Sraser Valley Mosquito Control Boar "E26 C2 ALDERMAN J. W. LUEPS so , . First Avenue Chairmen #.0, Box 20 4, BARNETT MISSION CITY, B.C Secretery-Traayser October 3ist, 1973 + ROUTE He, G. W. Carliste, Orenat. oer Secretary-Treasurer, ° Lepieg.. Greater Vancouver Regional District, Achen 1 weantecemeneey 2294 West Tenth Avenue, . lites Vancouver 9, B. C. Tt senenaesee omens enaeee jo saan eee Dear cir. Carlisle:- As you are aware the Fraser Valley Mosquito Control Board has been in existance for about 10 years. From.its inception, the Board has Leen cozposed of a nounber of teaber municipalities from Delta to Harrisen Not Springs with a srall number of participating Governmental agencies, The Board has continued its operations throughout this period of tine ina Satisfactory manner and has been quite successful in containing the rosquito pest. However, during the past two years, as a result of ection by members of the Society for Pollution and Environmental Control, together with other objecting citizens, it has been necessary ta very closely examine the constitution of the Board and the liability which may be sustained by Board members and its officers, Consultatisa vith lavyers has revealed chat the board has no legal substance whatsoever. It is merely an associattor of member municipalities and governnental cgencies, acting through an Executive comprised of a President, a Vic: -President, a Secretary-Trzasurer and a General Manager. Spraying is undertaken on a contractual basis by an aerial spraying company. The opinion expressed by the lawyers was that if a legel action should be instituted against the Board, that action could not be taken against the Fraser Valley Hosquits Control Board, but rust be taken against the various members and against the individual officers of the Board. As a result of this opinion, the Board has been exacining the various avenues open to it to ensure that there is some legal validity te its operation. The three possibilities were es follows:- 1. To join together under the provisions of Section 177 of the Municipal Act. As you know under the Provisions of this Section, & uliisfipolity may join with any other minicipnlity or aunici- “palities for the purpose of exercising any powers conferred by the Municipal Act. An agreement under this Section must be ratified by by-laws adopted by a vote of not Jess than two-thirds of all the members of cach Council and the by-laws rust be ratified Ly the Lieutenant-Governor in Council. The Section also. . Provides that the posers of the municipality may extend beyond the boundaries of the municipality for this purpose. . - US SMTERTR RRR STATA OEM a EEE LO OL en aie. TOE ee, ate (ON ee amenities pape ee STOR bee Lapa ~2- Unfortunately the Section does not apparently permit bodies other than munieipalitiss to participate, and it is not Possible to establish a Board of Management, . The second avenue wae the possibility of requesting the Governnent o£ the Province of British Colunbta to adopt a special Act to permit the formation of a Mosquito Control Board. However, ve are advised that the Governrent is not adopting special legislation for this specific type of function. The third possibility is that the rosquito control service should be adopted as a regional function by the four Lover Mainland -Regional Districts, and this appears to be the best rethod of &pprocen. Under this method each Regional District would undur- take the furction individually for its Present participating meabers and che four Regions could then join together to fora a Bocrd of Management for che Operation of mosquito control. A contract would be entered into by each of the four Regicnal Districts with a Spraying contractor, and the Board established by the four Regions would then appoine the Manager and the Secret- ary-Treasurer to administer the Program. In this way, the Board ‘would have the legal status which it has been lacking. . At the meeting of the Beard held on Thursday, the 25th of October, Mr. C. H. L. Woodward of the Departcent of Minicipal affairs, addressed the Board upon the latter proposal and indicated that if the four Regional Districts were prepared te give consideration to adspting mosquito control as a regional function, he would be quite willing ts meet with each Board to discuss the details. After consideration of Hr. Wooduard's report, the Board adopted @ resolution directing me to write to each Regional district asking that consideration be given at the next Regional Beard seeting to adopting mosquito control as a regional function on behalf of its rember cunici~ palities, In the case of the Greater Vancouver Regional District, the members ere the District of Delta, the City of New Vestninster, the District of Burnaby, the City of Port Coquitlam, the District of Coquitilan, and the District of Surrey. It is the wish of the Board, in view of the current legel situation, to arrive at a solutien of this prebles Letere the start of the next mosquito control season, and it vould be appreciated if your Board could therefore, give this ratter serious consideration with a view to some action being taken before the end of this year. If there ds any further information you would like before vour Board meets, please do not hesitate to contact me, Yours very truly, x HAROLD HARNETT, SECRETARY-TREASURER. tad MY oy 21973 HiH/cas FAN Be R08 Sone FART sist