Mayor’s Levee

Hundreds greet new council at Macaulay Museum

It took well over an hour for newly elected Mayor Steve Ferguson and members of council to greet well-wishers at the Mayor’s Levee on Sunday afternoon at Macaulay Heritage Museum in Picton. The line of visitors extended through the front door of the museum as residents waited to meet the members of local government who will guide this municipality through the coming four years. All nine new councillors and three of the four returning councillors were present, as well as several senior Shire Hall staff members. For many of the visitors, this was a particularly special Levee, being the first one of the new term of council and with a large majority of first-time councillors. Ken Dewar has attended many previous Levees, and was especially keen to attend this one. “It’s wonderful to see. I think people are enthusiastic about what the new council can do and we’re looking forward to see how they perform in the next four years,” said Dewar. “They’ve got a lot of tasks in front of them and we want them to succeed. So it’s a good chance to celebrate that start and get them on their way.”

Following the reception line, Pipe Major Josh McFarlane piped in the mayor and councillors to begin the formal phase of the afternoon. Mayor Ferguson welcomed the residents and visiting dignitaries, including MP Neil Ellis, MPP Todd Smith, and representatives from Trenton, Belleville, and the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment. Ferguson then introduced the members of council, providing a brief mention of their backgrounds and some of the skills they will be bringing to Shire Hall. “From these brief introductions, you can see why I’m excited to work with these talented individuals,” he said. “There’s a lot of capability that will be sitting around the horseshoe for four years. Each person offers his or her own unique perspective and skill set. What unites us is our desire to do our absolute best to improve this community we call home.” Ferguson also acknowledged the members of the previous council and his predecessor, Robert Quaiff. “I would like to thank the former mayor, who not only set the bar high, but whose advice and counsel was concise, precise and always welcome.”

Members of the new council listen as Mayor Steve Ferguson (right) delivers his address at the Mayor’s Levee on Sunday afternoon at Macaulay Heritage Museum.

Ferguson then described what has happened in brief time that the new council has been together. They have learned about the key elements and organizational functions of municipal government, and Ferguson stressed the need to look at the County as a whole, rather than as competing parts. Ferguson himself is relishing the early days of his mayoralty, and was particularly impressed by the level of caring and generosity he witnessed on Christmas Day as he visited several locations where volunteers made the day a special one for hundreds of residents. He also touched upon the role that volunteerism played in strengthening the fabric of this community in 2018. He cited the work done to save Sophiasburgh Central School, to build the Prince Edward County Food Hub, to rehabilitate the Millennium Trail, and the tireless effort of the Women’s Institute to provide accessible transportation. Ferguson also outlined some of the challenges facing the new term of council. “The lack of affordable and attainable housing has emerged as perhaps our most pressing issue,” he said.
“We won’t solve this challenge overnight. However, it’s vital that we start to make progress if we are to ensure the social well-being of our community.” Another thorny issue is that of short-term accommodations in the County. “I can tell you this issue was one of the most contentious faced by the previous council,” said Ferguson. “The open and transparent consultation process ultimately led to a sound policy outcome.”
The road ahead will be a rocky one for the new council. There are many pressing matters that need to be addressed, especially the growing and critical infrastructure needs that have outpaced available funding. “The tough choices will come into focus next week when this new council sits down to set its first budget,” said Ferguson. “We take seriously the trust residents place in us to manage their tax dollars in a prudent and responsible manner. In addition to advocating for additional funding from upper government, we intend in 2019 to take a hard look at how we manage these assets so that we can continue to deliver affordable and sustainable services.”

While the future weeks and months may present some difficult choices, neophyte councillor Kate MacNaughton was thoroughly enjoying the day’s event. “I’m a little overwhelmed,” she said. “There’s a lot of people here and I didn’t anticipate that. The turnout is amazing. People are so engaged and interested. I’m delighted.” Mac- Naughton and her council colleagues have gone through an intensive few weeks of orientation, and it has left her with a very good feeling about how well the new council will work together. “Right now, my impression is very warm and favourable, and I feel there’s a good thing brewing,” she said. “We all have very different perspectives, but I get the feeling we are all willing to contribute, willing to hear, and I think it’s a very constructive group.” MacNaughton is not a stranger to council. She has been involved in many social and political initiatives over the years. She had kept close tabs on the previous term of council, and saw in former mayor Quaiff a genuine sense of caring for the people in the community. “I hope that Steve [Ferguson] carries that on,” she said. “I think he’s a very interested person, too, and I think he learned from Robert how to move forward as a bridge-builder and a team-builder.”