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PRESENT:
Lord Mayor Pat Darte, Councillors: Maria Bau-Coote, Jim Collard, Betty Disero, Terry Flynn, Jamie King, Martin Mazza, Paolo Miele, John Wiens
REGRETS:
STAFF:
Mike Galloway Chief Administrative Officer
Holly Dowd Town Clerk
Carrie Enns Executive Assistant
Sheldon Randall Director Operations (I)
Alex Burbidge Fire Chief
John Henricks Director Community & Development Services
Lauren Kruitbosch Administrative Assistant
Peter Todd Project Manager - Corporate Services
Lucie Palka Information Technology & Communications Support
Fred Cervantes Manager IT
Victoria Butters Deputy Clerk
Dawn McInnis Program Manager, Communications and
OTHERS:
100 plus Residents present
MEDIA:
Melinda Cheevers Niagara This Week
Suzanne Mason Sun Media
Jack Custers TVCogeco
CALL TO ORDER:
Inaugural 2014 - 2018 Council
The Chief Administrative Officer called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The CAO asked everyone in attendance to stand and introduced the Fort George Fife & Drum Corps, and Lead Fifer Aidan Gowns.
The Fort George Fife & Drum Corps ushered in the 2014 - 2018 Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake Council.
O'CANADA:
The Chief Administrative Officer welcomed everyone to the Inaugural Meeting of the new Council for the 2014 - 2018 Term of Office. The CAO asked everyone to remain standing and introduced Erica Lucas who led lead the singing of O'Canada.
INVOCATION:
The Chief Administrative Officer called upon Father Ron Wiecek, on behalf of St. Vincent de Paul Church, to administer the invocation.
DECLARATION OF OFFICE:
The Chief Administrative Officer announced the Town Clerk will now administer the Declaration of Office.
The Town Clerk administered the Declaration of Office to all members of Council simultaneously. Led by the Lord Mayor, all Council members read their individual declarations in unison.
The Town Clerk presented Lord Mayor Pat Darte with the Chain of Office.
The Town Clerk presented the 2014 - 2018 Town Council.
BUSINESS:
Lord Mayor Pat Darte asked the Town Clerk to read the resolutions for three readings to By-law 4775-14 being a by-law to appoint John Wiens Deputy Lord Mayor for The Corporation of the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake for the Council Term 2014 - 2018.
- resolution #1, APPROVED, BY-LAW RECEIVED THREE READINGS.
Lord Mayor Pat Darte asked the Town Clerk to read the resolution to appoint the Standing Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs for the period December 2014 to December 2015.
- resolution #2, APPROVED, STANDING COMMITTEES APPOINTMENTS.
Lord Mayor Pat Darte announced this concluded the business portion of the Council meeting and asked the Town Clerk to read the adjournment motion.
- resolution #3, APPROVED ADJOURNMENT.
Lord Mayor Pat Darte introduced members of his family, as well each Councillor introduced their families.
The Chief Administrative Officer introduced Alex Burbidge, Fire Chief, John Henricks, Director of Community & Development and Sheldon Randall, Director of Operations, as well as Carrie Enns Executive Assistant.
PRESENTATIONS:
The Chief Administrative Officer called upon the retiring Council members for a presentation on behalf of the Town. Lord Mayor Darte presented a gift to former Councillor Dennis Dick and Regional Councillor Dave Lepp. Mr. Dick and Mr. Lepp thanked Council and wished them well.
Lord Mayor Darte extended an invitation to former Lord Mayor Dave Eke, Councillors Gary Zalepa and Andrea Kaiser, who were not present, to attend the December 15 Council meeting for the presentation.
As requested by former Councillor Andrea Kaiser, Dennis Dick read a note on her behalf.
LORD MAYOR'S ADDRESS:
Good evening councillors, staff, friends, family and fellow residents. Thank you for having faith in me and my abilities. I am honoured and humbled to be the next Lord Mayor of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Let me acknowledge former Lord Mayor Dave Eke and the outgoing Councillors Andrea Kaiser, Dennis Dick, Gary Zalepa, and Dave Lepp for the dedication they showed serving our community. For their passion and commitment, we thank you.
Wikipedia writes that a politician, political leader, or political figure, by Greek translation, is a person who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making. Robin Williams has a different version. He says, if you break down the word POLITICS, “Poly” in Latin means “many” and ticks are blood-sucking creatures. Anyway…
This is now the team. We are the group that the residents of our Town have entrusted to look out for their best interests. Together, with the dedicated men and women on this council, we will do just that. We are so fortunate to live, work and play in one of the nicest towns in the world. It is a town full of rich history, heritage and character. The uniqueness of our wineries, Shaw Festival, history and natural charm, puts us in a league of our own. I am happy, to some degree, to have the traffic and parking problems that we do. This tells us that rest of the world agrees. And yet I strongly feel there is a lot of untapped potential.
