County may double length of warden’s term

By Richard Blanchard Innisfil Scope October 17 2012 

Simcoe County council made the first steps towards a reorganization of its governing structure last week. 

There seems to be support for making the warden’s term four years, instead of the current two, and moving to a Committee of the Whole form of meetings, instead of a separate committee structure.

But county councillors narrowly defeated a measure which would have looked at reducing the size of council by upwards of half of its current 32 members. The motions will be sent to the governance committee for further staff reports, which will be submitted to county council in November.

Councillors voted for the warden’s four-year term in a 16 to 14 in a straw vote. Councillors rejected making the position full-time or having the county warden elected directly at each municipal election.

Essa mayor Terry Dowdall argued that the four-year term was too long.

“I have no problems with the current two year term. It seems to be working well,” he said.

Others argued that the term would provide more stability to the office, and strengthen the county when dealing with the province and other outside agencies.

Council was split in making the position full-time, which might necessitate by-elections to replace a municipality’s mayor or deputy mayor.

“So soon after an election, I think that municipalities might end up with three by-elections if a deputy mayor and member of council decided to run for a vacant mayor’s position,” said Oro-Medonte deputy mayor Ralph Hough.

County councillors were less divided over changing to the Committee of the Whole structure which would see every councillor participate and vote on all matters before a final council decision is made. At present, there are three standing committees used by the county — with council members appointed to each.

Clearview deputy mayor Alicia Savage said that the current system causes a ‘duplication of debate’, which takes up considerable time.

Councillors voted for the change unanimously in a straw vote, which would likely see two days of meetings per month.

The split came on reducing council to either 16 mayors, or 16 mayors with as many as seven ‘at large’ members elected from a number of municipalities.

Some councillors felt that a municipality would lose its voice if a mayor was unable to attend a county council meeting. Current county bylaws do not allow for another member of council to be substituted, if a councillor cannot attend.

In a straw vote, councillors were split down the middle on the status quo, which resulted in the proposal’s defeat. A second vote to reduce the size of council, based on a future report making

recommendations on composition, was defeated 15 to 14.

Warden Cal Patterson says the decisions are a ‘good first step’ towards improved governance.

“The longer term for the warden and the use of the Committee of the Whole meetings will prove more effective,” he said. “I have mixed feelings about the size of county council but it can be also looked at again.”

Bradford West Gwillimbury mayor Doug White, who chaired the governance committee, said that he saw the longer term for the warden as a way of strengthening the position. 

“It will definitely make the warden more effective when dealing with Queen’s Park,” said White. “And I see the the Committee of Whole structure as more effective for us.”

By Robin MacLennan, Collingwood Enterprise Bulletin October 17, 2012 

Just two years after extending the warden’s term to two years, Simcoe County is looking at electing one head of council for four years of a municipal term.

Councillors supported the recommendation from the governance committee at a special meeting Tuesday morning. At the same time, a recommendation to make the position a full-time role was rejected. Those in favour said the longer term would strengthen the warden’s role and the county’s profile.

“When I elect a warden and send him down to the province, I want the province to know that that person representing the county isn’t going away,” said Ramara deputy mayor and county councillor Basil Clarke.

Other issues, including the size and composition of council and meeting structure, were on the table. Because councillors were equally split on the suggestion to reduce the number of representatives, the motion to research the idea was lost.

The suggestion to make the warden a full-time job that requires the individual to serve just the county and not a lower-tier municipality was also given thumbs down.

Current Warden Cal Patterson, mayor of Wasaga Beach, argued that the role deserved full-time attention from an individual “wearing just one political hat.”

Scrapping the current standing-committee format in favour of a committee-of-the-whole format that will combine human services, corporate services and performance management committee meetings into one day was approved unanimously.

The move will result in fewer meetings and will allow all councillors to participate in discussions on all issues prior to making recommendations to council.