Port Moody’s police board will elect a new chair from its current members to take the place of Mayor Rob Vagramov, who’s on a paid leave of absence from his duties at city hall while he deals with a charge of sexual assault.
According to the board’s governance manual, which is posted on the Port Moody Police Department’s (PMPD) website, the board is the employer of all the department’s sworn and civilian staff, has financial oversight of the department, establishes priorities and policies that set direction for the department, and deals with complaints against the department.
Port Moody’s mayor is automatically designated as the board’s chair while one other person is nominated to the board by city council and up to five more are appointed by B.C.’s lieutenant governor based on recommendations from the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
Board members must “reflect the demographics of the community,” and “bring appropriate qualifications and demonstrated ability to act in the best interest of the community.”
The board’s website currently lists three members in addition to Vagramov: banker Mary Vellani; Leah Zille, the director of marketing and communications for Family Services of Greater Vancouver; and David Fox, a senior manager at BC Hydro.
While Port Moody council will determine, at a special meeting tonight at city hall, how and with whom to fill the role of acting mayor during Vagramov’s absence, Sgt. Travis Carroll of PMPD’s community services section said chairing the police board will not be among the acting mayor’s duties.
Members of the police board are volunteers and they’re not paid for their time doing board business. But they are bound by a code of conduct that includes refraining “from engaging in conduct that would discredit or compromise the integrity of the police board or the police department.”
