A proposal that would see start times for the inaugural council meetings of the two Langleys switched next year failed to win much support at Township council.
The two councils hold their swearing-in ceremonies at different times on the same day so that people can attend both, and so dignitaries, including local MLAs and MPs, don’t have to choose which to attend.
Traditionally, the City goes first at 2 p.m. and the Township holds its inaugural at 7 p.m.
A letter from City of Langley corporate officer Carolyn Mushata suggested the Township council could hold its 2014 inaugural meeting in the afternoon, while the city would hold its at night, with the two councils alternating start times for subsequent inaugurals.
“ … one of the challenges in holding our inaugural meeting in the afternoon is that some friends and family members of [City] council are unable to attend the ceremony due to work commitments,” Mushata wrote.
The suggestion landed with a thud at the Dec. 9 meeting of Township council with a clear majority of councillors opposed.
One of them was Councillor Kim Richter, who said the Township should “respectfully decline” the City’s idea.
“We wouldn’t change our meeting times to accommodate Surrey or Abbotsford,” Richter said.