Usually it’s the parents taking video of the kids but on Monday night at the Village of Pemberton's inaugural council meeting the situation was reversed.
Mayor Jordan Sturdy dropped the elect from his title as his daughter videotaped the proceedings. Council chambers were packed with friends, family and supporters as the five newly elected politicians were sworn into office.
In his inaugural address, Mayor Sturdy referred to Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan’s premiere speech.
"I did listen to Mayor Sam Sullivan’s address in Vancouver and what he said is he asked his council to focus on 2010 with 20/20 vision and it sounded like good advice," said Sturdy. "We need to take the long-term view on what is right for the village and the region."
Sturdy also addressed the concerns of the business community and spoke of the need for a regional shopping initiative. He also referred back to the Valley Vision: Leadership in Action platform, which had highlighted increasing voter turnout.
"I, we, ran on a platform of increasing voter turnout and we certainly succeeded. The challenge is how to keep everyone engaged. We need to figure out how to get input from our citizens and disseminate rationale for the decisions we make," said Sturdy.
One of those decisions will be how the recreation centre will be approached.
"The primary goal right now is to get the best rec centre for this valley at the best value," he confirmed.
Sturdy acknowledged that the community needed more than platitudes.
"We will in the end not be judged by speeches and rhetoric, but the quality of our delivery," he said at the close of his remarks.
While most of the 20-minute meeting was given over to housekeeping resolutions concerning banking and the re-appointment of auditors, committee and board appointments were also made public.
The mayor who automatically sits on all administration committees, will also be sitting on the finance committee and the following boards: Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD), Joint Operations, Dyking District, and the Parent Advisory Councils of both the elementary and secondary schools.
The only returning member of council, Mark Blundell, will sit with Sturdy on the finance committee and board of Joint Operations. As well, he will join Councillor David MacKenzie on the Public Works/Parks committee and occupy alternate position on a number of boards including the SLRD.
MacKenzie has also been appointed to the Advisory Design Review committee, the Pemberton Lillooet Treaty Advisory Committee and the Pemberton Valley Trails Association board.
The Lower Mainland Treaty Advisory Committee representative will be Councillor Jennie Helmer, with Kirsten McLeod as alternate. Helmer has also been appointed to the Spirit of B.C. Committee (pertaining to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games), Healthy Community committee and the SLRD’s Agricultural Advisory Committee.
McLeod has been appointed to the Advisory Land Use Committee, Library Committee and Recreation Commission,
The current appointments are subject to council review.
