Richmond Hill Town Council

Richmond Hill Town Council is the governing body for the Town of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. The council serves a four year term, after which a new council is elected by qualified electors in Richmond Hill.cite web|url = http://www.town.richmond-hill.on.ca/subpage.asp?textonly=&pageid=townhall_members_of_the_council|title = Members of Council|publisher = Town of Richmond Hill] The council consists of a Mayor, six Ward Councillors and two Regional and Local Councillors. The Mayor and the Regional and Local Councillors additionally serve on the York Regional Council representing the interests of the residents of Richmond Hill. [cite web|url = http://www.york.ca/Regional+Government/Council/default+council.htm|title = Council Members|publisher = York Region]

The mayor serves as the leader of the council. They preside over meetings to maintain order, and call special meetings when needed. [cite web|url = http://www.town.richmond-hill.on.ca/subpage.asp?pageid=townhall_office_of_the_mayor|title = Mayor of Richmond Hill|publisher = Town of Richmond Hill] The mayor and councillors both propose oversee the administration and finances of Richmond Hill and direction the operations of the town's departments, as well as meeting with residents and government agencies to discuss issues relevant to Richmond Hill and its residents.

Municipal departments

The town council oversees the municipal departments, which deliver a variety of services to the residents of Richmond Hill. The town has a Corporate Services Department, Engineering and Public Works Department, Finance Department, Fire Department, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, Parks, Recreation & Culture Department and Planning & Development Department. [cite web|url = http://www.town.richmond-hill.on.ca/department/department.asp|title = Departments|publisher = Town of Richmond Hill]

The Corporate Services Department provides information services both internally in the town's government and externally to members of the public. [cite web|url = http://www.town.richmond-hill.on.ca/department/department.asp?textonly=&divisionid=2|title = Corporate Services Department|publisher = Town of Richmond Hill] It makes available archival information from previous council meetings, keeps official records, prints and distributes literature from the town, as well as issuing licenses and permits such as marriage licenses.

The Engineering and Public Works Department builds and maintains roads, clears snow from streets and sidewalks, provides and maintains water mains and sewers, maintains streetlights and streetsigns, as well as upkeeping municipally owned buildings and vehicles. [cite web|url = http://www.town.richmond-hill.on.ca/department/department.asp?textonly=&divisionid=3|title = Engineering and Public Works Department|publisher = Town of Richmond Hill]

The Finance Department does accounting for the town council, provides the council with financial advice, provides funding to community programmes and collects property taxes and other fees paid to the town. [cite web|url = http://www.town.richmond-hill.on.ca/department/department.asp?textonly=&divisionid=4|title = Finance Department|publisher = Town of Richmond Hill]

Office of the Chief Administrative Officer controls overall bureaucratic management of the town's departments. It also leads the legal office and Office of Economic Development. [cite web|url = http://www.town.richmond-hill.on.ca/department/department.asp?textonly=&divisionid=1|title = Office of the Chief Administrative Officer|publisher = Town of Richmond Hill]

The Parks, Recreation & Culture Department builds and maintains parks, pools and community centres, as well as running recreational programming such as swimming lessons, concerts and "The Reel Thing", a local film festival. [cite web|url = http://www.town.richmond-hill.on.ca/department/department.asp?textonly=&divisionid=6|title = Parks, Recreation & Culture Department|publisher = Town of Richmond Hill]

The Planning & Development Department administers town by-laws, including ensuring compliance with building regulations, parking laws, dog licensing, open-air burning licensing and processing construction permits. [cite web|url = http://www.town.richmond-hill.on.ca/department/department.asp?textonly=&divisionid=7|title = Planning & Development Department|publisher = Town of Richmond Hill]

History

Richmond Hill was incorporated as a village in 1873, and the town council consisted of a reeve and four councillors. The councillors were the top four vote-getters of all persons running for the job. The reeve and councillors served one year terms. Richmond Hill was incorporated as a town in 1957, and the council was expanded to include a mayor, a reeve, a deputy reeve and four councillors. In 1966, the council began to serve two year terms, rather than the previous one year terms. The council was reorganised in 1971 after the incorporation of York Region to have a mayor, two regional councillors shared with York Region Council, and six councillors. 1970 had also seen Richmond Hill expand from 1700 acres to 27000 acres and from 19000 residents to 34000 residents with the annexation of land from Whitchurch Township, Markham Township, Vaughan Township and King Township. [cite book|title = The Challenging Seventies|work = Later Days in Richmond Hill - A History of the Community from 1930 to 1999|author = Marney Beck Robinson and Joan M. Clark|publisher = Town of Richmond Hill/Richmond Hill Public Library Board|date = 2000|ISBN = 0-9695376-1-1] In 1982, the terms of councillors were extended to three years, and in 2006 the terms were extended to four years.

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