We will move forward. But we must move forward carefully and smartly. We need a good roadmap to make sure we achieve our goals without leaving any damage in our wake. A strong official plan, a strong strategic plan, a strong staff, and a strong, well-informed, united Council will get us there. The campaign is now a distant memory. It’s time to get to work and be PROACTIVE! We need to address the concerns we heard during the campaign: Healthcare, Schools, Transportation, Jobs, and Fair Taxation. But we also need to look beyond. We need to take stock of our strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities. The one that excites me most is our OPPORTUNITIES. With vision and partnerships, we can achieve great things.
To my Family
I want to create a place where you can live, grow, raise your children, and prosper. You should have the amenities that we all deserve. You should be able to watch your children grow, learn, and live a safe and healthy life. I want to be able to create and maintain that for you AND for all our residents. In four years, I want you to be proud to say “THAT’S MY DAD.”
To our Residents
It is the job of this Council to have the vision needed to make our town even better. To complete tasks that are top priorities. To explore opportunities that will enhance our way of life. To seek partnerships that will create synergies and improve our town. To ensure the safety of our residents. To ensure we maintain our proud heritage.
To our Staff
You possess more knowledge about our town and its way of doing business than anyone else. We need to tap into that. We need to make that one of our strengths. We need a good working relationship between EVERYONE. In order to row this boat efficiently we all need everyone’s oar pulling water TOGETHER.
We need to create an atmosphere where you wake up in the morning and think of what YOU can do to make our town better. Each one of you has the potential to do that. If we all pull together we can move mountains. Listen to John Lennon’s song IMAGINE. This time think about our town. It may open your minds even further.
To our Councillors
We have been given the honour to guide our Town during the next four years, to show leadership, to make well-informed decisions that are in the best interests of us all. We have the chance to make a better life for everyone in NOTL. We help shape the way this town functions, lives, plays, and grows. It is up to us to make this town a better community - a place where we all work, play, and prosper together. As I thought about our new council, I came up with the concept that we have the United Nations of personalities. This could be our biggest strength. We all have a role to play. We each bring something unique to the table; different ideas, different skills and different views, but, with the same united goal. TO MAKE THIS TOWN BETTER! It is up to the 9 of us, the staff and the residents to work together to have a prosperous and successful four years. Open your minds to the endless possibilities. Think of others first and ourselves last.
My Vision
I believe that the most important things in life are family, friends, and a life not just lived for ourselves, but also in service of others. I believe in this community, and that the choices of this Town Council can impact everyone’s quality of life. I believe that open communication and the quality with which we conduct ourselves, directly affects others. I believe that excellence and commitment builds success. Thoughtful planning and effective communication can create great positive change. We are all inter-dependent. No one person is as wise as all of us combined. I am here to work with you, to protect our history, culture and environment, to sensibly grow our commerce and guard the interests of our residents - because all are worth protecting. Our goal is that four years from now, Niagara-on-the-Lake will be better off than it is today and that it holds promise not just for us but also our future generations.
"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." - Winston Churchill
BENEDICTION:
The Chief Administrative Officer called upon Father Ron Wiecek to conclude the evening with the benediction, and Erica Lucas to lead the singing of God Save the Queen, followed by the retiring of the Fife & Drum Corps as Council members are led to the John Drope Hall for the reception. All in attendance were invited to join the reception.
RESOLUTIONS:
1. Moved by Councillor Terry Flynn, seconded by Councillor Betty Disero that leave be given to introduce By-law No. 4775-14 and that the same be considered read a first, second and third time and passed, any ruling of this Council to the contrary notwithstanding. APPROVED.
2. Moved by Councillor Jim Collard, seconded by Councillor Paolo Miele that the following Standing Committee Chair and Vice Chair be appointed for the period, December 2014 to December 2015:
CORPORATE SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
Chair – Councillor Terry Flynn, Vice Chair – Councillor Paola Miele
COMMUNITY & DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
Chair – Councillor Jamie King, Vice Chair – Councillor Maria Bau-Coote
OPERATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
Chair – Councillor John Wiens, Vice Chair – Councillor Betty Disero. APPROVED.
3. Moved by Councillor Betty Disero, seconded by Councillor Terry Flynn that this Council adjourn to the next regular meeting to be held December 15, 2014, and if a special meeting is required, it will be held at the call of the Lord Mayor. APPROVED.
VERBAL MOTIONS:
There were no verbal motions.
ADJOURNMENT: 07:40 PM |
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