Qualicum Beach town council wrapped up its regular meeting Monday in what may be record time — 45 minutes.
At each meeting, councillors are given time to bring their counterparts and the public up to speed on what events they have attended and what’s happening on the various boards and committees they sit as town representative.
Or they take the time allotted to make a statement or ask a question. Here, in the order they spoke, is some of what was reported Monday night:
Mayor Teunis Westbroek attended St. Mark’s Anglican Church for the unveiling of the church’s new digital organ. “The place was packed and it was awesome,” said the mayor. “It’s another opportunity for us to enhance our cultural opportunities.”
Westbroek also paid tribute to Ocean Mile Swim co-founder Betty Breakwell, who died in August at the age of 90. The mayor recently attended services celebrating Breakwell.
Coun. Mary Brouilette spoke about a meeting she attended in regards to the new fire hall. “To me it looks like everything is moving along in a timely fashion,” she said. The public information meeting on the fire hall is scheduled for Nov. 13.
Brouilette said she also attended a Fire and Ice Festival planning meeting. The festival was cancelled last year but is slated to re-emerge in early 2014. “It’s going to be an an exciting event, a little different (than year’s past),” she said.
Coun. Bill Luchtmiejer attended, among other things, the event that had the Tour De Rock riders in the town square. He expressed disappointment at the poor turnout from the public and suggested the town do a better getting the word out. “It didn’t get the attention it deserved in this community,” said Luchtmeijer, while praising the work of Bailey In the Village staff and owners, who once again supplied food for the riders.
Coun. Scott Tanner reminded people Oceanside Place is celebrating 10 years and has a free public skate and some cake to follow on Saturday, Oct. 19. There’s free skating on the Pond from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and free skating on one of the big rinks from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Coun. Dave Willie said he attended Parksville city council Monday — its meetings start at 6 p.m., while Qualicum Beach council meetings start at 7 p.m. — to check out a new format where the public can ask questions or make comments before the meeting starts, something that happens at the end of Qualicum Beach meetings. Willie said he also wanted to check out the acoustics of the Parksville council chambers. Some Qualicum Beach residents have complained about what they can and cannot hear in that town’s council chambers.
“It (Parksville) has the worst acoustics anywhere, it’s really bad,” said Willie. “If you think it’s bad in here, go to a Parksville council meeting.”
