CBN Joint Council members settle roles for new term

By Olivia Bradbury / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Bay Roberts Mayor Geoff Seymour will serve again as the chairman of the Joint Council of Conception Bay North.

The group met November 13 in the Harbour Grace council chambers. Representatives from Bay Roberts, Spaniard’s Bay, North River, South River, Harbour Grace, Upper Island Cove, Carbonear, and Victoria were in attendance. The meeting included an election of officers to update positions following last month’s municipal elections.

Seymour initially declined the position but accepted the chairmanship after two others, Carbonear Mayor Sam Slade, and Bay Roberts councillor Silas Badcock, declined their nominations as well.

Harbour Grace Mayor Terry Barnes asked if anyone present was willing to step up for the role of chairman. Slade, who had declined the position because he is too busy with other duties, stressed the importance of the Joint Council and its continuance.

Slade then turned to Barnes to see if he would accept nomination.
“I’m involved in too much,” Barnes said.

With no further nominations, Seymour agreed to stay in the role for the interim but stressed it was temporary as he could not take on the commitment permanently with his mayoral duties.

Seymour then called for nominations for a co-chair. The nominees included Slade, Carbonear councillor Malcolm Seymour, and South River councillor Maggie Snow. Both Slade and councillor Seymour declined. Snow accepted, officially making her the JCCBN’s co-chair.

In other positions, Spaniard’s Bay councillor Debbie Newman will serve as treasurer, and Harbour Grace councillor Christina Hearn as secretary.