TEHKUMMAH—There was a strong turnout at the Tehkummah Triangle Senior Citizens’ Club on Tuesday, December 4 for the inaugural meeting and swearing in of the new municipal council.
New Reeve David Jaggard began with opening remarks on the occasion, thanking outgoing councillors Paul Bowerman and Ron Hierons for their service to the township. He also gave thanks to Acting Clerk-Treasurer Roy Hardy, whom he said, “has been a great help to the township and will try to be here for a few days each month.”
Mr. Hardy then took to the floor with his own remarks. “This is always a fun opportunity and a time for renewal. For the Township of Tehkummah this is an appropriate point, looking at the leadership of your community.”
He introduced the special guests for the evening: Rosalie Jaggard and her family, Lori Gordon and Ethan McKenzie. “These people have taken on the role of phone answerers, message deliverers and people taking care of pets,” said Mr. Hardy, acknowledging the behind-the-scenes work required to run a township.
He then called up the councillors to swear or affirm the oath of office, as prescribed in the Municipal Act. Reeve Jaggard went first, but before he sat down Mr. Hardy presented him with a ceremonial gavel, hand-made by South Baymouth resident Dick Bowerman. Not to be outdone, though, Ms. Jaggard was then called up and presented with an even larger gavel to a great deal of laughter and applause.
The councillors came next. Rick Gordon was first to swear to the oath, followed by Lorie Leeson and Michael McKenzie. New councillor and former reeve Eric Russell was not present for the inaugural meeting.
With the whole of council sworn in, Rev. Martin Garniss, minister at the United Churches in Manitowaning, South Baymouth and Tehkummah, offered an invocation.
“Always remember, your service is to people. Character is important,” he said. After his address to the councillors he turned to the citizens, saying that everyone deserves to be supported and respected. He offered three key ways to support the new council: firstly, by electing the right people, by encouraging council to do the right things rather than criticizing them, and to pray for government leaders to lead peaceful and quiet lives.
The councillors were then given an opportunity to comment on the occasion. Councillor Leeson thanked the people in the room, as it was a healthy turnout. She said she would be working toward four years of positivity, moving forward and kindness.
Councillor McKenzie expressed his thanks for supporting the group of people on stage. “This group is what people want. We are going to make this township better,” he said.
Reeve Jaggard thanked everyone for their support, especially the younger folks and those from out of town.
“As long as I live and as far as I can remember, I will always remember the kindness I experienced while I was campaigning,” he said.
He then outlined some key points for the new term of council: Mr. Hardy will be present at one council meeting per month and each meeting will have a designated period for members of the public to make comments. Some of the challenges he said the township would need to address are the landfill site and boosting recycling, the township’s aging road and fire equipment and staffing in the roads department.
He read a quote from the Bible that encouraged forgetting events in the past and reaching forward to those ahead.
“It will be reported that there is kindness, unity and co-operation in the Township Tehkummah,” he concluded.
Councillor McKenzie was appointed deputy reeve by the new council. The council then voted to designate signing authority to the reeve, Councillor Russell and the clerk-treasurer or deputy clerk-treasurer. The signing authority bylaw also specifies which documents can only be signed by the clerk-treasurer.
Mr. Hardy read council a welcome letter from Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Mike Mantha that wished them the best in the new term of council and offered some words of advice. Steve Clark, Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, wrote a similar letter.
With the business concluded, Reeve Jaggard ended the proceedings to begin the social hour, featuring baking by community members and refreshments.
“The meeting is adjourned. Thank you for coming,” he said, before hitting his gavel against the desk with a wide smile.
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Council has already gotten an early start on the township’s business. The following evening, council held a budget meeting. They voted to approve the Triangle Club’s bingo and blanket raffle lottery licences for 2019 and received the fire chief’s report.
Then, Mr. Hardy presented a four-year overview of possible funding arrangements that could be employed to move the township into a better financial status. He said he is trying to increase the township’s capital budget and shrink its smaller operating budget to help accommodate future expenses without passing costs excessively onto taxpayers.
The capital budget refers to items such as upgrades to the township’s buildings, equipment and infrastructure. The operating budget covers things such as councillor and administration staff salaries, police and fire costs, landfill, water and sewer costs and drainage planning.
In addition, Mr. Hardy said that at current property assessment rates, a one percent tax increase would only net approximately $11,000 in extra revenue because of the small population in Tehkummah, making it a relatively unattractive option. He highlighted other options such as raising fees for the marina and landfill, water and sewer rates, and cutting staffing. Council was not voting on any of the above options, they were merely considering possible courses of action for future budget deliberations.
