New Mayor takes the Council Helm in North Frontenac

Craig Bakay | Nov 23, 2022

The Gerry Lichty era in North Frontenac officially began Nov. 21 in Plevna with the inaugural meeting of the new Council under new Mayor Gerry Lichty (who defeated Ron Higgins in the recent municipal election).

The meeting began with the playing of the National Anthem (something that used to be a regular occurrence with these things but hasn’t been seen in most municipalities in some time). Another change (that has been seen in all municipalities) is that the Mayor and councillors all pledged to be faithful to and bear allegiance to King Charles III.

“I’ve been told municipal politics is the most rewarding but also the most difficult and challenging of the three levels of government,” Lichty said in his opening remarks. “Both are true. (But) there are no massive prairies, mountain ranges or political boundaries to separate us. We are here. Let us know your thoughts and ideas (and) help us make it better. Let’a have a little fun, get it together.”

The new Mayor did show he could have a little fun, both at the expense of another member of Council and at his own.

When told it was his responsibility to appoint Coun. John Inglis as chair of the Economic Development Task Force, Lichty made a slight slip of the tongue saying “I name Coun. John Inglis as Mayor.”

After realizing his mistake and correcting it, Lichty chuckled when Inglis told him: “That will make the paper.”

Part of any inaugural Council meeting is appointment to committees, boards and task forces, etc. but most of the appointments this time around were deferred to a later meeting. Part of that was likely due to the absence of Coun. Gerry Martin, whom Coun. John Inglis suggested had expressed an interest in being both Deputy Mayor and Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority representative.

Council did however elected Coun. Fred Fowler as the Township’s second representative on Frontenac County Council (the Mayor is the first rep) by a narrow vote over Inglis. Inglis was named as the alternate to County Council.

Fowler was also once again named to the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance and new Coun. Stephanie Regent to the Lakelands Family Health Team.

One thing that tends to come up at most inaugural Council meetings is a suggestion that meeting times and dates be revisited.

Coun. Roy Huetl led that charge saying “it came up during the election campaign that we need to have evening meetings in the summer to accommodate seasonal residents.”

“We’ve tried that in the past with no success,” said Good. “And it makes for a long day for staff, some of whom are entitled to overtime.”

“We did experience trying different halls too but that didn’t work,” said Inglis. “I would prefer to carry on the way we have been (every third Friday at 9 a.m. in the Council Chambers in Plevna) because I’m old and I don’t like change.”

At the urging of Clerk/Planning Manager Tara Mieske (the one tasked with making up the schedule, Council decided to go with every third Friday at 9 a.m. (meaning the next three meetings will Dec. 16, Jan. 6 and Jan. 27) until the end of May when the issue will be revisited.

Donation accepted

Council voted to accept the donation of a Colebrook painting of Red Horse Lake which is part of the Township Parklands (seven campsites off Arcol Road).

Coun. John Inglis was the lone no vote, arguing that if it went up in the Ompah Hall, “something else will have to come down.

“Thanks but no thanks.”