George Bridge has a number of questions of council; mostly relating to what should happen if Minto has a lame duck council.
The mayoral candidate also had questions about recent staff reorganization and current financial or legal constraints upon the town.
Bridge said his candidacy for mayor in Minto was the reason for the questions, and he said during his campaign those were some of the questions he received from people.
Bridge noted that night’s council agenda included bylaws regarding responsibilities of staff and contingency plans.
“But I’m talking about the workings of council itself in a lame duck situation,” he said.
He realized that will not happen officially until Sept. 10.
“My concern is the moral issue of making major decisions such as staffing when basically you could be gone by the next election.”
He knew the town was interviewing for the position of CAO/clerk, and there was talk of a reorganization, and talk of financial benefits coming back. Bridge asked if there was a report on that.
His final question was “Who’s going to be running the election? You get kind of worried when you come in and there’s no clerk.”
Mayor David Anderson said “as far as the contingency plans regarding a lame duck council and the recent reorganization – we’ve been doing this for the whole governance structure basically for the last six to eight months. It hasn’t just come up immediately on us.”
Anderson said “The reorganization of staff is, we feel, as council, will move us forward into the future. It’s not a great time to happen – in an election year. But it has come upon us and we’re moving forward.”
He said the reorganization will make the municipality more transparent, and more organized, especially with all the demands anticipated in the future. Anderson added the intent was to get the structure established and in good working order for the new council to come in.
“We’re not making any rash decisions by any means. We are interviewing people for the position of CAO/Clerk. We’ve interviewed a total of six, and whittled it down to two.”
Bridge clarified that it was simply a clerk’s position before.
Anderson said the new position is CAO/Clerk.
He noted there was a recommendation coming to council that night during a closed portion of the meeting.
“If we feel these individuals are not suitable for our organizations, there is no need to move forward with this. We’re willing to take time,” Anderson said.
Bridge said he was not attempting to disrespect that “But why do we have to do this a month and a half before the election?” He said even if the process began six months ago, it is still only a short time before the election.
Anderson said “This council feels this direction we’ve gone, and the organizational structure we’ve endorsed, will best meet the needs of the Town of Minto for this council, and for the new council.”
Bridge asked, “Will the new council like this as well?”
“They will,” Anderson said.
Bridge said he thought when there was talk of restructuring, there was supposed to be a report regarding the benefits. Bridge said he had read that there were going to be four or five options presented.
“I thought there would be more public discussion on that,” Bridge said.
He noted it is very close to an election, and some members of council are not running for the next term.
“Obviously there’s going to be some new people up there.”
Anderson went back to his point that with a new council coming on board, “We wanted to make sure that everything is in good running order.”
Bridge asked if at least on a short term, a retired clerk could be brought in to assist. “We’ve lost a lot of people lately.”
Bridge also asked if there is any litigation going on.
“At this time, I can say ‘No’,” Anderson stated.
He agreed that Minto’s deputy-clerk recently left to take a position as clerk in Howick Township. “It was a good move for her.”
He added Minto was looking at a retired clerk who might come in on a part-time contract basis to help through the election period.
Council did actually make that decision, but only after an in-camera session later that night.
Bridge said council should give this serious consideration, “There are people out there who think that you should wait.”
Following Bridge’s presentation, councillor Rick Hembly added to the commentary made at the council table.
Hembly said he had to say something before Bridge left the meeting.
“When the mayor says that all of council as a whole agreed, I had a different plan. I have a different idea of what should have been done. But majority rules, and that’s what happened.”
