DIDSBURY - After some time, Didsbury council has put forth a time for council and staff to meet with developers who might be interested in the town.
The date for the council and developers meeting is April 26 at 6 p.m. in council chambers.
Mayor Rhonda Hunter said the idea behind the meeting is to allow for developers to engage in open discussion with council and administration.
"It is really up to developers to decide what they want to discuss with us," Hunter told the Gazette. "We want to listen to understand the challenges they face, the positives they experience in town, their suggestions for ways to improve how we do business."
Hunter added that this is one of the first initiatives by council to strengthen the town's relationships with the business community and address any need for change.
In other council news, after some debate, council decided to set the time and date for the policy and priorities committee for 4:30 p.m. starting on March 27 before the regular council meeting.
The policy and priorities committee consists of all councillors. The purpose of the committee is for administration to provide policy advice as part of council's decision-making process.
"This committee will identify and discuss items that they will submit and that will address key issues and needs of our town that we recognize, have on our list of 'things to do,' and/or that are brought to us by residents," said Hunter.
Coun. Erhard Poggemiller brought up an issue he had with an email from an unnamed councillor questioning expenses that were claimed.
"I was a little bit annoyed at the fact that comments were made about 'taking a joy ride' and 'taking the scenic route,' that kind of thing," said Poggemiller at the meeting.
"I think if we want to have some respect amongst us, and I think if we want further trust it starts with this kind of thing," he added. "Further to that, I noticed that Her Worship (Mayor Rhonda Hunter) claimed four hours at a meeting, the rest of us claiming three. I have no problem with that. I would never question her integrity or anyone here's integrity.
"Sometimes things happen and you spend a little extra time and they should be compensated for it. I have no issue with that. I do think we need to be careful how we do this on this email and send it all around. That puts an aura of distrust amongst us and I don't appreciate that."
Hunter told the Gazette the council remuneration policy is currently being revamped, "However, one of the first things that council did after we were elected was to revise our 'checks and balances' approach."
"This change saw the deputy mayor sign the mayor's expense forms, the councillor that will be deputy mayor next signs the current deputy mayor's expense form, and the mayor signs the rest of council's expenses," she said.
"More revisions will be coming to provide more clear direction to council on their claimable and non-claimable expenses. This is really just 'housekeeping' that will ensure the fiscal accountability of council in the submission of expenses and the management of their personal council budgets."
Resident Joyce McCoy spoke during question period and questioned whether council was in violation of the municipal government act by allegedly discussing issues such as budget, salary grids, COLA increases and CAO raises in-camera, through email, and in closed workshops.
