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Message from the Mayor
Mayor’s Report
Mayor Jack Bowers
Many of you have complimented the Town for the way we are sharing information about the good work being accomplished here in Faro. I’m sure much of this is a result of the articles shared through the Focused on Faro monthly newsletter. Of course, there are things being accomplished which can’t be shared because of their being either of a legal, land or personnel nature. Much of these accomplishments are a result of the team we now have in place, being led by our CAO Larry Baran. Larry recently successfully completed his six-month probationary requirement and Council were pleased to inform him so. We look forward to now together achieving our strategic goals over the next two years. The Town is about to begin the development of our Official Community Plan (OCP). In itself, it is a long and expensive process, the last one was completed in 2013. Such a plan will involve input from the community, as well as Ross River Dene Council, Yukon Government, and the Faro mine. A community’s OCP set the course for how the community is to move forward over the next several years. Typically, the community’s Zoning Bylaw will also require changing as well to comply with the new OCP. Stay tuned as we begin the public input process either this fall or early next year. Council, together with Town staff, met with WSP Engineers Thursday, August 18th to review Phase 2 of the Building Canada’s Infrastructure Improvement Plan. Brian Mowry, manager of the Whitehorse office for WSP, attended as well as Ryan Brown from YG Community Services. We will be pleased to share with everyone what information of interest that is made known to us at a future date. Finally, I am asking for your forgiveness for not more carefully choosing my words. Recently I was made aware that I had in my June report referred to the Town developing a “Crown Corporation” to manage the redeveloped Solar Complex, should it so happen. In correcting this, our municipal advisor did say that under the Municipal Act the Town could in fact form a “Development Corporation” to manage the Solar Complex at arm’s length from the Town’s business with a separate management board reporting to the Town. More research will be needed before we could move in this direction. I also should not have said Faro’s population is 500, I should have said approximately 500. As recently as December 31, 2021, the Yukon Government stated our population as 479, up from the Canadian Census of 440. I personally believe that we’ve grown since then. This number is important as a recognized higher population means more money coming to Faro through our block grant. I also stated a Class D construction estimate as being +/- 40 % accurate. An Engineering Class 4 conceptual design estimate is +/- 40%. I know for most these issues are semantics, but words are important, and I will be more careful with mine in the future. As your Mayor I am prepared to make a commitment to you to put the Town’s interests first in any decision I support.
Council Meeting
Council Chamber is open to the public. The Next Regular Meetings are: Copies of meeting agendas are posted at the Town Office, Post Office, CIBC Bank, and at faro.ca.
The Public Package will be available on the Town’s Website at the time of the meeting at: http://www.faro.ca/p/filesand-documents Remote Attendance is available with the Zoom App. To Join a Zoom Meeting go to : https://zoom.us/join Meeting ID: 506 321 8045 Passcode: 641202
