Councillors here agreed in principal to Wayne Martin’s recommendation to nominate the volunteers of the Try-It Sports program for the 2011 Volunteer Recognition awards.
The issue was discussed at previous meetings, as Martin recapped that Minto’s nomination of the group for the awards through Wellington County and the Volunteer Centre of Guelph-Wellington was not successful. “Therefore we should try again for next year.”
Mayor David Anderson said, “We could make it a recommendation, but there may be a new council and they might have their own ideas.”
Deputy-mayor Judy Dirksen was hopeful the selection process might change, “Because of the discrepancies that happened this year … I known they’re looking at it.”
She said the criteria may change, or the manner in which it is done may change.
As a result, Dirksen is hesitant to make the nomination now for an award next year. She added there may be different worthy nominations next year as well, and asked what would happen to them.
“But I understand where you’re coming from, councillor Martin.”
Martin believed the support of the council should at least carry through to the next term of council. But he agreed that the council of the day could make its own decision.
Anderson said he had already sent a letter outlining Minto’s concerns with the process.
Martin agreed there is the possibility of other volunteer groups being nominated, “But I’d feel a little bit slighted if this group got bumped out.”
At the same time, he believes most volunteers should be recognized.
But, he maintained, the Try-It program is “growing by leaps and bounds.”
Councillors Tammy Reiner said a nomination from council would mean that this is the person or group the municipality wishes to nominate. If the next council can still make its own decision, then she has no issue making the recommendation.
Dirksen explained her issue was the motion reading that council approve a nomination. She suggested the motion be a recommendation to the coming council.
Martin said whatever the process, the group needs to be recommended by council.
Another of Martin’s concerns was that “We read about who won in the Wellington Advertiser, first. I don’t think that’s a good way for us to find out about it either,” Martin said.
Anderson explained that county council meets on the last Thursday of the month and reporters are at the meeting, and the stories come out the following week. However, he agreed the word was out before the next Minto council meeting.
Martin asked Anderson, “But don’t we have representation at the county – you?”
Dirksen suggested for the future, all nominations could come through the municipality.
Then, if it had to be narrowed down to just one, council could still honour the remaining nominees.
“It’s still pretty significant to be nominated, even if there is only one winner at the county level,” she said.
“As such, we could make a bigger deal of the nomination.”
Anderson said in this case there were four nominations from different groups in Minto alone.”
