Most municipal councils tend to end their final meeting thanking fellow councillors and staff for the chance to work together over the past term of office, but that clearly was not the case here on Nov. 24.
Councillor Barb Tocher made a few quick presentations to outgoing council members.
“Mr. Mayor, because we all know that you are so fond of this little item here,” Tocher said picking up the gavel, “… we bequeath it to you. May you use it in good standing.”
Mayor Lou Maieron said he appreciated the gesture.
The engraving on the gavel notes “presented to Erin Township by Henry Wheeler 1973.”
John Brennan
Brennan echoed Tocher’s remarks.
“The past four years have not been the most joyous for any of us. We’ve all been affected in one way or another over the past four years.”
In spite of that Brennan believed council had accomplished quite a lot.
“I’m sure that we all were acting with the best of intentions in what we did, what we accomplished and even what we didn’t accomplish.”
He thanked council and staff.
“It’s not always been enjoyable but it’s been very real and gratifying to overcome the obstacles that we did.”
Barb Tocher
Tocher reflected on 20 years of municipal service. She said she has had the opportunity to serve the municipality in various capacities: as councillor, mayor and warden.
“It’s been an honour and privilege. I will miss it no doubt. What I will miss the most are the people, whether it be my colleagues at the council table, the staff and members of the public.”
She added, “There isn’t a more interesting line of work. You never know what’s going to come at you next. You’ll never know what the next ‘big’ issue will be.”
For Tocher, she said, “At one point it was about gravel [pits] and now it’s about fill and filling in gravel pits.”
Other issues have included water taking, Places to Grow legislation and the Green Belt, Tocher said.
While Tocher said the past 20 years had been rewarding, “I’m looking forward to relaxing, having my evenings off and not having to bundle up in the cold weather at 7pm when all you want to do is get in your jammies and watch a movie rather than come to a council meeting.”
Tocher added she’s been known to traditionally hand out Erin bears to outgoing members of council.
“I happen to have a little hoard left … but this is the end of them.” As she handed them out she commented, “Mr. Mayor, this is not a pink flamingo, but it will match your tie.”
Deb Callaghan
“Unfortunately my experience with council over the past four years has not been enjoyable,” said Callaghan. She did however thank staff for the hard work, dedication and professionalism.
“This has been a very difficult four years for you guys – not the least of which was the loss of a dear friend and colleague, Frank Smedley.
Callaghan also thanked her fellow council members, noting, “It’s been a pleasure working with you this term.”
She then stated, “It has certainly been a challenging year. The words frustrating, trying, exasperating, discouraging definitely come to mind.”
Callaghan offered a few comments to incoming council lors.
“You need a leader who is willing to work with you – not against you. You need to look ahead, not behind. To learn from the past and not focus on laying blame. You need to treat staff with respect. They are the professionals you depend upon for the day-to-day operations and to implement the direction of council. You need to be cohesive and treat each other with respect.
Callaghan commented “the mayor frequently said we as council needed to paddle the canoe in the same direction. Unfortunately we were not even in the same canoe.”
She also thanked members of the public for their support over the past four years.
“I wish the new council well and I sincerely hope they can move this town forward in a postive manner so the residents can once more have confidence in the council they have elected,” Callaghan concluded
Lou Maieron
Mayor Lou Maieron started off with “I had two speeches in mind. I think I’ll take the better speech … for the most part.”
He described the past four years on council as arduous, “It wasn’t easy. To be honest, you elected a mayor for change, but did not bring in a council with that much ambition for change.”
He noted staff changes over the past term including three different CAOs.
As well, the town lost water superintendent Frank Smedley.
Maieron said “We have some great staff who work here,” but then added “there was also a sense of entitlism, and that needs to change.”
He stated “The biggest complaint I’ve had from the public …was that they would complain and I would tell them to write a letter. But the individuals were afraid to do so because of potential repercussions.”
He did not clarify what those repercussions might be.
Maieron also saw the increased attendance at council meetings as a positive outcome of his term as mayor.
“We took a council which had three people attended regularly to a full room – so we have involved the public – for better or for worse. For whatever reason, the public started coming out and that is a reflection of their involvement in the municipality.”
He too believed there was a lot of good from the past four years.
Maieron stated he had run on a platform of 10 things he wanted to accomplish – seven of which were achieved.
“… three I had no council support on.”
He agreed with councillor Deb Callaghan’s comment that council was like a canoe and they all needed to be paddling in the same direction.
“But we didn’t start off on that footing and it was difficult to regain that after a period of time.”
He said the past four years were “arduous and a bit acidic at times. There were clashes of personality.”
Maieron added “I sleep well at night because I did what I thought needed to be done.”
To the new council, he suggested they each get a copy of the Municipal Act. “It’s a big book but you only really need the part outlining the duties of council.”
“Your job is to represent the municipality and its people.”
He agreed issues to arise citing the Hillsburgh mill pond.
“Some people wanted the pond and there was a big cost associated with that. You have to be like Soloman, having to decide whether cutting the baby in half is the right solution going forward.”
Maieron noted the municipality is in good financial shape, but there will be challenges moving forward.
“You need to be honest in addressing them.”
He cautioned new councillors “You’re going to find it difficult when the county takes a big portion of our taxes.”
Overall, Maieron remained proud of the past term o“I’m proud of the accomplishments we’ve made
“I think we’ve left the town in a better situation. I think you have a better ship in which to sail, so I hope you do get in the canoe and paddle going forward.”
Mayor elect Allan Alls
Alls said he understood there were hard times during the past term of council.
“I think I speak for everyone here and the people I know … this is not an easy job for you to do and it sure as hell doesn’t pay anything. You don’t do it for the financial rewards you do it for the good of the community On behalf of the community, I want to thank you all for the time you put in.”
Councillor Josie Wintersinger was absent from the final council session.
