The provincial government has no immediate plans to dump the mayor's role as chairperson of the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Police Board despite Mayor Gregor Robertson's wish to do so.
In an Aug. 24 letter to the police board, Solicitor General Shirley Bond wrote "there is currently no opportunity within the legislative timetable" to consider amendments to the Police Act.
"In the future, when a date has been identified to move forward with amendments, the province will consult with the B.C. Association of Police Boards, police boards and other stakeholders," Bond wrote. "The purpose of this consultation will be to clarify a number of areas where to date there is no consensus among boards. One example is the issue of the mayor serving as chair of the board."
Bond's letter was in response to a request from the police board in November 2008 that the solicitor general consider revising the Police Act to prevent the mayor from continuing as chairperson.
At the time, the board noted the "inherent conflict" associated with the mayor, whose role on council includes approving budgets. More than $200 million of the city's operating budget is set aside for the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Police Department.
Robertson told the Courier in October 2010 that he would prefer not to be the chairperson for the same reason named in the board's 2008 request to the solicitor general. He reiterated his recommendation after Wednesday's police board meeting.
"I don't think it's best practices for governance of a board and of the city council," the mayor said. "It's an oddity as far as good governance goes and it puts the mayor in a position of both advocating for a police board budget and making a decision on a city council budget that includes the VPD."
Earlier this month, a B.C. government-ordered independent review into the Stanley Cup riot included a recommendation that the solicitor general review the requirement that a sitting mayor must serve as chair of the city's police board.
"The office of mayor is the leading position in municipal government and has influence beyond its legal authority," said the report by Douglas Keefe and John Furlong. "Given the careful distribution of power that goes on in the justice system, this could be a problem. On the other hand, fear of being accused of interfering in the management of the police force by the chair of the police board could cause a mayor to be reluctant to play a legitimate challenge role in policing and public safety."
Police Chief Jim Chu told the Courier there are "pros and cons" to the mayor being chairperson of the police board, the governing body of the VPD responsible for hiring the chief.
The chief didn't elaborate on the "pros and cons" or say whether he would prefer a non-elected person become chairperson. He pointed out he reports to "the whole board" and the mayor doesn't vote until required to break a tie on a decision.
Twitter: @Howellings
