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Standing committee appointments announced for city council

Kyra Hoggan
By Kyra Hoggan
December 9th, 2011

At Dec. 5th’s first meeting of the newly-elected city council, Mayor Lawrence Chernoff assigned each council member to the standing committee roles they’ll be playing for the following year – a practice not employed in all municipalities.

“There are lots of cities where councillors stay on the same committees for years and years,” he said, referring to standing committees like Transportation and Civic Works, Finance, Cultural and Civic Pride, etc.   “It used to be like that here, too. Now, we change seats every year – that way, we get a better understanding of all aspects of our government and it allows us to deal with different staff and members of the public.”   City councillor Kevin Chernoff said he agrees whole-heartedly with the policy – even if it means forgoing his favourite committees in favour of a less-appealing assignment.   “It makes us, as councillors, much more well-rounded,” he said. “It allows us to see the municipality from all sides – social, corporate, infrastructure …”   He said it also ensures councillors have the background and understanding they need when it comes time to vote – for example, time on the Finance Committee is invaluable when budget decisions have to be made.   “I think it gives us the tools we need to make better, more informed decisions.”   This year’s committee appointments are as follows:   Public Safety:                                                             Chair, Dan Rye                                                                                         Deputy Chair, Kevin Chernoff     Cultural and Civic Pride:                                           Chair, Gord Turner                                                                                          Deputy, Sue Heaton-Sherstobitoff     Community Wellness and Social Services:          Chair, Sue Heaton-Sherstobitoff                                                                                           Deputy, Deb McIntosh     Finance and Corporate Services                              Chair, Russ Hearne                                                                                            Deputy, Gord Turner     Green                                                                             Chair, Lawrence Chernoff                                                                                            Deputy, Dan Rye                                                                                            Deputy, Russ Hearne     Transportation and Civic Works                                Chair, Deb McIntosh                                                                                            Deputy, Russ Hearne     Planning and Development                                       Chair, Kevin Chernoff                                                                                            Deputy, Dan Rye     Deb  McIntosh has been appointed the alternate director to the Board of the Regional District of Central Kootenay   Lawrence Chernoff, Russ Hearne and Kevin Chernoff have been appointed to the Recreation Commission.  

Categories: GeneralPolitics

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