Langley Township councillors looked to the future, and took time to remember one of their own longtime former colleagues at Monday's swearing in ceremony.

New Mayor Jack Froese, along with new councillors David Davis and Michelle Sparrow, joined winning incumbents Bev Dornan, Steve Ferguson, Charlie Fox, Bob Long, Kim Richter, and Grant Ward one the nine-member council.

"During this term, I expect to see great things happening for the Township of Langley as we assume our proper place as a thriving residential and business destination in the Lower Mainland," Froese said in his first official remarks as mayor.

He also laid out a few of the things he hopes the council will accomplish over the next three years, including work on better transportation, and making the Township even more attractive to business.

New councillors Davis and Sparrow thanked their supporters.

Davis promised to be available and listen.

He gave special thanks to longtime Langley resident Gloria Doubleday. Davis, who is famous for wearing shorts no matter what the weather, noted that she reminded him he must wear trousers to council meetings.

Sparrow said becoming a councillor was the realization of a dream for her.

"You have all welcomed me with open arms," she said.

All the other returning councillors also thanked their supporters.

Dornan, starting her second term, said she hoped that after the steep learning curve of the first three years, she will do even more with her new expertise.

Fox noted that the ideas espoused by the defeated council candidates are not dead, but should be considered by those who won seats.

Ward mentioned both Mel Kositsky and Jordan Bateman, former councillors who did not return.

"They both will be missed by our citizens," Ward said.

Richter talked about her hopes to lower taxes, create more jobs and iprove transit and groundwater protection in the coming years.

"I am very much looking forward to working with this new council," she said.

Long also said that entering his fifth term, he is excited and feels the new council is a good team.

After Froese was sworn in, one of his opponents in the race was honoured for long service to the council.

Mel Kositsky left his post as councillor after 18 years to run for mayor, coming in second to Froese.

Long read a tribute to Kositsky's extensive work over almost two decades, noting that the veteran local politician likely attended about 720 council meetings over that time.

"And I think it was more, because Mel liked meetings," Long quipped.

He noted that Kositsky was involved in everything from Big Brothers, Big Sisters to the equestrian community, and he worked with Metro Vancouver, an exchange of municipal expertise with a city in the Philippines, the Union of B.C. Municipalities and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

The council and audience gave Kositsky, who was present in the crowd, a standing ovation after the tribute.

The council conducted one minor piece of business, giving them a chance to test out a new electronic voting system for the first time. Another council meeting is scheduled for next Monday.