CENTRAL MANITOULIN—With a new council term comes new committee appointments, so the municipal council moved a motion at its Thursday, March 28 meeting to appoint the members of the Old School Repurposing Committee. But despite it being largely a pro-forma housekeeping motion, the process did raise some questions around the table.
The motion from the Office and Administration Committee recommended the appointment of former councillor Ted Williamson, Sam Bondi, Hal Love, Janice McQuay, Joanne Smith and current members of council Mayor Richard Stephens, Councillor Linda Farquhar and Councillor Steven Shaffer. The motion at the council table was moved by Councillor Angela Johnston and Councillor Dale Scott.
“This committee has a specific timeline, I seem to recall there being expressed a certain date,” said Councillor Shaffer.
“October 31,” supplied CAO/Clerk Ruth Frawley.
“I always thought I was just sitting as a member of the community,” said Councillor Farquhar. “The mayor sits on all committees and I thought Steve was the member from council.”
“You have to wear both hats,” suggested Mayor Stephens.
“With three members of council on the committee they can really control the vote,” suggested Councillor Derek Stephens. “I think two is fair, not three.”
“I don’t think it means anything,” rejoined Mayor Stephens.
“As long as you don’t have more than 50 percent, that’s certainly how council has set (public committees) up,” said CAO/Clerk Frawley.
Mayor Stephens noted that other committees, citing the Historical Committee as an example, have been set up in a similar fashion. “I think that is not unusual,” he said.
“It is the same as in the last mandate (previous council), there were three councillors on the committee in the last mandate,” said Councillor Scott.
Councillor Stephens had noted earlier in the meeting that a motion accepting a report from the Old School Repurposing Committee was strange, since it was to accept a report from a committee that council was appointing the committee members later. “I think we are putting the cart before the horse,” he suggested.
“I think committees continue on with their work as they were constituted until we make new appointments,” said Mayor Stephens.
