A Thompson-Nicola Regional District director who initially backed Ken Gillis in remaining chair of the board has had a change of heart, with a total of five board directors who have now called on Gillis to step down from the position.
On Thursday (Feb. 24) during the TNRD board’s meeting, Area P (Rivers and the Peaks) director Mel Rothenburger asked Gillis to consider stepping down as chair.
Earlier this month, Rothenburger had urged the board to move forward and do its job. He said he was optimistic. He had also told KTW at the time he was not willing to put it all on Gillis.
“So, I’m not willing to throw Ken Gillis under the bus for political purposes, which is what it would be if we simply say, ‘Oh, we need to send a message that things are changing,’” Rothenburger said at the time. “I think we’re sending that message in other ways and, although it might be a good way to deflect criticism from ourselves as the rest of the board by putting the focus on Ken, I don’t think that would be either fair or productive.”
Rothenburger told the board on Thursday he initially thought Gillis handled the whistleblower letter issue appropriately. In the past two weeks, however, Rothenburger said Gillis had made comments regarding in-camera issues to the media, noting the board can’t respond due to issues of confidentially.
The whistleblower letter from a TNRD senior manager was addressed to Gillis and dated Jan. 29, 2020. KTW has a copy of the letter. It includes myriad allegations against former TNRD CAO Sukh Gill, including information previously reported on by this newspaper. KTW is not publishing the letter for legal reasons as it contains many non-financial allegations.
The settlement agreement between the regional district and Gill — which included a payout worth $520,000 and a legal agreement mandating his departure be deemed a “retirement” — is dated Feb. 20, 2020. The board first saw the whistleblower letter in December 2021, nearly two years later, as a result of a forensic audit ordered by the regional district, stemming from KTW’s year-long investigation into spending at the TNRD under Gill.
Rothenburger said Gillis has put the board in a difficult position.
“I think what has been set up is that the division is being perpetuated and you even inflamed that,” he told the board. “It breaks my heart. I was up all night, so I’m sorry. I would ask Mr. Chair, that you reconsider your decision to serve out the rest of your term as chair.”
Speaking with KTW, Rothenburger explained he has a “lot of respect for Gillis” and that he is a “very ethical person” who does not deserve criticism he faced in the past two years.
He pointed to a recent interview by Gillis with Kamloops This Week.
“Specifically, his comments about what the board may or may have not been told about the letter,” Rothenburger said. “That was wandering into confidential territory as to things that were discussed at an in-camera meeting, due to it being a personnel matter.”
In that Feb. 16 interview with KTW, Gillis said the board was made aware of the contents of the whistleblower letter before it approved Gill’s severance package. However, two directors — Kamloops Coun. Dale Bass and Area E (Bonaparte Plateau) director Sally Watson — told KTW their vote would have been different had they seen the letter.
Rothenburger said he has been “worried about the rift within the board,” arguing “Ken hasn’t been able to mend that.”
“I don’t think the board will be able to get together to move forward in the way that we need to,” he said. “That’s what’s changed over the past few days as to his ability to do that.”
Asked if he knew Gillis had not given the whistleblower letter to Harris and Company, a Vancouver law firm specializing in employment and labour law, Rothenburger said he could not comment, citing confidentiality.
Gillis told KTW he did not give the whistleblower letter to the law firm prior to receiving the legal advice that informed the settlement agreement. He could not say why.
“I’m about 98 per cent sure that I didn’t,” he said. “But I’m quite confident that I, to the best of my recollection, I did discuss portions of it, yes.”
Gillis said a “fair agreement” for taxpayers was sought and the board did the best it could under the circumstances and with the information in its hands at that time.
Rothenburger told the board Thursday it is “not a numbers game,” as to when Gillis should make the decision on whether to stay on or resign.
“It has to be made based on what’s best for the board, what’s best for the people that we serve and what’s best for the TNRD,” he said. “That’s a decision that’s up to you.”
Gillis said he “would consider” the comments, including what is best for the board and what is best for the regional district.
“I’ve always conducted myself in a manner that I consider to be putting the regional first and foremost in everything that I do and every decision that I make, but I will consider your comments,” he said.
The speech at the regional district board meeting followed a closed-door meeting between Rothenburger and Gillis before the meeting began. Rothenburger said he already made his decision the night before to ask Gillis to resign, explaining he was giving Gillis a heads up.
“I felt it would not be appropriate for me to spring it on him at the meeting,” Rothenburger said. “I wanted him to know what I was going to say. I wanted to just let him know what to expect.”
In addition to Rothenburger, Bass, Watson, Cache Creek Mayor Santo Talarico and Area I (Blue Sky Country) director Steven Rice have called for Gillis to step down as chair.
The next civic election is scheduled to be held on Oct. 15.
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