The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) board passed a resolution requesting a moratorium on smart meter installations at the Jan. 5 infrastructure services committee.
Jalien Shandler appeared as a delegate before committee to petition the SCRD for more action on smart meters.
Most recently on Dec. 8, the board sent a letter to BC Hydro requesting them to hold a town hall meeting to address concerns of Coast residents.
"Many people like me are reporting health effects soon after the meter is placed on their homes," Shandler said. "When I reported my symptoms to my doctor several days after installation on Nov. 15, he told me I was already not the first."
While a large portion of the installations are already complete on the Coast, Shandler said she wanted to seek out ways to hold off the installations until health and privacy concerns are addressed.
The committee echoed some of Shandler's concerns.
"There's conflicting information everywhere," said board chair Garry Nohr before proposing the resolution to call for a moratorium and independent investigation into health and privacy concerns.
West Howe Sound director Lee Turnbull seconded the motion.
"I think the process by which smart meters has been introduced is very flawed," she said. "There wasn't any consultation."
Sechelt director Coun. Alice Lutes supported the motion, pointing to BC Hydro's decision to contract installations to Corix, criticizing the utility for not using its own unionized workers.
"I think it's deplorable in these times," she said. "I support this resolution on a lot of different issues."
Drywall waste
The SCRD was notified recently of changes to the way New West Gypsum (NWG) will be handling drywall waste.
Due to requirements from WorkSafe BC, the drywall recycler will now require pre-screening for asbestos, typically found in waste from before 1984.
Loads that are delivered to NWG containing asbestos will result in fines and ultimately a ban on use of their facility.
"This sounds like a fairly serious issue, the effect of people being left with a bunch of drywall and nowhere to take it," said Gibsons director Coun. Gerry Tretick. "I see this as potentially aggravating the illegal dumping problem."
The committee moved that a stakeholder workshop be held to address the issue, one that includes contractors and builders.
Staff were also authorized to spend $5,000 leading toward budgetary talks on educational material and the workshop.
"This seems to me to be a really collaborative approach to solving a problem that we are involved with," said Roberts Creek director Donna Shugar.
