Resort Municipality of Whistler councillor Jack Crompton has been named chair of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) board.
Crompton said his first priority as chair is good government.
"I think that's the primary role of a chair," he said.
"As far as my individual desires for the organization are concerned, we need to do our strategic planning, we need to get together and we need to hear everyone's voice and understand where we want to go as an organization. But for me, the most important thing is good government."
Crompton previously served the last three years as Whistler's representative on the SLRD board.
Newly elected Lillooet Mayor Marg Lampman will serve as vice chair.
"She is an incredibly collaborative, intelligent, easy to get along with board member," Crompton said of Lampman.
Squamish Mayor Patricia Heintzman and councillor Doug Race will represent Squamish, while Pemberton Mayor Mike Richman will represent Pemberton.
AAP FOR NEW OFFICE BUILDING CANCELLED
The search continues for new SLRD office spaces.
The SLRD has decided not to pursue an Alternate Approval Process to secure a $3.5 million loan to purchase the Elements building on Frontier Street in Pemberton.
"Ultimately, in the end it didn't suit our specific need as we looked deeper at the building, and we need something that is built, suited for local government," Crompton said.
The SLRD will take its time in finding a more suitable building, Crompton indicated.
"We're not in a rush. We want to make sure that we have the right location, if and when we make a decision like that," he said.
PEMBERTON VALLEY TRANSIT SYSTEM
The SLRD will no longer assume administrative responsibility of the Pemberton Valley Transit System, with the Village of Pemberton now set to assume those duties.
"It seems like a good transition between the two organizations, and already at (the regular SLRD board meeting on Dec. 15) it was pretty clear that the regional district and Pemberton are working well together, which is exciting," Crompton said.
"It's nice to have Mayor Richman on the board."
BC Transit will be issuing a new Request for Proposals in the summer of 2015 to award a new operating contract that will be effective as of April 1, 2016 for the Pemberton, Whistler and Squamish Transit Systems.
NEW BOARD QUICK TO COOPERATE
With the first official meeting of a new term comes the lengthy list of SLRD committee appointments.
The Sea to Sky Regional Hospital District Board will consist of Crompton (chair), Race (vice-chair), Area C director Russell Mack, Area D director Tony Rainbow, Heintzman and Richman.
The Policy Development and Review Committee will be made up of Crompton, Heintzman and electoral area directors Rainbow, Debbie Demare and Mickey Macri.
A full list of the SLRD boards and committees can be found online at www.slrd.bc.ca/about-us/regional-district-board/boards-committees.
Crompton said it was encouraging to see everyone working together at the new board's first meeting.
"A lot of them have history with each other. They've worked together in the past, they know each other and like each other, and really listen well to each other already," he said.
"I'm a lucky guy as far as being a chairman is concerned. It's really a great board."
The next SLRD board meeting is scheduled for Jan. 28.
