Coldstream’s new leaders ready for change

By Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star Published: December 02, 2008

Coldstream’s new council has some fresh ideas about how things should be done around town. The new council members, consisting of Mayor Jim Garlick and councillors Maria Besso, Pat Cochrane, Doug Dirk, Richard Enns, Bill Firman and Gyula Kiss, were sworn into office Monday as a packed audience applauded them. While residents may not always agree with the new council, Garlick is confident each member will do their best. “I’m happy to be in this position and I’m proud to be working together with this group of councillors. I think they will do a great job for us.” As they prepare to lead the community over the next three years, Garlick is keen on seeing more community involvement. “What I’d like to see in the future is the idea of setting up more committees.” There should be enough so each councillor is responsible for a different area of the community, says Garlick.Like the existing committees, Garlick says people from the public should be pulled in to offer their expertise. It will also offer the public another avenue to let council hear its thoughts.

A definite change in Coldstream will be the number of council meetings held in Lavington. Council used to hold two meetings a year in Lavington, but low attendance changed that to one. “Why don’t we try it again?” asked Firman. Therefore, along with a Sept. 14 meeting in Lavington, one will be scheduled in March. Those meetings are also being moved to the Lavington Fire Department, versus the former Lavington Elementary venue. “It’s very difficult to hear in that building,” said Kiss of the school gymnasium.

Another change to how things are run comes with the mayor’s appointments. Garlick believes every member of council should serve on the finance committee, compared to traditionally just the mayor and three members of council serving on the committee. His other appointments are as follows: North Okanagan Regional District and Greater Vernon Advisory Committee – Dirk (alternate Kiss), Okanagan Regional Library – Besso (alternate Cochrane), Advisory Planning Commission – Enns (alternate Besso), Fire Department Liaison – Garlick (alternate Dirk), Traffic Safety Committee – Cochrane (alternate Firman). For the ad hoc appointments: Public Works Facility Committee – Kiss (alternate Cochrane), Agricultural Advisory Committee – Besso (alternate Enns), Kalavista Neighbourhood Committee – Garlick (alternate Enns).

Each of the councillors will also serve a six-month period as acting mayor. “If I get hit by a bus or anything you guys get to sit up here and chair the meetings,” said Garlick. To prepare each councillor for the next three years ahead of them, most will be attending a training seminar in mid-February.“It’s worthwhile, I’d like to see all of council go,” said Garlick.