M
embers of the new regional district board of directors underwent a day of orientation on Dec. 15, ending the day with a short inaugural regular board meeting that saw most of the directors swear an oath of office.
In an unusual move, Princeton council elected to send councillor Frank Armitage to the board instead of newly elected mayor Fred Thomas.
Alternate directors were also sworn in last Thursday. Alternate director for Area “B,” Ernie Marven, was not available for the ceremony and will be sworn in at a later date.
Board chair and other appointments also took place last Thursday. Penticton Director Dan Ashton was returned by acclamation to the position of board chair, with Summerland Director Mark Pendergraft winning the vice chair position in a coin toss, after a ballot revealed a 50 -50 split between Pendergraft and Oliver rural councillor Alan Patton.
An anticipatory borrowing bylaw was passed to allow the regional district to finance itself until the 2012 budget was approved in the new year. Another bylaw that amended a previous bylaw to fund the Frank Vanables auditorium in Oliver prior to it burning down was also introduced and passed during the session.
Appointments to the hospital board saw Summerland Director Janice Perrino win in a ballot between herself and Penticton Director Gary Litke.