Coun. Silas White has recused himself from further input on the proposed George Hotel project in Lower Gibsons.
White claimed a conflict of interest in his written council report for the July 7 Gibsons council meeting.
“The property I own with my wife, which includes my home, is in close proximity to the proposed development site and has a side view corridor of the Harbour gazebo, Keats Island and North Shore mountains that will be fully blocked should the project be built,” White said in his report.
“Because of our unique and relatively low proximity in relation to the project, this view corridor is shared by no other single-family land owners.”
White sought the opinion of the Town’s legal counsel, who advised him to declare a conflict of interest and recuse himself from further deliberations on the project.
“I am choosing to follow this advice,” White said. “I regret that I did not request a legal opinion earlier; I’ve been so focused on the broad community interest that I neglected to fully consider how my own view impact could be perceived as a conflict.”
Gibsons resident Sandy Russell came forward during the inquiry period to state her frustration over White’s recusal. Russell said she had specifically asked White about his position on the George before the election.
“During that campaign when Coun. White came to my house to ask for my vote, I specifically asked him if he supported the George. He said yes,” Russell said.
“Now Coun. White seems to be putting roadblocks up and stalling this process,” Russell continued. “Coun. White has recused himself because the view from his home will be affected. It is my belief that he lived in that same house when he was running for council. If it wasn’t an issue then, why is it now?”
White did not attend the July 7 council meeting, but Coun. Stafford Lumley spoke on his behalf to say that the George is not the only issue council is dealing with.
“I think if we were all just running in the election for or against the George, it would be a pointless election,” Lumley said. “I probably wouldn’t have run in the election.”
Lumley went on to say that the George project will be off the table soon, and that there are many other issues that council will be faced with.
“I certainly don’t want to sit here and twiddle my thumbs after the George is off the table,” Lumley said. “I think I can speak for Silas. I think he was quite upset and earnest about his intentions – I canvassed with him. I just don’t want to paint this black and white picture that the election was all about the George.”
The next council meeting is scheduled for July 21 at 7 p.m. in Gibsons Town Hall.
