DIDSBURY – Councillors have passed a motion approving the appointment of Luana Smith as the official ambassador of the Town of Didsbury for an upcoming festival in the municipality's sister city of Miki Town, Japan. The move came by way of motion at the July 23 council meeting.
“Smith was an employee of the Town of Didsbury responsible for making the Maple Leaf Exchange a success,” administration said in a briefing note to council. “Luana will be visiting Japan in the fall of 2019. This is the year we mark the 15th anniversary of our twinning with our sister city, Miki Town. Luana is willing to represent Didsbury as the town’s ambassador.”
In a letter to council, Smith said a 15th anniversary celebration festival is planned to take place in Miki Town in October and that she plans to attend.
“As I will be attending the festival on Oct. 24, I have been asked to give a ten to 15 minute presentation,” Smith writes. “With my discussion with (organizer) Joann Kozi, they have asked that Mayor Hunter provide a message as well.
“I am requesting Town of Didsbury council consider formally appointing me as a representative for Didsbury to bring greetings on you behalf.”
There would be no budget implications aside from possible promotional items already purchased by the town, council heard.
Mayor Rhonda Hunter said Smith “will do us proud, I’m sure.”
RESPONSIBILITY POLICY UPDATED
Meanwhile, council has approved a number of updates to the existing town policy outlining committee roles and responsibilities.
The move also came during the recent regularly scheduled council meeting in council chambers.
Two changes are to the Meetings Section of town council policy 002. One addition to the section reads as follows:
“A council member is held to the same expectation as any council-appointed committee, board or commission; if three consecutive meetings are missed without authorization from council, the council member will be removed as the council-appointed committee, board or commission representative and replaced by the appointed alternate council representative for the remainder of the appointment term.”
A second change reads: “If extenuating circumstances have forced a council member to miss three consecutive meetings, council may, through resolution approve the re-appointment of the council member to the committee, board or commission.”
A change to the council reports section includes the addition of the following: “Committee members attending committee, commission and/or board meeting as the appointed council representatives or participating in conferences, educational, training and development courses and/or workshops shall provide a written report outlining the highlights of meeting, conference, course or workshop within two weeks for inclusion in the next regular council meeting.”
Councillors voted unanimously in support of the motion.
