Sundre council recently approved a bylaw to establish a new subdivision and development appeal board in compliance with provincial rules.
"Council must, by bylaw, appoint and approve a subdivision and development appeal board,” CAO Linda Nelson told elected officials during the Feb. 5 meeting.
There are also a couple of changes that have been incorporated in the bylaw, including the appointment of a clerk to the appeal board as well as training, she said.
"The training requirements come into force and effect in April of 2018. However, we have a full year to accomplish the training, so we would like to pass the bylaw as is with the understanding that the training will be complete by April of 2019.”
Coun. Cheri Funke moved the bylaw’s first reading, which council carried. Coun. Charlene Preston then moved the bylaw’s second reading, initiating a round of discussion.
Seeking clarification on the appointment of the clerk, Coun. Richard Warnock inquired about the process to select an appropriate person to assume that role.
"Is it appointed by the town council or is it appointed by the bylaw?” he asked administration.
Nelson answered that the appointment will be a designated officer position.
"So within this bylaw, we are asking to establish the position of the clerk for the subdivision and development appeal board as a designated officer, and then I would appoint a person — one of my staff members — to be the clerk for the board,” she said.
Funke asked her colleagues if they remembered in previous discussions whether they had agreed to a board of five or seven members.
While a couple of other members of council seemed to be under the impression that seven had been discussed, no final decision had been made. Nelson said the bylaw could be amended to reflect an appeal board that consists of seven members instead of five.
"I want that changed to seven,” said Funke.
"We’ll change that in the terms of reference,” said Nelson.
Preston’s motion to proceed with second reading carried, followed by Warnock’s motion to present third reading, which also carried before the third and final reading was carried unanimously. Council also carried a motion to approve the bylaw’s terms of reference.
