As the Dec. 21 Puslinch council session wrapped up, councillors congratulated Mayor Dennis Lever on his election as Wellington County warden.
“I want to offer my congratulations and look forward to the changes you will make under your leadership,” said councillor Ken Roth.
Councillor Matthew Bulmer said, “One of the interesting things about the structure of the county warden position is that it allows an opportunity for people across the county to take that seat and county view.”
He added, “But taking the warden’s chair really changes one’s perspective.”
Bulmer said he also liked that representatives from the City of Guelph also attend some county council meetings.
“I think organizations such as the City of Guelph could learn a lot from places like Wellington County,” he said.
“Despite the differences from north to south, and from east to west, we have to figure out ways to make things work.”
He attributed part of the ability to come up with solutions to the warden’s chair rotation. Bulmer said it also gives the county a chance to hit the reset button or take another look at how things are being done midway through the term.
“It’s an opportunity urban municipalities do not have.”
Lever referred to a recent publication describing the unique governance of Wellington County council with its mixture of mayors and directly-elected councillors.
“We may see other municipalities adopt this structure … it works well for the county,” said Lever.
“Indeed when you are at the county, it is with a county-wide approach to issues.”
Councillor Susan Fielding also offered her congratulations.
“I know there has been criticism on the warden being elected by members of county council,” said Fielding, but she believes it gives a small municipality such as Puslinch a chance to represent the county as warden.
“If it was someone elected at-large by the people, without a doubt they would all come from Centre Wellington because they have such a huge portion of the population.”
Councillor John Sepulis added his congratulations and said he looked forward to seeing Lever “turn on your afterburners and fly with Superman.”
