County councillor Lou Maieron and Warden Joanne Ross-Zuj continued to disagree about Maieron’s letter to the Premier and the Minister of Municipal Affairs that asked them to force Guelph and Wellington County into a merger.
Ross-Zuj believes he crossed the line in terms of proper councillor behavior, but Maieron said during a break at county council on Jan. 28 that he had done nothing against the procedural bylaw, declaring that his letter stated it was “one councillor’s opinion.”
Ross-Zuj said on Monday she checked the bylaw and Maieron had no business advocating something to the province that county council has not discussed and voted on.
Maieron opened his letter “I am writing you on behalf of the property taxpayers of Wellington County and ergo by association the property taxpayers of the City of Guelph …”
Ross-Zuj said by inference he is speaking for both councils when he has no right to say anything for either of them.
She said the procedural bylaw states the warden is authorized to speak on behalf of council, and the proper procedure to follow is to send any issue to committee for debate, get a recommendation and then have county council approve it.
“It says that in our procedural bylaw,” Ross-Zuj said.
Maieron signed his letter advocating a forced city and county merger with “Lou Maieron, Wellington County Councillor.”
Ross-Zuj said, “I speak based on an item coming through proper channel. That item has not come through council.”
