The Strathcona Regional District is moving forward with adoption of a regional fire administration support service that would provide assistance to the various fire departments in the Regional District.
There was little discussion and no opposing votes at the May 10th SRD Board meeting.
Continue reading SRD moving forward with Regional Fire Service
The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) centralized fire administration support service may be a lot less controversial than expected.
Regional Director Gerald Whalley, of Area A, was originally opposed to the idea of a centralized fire service. At the April 26 Board meeting he said, “I have come to support this. I think it’s a good idea. I think it’s going to save us all money.”
Chair Mark Baker, who is also the Mayor of Sayward, added, “Just to let y’all know, I support this 100%. However, I do have to bring this back to my council. I’ve discussed it with the CAO just here. But without having this information prior to our council meeting, that was a week ago. I do have to bring it back, but I do fully support it.”
Continue reading SRD considering a ‘shopping list’ approach for centralized fire serviceOne of the biggest stories coming out of the SRD may be the way the new Electoral Areas Services Committee (EASC) seems to be working together. It has only been a little more than five months since the election, but the deep personal divisions that were so apparent in the previous EASC are not there, at least not yet. Cortes Currents asked our two local Discovery Island Directors about this.
Mark Vonesch, Regional Director of Cortes Island, said, “I wasn’t involved in the last administration, but there is a lot of teamwork between the Rural Directors. We talk a lot. We don’t agree on everything, but we have relationships where we feel comfortable sharing our ideas and our thoughts and reflecting on each other’s ideas. Generally there’s a lot of cohesiveness and support for getting things done in our own communities.”
Continue reading How the EASC Committee is working togetherThe Strathcona Regional District (SRD) is applying to have its name added to the list of Regional Districts that can make special votes on urgent matters.
This provincial regulation states that the SRD must make reasonable attempts in writing, by phone or electronic means to ‘ensure that each Director entitled to vote has the opportunity to do so.’ There is no need for a quorum. When necessary, resolutions and bylaws can be passed even if only the Chairperson and one other Director are voting. The results of this vote are to be reported at the next Board meeting.
Continue reading SRD applying for authority to suspend normal voting procedures during emergencies
The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) Board passed a resolution to write a letter instructing Sadhu Johnston, President of the Cortes Island Fire Fighting Association (CIFFA), that his communications with them should come through Chief Administration Officer David Leitch.
The SRD has not renewed the Cortes Fire Department’s 5 year contract, and instead has them on a month to month basis.
Johnston requested a meeting with Leitch last month but, as he explained to Cortes Currents earlier this week, still has not had the opportunity.
“We’re not wedded to the way it is, but we don’t really want decisions to be made behind closed doors without the community being able to know about them and have a say. If governance is going to be taken away from Cortes and the decision making for firefighting service is going to be taken away from Cortes, it would be really nice to know that and to be able to be a part of that dialogue,” he said.
Continue reading Cortes Island Fire Department instructed all communication with the SRD must come through CAO David Leitch
