A few months into their terms, first-time West Shore councillors are slowly adapting to their new roles as elected officials.
Coming from all walks of life, those seeking to become elected officials and oversee their communityB次元官网网址檚 goings-on have to adapt to a whole new world once elected. While the learning curve is steep, there are people and organizations making it easier.
First time councillor Karen Burns says that she feels a sort of reversal from her role as a B次元官网网址渃itizen advocate,B次元官网网址� now that sheB次元官网网址檚 been elected to represent the people of Highlands.
In her public role prior to being elected, which was advocating for groundwater protection, water conservation strategies, education and environmental sustainability, she says she had freedom, but no power.
B次元官网网址淏ut as a councillor,B次元官网网址� she says, B次元官网网址淚 have a little power but no freedom, because I have to fairly represent all the citizens of the Highlands.B次元官网网址�
She was also surprised at how much work it would be.
B次元官网网址淓ven for a small community like ours,B次元官网网址� she says, B次元官网网址淚 routinely spend a day reading, researching and getting ready for council or committee of the whole meetings. I have also spent about 30 hours in meetings to learn how to be a councillor and strategic planning for the district.
Leslie Anderson, another first-time Highlands councillor, says that while the learning curve is certainly steep, there are many resources available to elected officials to make the transition to public life easier.
B次元官网网址淚 knew it would be quite a lot of work to get up to speed,B次元官网网址� Anderson says, B次元官网网址渁nd I still managed to underestimate the time required, somewhat.B次元官网网址�
She says that although she still has B次元官网网址渁 ways to go before [she] will have a really good handle on all of the processes, information and history necessary to be really effective in this position,B次元官网网址� she feels that because of the multitude of resources available, sheB次元官网网址檚 been able to gain a functional understanding of the job much more quickly than she might have otherwise.
One of those resources is the Local Government Leadership Academy (LGLA) orientation sessions that were held this January in Parksville.
The LGLA was formed after a 2005 review by the Union of BC Municipalities which found there was a lack of education and training available to local elected officials, and were granted $1-million to form an academy to remedy that situation and improve the competencies needed to effectively manage and lead B.CB次元官网网址檚 communities.
The LGLA orientation is like a B次元官网网址淢unicipal Politics Boot Camp,B次元官网网址� according to Burns.
B次元官网网址淲e had breakfast at 7 a.m., started our sessions at 7:30 a.m. and ended at 4:30 p.m. or so, with additional sessions at night,B次元官网网址� she says, adding that there were also B次元官网网址渕eet and greetsB次元官网网址� in the evenings, but she was usually too tired from the day of classes to put in more than a B次元官网网址渢oken appearance.B次元官网网址� She did, however, get a chance to pick the brain of many councillors from all over the Island and says it was an excellent learning experience.
The three-day gathering sees the elected officials B次元官网网址� both rookies and veterans B次元官网网址� go through classes in meeting procedures, funding programs, the roles and responsibilities of various municipal officials and staff members, bylaws and resolution implementation, the relationships between municipalities and other level of government and budgeting public funds, just to name a few of the topics covered.
The consensus, however, seems to be that new councillorsB次元官网网址� greatest asset is the ability to lean on the veterans in the room and around the region.
B次元官网网址淛umping in alongside an amazing group of strong colleagues has taken the steep learning curve and made it easier, thus really making the experience stimulating and intriguing,B次元官网网址� says yet another first-time Highlands councillor, Gord Baird.
B次元官网网址淚 feel very fortunate to be working with a team that is aiming to be thoughtful and constructive,B次元官网网址� Anderson agrees. B次元官网网址淚t is allowing each of us to gain our footing much more quickly. I am very appreciative of the support from staff and B次元官网网址榲eteranB次元官网网址� councillors here in the Highlands as well as from other municipalities.B次元官网网址�
