New Vernon city council sworn in

Cumming then gave his inaugural address, where he said he was committed to maintaining services in the city and following through on major projects started in the previous term, including the Active Living Centre, the Kin Race Track Athletic Park, the Cultural Centre, and the Grey Canal Trail.

He also acknowledged Scott Anderson leaving council, as he gave up his seat when he ran against Cumming for the mayoral position.

Cumming told Vernon Matters following the meeting, Anderson “was a committed councillor” during his eight years serving the city, adding he will be missed by lots of people.

Following the address and the reviewing of the agenda, Cumming appointed members to boards and committees.

Cumming, Fehr, Gares and Quiring were named directors to the Regional District of North Okanagan Board for 2022-23. Durning, Guy and Mund were named as alternates.

Cumming and Fehr would have weighted votes of five, while Gares and Quiring would have the equivalent of four votes.

Cumming, Guy and Mund were appointed as directors to the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee (GVAC) for 2022-23. Durning and Gares were named alternates.

Guy is the sole newcomer to Vernon council, and Cumming said his appointment to GVAC was intentional.

“[Guy] has a PHD in hydrology and two-thirds of Greater Vernon’s budget is in water. Brian is a water expert and really an expert in terms of water in the Okanagan, so it only made sense to quickly grab that expertise and add it to the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee which manages Greater Vernon water,” Cumming told Vernon Matters, adding he also had reasoning behind the other appointments made at Monday’s meeting.

“These are all seasoned councillors. They understand the issues, they know well what’s in front of us at the regional district. Same thing with the GVAC members. They’re all folks who understand what we need to do with our partners, our government partners, so each one of them is selected for their past history and capability to represent Vernon.”

Cumming also approved the Acting Mayors for the coming year.

Mund – December 2022, August 2023, December 2023
Quiring – January 2023, July 2023
Gares – February 2023, June 2023
Durning – March 2023, September 2023
Guy – April 2023, October 2023
Fehr – May 2023, November 2023

The 2023 Regular Council Meeting schedule was also approved at Monday’s meeting .

January 9 and 23, 2023
February 13 and 27, 2023
March 13 and 27, 2023
April 11 (Tuesday) and 24, 2023
May 8 and 23 (Tuesday), 2023
June 12 and 26, 2023
July 17, 2023
August 14, 2023
September 11 and 25, 2023
October 10 (Tuesday) and 23, 2023
November 6 and 27, 2023
December 11, 2023

The Nov. 6 meeting had originally been set for the 14th, but Cumming made a friendly amendment to have it moved.

Committee of the Whole meetings will be held the same day as regular council meetings.

A crowd of roughly 30 people was in attendance for the inaugural council meeting.

by Liam Verster

New Vernon city council sworn in

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