Kemijärvi council launches inquiry into city board’s confidence

Kemijärvi City Council voted on Tuesday to appoint a temporary committee to investigate whether the city board retains the council’s confidence, Yle reported. The move follows continued disputes in local politics.

The vote was tied at 13-13, with one councillor abstaining. Council chair Sirpa Masalin-Iivari, from the Yhteinen Kemijärvi group, cast the deciding vote in favour. She had signed the initiative calling for the board’s dismissal.

Seven council members submitted the initiative in September. They want the committee to examine, among other issues, whether confidential matters were leaked from the board and whether mileage allowances were claimed without proper grounds.

Kemijärvi’s council has 27 members and its city board has seven. Some of the initiative’s supporters also serve on the board: among them are the board’s second deputy chair, the chair’s alternate and one board member.

The board’s chairmanship changed hands during the summer, also following a loss of confidence. Opposing the new committee, Left Alliance councillor Juha Pikkarainen said the issues raised could have been discussed and handled through a less formal process.