By Leah Murray

New City Council sworn in

Oct 30, 2017 | 8:34 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Monday night was the first official meeting of the newly elected City Council.

The Mayor and Councillors were sworn in at an organizational meeting, taking the oath of office.

“It’s kind of a crescendo of hard campaigning and now it’s exciting to move forward on the next step in terms of the role,” said Councillor Darren Hirsch.

“It feels a little strange to sit in that chair after watching it from the gallery for the last couple of years, but it is humbling to sit there,” said first time councillor Kris Samraj.

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Mayor Ted Clugston also made his appointments to various committees and advisory boards.

“One thing that the mayor has that sets the course for the term is those council appointments,” he explained. “I tried my best to match the skills with each councillor, of course experience and where they placed in the polls as well.”

Councillor Phil Turnbull will head up arguably one of the most important portfolios in Medicine Hat as he chairs the Energy and Utilities committee.

Turnbull said while it will be a difficult road ahead, he wants to see the City owned energy and utilities sector start making money again.

“We’re going to think outside the box and we’re going to get in there and we’re going to work and we’re going to find a way to get our utilities back on a healthy profitable basis so that we can move our city forward,” he said.

Below is a list of the roles council members will have over the next year. They will be in effect until October 2018.

COMMITTEES REPORTING DIRECTLY TO COUNCIL

Administrative & Legislative Review Committee

• Councillor Darren Hirsch, Chair
• Councillor Julie Friesen, Vice Chair
• Councillor R. Dumanowski

Audit Committee

• Councillor Darren Hirsch, Chair
• Councillor Phil Turnbull, Vice Chair
• Councillor Jamie McIntosh

Corporate Services Committee

• Councillor Robert Dumanowski, Chair
• Councillor Darren Hirsch , Vice Chair
• Councillor Brian Varga

Development & Infrastructure Committee

• Councillor Robert Dumanowski, Chair
• Councillor Jim Turner, Vice Chair
• Councillor Jamie McIntosh

Energy & Utilities Committee

• Councillor Phil Turnbull, Chair
• Councillor Jamie McIntosh, Vice Chair
• Councillor Jim Turner

Heritage Resources Committee

• Councillor Jamie McIntosh

Public Services Committee

• Councillor Julie Friesen, Chair
• Councillor Jim Turner, Vice Chair
• Councillor Kris Samraj

SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS

Civic Functions

• Councillor Kris Samraj, Chair

Community Futures Entre-Corp

• Brian Mastel, Commissioner of Corporate Services

Regional Drainage Committee

• Councillor Kris Samraj, Chair

OTHER BOARDS, COMMITTEES & COMMISSIONS

Canadian Badlands

• Councillor P. Turnbull
• Councillor B. Varga
• S. Blyth, Business Support Officer

Chamber of Commerce

• Councillor J. Turner

City Centre Development Agency

• Councillor K. Samraj

Cypress View Foundation

• Councillor J. Friesen
• Councillor J. Turner

Friends of Medalta

• Councillor K. Samraj

Medicine Hat Community Housing Society

• Councillor K. Samraj

Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede

• Councillor J. Turner

Medicine Hat Public Library

• Councillor P. Turnbull

Municipal Names Committee

• Councillor J. McIntosh

Municipal Planning Commission

• Councillor B. Varga, Chair
• Councillor D. Hirsch

Palliser Economic Partnership

• Councillor J. Turner
• S. Blyth, Business Support Officer

Police Commission

• Councillor J. Friesen
• Councillor R. Dumanowski

Shortgrass Library System

• Councillor P. Turnbull

Subdivision & Development Appeal Board

• Councillor J. McIntosh
• Councillor J. Turner

Tourism Medicine Hat Committee

• Councillor B. Varga