Scott Moffatt feels like he’s back in university again, but this time around, the textbooks and tuition are free.
The newly elected and first-time councillor from Rideau-Goulbourn will be spending the next couple of days in an orientation session set up by city clerk and solicitor Rick O’Connor to help the rookie politicians ease into their jobs.
“There’s clearly a lot to learn in our new roles, but it’s very exciting,” Moffatt said.
“It’s really interesting to hear what we (city councillors) have the power to do and not do. It’s the intricacies of the job that we and most of the public don’t know about that are the real eye openers.”
By the end of the week, the 10 new councillors will have had crash courses in their roles as councillors, planning 101, delegated authority, budget 101 and council procedures.
“Getting familiar with city hall reminds me of my university campus and how I had to figure out where my classrooms were,” smiled Moffatt.
The newly elected Ottawa city council will be sworn in Dec. 1.
