DIDSBURY - Council has approved membership in the Alberta Mid-Sized Towns Mayors' Caucus with an annual membership fee of $250.
The move came by way of motion at the recent regularly scheduled council meeting, held in person and online.
Didsbury mayor Rhonda Hunter has been involved in the formation of the new caucus, which aims to advocate for member towns with the provincial and federal governments, Alberta Municipalities (ABmunis), other municipalities and other groups and organizations as determined by a majority of membership.
“This is a great group of people and people sitting at the table,” said Hunter. “We had 15 mayors at the last meeting and we certainly hope now that the terms of reference for the group are going to go forward that we will start inviting more people to the table.
“Towns don’t want to get left behind and we want to continue to participate.”
The membership fee will come out of the council membership budget.
Members of the caucus must be towns with a population between 1,000 and 14,999, with each member responsible for per diems and expenses.
According to the newly adopted terms of references the overall goal of the cause its to “strengthen the significance and position of mid-sized towns as a relevant and important voice within the province-wide framework, collaborating, strategizing, and advocating to address matters that directly impact mid-sized towns.”
Every two years the caucus will elect a minimum of three mayors to represent the groups as an executive caucus committee.
The caucus will meet bi-monthly in January, March May, July, September and November.
Chief administrative officers may be invited by their mayors to participate in the regular meetings of the caucus and may assist with the caucus' objectives.
Coun. Dorothy Moore said she hopes the caucus will make good use of option to hold some of its meeting virtually.
Council also approved having mayor Hunter submit her name to be considered for election to the executive caucus committee or an executive board member position.
Councillor Ethan Williams did not attend the Jan. 23 council meeting.
Carstairs mayor Lance Colby says he does not have plans to sit on the new caucus.
