centralcoastbc.com Home Central Coast Membership Search Contact Info communities Bella Bella Bella Coola Dawsons Land. Denny Island Duncanby Land. Firvale Hagensborg Klemtu Namu Ocean Falls Oweekeno Tallheo Stuie		How does the board operate? The way the board operates is governed first by the Municipal Act, second by the Board's own procedures bylaw and finally by Robert's Rules of Order. The Chairperson and Vice-chairperson of the Board are elected at the inaugural meeting held in early December each year. The term is until the next inaugural meeting but the Board members may vote in a new Chairperson at any time during the year. Committees Six major committees have been created by the Board: Bella Coola and Denny Island Recreation Commissions, Economic Development Commission, Swimming Pool Commission Bella Coola and Denny Island Airport Commissions. In addition, there are a number of special purpose committees that have been created, such as the Pool Fundraising Committee and the Emergency Planning Committee. The Board also appoints representatives to other organizations such as the Vancouver Island Regional Library Board and the Municipal Finance Authority. The Chairperson determines which directors sit on which committee and the Board ratifies the list at the January Board meeting. The major committees have had certain powers delegated to them. They have the authority to make decisions and spend money provided that it is in the budget. Many of the other committees make recommendations to the Board but do not have power to act. Voting Every Director at a board meeting must vote for or against a resolution or bylaw. Abstentions count as a yes vote. To deal with a proposed change in permitted land use, staff accepts applications from property owners and drafts the appropriate reports and bylaws. The bylaws are presented to the Board for first reading and then are referred to a number of agencies, such as the Ministries of Highways, Environment and Health, for their comments. After they respond, a public hearing is held where members of the public as well as the applicant can speak. The Board then gives the bylaw second reading when the bylaw can be amended, if desired. At the same meeting, the Board gives the bylaw third reading. The Minister of Municipal Affairs is asked to give his consent to the bylaw after which the Board can adopt it. Note that at any point along this process the Board can say "no" to the proposed change in land use. A pamphlet regarding the approvals process for zoning applications has been inserted at the back of the Director's Manual. Conflict of Interest From time to time Board members may find themselves in conflict of interest. An obvious example is where a member of the Director's family is bidding on a contract with the Regional District to provide a service to the Regional District. In that case, the Director should leave the Board meeting while the matter is being discussed. In addition, the Director should not try to influence other Directors while they are making up their mind. In other words, stay out of entire decision making process!! Other issues may come up where the conflict is not so obvious. To be safe, if as a Director you even think you might have a conflict of interest, act as though you are in conflict and remove yourself from the issue. back