Jordan Sturdy is taking a leave of absence without pay as Pemberton mayor while carrying out his new role as MLA for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky, effective July 2 to Aug. 2.
Pemberton council passed a motion allowing Sturdy to take the time off during a special council meeting on Tuesday, July 2.
Councillor James Linklater will take over as acting mayor for that period.
"This isn't really that much different than taking a vacation and missing two council meetings," said Sheena Fraser, the Village of Pemberton's manager of administrative services.
Sturdy will be sitting at the B.C. legislature with his new colleagues in Victoria.
According to a letter from Sturdy sent to council making the request for a break, there is considerable work to be done in July as he learns the new MLA role along with his appointment to the position of Parliamentary Secretary for Transportation and Infrastructure.
Councillor Mike Richman said Sturdy gave his council colleagues early warning that he wouldn't be around much in July.
If he was to step down that triggers a whole set of events that leads to a by-election and my fear is that with the amount of stuff we have on the table right now...all of that grinds to a halt," said Richman.
The next municipal elections in B.C. are scheduled for Nov. 2014.
Recreation facility implementation plan received
Council received the draft Pemberton Area recreation facility implementation plan, and it will now be referred to stakeholder agencies the Pemberton Valley Utilities & Services committee, the Recreation Advisory Committee, Lil'wat Nation council and the board of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District.
It will online at www.pemberton.ca in the next few days. The VOP wants to send a delegation at an upcoming Lil'wat council meeting to discuss this.
-With adds by John French.
