At least four Williams Lake council members, the mayor and the chief administrative officer will attend a seminar for elected officials in Prince George next month. The training occurs once every three years, soon after elections, and offers workshops for newly-elected officials, but also for seasoned officials so they can obtain a deeper understanding of certain subjects, said Mayor Kerry Cook at the Tuesday, Jan. 10 council meeting.
“This is a great opportunity and I’m glad councillor (Danica) Hughes is able to attend,” Cook said.
The anticipated cost for each person to attend is $1,000, which Coun. Sue Zacharias suggested is cheaper than having to go to Vancouver.
Normally its held at the Coast, she added, but this year northern people are going to be able to go to Prince George, so it will involve less travel, and save the city money.
“I thought being in my second term I wouldn’t need to go, but when you look at the agenda topics that are coming up, there’s so much that changes from year to year. I think it’s prudent to go and keep up with what’s going on,” Zacharias said.
Coun. Geoff Bourdon echoed Zacharias’s comments and said he’s noticed over his last term in office that every day something is changing with municipalities over provincial law or other factors.
“It’s amazing, the impact some of these things can have on the city,” Bourdon said. “Information we pick up at a workshop could have an impact on the way we do things here so I’m glad to see as many people going as there are.”
Council unanimously approved a motion for travel and associated expenses for delegates to attend. Cook said the motion was coming before council now to take advantage of early-bird registration discounts.