A month on from the B.C. local elections, new mayor of Fernie Nic Milligan has been getting his feet under the table and learning the ropes of the role.
“I wont say I’m feeling settled yet – there’s lots to learn and lots of processes to understand,” he said.
“I’m excited to have the council I do, it’s a good mix of old and new experience, and new perspectives.”
Since taking office on November 3, Milligan has chaired his first council meeting (November 14), attended three days of Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) board meetings as the representative from Fernie, and along with other councillors been brought up to speed by city staff on what each department at the City of Fernie is focusing on – which alone is a very time-consuming part of the process given what’s on the city’s plate.
“The staff has been incredibly supportive.”
He said that with more knowledge of what goes on behind the curtains at City Hall, his first initial goals going into the role remained the same – being opening up council chambers further to the public, with the proposal to come before the Committee of the Whole meeting on November 21.
“One thing I think myself and particularly the new councillors feel, and probably the incumbent councillors remember, is the feeling of wanting to get going on things, but it’s a very process-driven organization.”
Milligan said that the process-driven aspect of city operations hadn’t tempered his own goals or changed anything about his expectations, but he asked for locals to give him and the city their patience in affecting change.
“Our commitments remain the same.”
READ MORE: Fernie elects Nic Milligan as mayor
scott.tibballs@thefreepress.ca
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