By Andrea Arnold
McBride Council met for their regular meeting Oct. 8th, 2019. The meeting was called to order at 7:01pm by Mayor Gene Runtz. Also present for the meeting were council members Lucille Green, Diane Smith, Allan Frederick, Rosemary Hruby and CAO Sheila McCutcheon
Council received a report regarding the Caribou Herd Planning Committee. The initial meeting is scheduled for Thursday October 24, 2019. Council expressed pleasure at the variety of experiences and ages represented within the committee.
Council passed a motion approving expenses for Councillor Frederick’s attendance at the community meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture on Thursday October 3, 2019 in Prince George. Mayor Runtz also attended, but declined the expense reimbursement as he was in town on other business as well.
Council passed motions to approve expenses for Councillor Green to attend the 2019 BC’s Affordable Housing Conference in Vancouver November 16-19, as well as the expenses for all of council to attend the 2020 North
Central Local Government Association AGM & Convention in May.
Council passed a motion to cover Mayor Runtz’s expenses involved in his attending the Planning Wildfire Resilient communities in British Columbia Outreach and Engagement Workshop on Monday October 21, 2019 in Smithers, BC.
Council approved the motion to temporarily close Holdway Street from 1st to 2nd Ave on November 29, 2019 from 3:00pm to 2:00am on November 30, 2019 for the 2019 Bung Bung Show and Shine.
Council passed a motion to receive a report regarding the Village of McBride Permissive Tax Exemption. Currently only churches fall under this category. The report examines the possibility of including other non-profit groups who own land. This would mean a change to the current bylaw.
Council passed a motion endorsing the application for a nominal rent tenure application over Horseshoe (Dominion) Creek for the purpose of legal access to the Village’s sewer lagoons. The Village must apply to the Crown under the Community Institutional Land Policy. This policy enables the use and disposition of Crown land for health, education, public safety, community infrastructure and public facilities that benefit the public at large.
In November of 2018, Council decided on delegates and alternates for council committees and Council appointed community liaison positions. It was not stated at the time what the length of each term would be.
Administration is seeking clarification, and if any of the positions will not continue for the four-year term, then a new delegate/alternate can be selected. At this time, the mayor asked Council to consider if any positions interested them. Administration was directed to resubmit the matter on the agenda for the October 22, 2019 meeting.
Council adjourned at 7:40pm.
