First words

Mertens installed as mayor

Former Mayor Leo Finnegan adjusts the chains of office upon the County’s new Mayor Peter Mertens in an inauguration ceremony at Shire Hall last week.

Peter Mertens officially donned the robe of mayor last week.

In his inaugural remarks Mertens repeated his pledge that the municipal government “will not seek more from our taxpayers than we did in 2010.”

“It is time for us to stop and take a breath,” said Mertens. “Two thousand eleven will be a year to retrench and take stock. We must learn to do more, with less. This means we must look at the way we operate, the way our organization is structured and how we can deliver value for money.”

Mertens emphasized that generating economic prosperity through continued economic development is key to driving revenue needed to fund vital services for the entire community.

He touched on other key areas including health care, agriculture, tourism, arts and the expanding creative sector. But Mertens chose to single out affordable housing as his key priority in his term as mayor.

“We have a housing crisis,” said Mertens. “We have many seniors in this community who cannot manage accommodation and related costs. Many are using room heaters because they cannot afford both hydro and heating oil.”

“I believe that the spirit of our community is measured by how we treat the least privileged among us,” said Mertens.

Does this mean the site of the former DukeDome could soon see the development of an affordable housing complex?

“When Council gets around to considering alternatives for that site,” said Mertens, “I will support it being used for affordable housing. I have worked for the last year with a group in Wellington led by the United Church to create a Non Profit Housing Corporation in Wellington at a location to be determined, with preference given to the old arena site.

“Ours is a community of caring people. We must ensure no one is left behind.”