Kamloops council to discuss deputy mayor role

Kamloops council’s plans to shape the deputy mayor role and formalize, in writing, its parameters is moving forward.

At its Jan. 31 meeting, council approved Coun. Dale Bass’ motion to have a working group struck, consisting of the first four deputy mayors of the term, to examine that role’s duties and codify the deputy mayor’s job description.

Those four councillors are Mike O’Reilly, Bill Sarai, Bass and Katie Neustaeter. Bass said the group won’t meet until Neustaeter, who is deputy mayor for February, has completed her month in that role.

City corporate officer Maria Mazzotta said there is currently nothing codified about the responsibilities expected of deputy mayors.

The group won’t involve Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson, Bass told KTW. She said its members intend to draft a basic job description of the deputy mayor role, get feedback from the remaining councillors and bring it back to a council meeting for consideration.

“It’s tidying up a procedure that’s sort of been ad hoc for a while,” Bass said, noting the motion stemmed from council’s Jan. 10 discussion regarding the deputy mayor’s role.

Following that meeting — a team building meeting that