In 2020, qathet Regional District will be establishing a finance committee.
At the committee of the whole meeting on Thursday, December 12, Electoral Area A director and qathet Regional District board chair Patrick Brabazon said each year in January, the chair announces which standing committees will exist, which is “pretty pro forma most of the time.”
He said, however, that he is going to establish another standing committee. He said the intent is to relieve some of the burden from the committee of the whole.
‘We’ve had some complaints from directors that the committee of the whole agenda runs far too long and it’s heavily loaded with items that could be dealt with elsewhere,” said Brabazon. “So, for 2020, in addition to the committee of the whole and planning committee, I will be establishing a new standing committee to address financial matters. It is hoped the committee will help alleviate the time pressures at the committee of the whole meeting at certain times of the year when financial matters are considered.”
Brabazon indicated with that said, the mandate of the finance committee will be to assist the board in fulfilling the responsibilities by reviewing and providing recommendations in relation to the regional district financial plan, as well as additional financial considerations. He added that members of the committee will be all members of the assembly for qathet Regional District.
“It will be a new committee and the subject matter will be restricted to financial plans and basically anything to do with finances,” said Brabazon. “It will meet separately from the committee of the whole.”
Committee of the whole chair and Electoral Area D director Sandy McCormick said that was very good news.
Brabazon had originally scheduled the finance committee meetings for Thursdays, once a month, but City of Powell River director George Doubt said it would create a conflict for city directors, who have city council meetings on the same day as the finance committee meetings were proposed. The committee voted to hold meetings on Wednesdays at 4 pm rather than on Thursdays.
Meetings have been scheduled for January 22, February 19, March 18, June 17, November 18 and December 16.
