The talk

Council works through a matter of confidence

It was a difficult talk. A difficult topic. What had begun as a non-confidence motion in the leadership of Mayor Ferguson soon morphed into a declaration of shared council responsibility for the grievances and concerns outlined in Councillor Corey Engelsdorfer’s motion.

Some council members took the matter before them solemnly and seriously, others waved the motion away as ‘silly’, ‘divisive’, ‘unhelpful’ and a ‘distraction’.

Before the council debate began they heard from Mayor Ferguson’s former election campaign manager Carlyn Moulton who concluded the motion could be boiled down to Wellington residents unaccustomed to construction disruption. Moulton listed other construction projects around the County and suggested that “we’ve all had to put our big boys and big girls pants on and put up with it so that water comes out of our taps and water leaves our homes when we flush.”

Moulton had more. She suggested the issues of poor communication were, perhaps, a failing of The Times, the newspaper Engelsdorfer owns and publishes.

“How is it [residents of Wellington] are lacking in information?” asked Moulton incredulously. “We should all be so blessed to have pages available. Maybe we would be less confused. Or would we?” not subtly suggesting, The Times was either the source of or fuel for the confusion. Residents are confused, and it’s this newspaper’s fault.

Sophiasburgh councillor Bill Roberts said he took the message of the motion seriously and hoped the message had been delivered. But he could see no good in promoting it further.

“This kind of discord should be worked out during elections,” said Roberts. “We should get on with the work of this council.”

Brad Nieman, Hallowell council member, felt the motion was an opportunity for Council to reset.

Mayor Ferguson was in the unfortunate position of defending himself from some tough assertions. He said there was no evidence that relations between the mayor and municipal staff have deteriorated to unhealthy levels. He argued that he had only kept information from Council in instances in which he had been asked or told not share with anyone, including Council.

“Such will continue, out of respect for the entity or individual making the request,” said Mayor Ferguson.

He then turned to the issue of infrastructure expansion— specifically plans to build a regional water plant in Wellington along with a 21-kilometre pipeline to bring water to Bloomfield, Base31 and Picton.

“We collectively have a responsibility to make these plans work, and it’s my responsibility as the mayor to see it through to the best of my ability—and with every tool available used widely and with appropriate input from others,” said Ferguson.

“Over the past six years as mayor I have worked diligently with Council, local entrepreneurs, developers and the province on many significant projects. Helping to secure major investments in our economy that are the envy of many neighbouring municipalities.”

He said that construction disruption, inconvenience and annoyance was inevitable.

“We are making a concerted effort to improve the clarity, transparency and timeliness of our communications as we progress through to completion,” said Mayor Ferguson.

Finally, Mayor Ferguson, pointed to what he described as competing visions of this community.

[One vision] doesn’t want things to change and likes it just the way it was in a bygone era,” said Mayor Ferguson. “The other says let’s focus on building a strong economy for the future. But as we all know, there is no going back in time.”

STRONG MAYOR
The conversation turned early and inevitably to the suddenly looming matter of strong mayor powers. Premier Doug Ford has bestowed strong mayor authority upon 169 municipalities including Prince Edward County as of May 1. Such power enables the mayor to unilaterally hire and fire senior staff, override Council decisions, pass by-laws with only one-third of Council support and control budget processes.

Mayor Ferguson noted the irony of Queen’s Park’s timing.

“I find it a peculiar situation to find a colleague may be losing confidence in my leadership one day and the very next day find out the province has such confidence in our municipality,” noted Ferguson.

But other council members didn’t see the humour.

“Strong mayor powers undermine democracy,” said Hillier councillor Chris Braney. “It’s a kick in the face, especially in the middle of the term.”

Braney predicted that the mayor’s unilateral ability to hire and fire staff would make them subservient the mayor’s wishes. Who is going to contradict the one person who controls your fate?

Braney also dismissed the province’s rationale for handing down strong powers—that is to facilitate and speed up new homebuilding. He pointed to market conditions and a looming recession in Canada as reasons to pause and reassess current infrastructure development.

“I call on the mayor to do the right thing—by not accepting these strong mayor powers,” said Councillor Braney. “Everybody should be upset about this.”

Ameliasburgh councillor Roy Pennell offered to support the mayor on the non-confidence motion on the table, if Mayor Ferguson would agree to reject strong mayor powers.

Mayor Ferguson declined. He said he would only use strong mayor powers as a last resort.

“Deciding pre-emptively not to use a strong mayor’s power would be akin to leaving the tools locked in the toolbox,” said Mayor Ferguson. “Inaccessible when they are needed most.”

It was a prospect Councillor Pennell described as scary.

HOW IT ENDED
Councillor Engelsdorfer agreed to extend the responsibility for the list of failings identified in his non-confidence motion to all of Council. He agreed to delete reference to the strong mayor after Council agreed it would hold a special meeting to discuss it.

In a recorded vote, Engelsdorfer’s motion lost on a tie, 7 for, 7 against. Councillors Corey Engelsdorfer, Phil Prinzen, Brad Nieman Sam Branderhorst, Chris Braney, Roy Pennell and David Harrison voted in favour. Councillors Kate MacNaughton, John Hirsch, Phil St-Jean, Janice Maynard, Sam Grosso, Bill Roberts and Mayor Ferguson voted in dissent.