ST. PAUL - The Town of St. Paul's newest council held its organizational meeting on Oct. 28, setting the groundwork for the next four years.
The evening meeting started with each council member taking the oath of office. Councillors swore to fulfil their roles and responsibilities, as defined by the Municipal Government Act.
The next item on the agenda was to appoint deputy mayors. Council agreed to appoint the deputy mayor position randomly, and based on eight-month periods.
The first deputy mayor will be Coun. Gary Ward, who will serve from Nov. 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022.
Coun. Norm Noel will serve in the deputy position from July 1, 2022, to Feb. 28, 2023. Then, Coun. Brad Eamon will serve as deputy mayor from March 1, 2023, to Oct. 31, 2023.
Coun. Nathan Taylor will serve as deputy mayor from Nov. 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. Coun. Ron Boisvert will follow, from July 1, 2024, to Feb. 29, 2025.
Coun. Sid Sood will then serve the last term from March 1, 2025, to Oct. 31, 2025. The next municipal election is scheduled to take place in October of 2025.
The annual general meeting date for the Town of St. Paul was also set at the organizational meeting. The public meeting will be held at the St. Paul Rec. Centre on May 18, 2022, at 7 p.m.
Council also set dates and times for regular meetings, which will remain the same, taking place in the evenings on the second and fourth Monday of the month.
Committee of the Whole meeting dates were not set, and will be reviewed by administration following a request by Taylor, who noted that the meetings sometimes conflict with Truth and Reconciliation meetings held in the community.
Administration was directed to look into the issue and prepare a few alternate dates.
"I think no matter what you do, it's going to affect somebody," said Ward, speaking to the issue. The motion to direct administration to review the date for Committee of the Whole meetings was carried.
During the meeting, administration also requested council set time aside in late November for a strategic planning and budgeting meeting with all department directors.
The goal of the meeting is to help council make informed decisions on the Operating and Capital budgeting process, and set priorities for the upcoming year.
Councillors were also appointed to a list of committees during the organizational meeting.
