Summerland municipal council will continue having a deputy mayor position, with Coun. Erin Trainer remaining in the role.
At the Nov. 4 meeting, members of council reviewed the position.
In November 2022, after the present council was sworn in, Mayor Doug Holmes made his first motion to have a deputy mayor working by his side. The role came with an extra $600 a month stipend.
Erin Trainer, who had been re-elected to her third term on council, was appointed to the position. In the election, Trainer received 2,193 votes, more than any other council candidate on the ballot.
Members of council said the role has worked well for Summerland.
鈥淭he relationship has worked well,鈥� said Coun. Adrienne Betts. 鈥淎t this time, I鈥檓 happy with how it鈥檚 going with our council.鈥�
She added that while the role works effectively at present, she wants to have the opportunity to make changes in the future, if it does not work as well.
Coun. Doug Patan said continuing the role in the future depends on the future mayor and council, and whether they wish to keep the role.
Coun. Richard Barkwill also said the success of the position depends on the people in the mayor and deputy mayor roles.
Coun. Janet Peake said the deputy mayor role is important support to the mayor. 鈥淚 think the role of mayor is more difficult than it used to be,鈥� she said.
However, instead of having one person in that role, she would like to see it as a one-year term, filled by members of council on a rotating basis.
鈥淚t is not a character reference; it鈥檚 to talk about how the role is put through as part of the structure of council,鈥� she said.
Holmes, who introduced the position, does not support the idea of a rotating deputy mayor role.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got a good thing going," he said. "Let鈥檚 just keep it going."
He added that he and Trainer represent different demographics and bring different skills to the council position.
鈥淭he benefit isn鈥檛 just to me; it鈥檚 to all of us on council,鈥� he said.
Trainer was not present for the discussion on the deputy mayor position.
