A village councillor from Tahsis will be resigning by the end of January after a tumultuous year.
Coun. Douglas Elliott was censured by the village in March for violating its code of conduct. A notice of censure was posted to the village website, saying that Elliott disclosed confidential information and “made defamatory comments” about council, other councillors, the mayor and the village’s CAO. The notice also says Elliott “made an attempt of intimidation” against a fellow councillor.
According to the notice, Elliott called fellow councillors “unethical,” “irresponsible” and “incompetent,” and called the council as a whole “foul bastards,” among other comments.
As part of the sanctions, council is requiring Elliott to issue a written apology for these comments, acknowleding his transgressions and for attempting to intimidate the other councillor by threatening to report them to municipal affairs.
Elliott had advised the village council in May and July that he would be resigning effective Sept. 18, 23. However, according to the community charter, councillor resignations must be done in writing, which a council report says never occurred.
On Oct. 3, Mayor Martin Davis made a report to council that “Elliott has twice stated publicly that he planned to resign on September 19; this did not happen. As per the Community Charter, and in light of him not attending several meetings, including four regular council meetings, we will be seeking to have him removed from council and then schedule a byelection.”
That resolution was made on Nov. 7, after which the village’s legal team made an application to the BC Supreme court to disqualify Elliott as a council member due to his absences. Elliott was absent from that meeting as well.
Elliott returned to the council meeting virtually on Nov. 21, where he read a letter to council. He said that he was “very disappointed” in Davis’ conduct, noting a verbal confrontation he alleges happened between himself and Davis in a store. He continued, saying that Coun. Sarah Fowler was “buying votes” in the community, and that her behaviour in March, when Fowler repeatedly banged her gavel for ten seconds before Elliott took it from her was “completely unprofessional and unbecoming.”
Elliott also said that Coun. Cheryl Northcott was “instructing the administration to come up with ways to screw me over,” and that he felt Coun. Meggan Joseph should resign.
“It is very apparent that I don’t feel safe in any of your presence, and therefore I’ve chosen not to attend any meetings with you, the council,” he said. “I will not endanger my personal safety by being in the presence of any of you.”
Most recently, during the Dec. 5 council meeting, Elliott said that his resignation would take effect on Jan. 31, 2024.
“I did not pursue this position to engage in such activities that will result in more increases in taxation,” Elliott said. “That said, I have one more task to work on before my resignation date takes effect January 31st, 2024. Until that date, I do not wish to interfere with this Council and their pursuits. It is abundantly clear that changes are due within the provincial government concerning the oversight of local government.”
Elliott was elected in 2022.
The Mirror has reached out to Elliott for further comment.
