Erin Haluschak
Record Staff
With a mix of new councillors and experienced ones representing the Town of Comox, six councillors along with Mayor Paul Ives officially took their oath of office Monday night during the inaugural meeting of council.
In his address to council along with friends and family members who filled council chambers, Ives congratulated the newly-elected members — former councillor Russ Arnott and Marg Grant — along with incumbents Ken Grant, Hugh MacKinnon, Barbara Price and Maureen Swift.
He also thanked former councillors Patti Fletcher and Tom Grant.
“As I noted on election night, this is all about trust — what the voters and residents of Comox place in us to serve their interest — but it is also about respect, honour and commitment that each of us as elected officials must demonstrate to each other and to our constituents in carrying out roles as leaders in our community,” said Ives.
He noted key focus areas for council within the next four years will be downtown vitalization, Marina Park enhancement, infrastructure maintenance, Mac Laing/Baybrook House and St. Joseph’s General Hospital.
Ives also added it is important to engage the public early and often on issues such as the upcoming strategic plan and financial budget processes, early in the new year.
“We also must continue to work on implementing the stated goals and objectives of our Official Community Plan and transportation study, Regional Growth Strategy and the Regional Sustainability Strategy,” he explained.
Ken Grant and Price —with alternatives Swift and Ives — were voted to represent the town at the Comox Valley Regional District board.
These positions were previously filled by Fletcher and Tom Grant.
Swift and Ives were voted to the Comox Strathcona Regional Solid Waste Management Board and Regional Hospital District Board.
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