For many people in the room, it was what wasn’t spoken when councillors here had a chance to reflect over the past four years of Centre Wellington council.
A red rose was beside the name plate of deceased councillor Ron Hallman, who passed away in August.
Councillor Fred Morris said that he and Hallman had first come on council in 2003 and he got to know him because they attended their council orientation together.
Morris and Hallman sat beside each other at council, and Morris said, “He was a great guy, and a real asset to the community.”
Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj said Hallman “will be with us in spirit. He’s missed. He’s definitely missed.”
In his other remarks in summing the term, Morris said the previous four years had been handled by “a very effective council.” He said the sheet prepared by staff near the end of the term showed just how many projects had been completed over four years.
“It doesn’t just happen,” he said, referring to the work load and the ability to work together to get things done.
Morris wished councillor Shawn Watters good luck as he moves on to county council. “It’s a bigger horseshoe [at the county],” he said. “You’ll have to talk a little louder.”
Morris wished unsuccessful mayoral candidate Bob Foster “The best of luck into the future.”
As for returning council members, who did not always agree on all issues, Morris said, “We’ll live to fight another day.”
Councillor Kirk McElwain thanked council and the staff for “a very interesting four years.”
He, too, cited the document listing the work that had been done, and had to admit that he had forgotten about some of the projects. He also thanked the staff for its work.
Councillor Walt Visser was also pleased with the work done in the previous term. He noted that when Morris came on council, “We’ve had a lot of battles,” but, he added, “We’ve come together.”
Visser said the finance portfolio, of which Morris was chairman, accomplished “remarkable things.”
Visser said the township did more infrastructure projects in the last four years than the local governments he had sat on for the combined 16 years he has been involved in municipal government. He noted that the council had managed that without going into major debt, unlike many other municipalities that had to borrow huge amounts of cash to meet their share of those project costs.
Still, Visser appears to expect some things will not change. He said of his statement, “That doesn’t mean we won’t be having any more arguments.”
Foster told council and a packed gallery it has been “an honour and a privilege” to serve on council. He thanked the voters of Ward 3 for electing him in 2006 and “who placed their trust and confidence in me.”
Foster also thanked those who voted for him in the mayoralty contest, “and those who took time to vote.”
Watters said leaving township council for the county is “a tough one” because the community has been so supportive of him and his family.
He noted at times there was a “love-hate relationship” between the him and the voters, but he hopes to take the “love and support to the county. I’ll do my best to serve the community.”
Ross-Zuj said, “It has been my honour to be the leader of this council.” She said, though, that she does not expect the work to get any easier. “We certainly have many more challenges in the future.”
Ross-Zuj thanked staff for their hard work, and said working with them is “a treat.” She said she hopes council and staff can continue to meet and work through issues as they have in the past term.
She also thanked staff for the four year report of council accomplishments and said she has gone through notes and seen “what was effective and what can be improved.”
She noted councillors-elect Mary Lloyd, Steve VanLeeuwen, and Kelly Linton were in the gallery. She said the inaugural council meeting would be on Dec. 6 and indicated things are about to get busy.
She said to them, “I hope your are getting lots of rest.”
