Puslinch councillors offered emotional and personal farewells at what Mayor Brad Whitcombe called the outgoing council’s “swan song meeting.”
While council will tie up some loose ends at its final meeting on Nov. 22, the meeting on Nov. 3 was essentially the last regular, full meeting before the newly-elected council is sworn in on Dec. 1.
“It’s quite an emotional moment for me,” said councillor Susan Fielding, who will be the lone member returning to the new council.
She said while current councillors “haven’t always seen eye to eye” on certain issues, she will miss all the outgoing members, with whom she hopes she can remain friends.
Councillor Don McKay, who was successful in his bid to become the ward 7 county councillor next term, said he has enjoyed the last four years on Puslinch council. He said council always tried its best to make the township a great place to live and he hopes to continue that work at the upper tier.
He wished members of the new council – three of whom were in the gallery – the best and stressed the importance for them to listen to staff members, who are “on the front lines.” McKay thanked current councillors and staff members and said his “door is always open” at the county.
Matthew Bulmer, who missed out on re-election by just 28 votes, said he’s most proud of the “small things” he has accomplished during his time as a councillor.
“I never did forget what it was like not be on council,” he said, adding that mentality served both him and the community well, and also laid the groundwork for future township leaders.
Bulmer noted he hasn’t missed a council meeting in 10 years, and listed among his achievements the preservation of the Crawford tract and extending the Waterloo well protection agreement to cover those living in the west end of Puslinch.
Councillor Dick Visser, who along with Whitcombe lost the mayor’s race to newcomer Dennis Lever, agreed it was the small achievements that he remembers most.
“I guess I did do some good in my 20 years,” Visser said, specifically mentioned saving trees on the little tract from being cut down. He added he also does not regret his “dogged pursuit” of the fire department, despite that he wasn’t always supported on the matter.
Visser was emotional when he expressed regret that voters “didn’t see fit” to re-elect Bulmer.
“I don’t care about myself, I’ve been here for 20 years,” he said, adding he was “really distressed” by Bulmer’s exclusion. “I don’t think he can be replaced by the new council.”
Personally, Visser said he has no idea what exactly he’ll do with the rest of his life, having also recently sold his quota at his farm.
“I am kind of totally lost at the moment … but life will go on,” he said.
Clerk Brenda Law thanked all councillors for their support over the years, adding that, as individuals, they are all respected.
She acknowledged there will be challenges with the incoming council due to a lack of experience, but said she looks forward to getting to know the new members.
Whitcombe wished the new council well and said he looks forward to seeing their election promises come to fruition.
“I quite expect my tax bill to be lower next year,” he said with smile.
The mayor called the last four years a “very stressful” term, noting that day was the first in some time that he entered the council chamber without butterflies in his stomach.
Whitcombe said he gave his all during his time as mayor to do the absolute best job he could without doing harm to others.
“This has been an amazing journey for me,” he said, adding he is most proud of the new Puslinch library and the entire Wellington County library system, which is the most widely used of its kind in the province.
He also mentioned as significant accomplishments the number of trees planted in the township over the years and the new multi-use recreational facility in Aberfoyle.
Whitcombe thanked staff members, who he said do a great job, especially considering they number so few. He particularly mentioned Law, who was “very patient” with him as a rookie councillor.
“I’ve been so blessed with this organization,” he said.
As he is wont to do at various events, Whitcombe read a poem to close the meeting.
