Janet Gutowski

Oct 09, 2014

Mayor

Janet Gutowski – community champion

 If Janet Gutowski is able to win re-election for a third term as mayor of Central Frontenac, she hopes to complete some projects and initiatives that are already underway, and to continue to promote economic development by continuing to be the number one booster of Central Frontenac locally and throughout the region, and even the province.

At an orientation for all candidates in Frontenac County that was held a few weeks ago in Sharbot Lake, the consultant who conducted the session said something that Gutowski thought summed up the role of mayor.

“He described the mayor as a community champion, and that is the role that I see myself as playing,” Gutowski said. “Whether that means representing the township or the county in Kingston or Toronto or introducing potential investors in local business ventures to each other, the mayor needs to be present in the community to understand where the community is going and how to support all the efforts people are making.”

She has been involved in municipal politics in Central Frontenac almost from the day she moved to Central Frontenac with her husband James in the spring of 2003 from the City of Thorold, where she had been a member of council as well.

In August of that year, she put her name in as a candidate in ward 4 (Hinchinbrooke), and won the election even though she was a newcomer to the township. In 2006 she defeated the incumbent mayor, Bill MacDonald, and in 2010 she won re-election over Logan Murray.

Among the priorities Janet Gutowski is setting for the coming term of office are: “furthering housing issues, particularly seniors’ housing, and strengthening the environment though partnerships with lake associations, conservation authorities and others. I would like to see septic inspection move forward, and we have a fire hall issue to be resolved. I want to get good solid management in place at the township,” she said.

To that end she thinks it is time for a review of the staffing roles in the township office.

“The last time that was done was in 2008, and things have changed since then. I'd like to see a change in staffing roles to better serve our clients,” she said.

She has been a strong supporter of the role that Frontenac County can play in assisting Central Frontenac to further its own interests, and she feels that after a difficult period a new spirit is taking hold at Frontenac County Council.

“I see a more collaborative and cooperative council next time. There is new leadership at the County, a different set of skills, and more collective recognition from lower tiers of the value of co-operation. Everyone is aware of the waste management issue, seniors' issues, and planning issues. Four years ago when we had an eight-member council with only two people returning, it was a learning term for the council with a very steep learning curve. I think we will have a mix of returning and new people this next time.

“We now have a straightforward strategic plan and a long-term financial plan at the county, and that puts us on much more solid footing than before.”

Gutowski is confident that the completion of the K&P Trail will happen and that obstacles in the stretch between Tichborne and Sharbot Lake will be overcome.

“They managed to put a trail in along the Welland Canal, where hundreds of thousands of people live. Surely to goodness there is enough open space to put a trail in north of Tichborne,” she said.

She would like to see Central Frontenac purchase the property where the former Hinchinbrooke school is located from the Limestone District School Board as a location for a new fire hall, and thinks the deal might include transferring some township property near Land O'Lakes School in Mountain Grove to the school board for use in an upgrade to that facility.

As to the future of the Hinchinbrooke school building, she is less confident. “We need to see a strong business case for the building itself,” she said,

She is hopeful that if re-elected, she will receive the kind of mandate necessary to get full buy-in from Council for the direction she hopes to take the township in. She sees the mayor's role as a full time position, although she thinks a part of that position is volunteer.

“You need to be available at all times in this job, to hear from residents and to be available to show off the township to visitors, government officials, potential investors. I look forward to continuing to serve the community."