COUNCILLOR Steve Morrissey was elected deputy mayor at the first extraordinary meeting of Richmond Valley Council on Tuesday, as two new councillors were welcomed by Mayor Robert Mustow.
The newly-minted Council elected Cr Morrissey unopposed to the position for 12 months. This will be the fourth successive year Cr Morrissey has held the position.
First-time councillors Patrick Deegan and Deb McGillan join Crs Sam Cornish, Sandra Duncan-Humphrys and Robert Hayes to fill the seven-seat council.
In this extraordinary meeting, all councillors took an oath or affirmation of office, which is a requirement under NSW legislation and is a public statement by each councillor, affirming their commitment to undertake their duties in the best interests of the people of the Richmond Valley.
Council also resolved to approve and adopt the Draft Community Engagement Strategy 2021-2022, which will be known as Our Big Conversation.
This strategy is a guiding framework to support development of the Community Strategic Plan in close consultation and collaboration with our local community. It will be implemented between January and June to inform the next Community Strategic Plan, which will be adopted at the June Council meeting.
Council will seek to ensure relevant opinions from a cross-section of the community are gathered. This means Council will proactively seek out the views of those whose voices are not often heard.
The Council meets at 6pm on the third Tuesday of each month in the Casino Council Chambers on Graham Place.
All meetings can be viewed on Council’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/RichmondValleyCouncil or the YouTube channel RVC Broadcast.
Business papers for all meetings are available from Council’s website on the Friday prior to the meeting. Those who wish to address the Council on any listed matter, or ask a question, can submit a request in writing, before 4.30pm on the Monday prior to the meeting.