ELORA – Councillor Kirk McElwain says he is “very disappointed” he has again been excluded from Centre Wellington committees.
He made the comments on Dec. 17 after council approved the recommendations of Mayor Kelly Linton for appointments to township committees and external organizations.
Linton recommended council appoint councillor Steve VanLeeuwen as deputy mayor for emergency management purposes and in the event the mayor is absent, unable to act or the office is vacant.
Linton then provided the following committee and organization appointment recommendations:
– Groves Memorial Community Hospital Board, Linton and councillors Neil Dunsmore and McElwain;
– Grand River Conservation Authority, councillor Ian MacRae;
– Elora BIA, McElwain;
– Fergus BIA, Linton;
– Wellington County Farm and Home Safety Association, councillor Stephen Kitras;
– Community Stakeholders Group for Health Professionals Recruitment and Retention, McElwain;
– Centre Wellington Community Medical Office, VanLeeuwen;
– Victoria Park Seniors Centre, councillor Robert Foster;
– Grand River Non-Profit Housing Corporation, Kitras;
– Economic Development Task Force, Linton, Dunsmore and VanLeeuwen;
– Heritage Centre Wellington, VanLeeuwen;
– Parks, Recreation and Culture Advisory Committee, Dunsmore;
– Healthy Growth Advisory Committee, Linton, Foster and MacRae;
– Centre Wellington Hydro, Foster;
– Centre Wellington communications, Linton and VanLeeuwen;
– Safe Communities Wellington County, Kitras;
– Centre Wellington Energy, Linton; and
– Water QMS Team, MacRae.
Linton’s report stated consultation with members of council took place regarding placement on the various committees/boards.
Following the report, McElwain said, he is “obviously very disappointed, I was not on any township committees again this term.”
He added there was talk about creating a youth committee and township operations and finance committees.
“None of those are addressed in this report. Is there a plan to address this in the near future?” McElwain asked.
Linton responded the youth committee is not up and running yet. He anticipates that will happen within the first three months of council.
As for operations and finance committees, Linton said there was no direction from council to move forward with them, as council covers those areas in its committee of the whole format.
“I’ve never been in favour, and the previous council was not in favour, of operational committees when we have a committee of the whole structure,” said Linton.
McElwain then asked if a councillor would have to make a motion for the idea to be considered.
Linton suggested it would be more of a discussion for a strategic planning session.
Kitras asked whether consideration should be given to two-year appointments rather than four.
“That’s a good question,” Linton said, adding he had envisioned four years but was willing to reconsider.
VanLeeuwen said for some committees continuity is important, yet Kitras said utilizing councillors’ skills in various committees would be positive.
Council agreed to review the appointments after two years, with the understanding the councillors could be rotated.
Linton stated councillors should be able to move around “if it makes sense.”
