Optimism

New and returning councillors are positive about the next four years

After the excitement of an election win wears off and it comes to time to make good on all the promises made, The Times checked in with two new councillors and one returning councillor to see how they feel about getting started and, with nine new members, what their thoughts are about the new council.

Ernie Margetson is the newly elected councillor for Ward Seven, Hillier and it’s his first time as a councillor. Margetson had a clear and decisive win on election night, receiving three times the number of votes as his closest competitor. He earned his seat by being earnest and up front with the fact that the County’s finances must be in order before they can make progress on any of the other issues facing the County today. Margeston says that he’s very excited to start and that he’s proud to serve Hillier and the County.

“I’m looking forward to getting there and working with the rest of the councillors, mayor and staff to do the best we can for Prince Edward County. There is an air of enthusiasm and definitely a reason to be optimistic. Everyone both old and new on the council wants to make significant progress on the issues facing us today,” says Margetson.

One of the most significant things the new council has to tackle comes right at the start with the 2019 budget. Margeston wants to make sure that there is a detailed scrutiny of the costs, including capital and operational.

“They have to determine as a council if they can constrain what has been currently significant cost increases over the last 20 years. I look at how we might do better by gaining efficiencies in our procurement.” Margetson also stated that he thinks we have a significant volunteer core in the County that is perhaps underutilized. He wants to review our past annual grant commitments to determine if the cost-benefit ratio is satisfactory. There are plenty of thoughts and new ideas to be shared at the table, and Margetson will no doubt be in the middle of those conversations.

Mike Harper is the new councillor for Ward Three, Wellington. Like Margetson, it’s his first time around the horseshoe. Harper, as well, won his ward decisively with just under three times the number of votes as his running mates. Harper’s dedication to speaking and listening to the residents of Ward Three endeared him to that community. He’s earned their respect and now it’s time to represent and follow through. For Harper, the biggest impedance to further developing this community is the water situation, and the fact that there is no water pressure for any further housing developments and won’t be until the water tower is either replaced or enhanced. Council is currently awaiting a study on Wellington’s water infrastructure that will likely guide them in a direction. Since election night he has dug in and is already into the fray of issues facing his Ward.

“The thing will be for me and the other councillors to have a curious mind, to make sure that you obviously talk to staff and fellow councillors, but to listen to the developers and partners in this area as well about where the issues are and what needs to happen,” says Harper.

Harper says he thinks that the optimism is high in the two weeks following the election. The expectations are also high, but with nine new people, the composition of the council has changed dramatically and there are more people with different backgrounds who bring a real desire to fulfill the mandate that was given them, which was to look after the basics.

“Get the basics right because people are not able to live here currently, and we need more people to move to the County. We need young families to move here, but they need sustainable jobs and places to live,” says Harper.

The most important moment for Harper will be when they lay out the budget. For Harper, that’s where you fight for your constituents and make sure their needs and concerns are met and that there is money for things that need to be addressed. Harper is looking forward to his council training, which will happen later this month.

Janice Maynard in Ward Four, Ameliasburgh earned the most votes in what was considered the tightest race of the election. So tight, in fact, that only 363 votes separated the top seven candidates. She is a returning councillor, which indicates clearly that she was doing something right in Ward Four. She will be met with a council full of new faces when things get rolling. In total, nine new councillors are around the horseshoe, and Maynard is looking forward to getting to know them all. Maynard says she’s grateful for the continued endorsement of the Ameliasburgh electorate, and is committed to working hard and representing their interests for the next four years.

“I’m very optimistic. The new members of council are bringing new skills, new ideas, new perspective, so it’s kind of like getting a fresh start. Even though I’ve done the training twice already, I’m looking forward to it this year so that I can get to know my fellow councillors because there are a couple I have never met,” says Maynard.

As far as advice to the new councillors, Maynard found that the biggest challenge was becoming familiar with the procedural by-law and getting to know how meetings are run. Staying attentive and on your toes will also go a long way in manoeuvring the waters correctly. Maynard says that she hopes to answer any questions that new councillors have about the process and get off on the right foot collaboratively, and to make sound financial decisions as a team.

“By fostering that environment of teamwork, civility and compromise, we have the opportunity to make real changes for the good in this community,” says Maynard.

Maynard’s number one priority has been and will always be the budget and trying to maintain service levels as best she can. She’d like to try and make some headway on the capital needs, all the while trying to have a reasonable tax increase. It’s going to be a really difficult balancing act, with a lot of requirements and a little bit of money to solve them with. As for what’s up next for Maynard and the council, the enactment of the new official plan will come early on. There is an update coming on the corporate strategic plan and the STA licensing is looming as well. But a new council also gets to put a new stamp on things, and both new and returning councillors seem to share a very positive view of the future. Now, it’s up to the residents to hold council’s feet to the fire and ensure they make good on promises made.