By rdnewsNOW Staff

Community Service Opportunity

Ponoka citizens invited to apply for new council advisory committee positions

Jul 13, 2021 | 3:14 PM

Following a review and restructuring of its Council Advisory Boards and Committees, the Town of Ponoka is inviting citizens who want to actively engage in their community to serve as volunteers on the following Advisory Committees to Council:

• Community Enhancement Committee – This newly-created Committee merges the functions of the Town’s Parks, Recreation and Culture Advisory Committee, Economic Development Board and Heritage and Downtown Revitalization Committee. This committee’s mandate includes strengthening recreational opportunities for Ponoka citizens; considering and recommending initiatives that support the Town’s strategic priorities for growth and economic health; and considering ideas to enhance and redevelop the downtown.
• Police Advisory Committee – This Committee continues in its current role as a valuable resource to Council. Its mandate includes providing advice and recommendations to council on community safety and crime prevention matters to help foster and maintain a safe and secure community; providing input on the development of the local RCMP’s annual priorities and strategies for municipal policing; and acting as a liaison between local citizens, Town Council, the local RCMP and the Town’s Chief Administrative Officer.

The new committees take effect on September 1, 2021. Committee memberships are for a two-year term and the committees meet a minimum of four times per year.

“Council values the skills and talent that our volunteers bring to our Advisory Committees. We encourage all citizens to consider serving on these committees. It’s a great way to contribute to our community and to help make Ponoka an even better place to live,” said Ponoka Mayor Rick Bonnett, in a press release.

The purpose of the boards and committees review which was conducted earlier this year, say Town officials, was to ensure that Council Advisory Committees align with council’s strategic priorities.

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“The new committee structure that is now being launched also eliminates overlap of roles and responsibilities between the committees to help ensure the best use of volunteer time,” added Bonnett.

The new committee structure includes the creation of a Priorities and Initiatives Committee that will provide oversight and monitor the progress of council’s Strategic Plan. All members of council will sit on this committee.

With the restructuring of Council Advisory Committees, the following committees are being retired:

• Economic Development Board
• Heritage and Downtown Revitalization Committee
• Parks, Recreation and Culture Advisory Committee
• Utilities and Environmental Committee

All existing memberships on these committees, as well as the current Police Advisory Committee, will expire by August 31, 2021.

“I would like to sincerely thank all of our volunteers who have served on these committees for their valuable contributions to our Town,” exclaimed Mayor Bonnett. “Volunteers are truly the heart and soul of our community and we appreciate all of the time and tremendous effort each of them puts into making Ponoka one of the best places to live in Alberta.”

“I would also like to extend a heart-felt thank you to the volunteers who have served on the Ponoka Airport Development Board before it was repealed in 2020. Their contributions to our community are also greatly appreciated,” shared Bonnett.

To apply for the Police Advisory Committee or the Community Enhancement Committee, residents are asked to submit a completed Committee Application Form to the Town of Ponoka on or before July 28, 2021.

Application forms can be found on the Town website at www.ponoka.ca.

Click ‘Employment Opportunities & Board/Committee Openings’ under Popular Pages and scroll down the page to ‘Board and Committee Vacancies’ or simply follow this link: https://www.ponoka.ca/images/PDFs/Board__Committee_Application_Form.pdf.

Application forms can be submitted to the Town of Ponoka in the following ways:

• By mail to 200, 5604 50 Street, Ponoka, AB, T4J 1G5
• By email at town@ponoka.ca
• In person at the Town Office during business hours or using the drop box just inside the doors on the west side of the Ponoka Civic Building from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday (except on statutory holidays).