Newmarket council appoints members to several town committees

YorkRegion.com
Jan. 12, 2015
Chris Simon

With a new term comes new responsibilities.

Newmarket council members received appointments to several town committees during a meeting last month. Here's a breakdown of the committees and boards council members have committed to for the 2014-2018 term:

• Appointment — Mayor Tony Van Bynen, councillors Christina Bisanz and Jane Twinney
• Accessibility advisory — Bisanz
• Central York Fire Services joint council — Councillors Tom Hempen, Joe Sponga and Twinney
• Heritage Newmarket advisory — Hempen
• Newmarket Public Library — Councillors Kelly Broome-Plumley, Tom Vegh and Sponga
• Main Street District Business Improvement Area — Sponga
• SmartCommute Central York — Broome-Plumley

Councillors who were appointed to ongoing task forces, like VivaNext Implementation Strategy and Old Town Hall Construction Budget Control, will remain in those seats, while Councillor Dave Kerwin volunteered to act as council liaison on the Seniors' Meeting Place board.

Council also suspended all committees that are not required to meet to fulfill statutory duties, pending the results of a structural review.

All residents currently sitting on town boards and committees, who are holdovers from the 2010-2014 term, will be asked to stay in those roles until successors are appointed.

"We're looking for resident volunteers to serve on some of these committees," Regional Councillor John Taylor said, noting deadline for submitting an application is Jan. 23.

The municipality will host an open house on committee and board participation at town hall Jan. 14, from 7 to 9 p.m.

“It’s so important to have representation from engaged citizens throughout Newmarket on these committees,” town clerk Andrew Brouwer said. “Residents have a real chance to give their input, assist council and make a difference in Newmarket, so we strongly encourage anyone interested to get involved.”

SIDEBAR

For more information on town committees, visit newmarket.ca or call 905-895-5193.