Some city councillors are confused about why residents are being appointed to municipal committees when those groups haven’t met in months and a review is underway to determine their viability.
The city clerk’s office presented a report to council during its July 8 regular meeting proposing the names of three residents for three committees.
Jeffrey Borden was suggested as the industry representative for the economic development committee. Don Mitchell was appointed as a citizen-at-large, and Sean Chase was appointed as a representative from Holy Trinity Catholic School Division, to the environment advisory committee. Mitchell was also appointed as a citizen-at-large to the housing authority committee.
Their terms of office expire on Dec. 31
Council voted 6-1 to approve the appointment to those committees; Coun. Dawn Luhning was opposed.
Coun. Heather Eby questioned the wisdom of appointing people to committees that have not met in a long time or appear to be inactive, particularly the economic and housing advisory committees.
Council did vote at a previous meeting to have city administration review the committees and determine whether those groups should be combined, eliminated or expanded, explained city clerk Myron Gulka-Tiechko.
But there are bylaws in place that give structure to some of those committees, such as the housing authority. The municipality still has an obligation to fill those positions — especially if there are still volunteers — until the terms of reference or bylaws are revised or repealed.
“I am really confused as to why this (report) is here … ,” said Luhning. “I do not know why we are appointing somebody when (during) this (council) term those committees have met only once since this council was elected.”
The housing advisory committee did produce a report a couple of months ago that recommended council adopt a housing incentive policy, which it did, said Coun. Chris Warren. There is still some work to be done on that incentive since that program is also connected to federal housing initiatives.
Appointment to library boards
Eby has been appointed to the boards of the Moose Jaw Public Library and the Palliser Regional Library as a replacement for Coun. Crystal Froese, who resigned from those boards on June 24.
Eby’s term lasts until Dec. 31.
