District of Sechelt council is reversing the previous council’s move to twice-monthly committee of the whole meetings.
“We’re going to return to the more traditional standing committees of council and will have three standing committees to start with,” Mayor Bruce Milne announced at council’s inaugural meeting on Dec. 3 in the Chatelech Secondary School theatre.
Appointed to the planning and community development committee were councillors Mike Shanks (chair), Noel Muller (vice chair), Alice Lutes and Darnelda Siegers.
Appointed to the public works, parks and environment committee were councillors Darren Inkster (chair), Doug Wright (vice chair), Lutes and Siegers.
Milne was appointed chair of the third committee — finance, culture and economic development — with Lutes to serve as vice chair and the rest of council to sit as members in a “repurposed” committee of the whole.
Milne was also appointed to serve as director on the Sunshine Coast Regional District board, with Lutes appointed as his alternate.
As the first item of business after council was sworn in, Lutes was also appointed acting or deputy mayor.
Milne said he struggled for some time with the choice between incumbents Lutes and Shanks for the acting mayor position, but the decision was made easy when Shanks, during one-on-one discussions with Milne, recommended Lutes as the best person for the job.
The vote carried to thunderous applause for the visibly emotional Lutes.
Under a draft meeting schedule, regular council meetings will continue to be held on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 7 p.m. The finance, culture and economic development committee will meet on the second Wednesday of the month at 1 p.m. and the other two standing committees will meet on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 1 p.m.
