‘I want residents to have more input’ – Baguley

By IAN MCINROY BARRIE EXAMINER December 3 2010
INNISFIL — The town’s new mayor hopes to engage Innisfil residents in the political process.
Mayor Barb Baguley, 56, is back on council — former mayor Brian Jackson handed over the reins during a ceremony Wednesday — after a four-year hiatus, this time sitting in the big chair.

Four years ago, she was leaving council for the first time in 18 years, having served three terms as a councillor and another three terms as deputy mayor.
“I want residents to have more input to provide direction about how they want the town to grow and change,” she said, recently. “I’d like to see more public information sessions, and give residents an opportunity to know how things are put together.”
Her tenure at the helm will be about better communication, with the public and between councillors, she added.
“All the councillors want to have a more open, less rigid process and that is my goal. I want to team-build through council with open, honest and productive debate,” she added. “It isn’t wrong to debate. Having a difference of opinion and coming to a resolution is what democracy is all about.”
Baguley said she wants to hear what’s on the minds of her fellow councillors.
“I want to talk to (the new) council about our collective priorities. They will bring new ideas and new energy to council,” she said.
Deputy-mayor elect Dan Davidson has served one term prior to his win last month.
Only two incumbent councillors are returning for another term, including Ward 4 Coun. Rod Boynton and Ward 7 Coun. Lynn Dollin. Ward 3 councillor-elect Ken Simpson, who has sat previously on council for two terms, will be sitting along with four first-time councillors. They include: Doug Lougheed, Ward 1; Richard Simpson, Ward 2; Bill Loughead, Ward 5; and Maria Baier, Ward 6.
“I have goals and objectives I want to bring forward to council for consideration,” Baguley said, adding many of those involve more public participation in the town’s affairs.
She hopes to extend an invitation to residents to get to know their municipal representatives.
“I’d like to be in the council chambers a half hour before council meets so that people can get to know the councillors on an informal basis,” she said. “If people don’t feel comfortable approaching government, they won’t do it.
“I’d like to change how delegations to make presentations are registered, and have the agenda available to the public earlier than the current two days (prior to the meeting). I imagine the open forum will continue,” she said.
Baguley wants to develop a closer relationship between the town and both chambers: the Greater Innisfil Chamber of Commerce and the Cookstown and District Chamber of Commerce.
“They’re the business community. I want to grow business opportunities in the town as well as retain and help existing businesses grow,” she said.
Innisfil residents want financial responsibility, Baguley added.
“Money is spent differently now. Traditionally, the new budget is built on the previous year’s budget,” she said.
“I want to tear it down and get to the basics, and ensure that everything in it is the best use of taxpayers’ money.”
With the County of Simcoe planning to reconstruct County Road 21 (Innisfil Beach Road) from 20 Sideroad to Highway 400, stretches of the road could be four lanes in places.
But the work in Alcona is dragging on, she said.
“It was supposed to have been done by August and it’s still not finished. People are frustrated and want to know why the targets haven’t been met,” Baguley said, adding she’s not interested in pointing fingers at decisions made by previous councils. “I don’t let my personal opinion interfere my decision-making. It’s not my intention to criticize history, but to move forward.”