The Thompson-Nicola Regional District Board has voted in favour of publicly apologizing for the lack of accountability and oversight under former CAO Sukh Gill.

The motion was introduced by TNRD Director, Merlin Blackwell, who is also the Mayor of Clearwater. He tells NL News it was important to apologize to all taxpayers as well as current and former staff members after a BDO Canada forensic audit found “an inappropriate culture of spending” under the former CAO.

“We are ultimately responsible for the CAO and their behaviour, whether it be this version of the board or the past version of the board,” he said. “We have one employee and what happens with the CAO and his behaviour or her behaviour in that time, happens on the watch on the board. We are responsible for that.”

“It is for the people for sure that we apologize, but it is also for the board to understand that we have to own this. We have to own what happened before us and for many of us, what happened on our watch. I think that is critical at this point. We need to move forward. I get that. But we also have to acknowledge what happened. ”

It wasn’t a unanimous vote though as Directors Carol Schafer, Ronaye Elliott, and Cache Creek Mayor, Santo Talarico, were opposed.

Schaffer, the director for Wells Gray Country, said an apology would make it seem like the current board was compliant with Sukh Gill’s actions for years, when “we were truly unaware.”

“I believe that when we were made aware, we acted promptly and appropriately within our powers and continue to do so,” she said. “An apology engages the board in the problem and leads us directly to being part of the problem, rather than being part of the solution.”

Elliott, who represents the Copper Desert Country,  said she felt “really strongly” that the board has noting to apologize for.

“I do feel that we need to tell the public that we are moving forward, that we have made changes, and that we will be very trustworthy in keeping the changes going and it won’t happen again,” she said.

Blackwell tells NL News that the hope is that by formally apologizing, the TNRD will be able to continue working to regain the trust of residents and taxpayers through strong oversight and good governance.

“This is all part of moving forward with the policy changes and the like. Hopefully, post next election we can start basically with a new slate and start doing business in a way that taxpayers and residents can trust,” he added.

“And that is critical, I think, at this point, because we are really deep down in that hole right now as far as I am concerned.”