Town board to start looking for new chair

RECRUITMENT is set to start for the new chair of Dumfries Town Board — but the appointee won’t be in place until March. It follows the resignation of the inaugural chair Ritchie Nicoll in July. Since then vice chairman Kenny Bowie has assumed the role. However, councillors are now looking ahead to a permanent replacement and will soon start to accept expressions of interest. This time around officials are advising that the process is ‘enhanced’, with more information required from candidates about their participation in public/private/community boards; experience in oversight revenue and capital funding and in project delivery; capabilities in fostering collaboration and partnership.

In addition, the existing town board will be asked for their perspective on the candidates too, with Nithsdale Area Committee taking the lead on the final selection.

Meanwhile, a skills audit will also take place early next year to identify gaps in representation on the Board. This will provide the incoming Chair with information to consider in the recruitment of new Board members.