Frontnenac County Council – Dec 15/10

Jeff Green | Jan 06, 2011

Davison returns as warden

It took a bit longer than it has in the past to swear in the members of Frontenac County Council at their inaugural meeting on December 15, 2010, because even though one new member of council was sick, there were still seven to be sworn in this time around, when there used to be four.

The mayors from the four Frontenac townships were joined by a second representative from each township as selected by the members of the township councils. The 8th councillor, John Purdon from Central Frontenac, missed the meeting because he was ill.

The selection of a warden went relatively smoothly. South Frontenac Mayor Gary Davison was nominated by Mayor Janet Gutowski from Central Frontenac, seconded by Mayor Bud Clayton from North Frontenac. Frontenac Islands Councilor David Jones from Howe Islands nominated his own mayor, Dennis Doyle. However Doyle's nomination was not seconded and Davison was acclaimed as warden. Central Frontenac Mayor Janet Gutowski was chosen as deputy warden.

Although Davison and Gutowski were appointed for four-year terms, Davison indicated that he only intends to keep the position for 2011, “in order to give someone else a chance at it.”

Ever since amalgamation in 1998, it has been the practice for the warden to step down after one year.

Davison, who served as warden in 2010, said, “I am humbled, and honoured to accept this position. Continuity will be a big asset this year, particularly as we work with the Eastern Ontario wardens on completing the Eastern Ontario broadband project, which is a $150 million initiative that is important to all of our constituents.”

Before the warden and deputy warden elections took place, the new members of council were given the opportunity to make statements. In general they talked of the county’s potential and expressed optimism about the expanded council.

North Frontenac Mayor Bud Clayton made a thinly veiled reference to the troubled relationship his own council has had with Frontenac County in recent years, which culminated in North Frontenac making a request of the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs that it be given leave to hold a referendum on secession from Frontenac County.

“Bridges have been burnt between North Frontenac and Frontenac County. It is my solemn pledge to rebuild these bridges. We have been part of the county council since 1861. It is our intention to play a constructive and active role over the next four years,” he said.

County council also made appointments to boards and committees at their meeting. Two citizen representatives were appointed to the Kingston Frontenac Library Board. Wilma Kenny of Sydenham is a returning member on the board, and she will be joined by Paige Cousineau from Ompah. Ralph Gatfield, who has been a representative for a number of years and had put his name forward again, was passed over this time around. County council also has a direct representative on the library board, and John Purdon from Central Frontenac will fulfill that role.

John McDougall (South Frontenac) will sit on the Affordable Housing Development Committee, and Bud Clayton (North Frontenac) will sit on the KFL&A (Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington) Public Health Board.

The Frontenac County representative to the Algonquin Land Claim is John Inglis (North Frontenac). Gary Davison (South Frontenac) will sit on the Frontenac County Youth justice Advisory Committee, and David Jones (Frontenac Islands) on the Rideau Corridor Landscape Strategy Steering Committee.

Warden Davison, Deputy Warden Gutowski, and Dennis Doyle (Frontenac Islands) will sit on RULAC (the Rural Urban Liaison Committee). RULAC is a joint committee with Kingston City Council that oversees a complex set of relations surrounding the Frontenac Land Ambulance service and the Fairmount Home, as well as Ontario Works and other social service functions that the city operates for the county under an agreement that dates back to 1998.