Sue McKortoff, mayor, Town of Osoyoos. (Richard McGuire photo)
Town of Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff hinted strongly she won’t be supporting spending $5,000 of taxpayer money on a new chain of office, but no final decision will be made until the other members of council discuss the issue during upcoming 2015 budget deliberations.
“That $5,000 would be better spent somewhere else I think,” said McKortoff during a committee of the whole meeting Monday morning in council chambers.
Coun. Jim King presented a motion that will bring the matter of whether or not to pay for a new chain of office and coat of arms for the town to be discussed during upcoming budget deliberations.
McKortoff had inquired about whether there was an existing mayor’s chain of office and staff from the Osoyoos Museum researched the archives and determined that the Town of Osoyoos has never had one since being incorporated as a town back in 1946.
It was also determined that the town does not have an official coat of arms.
Staff attempted to contact local trophy engraving companies and when they did not respond, further research was undertaken and staff found that other municipalities are currently considering having chains of office created and a company contact was provided.
Pressed Metal Products out of Vancouver specializes in designing and creating mayor chains of office and other specialty items featuring coat of arms and municipal crests, said Lori Scott, the town’s deputy corporate officer.
Staff requested that Pressed Metal provide a mock-up of a chain of office and price quotation for the town, said Scott.
As the town does not have an official coat of arms, the “Canada’s Warmest Welcome” logo was incorporated into the layout, she said.
The chains of office are designed to feature the current mayor’s name and term on the centre medallion. When a new mayor takes office, the previous medallion is removed and replaced by a medallion featuring the new mayor’s name and term. The previous medallion could then be presented to the outgoing mayor as a gift from the town.
Options council will consider during budget deliberations include a chain of office featuring gold plated brass at a cost of $5,418 or gold plated silver at a cost of $6,418.
A second option was priced slightly higher and a third option was a chain of office with gold plated brass as just under $4,000 and just over $5,000 for gold plated silver.
Engraved previous term medallions are quoted at $56 apiece and the outgoing mayor’s presentation medallion ranges in price from $224 to $336.
Barry Romanko, the town’s chief administrative officer, said the final decision will be made by council during budget deliberations, but he said most communities in Canada have an official chain of office and coat of arms.
“Pomp and ceremony is important in governance of municipal government,” he said. “It’s common practice in other municipalities.”
Romanko said he would look into what it would take to get a coat of arms officially registered.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
