning by City of Vancouver.
This is the third such petition in recent months, seeking the court to disqualify members of city council from office before the Nov. 15 civic election. Cedar Party leader Glen Chernen filed petitions against Mayor Gregor Robertson over the Hootsuite lease of a civic building and the entire Vision Vancouver caucus over the Oakridge Centre redevelopment. Joseph Arvay, the lawyer hired by city hall to defend Robertson, asked B.C. Supreme Court to quash the petition. Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson reserved judgment.
This one alleges Jang and Meggs’s mixed their paid directorship on the Metro Vancouver Housing Corp. board with their paid duties on Vancouver city council. While Jang declared a conflict of interest at the March 14 GVHC meeting, he was present, along with Meggs, for the Heather Place public hearing at Vancouver city hall on April 15. Jang voted in the 9-1 majority on April 29 for the rezoning; Meggs was absent for the meeting and only Green Party Coun. Adriane Carr voted nay. The allegations have not been proven and the court awaits a legal response from Jang and Meggs.
Base pay for Vancouver city councillors last year was $68,320, according to the city’s statement of financial information. Meggs received $16,284 from Metro Vancouver and Jang $9,204. Metro Vancouver board and committee members are paid $355 for meetings under four hours. For meetings that go more than four hours, they’re paid $710.