SSID has 3 trustees, each serving a 3-year term. The election of 1 or more trustees takes place every year at the Annual General Meeting. Until the 2023 AGM, the trusteeship had been a volunteer position. With commitment being more demanding in recent years, a motion was presented and passed at the AGM allowing a stipend of $600 per year ($50 per month) to each of the 3 trustees.
Trustees discuss and make decisions on financial, administrative, and operational matters to uphold their responsibility for keeping the water available, safe, and funded by tax revenue. Trustees communicate with each other and staff by email, telephone, zoom, and in-person meetings.
On being a trustee, the BC Government’s Trustee Handbook advises:
Being a trustee requires an investment of personal time and an interest to serve the public during the course of the trustee's term. There is an expectation of improvement district trustees that they will make informed, transparent decisions. Many decisions made by trustees require an understanding of legislation, insurance, property assessment, taxation, meeting procedures, basic water system design, water quality standards, fire protection, labour relations, and bylaw enforcement. Learning about these issues is often an ongoing process for improvement district trustees.
Trustee Eligibility
Persons eligible to be a trustee on an improvement district board must:
• Be a Canadian citizen
• Be 18 years of age, or older
• Be a resident of B.C. for at least six months prior to the vote
• Own land in the improvement district or be the spouse or common-law partner of the owner.
Additional information is at the BC Government webpage on Improvement District Elections.
