Collingwood Mayor, Deputy Mayor clash over CAO contract renewal
By John Edwards Collingwood Connection
A discussion over the extension of the town’s chief administrative officer erupted into a skirmish between Collingwood’s mayor and deputy mayor.
Mayor Sandra Cooper and Deputy Mayor Brian Saunderson faced off Monday night over Saunderson’s motion – introduced two weeks ago as a notice of motion – to extend John Brown’s contract by a year.
Council voted 5-4 to keep Brown on for another year with Saunderson, councillors Deb Doherty, Kathy Jeffery, Cam Ecclestone and Bob Madigan voting in favour, while Cooper, and councillors Tim Fryer, Mike Edwards and Kevin Lloyd voted against the extension.
Brown’s contract was set to expire this September and $70,000 had been put in this year’s budget to look for a new CAO.
“Our obligation around this table is to do what is in the best interest of this community and I believe in the term of this council, we have done that,” said the deputy mayor.
Saunderson felt the right decision was to discuss the issue in a public forum.
“We are doing our business where you can all see it,” he said.
However, Cooper accused Saunderson of circumventing her office, stating the issue should have been discussed in-camera before being brought to the public.
Cooper read a prepared statement and took several shots at Saunderson and other members of council.
Leave a Reply