The newly elected Cumberland council held its first meeting Monday night.
Mayor Leslie Baird, as well as councillors Vickey Brown, Jesse Ketler, Gwyn Sproule and Sean Sullivan were all sworn into office.
In her inaugural address, Baird expressed her enthusiasm to get started on Village projects with the new and returning councillors. She also discussed her recent meeting with Premier John Horgan on the weekend and his assurance that he would finally make it out to Cumberland.
The only newcomer to council, Brown, said she is excited to bring her volunteer experience to her work as a councillor.
“I’ve been active in the Village for 20 plus years,” she said. “I have a lot of experience with the non-profits in the community, as well as committees of the Village … A sustainable rate of growth for the Village is important to me – increasing our tax base via industrial development or light industrial development or commercial development so we’re not so reliant on residential tax base.”
Brown received the most votes out of all the councillors and said she does not take this lightly.
“I was surprised and honoured to get that kind of response from the community, and I take it really seriously,” she said. “I feel a huge sense of responsibility to the Village of Cumberland and the people who put their support behind me. I’m excited about the next four years and how I can make Cumberland even better.”
Members of council were appointed to the various committees and boards, including the Comox Valley Regional District board.
Ketler has been appointed as a CVRD director for a one year term, continuing until a successor is appointed. Sproule has been appointed as the alternate director.