Castlegar city council has decided on a set deputy mayor until the end of 2026.
Mayor Maria McFaddin brought the proposal forward and named councillor Brian Bogle.
She said she’s heard from residents that there’s been confusion about the deputy mayor position.
Previously councillors were rotated on a month-by-month basis.
“That is very confusing for people,” she said.
“Often, if they’re asking for the mayor to show up at something either for a conversation or a decision or to speak on behalf of the city, they want consistency on who that is. They want consistency on who that point person is and that it’s not rotating.”
The mayor thinks Bogle is a good choice because he sits on the RDCK Board, West Kootenay Resource Recovery team, Recreation Commission and other committees.
Councillor Sue Heaton-Sherstobitoff was strongly opposed to the idea and claimed residents have said it’s “self-serving on the mayor’s part.
Councillor Shirley Fahlstead was also opposed, but the remaining councillors voted in favour.
It was passed in a 5-2 vote.
