Cranbrook City Council sworn in: Mayor Shypitka outlines priorities

Cranbrook’s incoming city council was sworn in Tuesday night, Oct. 27, at council chambers.

Mayor Tom Shypitka and councillors Shaun Penner, Joe McGowan, Robin Goldsbury, Bruce Murdoch, Wayne Price and Ron Miles took the oath of office.

Shypitka said he and the councillors were “honoured” to be elected to serve Cranbrook.

“I really have gotten along with all the councillors; the councillors themselves are totally, totally energized, and I really want to do a good job for the city, like any council would, but, I mean, I’m very, very supportive of the different diversity that brings those people to the table,” said Cranbrook Mayor Tom Shypitka.

Shypitka said he hopes council’s diverse perspectives will guide decisions that benefit the community.

“Well, I think the community spoke fairly loudly on crime, safety, taxation, downtown revitalization, and city-specific pride,” he said.

“I think those were some of the more major topics. 
So those are the things that we’re gonna jump into right away and address how we get there.

“The quickest and most efficiently. So what I hope to see is just a continuation of what I’ve already seen, and that’s just some good unity and some good team building.”

Council began orientation this week on city departments, procedures and governance.

“Yeah, ’cause, you know, it’s an all-new cast here, basically, except for Wayne Price. He’ll be a bedrock of our council for sure, providing that background and that information that we’re not privy to, that he’s been privy to for the last four years,” Shypitka said.

“There’s a lot to gather, there’s a lot to absorb, but we’ve got a good CEO in Mark Vurchill, and he’s brought a good plan to the table with a week-long orientation, and everybody is super engaged, and they’re asking all the right questions.”

Shypitka said council will discuss its priorities and goals for the next four years.

 “But we’re gonna have to go through some reviews. We’re gonna have to find out where we are as a corporation, so we’ll have that corporate review, I would imagine,” he added.

“Maybe some sort of a fiscal audit of some sort to make sure that all the, you know, everything’s where it should be.

“And then once we earn that trust with where we are, then we can go forward and execute on some priority items.

“I know myself personally. I made commitments to the DBA and the Chamber of Commerce to initiate a 100-day action plan, to take some actionable items out of the downtown revitalisation master plan and put those to put those to fruition in 100 days, and it’s just to show that there is a way to get there without a meeting after a meeting after a meeting.”

Shypitka also noted changes to city council, the RDEK board and the hospital board.

Shypitka said he plans to draw on his regional experience and seek advice from Rob Gay and David Wilkes, whom he knows well. He credited both with years of service to the community, noting Gay’s particularly long tenure.

He said he plans to call both for knowledge that could help the new council.

Despite changes in the provincial government, Shypitka said his existing relationships with provincial officials could help him advocate for Cranbrook.

“So, any advocacy that the city has to do with other associations or governments, first nation or otherwise, provincial, federal, comes with relationships,” he added.

“We need to build those relationships and trust with those groups. And, you know, I think for myself, with the provincial government, that trust has already been established.

“I know our premier very well…a quick phone call to those folks, and hopefully they’ll take my calls, but I know them all well, and I wish them the best of luck.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s an NDP government, a green government, a conservative government. Those relationships have to be established, and I’m happy to say that that work has been primarily done.”

The inaugural council meeting is scheduled for Nov. 2.