In assigning themselves responsibilities with various boards and committees, town council has decided to move towards a “portfolio” method which places several similar responsibilities into one portfolio.
This method means there will be fewer meetings for council members, therefore it will be less costly, Mayor Nancy Brunt said last week.
Council adopted the committee assignments during its regular meeting on November 28.
In the administration portfolio, the committee of the whole council is responsible for employment related issues dealing with Occupational Health and Safety, negotiations and grievances in addition to financial-related items and the audit. The administrator and assistant administrator are the staff liaisons for the portfolio.
In protective services, Mayor Brunt is the council member responsible for the RCMP, Kamsack Volunteer Fire Department, bylaw enforcement and the Emergency Measures Organization. She is also responsible for fire hall facilities. The administrator is the staff liaison.
In environmental matters, Councillor Mark Foster is responsible for the former Northern Petroleum Corporation property, the Assiniboine Rural Pipeline Association, SERM (Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management) and the Assiniboine Watershed Authority. He is responsible for the facilities at the landfill, the lagoon, the waste treatment plant and the water tower. The town foreman is the staff liaison.
Councillors Claire Bishop and Maria Nahnybida are sharing the wellness portfolio and will be looking after issues relating to Eaglestone Lodge, the Assiniboine Valley Health and Wellness Foundation, medical services, the cemetery committee, the handibus and the Saulteaux Wellness and Healing organization. The administrator is the staff liaison.
Bishop and Nahnybida are also sharing responsibilities for cultural matters including the Garden of Saskatchewan Citizenship Ring, the Kamsack Library board and the Powerhouse Museum and are responsible for the facilities at the museum and the OCC Hall. For cultural matters, the recreation director is their staff liaison.
The infrastructure portfolio is being headed by Councillor Jason Pennell, who will be concerned with issues relating to the Northeast Municipalities Association, the Northeast Transportation Planning Committee and the Duck Mountain Provincial Park Advisory Board. He is responsible for facilities concerning roads and sidewalks and the public works shop.
Pennell has also taken on the job of regional issues including First Nations matters and the assistant administrator and administrator are his staff liaisons.
The planning and development portfolio has been taken on by Councillor Karen Koreluik, who will be concerned with the development appeals board, SEDA (Saskatchewan Economic Development Association), Duck Mountain Loans Association, Tourism Saskatchewan and Kamsack Economic Development Association. She is responsible for the facilities at Crowstand Centre. The administrator and assistant are her staff liaisons.
The recreation portfolio is the responsibility of Councillor Jared Ruf who will be concerned with the Kamsack Regional Recreation Complex committee, Riverside Golf Club and Duck Mountain ski area and will be responsible for facilities at the Broda Sportsplex, the sportsground and the Kamsack Swimming Pool. The recreation director is his staff liaison.
