qathet Regional District Electoral Area C director Clay Brander has been re-elected as chair of the regional board.
At the November 6 regional board meeting, Brander was nominated as chair, along with City of Powell River director Cindy Elliott. Secret ballots were handed out, and after they were counted, corporate officer Michelle Jones declared Brander the winner.
After taking the chair, Brander thanked the directors and said he appreciated the confidence the directors had put in him, and that he looked forward to another successful year.
Shortly after Brander’s election, former city director George Doubt appeared before the board to say his parting comments. Doubt has resigned his seat on the regional board.
Doubt said he had been a city director for six years.
“I went home from the last meeting and I thought that it was a long day, and a long week, and it has been a long six years,” said Doubt. “I looked at the agenda for the city council meeting that was coming up the next day and I thought it was time for some new blood. It’s time to pass the torch to someone else.
“The city has chosen a new person to be a delegate representing the municipality.”
Doubt said he didn’t want to go without saying goodbye. He said he brought his respects to chair Brander and all the directors and all the staff.
“I actually enjoyed it all the time,” said Doubt. “Some of the days have been really long, and some of the debates have been tough to go through, but we have always come to decisions. I’ve always respected the other people at the table and appreciated the work that staff does.
“I wanted to come today to say a proper goodbye, to say I’ve enjoyed it. I’m sure I might come here again someday to complain about what you are doing,” which elicited a laugh from those around the board table.
Brander said he thought he could speak on behalf of the regional board and the staff that they had appreciated the time that Doubt had put in.
“You’ve been a calming and organizing voice on the board,” said Brander. “I have found you to be extremely valuable and I’m very glad I had the chance to work with you for six years.”
Doubt said he understands why the regional district blocks all its meetings into Wednesdays, but he found, as a municipal director, it was an incredibly difficult amount of work.
“Thank you for the experience,” said Doubt. “I’ve appreciated it.”
The board then reviewed correspondence from City of Powell River deputy corporate officer Jessica Walls, which outlined the composition of the city’s regional directors going forward. The correspondence indicated that city councillor Rob Southcott would be serving as Doubt’s replacement on the regional board, carrying with him four weighted votes. Elliott will remain as a regional director, with four weighted votes.
Councillor Trina Isakson is Elliott’s alternate, and an alternate for Southcott has yet to be named.
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