A Puslinch Township resident told county council on Oct. 29 he thinks democracy is being cheated because residents have no say in who gets the warden’s job – and he wants a referendum question on next year’s municipal ballot.
“I do not believe the true democratic purpose is being served,” Bill Cloutis said.
He cited councillor Lou Maieron’s letter to the editor in The Wellington Advertiser last month and said a warden elected by residents would be responsible and accountable to the public for the tax dollars the county spends.
Cloutis said it seems that mainly the mayors of the seven municipalities manage to obtain the warden’s post (only one ward councillor has held the top county post) and he added a mayor might not make a good warden, and vice versa.
Cloutis said it has been ten years since the county was restructured, and councillors who refuse to implement the key recommendation of an elected- at-large warden are “failing to do the right thing,” so he wants a referendum.
Councillor Walter Trachsel asked how someone from Wellington North could obtain the resources for a campaign at the top political job.
Cloutis replied the same way a person would seek resources to run for mayor. He has that personal experience, and ran for mayor in Puslinch.
“I had to come up with my own resources,” he said.
Councillor Lou Maieron thanked Cloutis for expressing his views, and noted county council meets during the day, which makes it difficult for citizens to attend.
As for electing a warden at large, Maieron said many regions have elected chairman, and he believes “it can be done” in Wellington, too.
Councillor Mike Broomhead said he has been on county council now for seven years and heard arguments against day meetings the county holds, but on the subject of an elected at large warden, “I get no response.”
As for saying people can’t come to council during the day, Broomhead said the people at the council table are the ones who know the views of their constituents.
Cloutis pointed out he had to take time off work to attend council.
But Broomhead said he did not receive a single call about the elected warden issue. He said he and Trachsel expected they might field many calls, and Trachsel “got none, or one.”
Councillor Dave Anderson said he received one phone call – and it was from a Centre Wellington citizen, and not the municipality he represented.
“There didn’t seem to be a line-up of calls,” he said.
Councillor Bob Wilson said it does not surprise him nobody called.
“The reality of municipal government is nobody gives a rat’s ass.”
Wilson said there is no use in talking about the issue because council will do what it wants to do. And, he pointed out, he was the first councillor to talk about having an elected warden.
He noted that the province told the county to decide on its own. “I was disappointed.”
Maieron thanked Wilson for his comments, but said the problem is the activity at county council is “one of the best kept secrets in the county.” (There were three reporters present during the debate.)
Maieron said there are seven mayors and nine ward councillors, but he does not believe many residents understand the structure of county council.
Two year warden term
There will be a public meeting before county council votes next month to create a two year term for the warden after the 2010 elections.
The administration, finance, and personnel committee made that recommendation to extend the term to two years. According to provincial law, council can currently have a one- or four-year term, but must pass a bylaw in order to have a two year term.
Chief Administrative Officer Scott Wilson said such meetings are often attached to county council meetings, and are held just prior to the council meetings. Council has changed its November meeting to a Monday, Nov. 23, at 10am.
But Innes said there is little discussion at a public meeting during the day, and the public is unaware of the meeting to date.
She said she sees no reason to extend the term to two years.
Innes said if someone is doing a good job, council can re-elect that person after a year. If they are not, someone else can be elected.
Councillor John Green, chairman of the committee making the recommendation for two year terms, said there are issues of continuity. He said the Western Warden’s Association has about 16 members and many have either a four or two year term, and he said two other counties are “going in that direction.”
Maieron echoed Innes’ comments. He said two year terms limit the number of people who can run for warden. He said some councillors are retired, but others have jobs, and that, too, limits who can run. He added there are concerns about the amount of time the job takes and two year terms might be daunting to some. He said such a move is a “serious restructuring” of county council.
He said when Green ran for a second term, no one opposed him, and a good warden will be easily re-elected.
But Trachsel said he found it ironic that Maieron wants a warden elected at-large for four years, but not for two year terms.
Council then approved the move to a two year term.
Warden Joanne Ross-Zuj said after the meeting there will have to be a public meeting before that comes into effect, and she expects it will be held during an evening, when more people can attend.
