New Westminster city council has tweaked its 2022 schedule.
Council recently approved a staff recommendation to remove the meeting that had been scheduled for Sept. 12, as some council members will be attending the Union of B.C. Municipalities annual convention. Mayor Jonathan Cote and councillors Patrick Johnstone, Jaimie McEvoy and Chuck Puchmayr are scheduled to attend the UBCM convention in Whistler, which runs from Sept. 12 to 16.
Council also agreed to remove the Sept. 19 workshop from the schedule, as there are no items for that meeting. A finance workshop has been added for Nov. 14, a day on which no meeting had been scheduled in lieu of Remembrance Day on Friday, Nov. 11.
Under the new schedule, council will meet twice prior to the Oct. 15 civic election – at its annual meeting in Queensborough on Sept. 19 and at city hall on Oct. 3.
No meetings are schedules for the three Mondays following the election. The inaugural council meeting is on Nov. 7 and the finance workshop is Nov. 14.
Council will round out the year with a workshop and meeting on Nov. 28, and a workshop, public hearing and meeting on Dec. 12.
Staff appointments
Two staff are taking on new roles at city hall.
Blair Fryer, the city’s manager of communications and economic development, has also been designated as the city’s chief licence inspector.
“Following a period of transition, the city moved the function of business licensing under the office of the chief administrative officer of the city. The city has realized efficiencies having the function under the manager of communication and economic development,” said an Aug. 29 report to council. “This report formalizes the permanent appointment.”
At the Aug. 29 meeting, council also appointed Eva Yip as the acting director of human resources and information technology.
“The director of human resources and information technology is currently taking an extended leave,” said the report. “To ensure that the department functions well, and to facilitate vacation for the acting director, staff is seeking the appointment of an acting director of human resources and information technology.”
