Code of conduct
Penhold town council adopted a councillors' code of conduct during the May 28 meeting.
Mayor Dennis Cooper said council had previously discussed the policy during a committee of the whole meeting.
The policy outlines things like meeting conduct, out of council chambers conduct, confidentiality and other areas.
The policy committee drafted the document that was presented to council.
Coun. Chad Hoffman spoke in opposition to the policy.
“I think this policy gives too much power to administration,” he said during the meeting.
Hoffman was the lone vote against adopting the policy, with the rest of council voting for it.
Offsite levies bylaw delayed
Passing of the offsite levies bylaw is being tabled until Alberta Transportation supplies more information.
The bylaw would set offsite levies that would apply to lands the Town of Penhold has annexed for new development.
The levies would be applied to the new land. Developers would pay the levies on a per hectare rate so that current ratepayers do not have to pay for new infrastructure in the new developments.
A public hearing held on May 28 at the council chambers saw no one come to speak for or against the bylaw. Chief administrative officer Rick Binnendyk said there were meetings with Laebon and Melcor Developments where concerns were expressed about the levies being used to fund the infrastructure review that would apply to already existing infrastructure.
Binnendyk's report said the proposed study was removed from the levy assessment areas.
Council voted to table the second and third reading until they hear back from Alberta Transportation.
Community service bylaw passed
Town council passed the community services bylaw during the May 28 meeting.
The bylaw establishes and sets out operation guidelines for the community services board.
Council had some discussion about appointing two councillors to sit on the board before unanimously passing second and third readings.
Coun. Heather Klein asked why it was necessary to have two councillors on the board.
Coun. Danielle Klooster said while other committees are just as important as the community services board, when a board is covering a “broad and varying” area with significant focus on the community it's important to have two.
Hoffman suggested all councillors be appointed to the board.
Cooper pointed out too many members can overwhelm a board. He said two councillors should sit on the community services board because of the town's focus on those services.
“We are very active compared to a lot of other communities,” he said of the town's concentration on community services.
