Acting Mayor Scott Nelson has halted any further action on a recommendation for the city of Williams Lake to enter discussions with Interior Health on possible locations for a safe consumption site in the community.
Nelson said Mayor Surinderpal Rathor, who was away on vacation at the time of the regular council meeting on Oct. 22, was planning to speak to staff on the item as well.
In Rathor's absence, Nelson made the notice of motion at the meeting to prevent any further action on the recommendation, which was brought forward from a committee of the whole discussion and passed by council at a regular meeting on Oct. 8. Nelson was not at the meeting which brought forward the recommendation, but opposed it when it came before council at a regular meeting on Oct. 8.
Nelson said while he could not have made the notice of motion as a councillor, but as the acting mayor, from the mayor's office he could bring the item back to the council for further discussion.
"It'll allow council the opportunity two weeks out to bring it back for discussion, so no action can be acted upon until we discuss it," said Nelson.
The motion from the Oct. 1 committee of the whole resulted from a presentation by Cianna O'Connor, who called for action to help end deaths related to toxic drugs in the community.
After the meeting, Mayor Rathor said via text message he has no problem with bringing the topic back to the table for further discussion because nothing had yet been scheduled with Interior Health.
Rathor said over 200 people called him, messaged him and emailed him after Nelson posted a video on the topic on his social media and he wants the community to know he makes his decisions based on both knowledge and listening to the community.
To give your opinion on a possible safe consumption site in Williams Lake, residents can email council@williamslake.ca.
