Coaldale holds annual organizational meeting, swears in new deputy mayor

Posted on November 1, 2023 by Sunny South News

Southern Alberta Newspapers

Coaldale held its annual organizational meeting last week, swearing in Jordan Sailor as the Town’s newest deputy mayor.

The Oct. 23 organizational meeting and subsequent council meeting also saw the adoption of the new council meeting and event calendars, in addition to determining board and committee appointments.

These meetings are required, as per the Municipal Government Act (MGA) to take place annually.

According to a Town-issued release,  Lana Antony, Municipal Clerk for the Town of Coaldale said 2023 was the first year in which Administration presented Council with a comprehensive meeting and community event calendar.

“In the past, we would have Council adopt a calendar only for meetings and holidays. But with the adoption of a new communications strategy in April 2022, we decided to consolidate meetings, holidays, and Town events all into one calendar to ensure that everyone can stay on the same page about what’s happening and when,” Antony said.

The Oct. 23 council meeting saw the swearing in of Deputy Mayor, Jordan Sailor by Mayor Jack Van Rijn, RCMP Staff Sergeant Mike Numan.

Sailor will serve as deputy mayor for the following eight months, at which point a new council member will serve in the deputy mayor role as per the deputy mayor rotation, which was first instituted following the 2021 civic election.

The rotation allows council members to experience and participate in aspects of municipal governance in the deputy mayor position, which they may not have had insight into as councillors.

To date Coun. Jacen Abrey, Coun. Dale Pickering, and Coun. Jason Beekman have served in the role over the past 24 months.

During the organizational meeting appointments were also made to the following boards and committees:

The Barons-Eureka-Warner FCSS Board; the Chinook Arch Library Board, the Coaldale & District Chamber of Commerce, the Coaldale & District Handi-Ride Association; the Coaldale Library Board; the Gem of the West Museum Board; the Green Acres Foundation Board; the Highway 3 Twinning Development Association; and others.

Jack Van Rijn, Mayor of Coaldale said in the latest media release, “As is the case in many other municipalities throughout Alberta, key to good governance in Coaldale is maintaining a vibrant committees and boards system.”

He added, “These boards and committees are usually made up of a combination of Coaldale residents, members of Council, and sometimes other elected officials from neighbouring municipalities, and do much of the leg work when it comes to advancing local projects, planning events, and providing direction to not-for-profit organizations from which many of our residents benefit. By doing this important work, these boards and committees make Council’s job much easier and Coaldale a better place to live.”

The complete list of boards and committees can be found by visiting https://www.coaldale.ca/committees-boards.