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New inter-municipal committee aims to improve communication

County of Barrhead councillors instruct admin to begin work on new bylaw to form a new joint committee with the town
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County of Barrhead reeve Marvin Schatz questioned the need for a bylaw in the creation of a new joint municipal committee during the Sept. 3 council meeting.

BARRHEAD - The County of Barrhead and its municipal counterpart believe that creating a new inter-municipal affairs committee (IAC) will improve communications between their prospective councils.

Councillors approved administration's recommendation during their Sept. 3 meeting, directing the county manager, Debby Oyarzun, to work with the Town of Barrhead's chief administrative officer (CAO), Edward LeBlanc, to form the committee consisting of all seven councillors from each community.

Following a recent meeting, the recommendation came from the Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework (ICF) members from both municipalities.

To avoid confusion and ensure the proposed committee and the one from the ICF, Oyarzun said the municipalities would need to draft similar bylaws establishing and defining the committee. 

She added that the committee would only have advisory status, and the individual councils would still be free to make decisions as they saw fit.

ICF agreements are established between neighbouring municipalities on various issues impacting both communities, such as recreation, shared water and sewer, and joint land planning. These agreements were made mandatory under the province's revised Municipal Government Act (MGA). 

The municipalities created the ICF committees early in 2020, noting members are appointed annually during the municipalities' organizational meetings. Currently, reeve Doug Drozd and Coun. Ron Kleinfeldt represent the county, while mayor Dave McKenzie and Coun. Don Smith represent the town.

"The purpose of the ICF committee is to serve as a recommending body on matters of strategic direction and cooperation," Oyarzun said, adding recent discussions have included investigating the potential of repurposing the Adult Distance Learning Centre (ADLC), eight Alberta Community Partnership (ACP) grant applications, discussions on partnering together for a joint safety codes accreditation program and how to support community halls better.

"The intent is to exchange information of mutual interest," she said. "We are in a unique situation in that the only urban centre in the County of Barrhead is the town. Most rural municipalities have multiple towns, summer villages, or other incorporated municipalities within their boundaries."

Reeve Doug Drozd supported the concept, saying that some years ago, the municipalities regularly held joint council meetings, usually focussing on joint budgetary items such as the Barrhead Regional Fire Services, the Barrhead Regional Landfill, and the Johnson Industrial Airport.

"That was the time we had to have those big, general discussions," he said, adding the meetings fell out of vogue several years ago.

However, he said it might be time to bring those meetings back in the form of an IAC.

"We want to identify and relay to the town the things that are really important to us, such as what we see coming down the pipe in terms of major projects, because that is where our attention and funds will turn," Drozd said.

Walter Preugschas agreed, saying he was excited when he saw the item on the council meeting agenda.

Deputy reeve Marvin Schatz questioned the need for a bylaw, saying they never had one when they held the joint council meetings.

"Why do we have to go through this whole process of bylaws, terms of reference, all that kind of stuff," he said. "[Council] hears so many times that [administration staff] does not have enough time or the capability to do something. Now we are adding another job that staff has to do. Is it really necessary?"

Oyarzun said a bylaw was required for the committee to be a standing council committee under the Alberta Municipal Government Act (MGA).

She added that staff would find the time saying the benefits would be worth the effort.

Drozd agreed, "We have one municipal partner. We should have an open communication channel and the ability to share information and strategize. It has to be more than just an informal meeting hallway conversation and have some structure around it so the work is productive. That is where a bylaw and terms of reference come into play."

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com


Barry Kerton

About the Author: Barry Kerton

Barry Kerton is the managing editor of the Barrhead Leader, joining the paper in 2014. He covers news, municipal politics and sports.
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