Village council met for a light agenda at a regular meeting of council on Monday, September 19.
Correspondence included a proclamation request from the Recycling Council of B.C. to declare October 17- 23 as waste reduction week in Canada.
Council relied on a couple of members of the gallery to make the proclamation request.
The Village of Slocan’s council recently passed a resolution to support the City of New Westminster’s resolution to have the Union of British Columbia Municipalities call on the province to restore funding to the Heritage Branch budget, and to implement Hertige BC’s call for renewal of provincial heritage programs.
Council moved to support Slocan’s resolution.
Council accepted a recommendation from the Committee of the Whole to contribute $250 towards a retirement gift to outgoing village treasurer Louise Johnson, with Councillor Bauer the only one opposed.
I’ve looked into this issue,” he told council, “in most cases, gifts are funded through employee sponsored collections. It’s unusual to do this.”
A traffic analysis of 12th Avenue revealed few concerns. Councillor Minshull noted that parking under the trees in Pine Park was limiting 12th Avenue width, and recommended that staff put signs up indicating no parking.
During the councillor’s committee reports, Councillor Bauer announced his intention to run for the mayor’s position in the upcoming municipal election.
Council gave the regional district consent to the adoption of the regional district’s smoke control bylaw. Discussions centred around the edict’s lack of inclusion, vagueness, taxation method, and fears of over regulation. It was generally agreed that the bylaw was an important step towards reducing locally created smoke, and council gave its consent unanimously.
Council also pondered an employee service recognition policy. Discussed during the previous week’s Committee of the Whole, further discussion failed to change any of the councillors’ minds.
Councillor Bauer noted that there were other non financial ways council could show appreciation for employee service, reiterating that in most workplaces such policies are employer funded.
“We should stay away from taxpayers money,” he advised.
Councillors Minshull and Despot disagreed, expressing belief that long term employees should be recognized.
“At $15 per year, it is not significant,” stated Mayor Despot. “I’m quite comfortable with it.”
“It’s not the amount, it’s the principle,” Bauer objected, to no avail, as the policy passed by four to one, with Bauer singularly opposed.
Three properties went up for tax sale on September 26. Council appointed CAO Laurie Taylor to act as the village’s representative should the village wish to place a bid.
A bylaw to amend the Property Maintenance Bylaw was the last item of business for the evening, which carried unanimously.