Coun. Surinderpal Rathor was the only councillor in opposition to an appointment to the City’s Business Expansion and Attraction Strategy task force.
At Tuesday evening’s council meeting Rathor took issue with the appointment of Mayor Kerry Cook to the seven-member task force. Other appointees include: Tracy Gard, Williams Lake Chamber of Commerce; Sheila Mortensen, Williams Lake Central Business Improvement Area; Ray Sanders, Thompson Rivers University; Glen Holling, a RE/MAX real estate representative; Ross MacLean from Gibraltar Mines; and Coun. Geoff Bourdon. Rathor questioned Cook’s experience and current workload. He further queried the time of the first meeting — 7 a.m. Wednesday morning — and wondered what council thought the task force would accomplish given that it must report back to the newly elected council before the new year.
“If council can’t do much in three years what can this committee do?”
In support of Cook, Zacharias said she thought the mayor should take the lead on economic development.
“I think the mayor should take the lead on this. It is necessary and warranted and I think it’s a good choice.”
Cook said she was looking forward to working with the group, noting the members have “experience and expertise.”
She told councillors they were also welcome to attend the meetings.
The task force was created to assist council and staff with implementing the Williams Lake Assessment and Business Expansion and Attraction Strategy, which identifies specific business targets for expansion and attraction.
The appointees to the task force were approved with only Rathor in opposition.