City Council minutes - Record Detail

City Council minutes. - 1860-2014.

Part Of:City of New Westminster fonds  [Description]
Description Level Series
Series No. CNW 05-1
Creator New Westminster (B.C.). City Council
Date Range 1860-2014
Title Source Title based on content of series.
Physical Description 64 volumes (1860-1979)
microfiche (1980-2014)
History/Biographical New Westminster's city council was established in 1860 by the Municipal Council Act. The first city council included a number of prominent citizens. Leonard McClure, whom the council appointed as President, was the editor of the New Westminster Times newspaper. (Presidents were appointed by the council from their members until 1872 when the Municipal Act of that year required the election of a mayor by popular vote.) William Armstrong is believed to have been the first merchant to arrive in town and the builder of the first home here. Ebenezer Brown built a hotel and wharf in the area which would later bear his name, Brownsville. J.A.R. Homer was a lumber merchant. In 1866, as High Sheriff for B.C., he would read the royal proclamation uniting the colonies of B.C. and Vancouver Island. Henry Holbrook, who topped the poll with 22 votes, was a merchant as was William Cormack. A.H. Manson was a partner in a construction firm. Both McClure and Homer resigned before their terms were up. The two new members were Robert Dickinson and John Ramage, who succeeded McClure as President. The council minutes for 1860 reveals that the council’s primary objectives were to clear the town site of trees, grade the city streets and to begin building roads and sidewalks as well as bridges for the ravines that were a hazard or at least an inconvenience for those trying to make their way through the city.

The council’s most important roles are the consideration and passage of municipal bylaws, financial planning and budget approval, appointment of administrative officials, and determination of the basic internal organization of the municipality.

See the fonds level description for more information about governance.
Scope & Content Series consists of city council minutes. Please note that minutes from 2007 onwards are accessible as PDF files in the City's website.
Access Restriction The hard copies of the minutes are not generally made available to researchers. The microfiche may be viewed in the archives reading room.
Name Access New Westminster (B.C.). City Council
Subject Access Municipal Government - City Council
Record ID 31842
Comment on this record museum@newwestcity.ca