By Andrea Arnold
McBride Mayor Gene Runtz called the March 14, 2023 council meeting to order at 7:00pm.
Community market space
Council approved the use of Steven Kolida Park pavilion for the McBride Community Market. The market is held every Friday from June 23rd – Sept 1st from 11:00am – 2:00pm. The approval is contingent on receipt of a Certificate of Insurance.
Code of Conduct
Council approved the existing Council Code of Conduct Policy AD19 without making any adjustments. The policy covers the expectations that council members must uphold to perform their jobs in an honest, transparent, fair, respectful and collaborative manner, while maintaining no conflict of interest be it perceived or otherwise. The policy was approved by the previous council in January 2022, and the community charter states it must be presented to the new council within six months of their first meeting. Mayor Runtz said that when the policy was presented in 2022 he thought it was very well done and covered everything it needed to. During the short discussion that followed, the Councillors agreed that the document looked good, and was acceptable as-is. They also agreed with the mayor that it covered all the points needed.
Zoning amendment
Council received the Cannabis Retail Stores update to the planned zoning bylaw amendments report. They approved the first step to amend the bylaw. The amendment adds Cannabis Use Regulations as a subsection under general permitted uses. The subsection states: Cannabis Retail establishments are permitted in Core Commercial (C-1) and Highway Commercial (C-2) zone. However, it also states that no primary public entry to a cannabis retail store shall be located within 150 metres of a parcel boundary of a public elementary or secondary school. Staff will bring the amended bylaw before Council at a future meeting for first and second reading. A public hearing will be scheduled prior to the third and final reading, and adoption.
Signing authority update
Council removed former Counc. Diane Smith and former CAO and current CAO advisor Chris Tupy as signing officers on Scotiabank signing-authority packages. Tupy was also removed as signing officer for Municipal Finance Authority banking investment purposes and the corporate credit card.
Council authorized that Director of Finance Sandra Salt be added as a signing officer to the corporate credit card in addition to remaining as a signing officer on all Village of McBride Scotiabank signing authority packages and Municipal Finance Authority banking investment purposes.
In-camera
Council proceeded to an in-camera council meeting for the consideration of matters of the community charter related to Section 90 (1): (a) personal information about an identifiable individual who holds or is being considered for a position as an officer, employee or agent of the municipality or another position appointed by the municipality; and (k) negotiations and related discussions respecting the proposed provision of a municipal service that are at their preliminary stage and that, in the view of the council, could reasonably be expected to harm the interests of the municipality if they were held in public.
The public portion of the meeting was adjourned at 7:27pm.
