It was a low key event as the newly elected village council held the inaugural meeting Monday night.
A group of about 10 people gathered to watch as new council members took the oath and held a brief meeting.
“Congratulations to the new and incumbent council members on their election. I am very much looking forward to working with you through this term,” Mayor Manfred Bauer said in his inaugural address. “There will be no time to rest. We have plenty of tasks and challenges ahead of us.”
Bauer, along with councillors Jason Wiebe, Jeremy Evans, Sherry Philpott-Adhikary and Arlene Arlow read aloud the oath of office in front of the CAO Laurie Taylor, village staff and about 10 audience members.
Bauer then presided over the first council meeting of the new term. The agenda was brief and included council appointments and a report on the official results from the election.
Mayor Bauer will act as the appointee on the Community Forest, Keremeos Irrigation District, Village of Keremeos – Water Advisory Committee, Liquid Waste, Similkameen Valley Planning Society and RCMP Liaison Committee. In accordance with the Local Government Act, Bauer was appointed as representative to the Regional District Okanagan Similkameen Board.
First time councillor Jason Wiebe was appointed to the Education on Substance Abuse Committee and Similkameen Country.
The other newcomer to council, Sherry Philpott-Adhikary, was appointed to the Okanagan Regional Library Board and named the school liaison.
Veteran councillor Jeremy Evans will be the village representative for the Garden Club and Recreation Commission.
Re-elected councillor Arlene Arlow was appointed to the Museum Society.
The first regular council meeting of this term is set for Dec. 15 when council will address the preliminary budget report.