Councillor conflicts

Dear Editor:

RE: And then there were five, July 30.

I fully agree with Dave Adsett’s recent editorial regarding the upcoming municipal election. There are important issues such as housing, employment and finances that need to be addressed by the new council. 

As Adsett noted, it is imperative that Centre Wellington elects a mayor who possess “good, sound judgement that will respect members of council and the community.” A mayor must be a leader, a person that is able to work with councillors and guide them through the important issues.

Throughout the current session of council, councillor Bronwynne Wilton has declared a conflict of interest 30 times, which accounts for 57% of the total number of conflicts of interest identified by the entire council. 

Wilton has declared most of these conflicts because her husband is a senior partner at MHBC Planning, which has provided planning services to landowners/developers and council in the areas of zoning by-law amendments, environmental servicing, and the South Fergus Secondary Plan.

Centre Wellington must have a mayor who can lead, not someone who must sit on the sideline due to conflicts of interest.

David Smith,
Fergus