Bentley's New Council Sets Course at First Organizational Meeting

BENTLEY – The new Bentley Town Council officially began its term Tuesday night, holding its first organizational meeting to make the key decisions that will guide its work for the year ahead.

Following their official swearing-in, one of the council's first actions was to establish its leadership structure. The council voted to continue its tradition of rotating the Deputy Mayor position among its members. This practice ensures each councillor will have the opportunity to serve in the role throughout the four-year term, with rotations scheduled quarterly.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to appointing councillors and staff to numerous local and regional boards, ensuring Bentley's voice is heard on important issues. Council members were appointed to represent the town on committees including the Bentley District Fire Department, the Lacombe Regional Waste Services Commission, the Lacombe Foundation, the Bentley Municipal Library Board, and the Parkland Community Planning Services, among many others.

In key operational decisions, the council made several important appointments to manage the town’s business:

* Auditor: RSM Chartered Accountants was officially appointed as the independent auditor for the 2025 fiscal year.
* Assessor: Wild Rose Assessment Services was appointed as the town's property assessor for the 2026 taxation year, continuing a long-standing partnership.
* Emergency Management: To ensure community safety and preparedness, Julian Veuger was appointed Director of Emergency Management, with Marc Fortais serving as Deputy Director. All members of the council will serve on the Bentley Emergency Management Advisory Committee.

Council also confirmed that all its members will continue to serve on the Municipal Planning Commission (MPC), which handles decisions on land use and development applications.

To prepare for the upcoming fiscal year, the council scheduled a strategic planning and budget workshop for November 20, 2025. They also passed a motion to defer some additional mandatory training for councillors until January 2026, allowing them to focus on immediate budget priorities.

For residents wishing to attend future meetings, the council confirmed its regular schedule. Meetings will continue to be held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Bentley Municipal Office.