Pubdate: Tue, 07 Jun 2011 Source: Abbotsford Times (CN BC) Copyright: 2011 The Abbotsford Times Contact: http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1009 Author: Cam Tucker, The Times MISSION HASN'T BEEN SERVED LAWSUIT: GIPPS District Reverses More Than a Dozen Inspection Fees The District of Mission denies it has been served with a class-action lawsuit for searches conducted by the Public Safety Inspection Team in coordination with the district's Controlled Substance Bylaw. The bylaw, commonly referred to as the marijuana bylaw, allowed the district's PSIT to search properties that were drawing more than 93 kwh of electricity per day for possible marijuana grow ops. A number of Mission residents who had their properties searched since the bylaw was enacted in 2008 and were slapped with a $5,200 inspection fee - without evidence of a grow op - feel the searches violate their human rights. On Monday, Stacy Gowanlock, who has acted as the spokesman for angry residents since his property was searched in 2009, told the Abbotsford-Mission Times that the district had been served a class-action lawsuit on this matter. "To my knowledge, yes [it has been served]," he said. However, district spokesman Paul Gipps said it hasn't been served yet. This latest development came just days after the District of Mission announced it wrongly identified more than a dozen locations as "controlled substance properties" and will be reversing those decisions immediately. A review of approximately 70 open PSIT files found that 15 did not meet the "evidentiary test identified" and their "status as a controlled substance property" under the controversial bylaw will be changed. The inspection fee those property owners were levied will be reversed immediately, district spokesman Paul Gipps said last week. "We're apologizing for the inconvenience," he said, adding there are 25 to 30 files still under review. A moratorium has since been placed on the bylaw, but Gowanlock said this announcement proves the district was wrong to implement the bylaw. "It's definitely damage control," he said. "I think the program has been exposed. I've said all along, the evidence itself has been controversial, it's been circumstantial . . . it shows to me that mistakes have obviously been made." An RCMP investigation is also under way into a possible breach of trust from within Mission council. RCMP officers seized two computers belonging to Coun. Jenny Stevens and three computers belonging to former councillor Ron Taylor on May 9 after allegations that information pertaining to the marijuana bylaw and the hiring of a public relations firm, Laura Balance Media Group, was leaked from an in-camera council meeting. The confiscations led to a protest of up to 200 people outside Mission's Municipal Hall on May 16, with some residents calling for Mayor James Atebe's resignation. The District of Mission unanimously voted the bylaw into affect in April 2008. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.