There’s a new advisory board under the umbrella of the Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc and that is the newly approved Strathroy-Caradoc Fire Services Advisory Board. This week at council, they authorized the Advisory Board to consist of the Fire Chief, three appointed council members and one citizen member appointed from Ward 1 and one from Ward 2. Deputy Mayor Mike McGuire explained to council the reasoning behind the creation of the board.
McGuire went on to clarify how this board would be different from the current Police board.
There was some push back from Ward 2 Councillors Derbyshire and Willsie to the point of asking why this board was even needed based on the fact that the Fire Chief reports to Council directly, to which Ward 1 Councillor Steve Pelkman responded.
Council approved to establish the advisory board with Councillors Willsie, Derbyshire and Pammer voting against it. Council also approved by majority that a Terms of Reference for the Advisory Board be established but come back to council first for approval before filling board vacancies, and that they authorize a Terms of Reference which may include but is not limited to a list of variables listed below. That motion passed with Councillors Derbyshire and Willsie voting against that motion as well.
Council authorize a Terms of Reference for the Strathroy-Caradoc Fire Services Advisory Board which may include but is not limited to the following:
a) The Strathroy-Caradoc Fire Services Advisory Board is an advisory board to the Chief of the Strathroy-Caradoc Fire Service and holds no authority over the Chief in operations or administration.
b) The Chief shall continue to report directly to Council.
c) The Strathroy-Caradoc Fire Services Advisory Board shall meet a minimum of 10 times per calendar year.
d) Minutes of the Board meetings shall be presented to Council per established policy of the Municipality.
e) The Strathroy-Caradoc Fire Services Advisory Board sits at the discretion of the Council and may be terminated at any time by resolution of Council.
f) The term for Board members shall be consistent with the term of Council.
g) A chair of the Board shall be elected by the Board members at their initial meeting in each term.
h) The mission of the Strathroy-Caradoc Fire Services Advisory Board is to provide community input to the Fire Chief for consideration during the development Fire services.
written by: C. Soares