| Nov 23, 2022


“The exciting part of campaigning is over and now the real work begins,” Central Frontenac Mayor Frances Smith told her new Council at their inaugural meeting Nov. 15 in Sharbot Lake. “Since I didn’t have to campaign (having been acclaimed as Mayor) I missed out on all those opportunities to make a speech.

Smith said she’s lost track of the number of years she’s been involved in municipal politics.

“But maybe that’s a good thing. I’m not stuck in old ideas (and) I’m very open to doing things differently for the right reasons.”

She said she doesn’t believe that change is bad but “I do believe that change must make sense and be done for the right reasons.”

She noted that a lot of candidates campaigned on a platform of making changes and said: “I would ask all of you to take the time to learn why we do what we do, why decisions are made the way they are made, be prepared to suggest alternatives and be prepared to discuss and make compromises where compromises need to be made. None of us has the market on the best ideas.”

She encouraged councillors to give staff some time to get used to a new Council and its decision-making style.

“Our staff work hard for us and it isn’t easy when your bosses change every four years.”

She said she hoped the returning councillors would offer their insights and help the new councillors along the way.

“I certainly hope you enjoy reading because one of the things in this job is you will get lots to read,” she said.

She encouraged Council to remember the Township as a whole.

“As politicians, we often feel it’s our obligation to try and fix every little problem that’s brought to us,” she said. “We have to look at the whole Township in terms of priorities and budgets — not focus on who wants what done. Budgeting and seeing the impact on property taxes is one of this job’s hardest aspects. We want to provide the best services but we need to be aware of what that costs.”

She said that nobody wants their taxes to rise and that includes Council.

“We’re taxpayers too,” she said. “That is why some projects have to be pushed to the future or wait until we can get a grant.

“Together we can make this a great place to live, work, play and raise our families.”

Senior posts to experienced ward 4 councillors

Coun. Phillip Smith was named as Dep. Mayor, which is a one-year term.

Coun. Nicki Gowdy was named as Central Frontenac’s second County Council representative.

First Day jitters

All of the new councillors got a chance to speak and while just about everyone took the opportunity to thank the community and their supporters as well as saying how they were looking forward to working with Council and staff, new Coun. Bill Everett had a little different take on his new position.

“I’m excited to be here but also somewhat terrified,” Everett said. “All I can hope is that we all go out in four years with the same popularity we have coming in here.

Other appointments

The inaugural meeting is also when committee appointments are doled out and new Coun. Craig Middleton figures to be the busiest having volunteered for the Eastern Ontario Trails Committee, Human Resources Advisory Committee, District 3 Recreation Committee, Sharbot Lake Farmers Market Committee, the Heritage Festival Committee, Central Frontenac Trails Revitalization Committee, and the Central Frontenac Washroom Facilities Committee.

Other committee appointments of note include Lynn Klages to Quinte Conservation, Cindy Kelsey to Mississippi Valley Conservation, Susan Irwin to Rideau Valley Conservation, Bill Everett to Frontenac Accessibility Advisory Committee, Danny Meeks and Phillip Smith to the Frontenac Arena Board, Lynn Klages to District 1 Recreation, Danny Meeks to District 2 Recreation and Nicki Gowdy to District 4 Recreation.

Speaking it like it is

When there didn’t seem to be much of a rush to step up for the Deputy Mayor’s position, Mayor Frances Smith said: “C’mon guys, it’s not that tough of a job.”

That prompted Coun. Craig Middleton to say: “I’ve only been on this for five minutes, I’ll pass.”

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