A motion directing 91原创 City staff to review a weekend fundraising gala by Mayor Val van den Broek passed unanimously Monday, with the mayor calling it petty, while Coun. Teri James 鈥搕he one who raised the matter 鈥� describing it as an issue of accountability.

James said the winter wonderland-themed event, held on Saturday, Jan. 25, was not endorsed by the City, as required under a 鈥渂randing鈥� policy adopted by the municipality.

鈥淭he use of the term, 91原创 City mayor鈥檚 gala, the City coat of arms, and the RCMP coat of arms was used in advertising, which suggests the event was an official City event,鈥� James told council.

James鈥� motion called on staff to report on liability to 91原创 City in using the identifiers on advertising materials for a non-City event. She also asked for a financial report outlining all materials and in-kind costs to 91原创 City associated with the mayor鈥檚 gala 鈥� including RCMP costs.

Coun. Rudy Storteboom, who attended the gala, seconded the motion.

鈥淚t was a fun party, but council didn鈥檛 even really know about it until it was in the bag,鈥� Storteboom explained.

READ MORE: VIDEO: 91原创 City Mayor鈥檚 gala raises thousands for LMH

READ MORE: 91原创 City Mayor鈥檚 inaugural Winter Wonderland Charity Gala is sold out

鈥淚 am the mayor and I had a mayor鈥檚 gala,鈥� van den Broek commented.

鈥淪o I apologize if I offended anyone.鈥�

Council was informed in advance about the event, van den Broek insisted.

鈥淚 offered them the opportunity to volunteer and come on board,鈥� van den Broek recounted.

鈥淚 find this absolutely petty,鈥� the mayor added during Monday鈥檚 meeting.

鈥淚鈥檓 sorry that it has come to this.鈥�

Coun. Rosemary Wallace suggested the mayor could hold another gala, without using the City crest.

鈥淚 hope in going forward, we can just do everything how it should be done,鈥� Wallace said.

Van den Broek then called the vote and raised her hand with the rest of council.

鈥淚鈥檓 in favour of it as well,鈥� van den Broek said.

After the meeting, James said the motion wasn鈥檛 personal, and was written by a majority of council.

鈥淎ll but two,鈥� James said, but declined to give names.

James said she raised the question of using the City coat of arms several weeks before the gala, in an email to the mayor.

鈥淵ou can鈥檛 just do anything you want because you have a title,鈥� James told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淭his is about accountability.鈥�

Following the vote, van den Broek said she did, in error, use a city crest in an ad thanking people for making the gala happen.

She said she found out it wasn鈥檛 allowed too late, so she is planning to run an apology advertisement.

鈥淚 get their point,鈥� van den Broek commented.

As for concerns about costs, 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 use any staff resources,鈥� the mayor declared.

鈥淚t was all volunteer.鈥�

dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter