Mayor appoints councillor without council approval

A letter authored by Mayor Barb Baguley to the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) sparked a few minutes of acrimonious debate at last week’s council meeting.

Baguley wrote the letter to the NVCA appointing Coun. Ken Simpson to sit as Innisfil’s second representative on the board of directors. Deputy Mayor Dan Davidson is the other local rep on the board.

The debate arose when Coun. Doug Lougheed questioned whether the mayor’s office had the authority to appoint someone to sit on a committee without council’s approval.

“It (the appointment) was not discussed by council,” Lougheed said. “It’s never been the way we’ve appointed people before.”

Baguley replied she had sent the letter based on advice she had received from the town clerk, as well as the municipal solicitor.

“What was the urgency?” questioned Coun. Lynn Dollin. “I see in the minutes of December 2010, Dan Davidson was appointed through council.”

“It was a matter of housekeeping,” Baguley replied. “Boy, oh boy, I have a Blackberry, a telephone, email and my door is always open to all councillors. The fact that councillors are sandbagging me in a public forum – You’ve hurt my feelings tonight. I’m a little embarrassed tonight.”

Coun. Rod Boynton stated, “The last thing we want to be here is offended. I wasn’t trying to be a jerk but I felt a little bit slighted. This (issue) came up six or seven weeks ago. I’m a little disturbed at how people are chosen.”

“There was nothing underhanded about this,” said Coun. Ken Simpson. “I just sit on one committee. I was quite happy to accept the appointment.”

Lougheed reminded Baguley all members of council possess Blackberrys, email and telephones, too.

“They were active about 34 days ago, too,” Lougheed said.