Kamloops mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson's picture on his TNRD Director profile, which no longer exists on the Regional District's website/via TNRD

Kamloops Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson is seeking clarification on whether he can be reimbursed by taxpayers for legal expenses arising from Code of Conduct complaints against him.

It is unclear how many complaints the mayor is facing, but Hamer-Jackson used his time during his Mayor’s Report at Tuesday’s City Council meeting to ask staff about the possibility of indemnity.

“Council has been busy with a lot of conduct complaints, and I’d just like to have a motion to be able to get indemnified for councillors on legal fees on defence on the code of conduct complaints,” Hamer-Jackson said.

As of Jan. 25, 2024, documents obtained from the City of Kamloops indicate there are 12 active Code of Conduct complaints, with nine of those brought by members of council. Those complaints could include the mayor as the target or the complainant.

Hamer-Jackson was told that council could consider granting him indemnity – like they did for Councillor Katie Neustaeter, who is being sued by the Mayor for defamation and libel – at a future meeting, if he goes through the proper process of requesting it.

“Our bylaw does have the provision for this however like any request that council would need time to duly consider, it’s not something that can just be asked and answered in one meeting,” Corporate Officer Maria Mazzotta said.

“It would be something [that] would need to be submitted to council and placed on an agenda for due consideration.”

Mazzotta also said that council has the ability to add conditions if it voted to grant a member indemnity. Those conditions could include a requirement to return that reimbursement if the investigator substantiates the complaint or any portion of it.

At this time, Hamer-Jackson hasn’t confirmed to Radio NL whether he intends to pursue the matter further.

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Kamloops Code of Conduct provision for indemnity:

7.1 Council Members may make a request to Council for reimbursement for the costs of legal advice and representation in responding to the formal Complaint process outlined in this Bylaw and, if it deems appropriate after considering all the circumstances, Council may resolve to reimburse legal fees reasonably incurred by a Council Member on terms and conditions Council deems appropriate, including, without limitation:

(a) the imposition of a maximum amount of reimbursement; and

(b) the condition that the Council Member is not entitled to, and must return, any reimbursement if the Investigator substantiates the Complaint or any portion thereof.

7.2 For clarity:

(a) nothing in this Bylaw prevents Council from resolving to reimburse any other person for the costs of legal advice and representation incurred for the purposes of participating in an investigation, if the circumstances warrant; and

(b) the provisions of the City of Kamloops Indemnification Bylaw No. 3-42, 2011 do not apply to requests for reimbursement under this Bylaw.