Councillors select Patterson as Warden

Changes at the County: Councillors select Patterson as Warden
By Miriam King Bradford West Gwillimbury Times
The County of Simcoe elected a new Warden on December 8 – by acclamation.
Current Warden Tony Guergis, after serving from 2007 to 2009, declined the nomination – leaving the position to Wasaga Beach Mayor Cal Patterson.
Guergis, who shepherded the County through its challenging growth management strategy and who faced controversy in his final term over the handling of the Site 41 dump issue, said he would not run, in order to promote unity. He called on County Councillors “to band behind one message and finally start to work together.”
Later, BWG Mayor Doug White praised Guergis’ withdrawal, and “amazingly gracious and humble” speech. White noted, “A lot has happened (at the County) in the last 3 years – a lot of good.”
Patterson becomes the 146th Warden in the history of the County, the first from Wasaga Beach. He will be the last Warden to serve a 1-year term; beginning in 2011, the term of office will be lengthened to 2 years.
“Strong leadership is based on inclusiveness, effective communication and the ability to work with others, ensuring all stakeholders are involved in the process and decisions are made for in the best interest of the entire County of Simcoe,” Patterson said on his inauguration. County Council consists of 32 Mayors and Deputy Mayors from 16 member municipalities.
Also elected were chairs of the County’s Standing Committees. Severn Twp. Mayor Phil Sled was elected Chair of Performance Management; Penetang Mayor Anita Dubeau was re-elected Chair of Human Services, and Doug Little, Deputy Mayor of Adjala-Tosorontio, was re-elected Chair of Corporate Services.
There have been other developments in Simcoe County. On Dec. 3, a meeting between the County and the Separated Cities of Orillia and Barrie opened a dialogue on the co-ordination and delivery of services, especially water and wastewater, and took the first step towards healing the bitterness that arose out of the Barrie-Innisfil boundary dispute. And on Dec. 8, the Barrie-Innisfil Boundary Adjustment Act 2009 received 3rd and final reading – paving the way for the transfer of 2,293 hectares of land from Innisfil to Barrie, as of January 1, 2010.