Susanna Freymark
At a special Richmond Valley Council meeting tonight, Wednesday, October 9, newly elected councillors were sworn in.
Councillors present were Sandra Humphrys, Steve Morrissey, Lyndall Murray, Sam Cornish, John Walker, Robert Hayes and mayor Robert Mustow.
There were only two new councillors – Mr Walker and Ms Murray.
The first duty for the councillors was to elect a deputy mayor. The only nomination was from Mr Morrissey.
Mr Mustow and Mr Morrissey are a familiar team, having worked together as mayor and deputy for the last two terms of the council.
Mr Morrissey will serve as deputy mayor for two years and then councillors get to vote again.
Mr Mustow is mayor for the next four years because he was elected by popular vote in the recent election.
Next was the selection of two representatives on Rous County Council.
Mr Walker, Mr Mustow and Ms Humphrys were nominated – councillors voted and Mustow and Humphrys were selected. They were both delegates on Rous last council term.
Mr Hayes put up his hand to be the representative on the Richmond Valley Council Local Traffic Committee.
The mayor is the automatic representative on the Northern Rivers Joint Organisation Board.
There will be further appointments to Arts Northern Rivers, the Council’s Audit Risk and Improvement Committee and the Northern Regional Planning Panel at future council meetings.
The public is invited to the council meetings to observe. It is a good way to understand how the council works.
The meetings are on:
2024
• October 22
• November 19
• December 17
2025
• February 18
• March 18
• April 15
• May 20
• June 24 (budget meeting)
• July 15
• August 19
• September 16
• October 21
• November 18
• December 16