Rimbey town council and staff spent an informative day last Saturday learning how to best do their part to serve the community in which they have been elected to serve.
Council met with Transitional solutions Inc. senior executive Donna Tona and CAO Kevin Robins in an all day workshop held at the council chambers.
Mayor Rick Pankiw said the session was an excellent opportunity to learn about the basic rules of municipal politics.
“We learned a lot of basics like what happens in the event of a tie and how to address each other in council.
“I would just like to be addressed as Rick, but apparently it is supposed to be Mr. Mayor or Your Worship. It can’t just be Rick.”
Pankiw said he learned that he is required to vote at all times and not just vote to break a tie.
The session also dealt with budgeting and the importance of not micro-managing.
“It was very good. I feel like we are going in a lot more informed. I’m feeling more comfortable since we had the session.”
Tona, who grew up in Rimbey, sees the town as a municipality with great potential.
“It has a huge trading area. It is becoming more well known and it is in a good location,” she said in an earlier interview.
In an earlier information session, Tona stressed councillors need to remember they are a team and have to follow the rules set out in the municipal government act.
She said the word transparent is often overused, adding councillors need to explain to their constituents they will be as honest as possible and divulge as much information as legally possible, but land, legal and personnel issues need to be discussed in-camera (behind closed doors). Constituents may not always understand council’s actions and councillors need to be willing to explain their position as best they can, she said.