While roughly one half of Wellington County’s 2010-2014 council will be new to the game, the other half are already making plans for the new term.
Last month, as outgoing councillors were bidding farewell and introducing their replacement, returning councillors were seeking places on various county committees.
Councillors Gord Tosh and Chris White announced their intent to seek the wardship of Wellington.
Lou Maieron
Now mayor of Erin, he thanked former Mayor Rod Finnie for his 13 years of service to the town and Wellington County.
“His will be big shoes to fill, as I’m finding out already.”
Maieron introduced his own replacement for the ward position he vacated in becoming mayor.
“Ken Chapman has 13 years of municipal service with the Town of Erin. He’s from the building trade, so he understands a lot, and has been very valuable in the town bringing projects forward. Ken and I have been neighbours. So there’s a thinking that there’s something in the water in the south part of Erin may hold true.”
Maieron said, “I now find myself in an interesting predicament, today. I have to say goodbye to county councillor Lou Maieron, who came in under some adversarial situations, having made promises to his electorate.
“I think that played a very useful role, but in my new position as mayor, that county councillor will have to leave the building … and a new fellow, who one would swear they are almost twins, will be coming in December.
“He’s going to have new responsibilities to deal with and will have to face these new challenges in a more ‘embracing’ sort of way. I’ve never done things by the book, and I will continue on that way. It’s hard to change after 50 years of age.
Maieron said, “I’m going to miss Robert Wilson, whether he believes me or not. He has a unique analytical approach to some of the problems. He always knows water is wet, and nails the issue.”
As for the coming term, Maieron said he thought about the issues long and hard.
He foresees issues related to growth in Erin – many of which are planning related.
As such Maieron ran to be chairman of the county planning committee.
His other committee choice is social services, and the ongoing saga of trying to get ambulance service for his municipality.
Joanne Ross-Zuj
The current warden reiterated her pleasure working with a very successful council, “It’s been an honour to have that time to share ideas and move things forward. We were not ones to sit back and watch the world go by – we participated in getting things accomplished.”
She hoped the new council coming will be able to embrace some of the initiatives set up at county council.
Ross-Zuj said her interest would be to continue with the roads agenda, which involves the road rationalization and active transportation strategies.
She was scheduled to meet with the Minister of Transportation in early December.
Ross-Zuj said Minister Kathleen Wynne “has a keen recognition of the challenges in Wellington County – that was a real plus side.”
She added that there are concerns the province continues to use the census in the application of funding formulas. “It does not bode well for rural Ontario, because our distance and our geography must be taken into consideration.”
Ross-Zuj said its been seen that Wellington is at the beginning of pulling a model together, and that Wynne is very excited about it.
She is runnimg to be chair man of the roads committee in the coming term, to see some of those projects progress.
As well, she hoped to work on the administration, finance and personnel committee, “Because when you are the warden – those numbers – you sleep with them – of every committee.”
Jean Innes
Innes said the past four years was quite an adventure.
She applauded council and staff and wished councillor Carl Hall a well-deserved retirement, councillor Barb McKay the best in her ongoing adventures helping in communities in less privileged countries.
“My apologies to councillor [Robert] Wilson.” (Wilson was defeated in the recent election after switching wards to run against Innes.) “I’m going to miss you – I think we all are. It’s the way it went.”
Innes said “To all the others ‘liberated’ by the election, I’m sure that some of you are planning on coming back, but I hope you enjoy your freedom and it’s been a delight working with you all.”
This year, she hopes to be chairman of the information, heritage and seniors committee. “I share with councillor [Brad] Whitcombe a passion for heritage.”
Mark MacKenzie
MacKenzie thanked Ross-Zuj for her leadership.
“We had our challenges and you had yours. You handled them with expertise and the county was in good hands.”
In the three committees MacKenzie had served on – information, heritage and seniors, solid waste, and accessibility, he said there were numerous accomplishments.
“It’s unbelievable until you sit on those committees, to know what you can accomplish for our ratepayers.”
He put his name forward to be chairman the information, heritage and seniors committee.
As well, he hopes to be part of the accessibility committee.
Lynda White
She commented on the television program Undercover Boss, where the boss goes out amongst the staff.
“That’s one thing you could not do, Joanne, over the past couple of years, because you were so involved with your staff – they would all know who you were.”
White said her role over the past four years, has been as representative on the Wellington County Police Services Board.
“It’s been rewarding. It’s been challenging. We’ve finished one contract and done another. I’ve always had a deep respect for the OPP in Wellington County.”
Though White was not on council when the decision to move to county-wide OPP policing, “It was a good decision. There are some who don’t agree with me, but I think we get great policing in this county.” She wants to return to that committee.
“There is more that I want to do in policing. As you all know, my baby, the new Centre Wellington police building, is going to be completed in the spring of 2011.”
White also asked to be a part of the roads committee.
She believes that policing and roads issues are intermixed.
She also put her name forward to be the county representative on the Groves Hospital board. She said Carl Hall had done it so well for so long, and it will be big shoes to fill.
John Green
In a letter sent to council, Green expressed interest in becoming chairman of the administration, finance and personnel committee.
He also wished to take part in the roads, planning and accessibility committees.
