County council setting a new course in 2011

By CAL PATTERSON Orillia Packet and Times January 19, 2011
A new-look council including 14 first-time members and one returning one has taken the reins at Simcoe County, and with enthusiastic new leadership comes many new ideas and priorities.
As we get set for our first committee and council meetings of this new four-year term, a few structural changes have been put in place in order to improve your local government and public service. One of the most significant changes affects the term of office for the warden, who is elected to serve as head of council and represent Simcoe County.
Beginning in 2011, the head of council will now serve a two-year term — a change from the traditional one-year term in place since the first warden was elected here in 1876. Council made the change in order to allow for consistency and continuity in leadership. Simcoe County has a long and proud history, and dozens of individuals have been given the honour of serving as warden. These structural changes allow us to continue traditions while revising and improving how council works for residents.
We have elected Simcoe County’s first-ever deputy warden to serve a two-year term alongside the warden. Oro-Medonte Mayor Harry Hughes was elected by his council peers to the new position, which is required to assist the warden with duties and initiatives of council. The role will also allow for greater representation by the county at local events as the deputy warden represents council across the region.
The remaining structure of your county government remains unchanged this term with three standing committees — human services, corporate services and performance management meeting once each month. Each county councillor serves on one of those committees, which make recommendations for consideration and approval by county council. All meetings are open to the public and I invite you to watch a committee or council in action at the administration centre in Midhurst.
As an upper-tier municipality, the County of Simcoe is responsible for social housing, land ambulance and emergency planning, environmental services (solid-waste management), a county road system, Ontario Works, children’s services, long-term care homes, a library co-operative, museum, archives, county forest management, tourism, a geographic information system (computer mapping) and land-use policy planning.
This term will be filled with challenges and opportunities created by growth, economic development and waste management. As always, fiscal responsibility is a key priority that will continue to shape our decision-making process.
It is exciting to bring together a brand new council with new ideas and enthusiasm that go along with the transition. I look forward to bringing council together to work with our municipalities, cities of Barrie and Orillia, the provincial and federal governments and our community partners. Where there were divisions in the past, we look forward to working together much closer for the greater good of all residents.
By voting for change, residents across Simcoe County have said they want a new direction and increased co-operation for local government. That is what county council will provide.
County leaders include the following individuals elected as chairs and deputy chairs of the county standing committees:
* Performance management: chair: Ramara Township Deputy Mayor Basil Clarke, vice chair: Bradford West Gwillimbury Mayor Doug White
* Human services: chair: Clearview Township, Deputy Mayor Alicia Savage, vice chair: Wasaga Beach, Deputy Mayor David Foster
* Corporate services: chair: Clearview Mayor Ken Ferguson, vice chair: Collingwood Deputy Mayor Rick Lloyd.
Cal Patterson is warden of Simcoe County.
Article ID# 2935999