Fall is finally here. The summer camper is stored for the winter. The children are back in school, and council is once again reviewing its yearly budgeting process.
This fall our community is also having a byelection. I would like to take this opportunity to shed some light on the position of town councillor.
As a member of this community who has been both town councillor and mayor, I can say it is an honour and a privilege to serve this community.
Being a member of council is more than just attending council and governance meetings. There are also several committees, and commissions, 29 in fact.
Several of these also require you to sit on subcommittees and ad hoc committees, some of which are daytime meetings and others are held in the evenings. There are also the aspects of intergovernmental relationships, which require meetings and conferences throughout the year.
The time commitment can be larger than one anticipates, so please be prepared. Outside the meetings there is an educational component; a number of reports and documents to read, interpret, and discuss, along with legislated governing acts and regulations that need to be understood.
I say this not to discourage anyone from running for the councillor position, but to ensure awareness of what is involved in truly representing this community.
I encourage anyone considering a nomination that may have questions, to come to the town office and speak with Dean Pickering, the town's chief administrative officer, or to me.
Thank you for considering being a part of the process that shapes our community - today and in the future.
