GUELPH – It didn’t take long for George Bridge to get a gavel back in his hand.
The former mayor of Minto, who did not run in the October election, was appointed by Wellington County as its citizen representative on Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health’s (WDGPH) board of health.
And at the board’s inaugural meeting on Jan. 4, Bridge was re-elected chair.
Bridge previously was chair of the board of health when he was mayor of Minto.
Rodrigo Goller, a City of Guelph councillor, was elected vice chair, and Chris White, mayor of Guelph/Eramosa, was elected secretary-treasurer.
The board consists of representatives from its funding municipalities, as well as provincial appointees.
The remaining board members are:
- Guelph councillor Linda Busuttil;
- Guelph councillor Erin Caton;
- Wellington County councillor David Anderson;
- Dufferin citizen appointee Ralph Mantelow;
- East Garafraxa mayor Guy Guardhouse; and
- provincial appointee Steve Caval.
Medical officer of health Dr. Nicola Mercer said another provincial appointee will join the board in February. The province can appoint up to seven individuals to the board.
Board members also sit on committees and those positions were decided at the meeting as well.
On the finance and audit committee are White (chair), Bridge, Busuttil, Mantelow and Goller.
On the human resources committee are Guardhouse (chair), Bridge, Anderson, Caton and Caval.
The next board of health meeting is Feb. 1 at 2pm and it will be virtual.
The board intends to resume in-person meetings in March.
